Chapter 18

Oliver

I looked at my phone again, frustrated. I’d called Becka countless times, sent messages, and she wasn’t responding. I knew she was furious about what had happened in my office, and about my admission that Ethan and I were brothers. I shook my head. Of course, I hadn’t meant for her to find out that way; it was a disaster.

While I stared at my phone, it lit up suddenly with Becka’s picture and her name.

“Becka!” I answered. “Becka, are you okay?”

“They’re going to arrest you!” she said, her voice panicked. “And they’re going to go after me, too, because we’re involved with each other.”

“Wait wait, slow down, who’s going to arrest me? What are you talking about?” I had been expecting her to be upset about the encounter with Ethan, and I felt my mind clicking quickly to connect the dots to what she was talking about. “Slow down and tell me everything from the beginning.”

“The college called me. Well, Dr. Evans called. She said that the college received word that you are under investigation for criminal activity. Then, she said that my name had come up in connection to yours, and that I was going to be investigated as well.” She was crying; I could hear it in her voice. I sighed and closed my eyes.

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” I said, trying to reassure her. “Where are you right now?”

“I’m at home,” she whispered.

“Is Lisa there?”

“Yes, and she knows everything. I told her tonight after… after I left your office.”

“I’m coming over,” I said. “I need to see you. I need to know you’re okay.” I was somewhat expecting some resistance from her, but she agreed right away.

“I’d like to see you too,” she said. “Thank you for offering; I wasn’t going to ask.”

I told her I would see her shortly and I hung up the phone. I grabbed my keys and my wallet and left the house, not bothering to contact my driver. I started the car and drove quickly to Becka’s apartment.

When I got there, I knocked and she answered immediately. She had been crying; her eyes were red and puffy and she was holding a Kleenex. She threw her arms around me and I held her. Lisa was sitting in the living room and she looked at me, sadness and empathy on her face.

“I’ll let you two have some privacy,” she said, and got up. She walked to her bedroom and closed the door.

I broke away from Becka so I could look at her.

“I’m so sorry about all of this,” I said. “I promise that I’ll take care of everything. This is all Ethan’s doing, and I’m not going to let him get away with any of it.”

She shook her head and I led her to her couch. “They’re going to connect us even further,” she said. “And everything is going to come out. People are going to think the only reason I got the job at Neurotova is because I’m sleeping with you. My career is over. And that’s if I manage to not get arrested. What could they possibly have to connect me to the investigation? I haven’t done anything!”

I sighed and held her. “Who knows what lies Ethan fed them,” I said. “I’ll take care of everything in the morning. I have a very good team of lawyers, and of course they will protect you as well. As an employee of Neurotova, not as my girlfriend.”

She looked up at me and I realized this was the first time I’d called her my girlfriend out loud, though I had, I guessed, been thinking of her in that way for a few weeks now, at least.

“Am I your girlfriend?” she asked.

“You are,” I said, and I kissed her. Her lips were so warm and soft, and I felt myself growing aroused as we kissed deeply.

“Then why did you lie?” She pulled away and glared at me. “You should have told me Ethan was your brother from the onset, and you chose not to. You absolutely lied to my face, and now look at the mess I’m in!”

“I’m sorry I lied about that, honey; I truly am.” She was furious; I could see it in her eyes, and her body was rigid. “I had no idea that Ethan was going to become such a part of this. I thought…” What had I thought? That he would just go away? She would never believe that. “I thought I could convince him to back off. I’ve been able to do it in the past.”

Her expression was dark. “You got me involved and lied to me, and now my ass is on the line both at the college and with my career. Why would you do that?”

“I swear to you I didn’t know what he had planned. I didn’t know he was going to go after me like this—and by extension, go after you. I’m going to get him, though; I promise you that.”

“Oh my God, just stop.” She stood up and began to pace her living room. “Just stop going after him. Stop trying to get each other. You already had a fight like two children on a playground. You both need to grow up and get your shit figured out. If you’re doing something wrong, admit it and fix it! If he’s doing something wrong, call the police on him so they can start going after the right person. Either way, I want to be left out of it!”

She walked to the door and opened it, indicating I should leave. I stared at her, my mouth open.

“Becka,” I started, but she interrupted.

“I don’t want to hear it!” she yelled. “I’m done! I’m done with all of this.”

I stood up and walked to her. “Don’t say that,” I said. I couldn’t believe the emotion I felt; I’d never felt this way about a woman before. The idea of her ending our relationship eclipsed my rational thought.

“I need some time,” she said, more quietly.

I leaned in and kissed her on her forehead; it was warm, flush with her emotion.

“I’m so sorry this happened,” I said. “I’m going to make it right.”

“I hope you can,” she said, and she closed the door.

Becka

I closed the door with Oliver on the other side of it, and leaned my forehead against the door. I felt sick. I couldn’t believe I’d just ended our relationship. Or put it on hold, whatever.

“Are you okay?” Lisa asked. She had come out of her bedroom after undoubtedly overhearing our entire conversation.

“I’m fine,” I said. “This was how things were originally supposed to be; we had talked about me working for him and we’d agreed that we wouldn’t be in a relationship while I was working at Neurotova. We blurred that line, and look at what happened.”

“Couldn’t you just stop working at Neurotova?” she asked.

“Give up my career? Not a chance. No man is worth that. I care about him a lot, but I need to think about myself. He’s thinking about himself plenty.”

“I think you need a good night’s sleep and tomorrow you’ll probably be thinking much more clearly about this entire situation.” She hugged me. “I promise I won’t hold you to anything you’re saying tonight. Maybe give Oliver a call in the morning. Just so he knows you’re okay.”

I shook my head. “I won’t call him, but you’re right about the rest. I’m exhausted.”

I went to bed, my mind reeling with everything that had happened that day. Being at work that morning seemed like a thousand years ago. I thought about Ethan coming into the office, how drawn I was to him. How attracted.

Then, Oliver coming out of his office and seeing the two of them side by side, worrying that Oliver would find out that Ethan and I had been flirting with becoming involved. Oliver’s admission that they were brothers, followed up by their fight, by them threatening each other’s lives. Then… everything else. I closed my eyes, knowing that I wasn’t anywhere near sleep.

I tossed and turned all night, and I finally gave up trying to sleep and got out of bed at seven o’clock in the morning. The sun had risen and it felt surreal to be awake without having slept. But, I was no longer tired; the routine of the morning had apparently convinced my body that we had slept.

“How did you sleep?” Lisa asked. She was in the kitchen making coffee. She looked me up and down. “Did you sleep? You look terrible.”

“I’m fine,” I said. “I’ll be even better after a cup of coffee.”

“Or ten,” Lisa said, pouring a cup for me and bringing it to where I was sitting at the kitchen table. “Are you going to work today?”

“I don’t think so,” I said slowly. “I want to go talk with Dr. Evans about what the police know, and what they’re thinking. I want to make sure my doctorate isn’t in jeopardy. Oliver blamed everything on Ethan.”

“Well, it’s all Ethan’s fault, right?”

I thought about that. Of course, Oliver had blamed Ethan; he blamed Ethan for everything. But what if Oliver had let some of the news slip, drew the attention onto himself so that he could attack Ethan without Ethan suspecting? My brain felt like it was a punching bag for my thoughts. I rubbed my eyes in exhaustion and frustration.

“Yes, it’s all his fault,” I agreed. “I just need to get things figured out before I go back to Oliver’s office.”

“Are you going to call him to tell him you’re not coming in?”

I debated which would be worse for me, going into the office or calling him and having a conversation. They both seemed equally terrible.

“I thought you’d call for me,” I joked, smiling to let her know I was kidding.

“I would totally call him for you,” she said, arching her eyebrows suggestively.

“You’re terrible!” I said. “But you’re a great friend; thanks for keeping things light. I should probably just go in. After all, he doesn’t even know how to make his own coffee without me around. He’s lost without me.”

Truthfully, I wanted to get back to my research. I knew that if I could prove that Ethan was responsible for everything, it would get me off the hook and clear Oliver in the process. I just needed to figure out what was happening within Neurotova.

And, the best way for me to do that was to go back into the office, regardless of what was happening with Oliver. As I’d told Lisa the night before, I reminded myself, this was how we had originally intended things to be: me working for Oliver and not dating him.

I got dressed and ready to go into work. I texted Dr. Evans to let her know that I would come to campus when I was done with work and we could talk then. I rode my bike to the office; I needed the time to clear my head. When I got there, I walked into one of the staff bathrooms and changed out of my leggings and T-shirt and into more professional work attire.

I walked into Oliver’s office area and sat at my desk, feeling anxious and jumpy. I wished I hadn’t had any coffee that morning; the caffeine was making me jittery.

Oliver’s office door opened and I jumped. I looked at him. He looked as terrible as I felt. It was obvious he hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep either. He had taken off his suit coat so he was wearing only his dress pants, a white shirt, and a black tie with gold diagonal streaks. His shirt was wrinkled, and his tie looked as if he had put it on very quickly and maybe realized it was off a bit but didn’t care. He hadn’t bothered with his contacts, but wore his glasses instead.

“Becka,” he said warmly. “I… I wasn’t sure you’d come in today. I’m so glad you did.” He stood by my desk as if he wanted to hug me but wasn’t sure if he could. I felt myself drawn to him more than ever. My body wanted him, even with everything that was going on.

“I’m sorry I got so mad last night,” I said. I stood up. “I know this is all Ethan’s doing, and it’s not your fault. I was just…”

“You were angry, and you had every right to be. You still do,” he said. “I’m really sorry for my contributions to that. I should have been honest with you from the start, and I will not lie to you again, ever. I promise you that.” He took a step toward me and I reached for him. He held me and I felt my body responding to his touch. I pulled away and looked at him.

“Let’s go to your office,” I said. He arched his eyebrows in surprise, but he didn’t argue. He led me into his office and closed and locked the door.

“I haven’t looked at your schedule for the day,” I admitted. “I have no idea if you have meetings or conference calls, though I suspect you do.”

“Oh, almost certainly,” he said. “And they can all wait.” He moved in to kiss me again, and I was reminded of the first night I met him, seeing him lecture and how knowledgeable he had been, how his energy and charisma had been palpable in the room to not just me, but to every woman there.

He pressed me against the desk, and I breathed in his power. He was so strong, his arms around me, and I realized that, though he was definitely the source of a lot of my problems, it was only in his arms that I felt completely safe.

I pressed my hands to his broad chest and felt his energy surge into me, a one track shot straight to the space between my legs. He lifted me gently and set me on the desk, then pulled away from me as he pulled my shirt off over my head.

He leaned in and kissed my neck as he removed my bra. Once free, my breasts seemed to move toward him, my nipples erect and hard, wanting his touch, his lips on them. He cupped my breasts in both his hands and sighed.

“You’re so beautiful, Becka,” he whispered. “So incredibly beautiful.” He leaned in and kissed my breasts, swirling his tongue around the flesh, drawing closer to my nipples. His hot breath teased me and I moaned, begging him to come closer, to stop teasing me.

He pulled back and I took that opportunity to stand up, to move against him. I leaned into him and began to slowly loosen his tie. I gazed into his eyes, feeling incredibly erotic as I playfully removed his tie and set it on the desk, then I turned back and began to undo his shirt one button at a time.

I pulled his shirt off and began to run my hands along his chest. His muscles rippled under my touch, and I pressed my breasts to them. His cock was hard; I could feel it through his pants as I held myself against him.

“You’re hard,” I said.

“You’re touching me,” he replied. “Of course, I’m turned on. I’m turned on any time you’re in a room with me.” He traced his index finger along the line of my jaw. “You know that,” he whispered.

I undid his belt while I looked into his eyes, then unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. I got to my knees and pulled his boxers down, taking in the sight of his full, enormous cock just inches from my mouth. His sack was hard, his testicles straining against the skin, and I cupped his balls in one hand and began to suck on his penis as I stroked his shaft with my other hand.

He groaned and I felt his knees give just a bit; he reached out to support himself with the desk. I lifted my head to kiss his belly, at the same time rubbing my breasts against his cock. I squeezed my breasts together over his cock and he began to move toward me and away from me, the tight skin of his shaft moving between my breasts.

“Fuck, that feels so good,” he groaned.

I returned my mouth to his cock and began to suck the sensitive tip, red and glistening in the light of his office. I swirled my tongue around, faster and faster, feeling myself get more and more aroused with the action of my mouth. He put his hands to the back of my head and guided my pace; I let him, my head bobbing forward and back as I sucked him hard.

He let out a sudden moan and pulled me back, lifted me to standing. He quickly undid my pants and let them drop to the floor. I’d worn my normal girl underwear instead of my sexy girlfriend underwear, and I was immediately conscious and sensitive about the black lycra panties I was wearing. He didn’t even glance at them as he pulled them off.

He turned me around and I leaned on the desk, my bare ass facing him. He put his hand on my back, pressing into me, then he found my labia with his fingers. He slid two inside of me and I moaned, the pleasure of him inside of me as he bent me over his desk was more than I could have ever imagined.

“I want you in me,” I said, my voice muffled by my hair.

“You’re so ready,” he said. “So wet…” He pulled his fingers out and slid his cock into me. The fullness of him was a dessert to my entire body, and I pressed my hips backward, taking him in even deeper. We moved together, him thrusting against me. My arms were pressing into the desk and I used that resistance to press back against him.

I felt my orgasm pressing in and I increased my speed, feeling his hips slapping against my thighs as he thrust, the friction grabbing onto my clit in both directions and pushing me over the edge.

“Oh my god,” I cried out, squeezing my hands into fists. The sensation was incredible, feeling weight both above me and below me as the waves of my climax rushed through my entire body. I felt light headed and overly present, all in the same moment.

“Ah, fuck,” Oliver moaned as he came, his cum pouring into me, hot liquid energy. He kept his hand on my lower back as he finished with a few final thrusts, then he gently drew back. I laid my forehead onto my forearm on his desk, not moving, feeling the cool air of the office move over my exposed lower body.

“I’m not sure I can move,” I said, giggling. “That was…”

“That was the most amazing make up sex I’ve ever had in my life,” he said, reading my mind.

“Me too,” I said, getting shakily to my feet. “I may have messed up some of your paperwork; sorry about that.”

I felt euphoric as I dressed. I returned to my desk and turned on my computer. I checked Oliver’s calendar and his schedule, then I opened my school email account.

I had six emails from Ethan. All of them were asking, with greater insistence, for me to contact him. I highlighted the group of them and hovered over the delete button, but I couldn’t do it. I hadn’t responded to his texts or his voicemails. I shouldn’t have even come into work. Now that I was coming back into my own senses, I knew that to be true.

I needed to be away from both Ethan and Oliver, obviously, because Oliver’s hold on me was too strong. I worried about what would happen if I agreed to meet with Ethan. I shook my head and stood up. I left a note on Oliver’s door saying that I had left for an early lunch and I wouldn’t be in the rest of the week. I left the office, changed back into my biking clothes, and rode home.

I spent the day on my computer doing research, still coming up with a frustrating lack of information. The afternoon passed by quickly in spite of my lack of progress, and when the door opened, I looked up in surprise.

“Pack your bags, girlie,” Lisa burst into the living room grinning. “We’re going away for a long weekend!”

“What are you talking about?” I looked at her as she held up her keys.

“The car is gassed up and there’s a cooler of booze and snacks in the truck. We’re going to pack overnight bags and head over to Rockell for the weekend. Go pack your bag.” Without waiting for an answer, she ran to her bedroom. I could hear her singing as she packed.

“Okay,” I said to the empty room. “I guess I’m going on a long weekend.”

I walked into my room and grabbed my bag. Rockell was a town about three hours away. It was a resort town and it was known as a big weekend party when it was tourist season, which it definitely was. I had no idea how Lisa had managed to book a place on such short notice, but that was part of why being friends with Lisa was so exciting; she made things happen.

I threw in a pair of jeans, a dress, and a sweatshirt and leggings. If we were only going for a few days, I didn’t need a lot. I added in two other skirts and shirts to wear with them, and I threw in some cute underwear. “Not that you’ll need it,” I told myself. Last, I threw in my bikini.

“Are you ready?” Lisa called. She had packed in record time and stood waiting in the living room.

“Almost, jeez, you’re the fastest packer on the planet.” I walked into my bathroom and grabbed my hair dryer, curling iron, make up, and tooth brush. “I’m ready,” I said, tossing my toothpaste into my bag as I walked into the living room. “Thanks for arranging this,” I said.

She hugged me. “I know you’ve been having a rough time, from all sides. I thought it would be good to get away from the humans and the computers alike. And, I’m taking your phone as soon as we get into the car and not giving it back to you until Sunday night.”

“That’s not necessary, Mom,” I laughed. “I’ll turn it off, I promise.”

We turned off the lights and locked our door, then raced each other down the stairs to Lisa’s car. As we drove to Rockell, I filled her in on my morning with Oliver.

“He’s completely irresistible to you. Not that I blame you, but damn. The dude has power.”

He certainly did, and I wondered how he had reacted when he saw my note. He hadn’t called; I’d checked my phone before Lisa watched me turn it off and put it into my purse. I made a promise to myself that I would not think of Oliver, Ethan, or any of the mess with the looming investigation as long as I was on vacation. Monday would come soon enough, and I would deal with it then.

The drive went quickly; we missed most of the traffic because we left so early. When we got to our resort, Lisa went to check us in while I stayed in the car. I listened to the radio and looked at my phone, wondering if I had enough time to turn it on and check my messages before Lisa came back. I didn’t, because she was back before I’d officially decided to even turn it on.

“Okay, we’re all set!” she said. “I got us the best room.” She drove us around the corner and parked in front of cabin 11. When we walked in, I grinned. It was a two-bedroom deluxe cabin with a huge kitchen and living room, overlooking the woods behind us.

“This is bigger than our apartment!” I said. “How’d you pull this off?”

“I called in a favor,” she said simply. “No worries. Let’s get unpacked and then tonight we can hit the bar.”

It sounded like an excellent idea to me. I grabbed a bottle of wine from the bag of food we’d brought and poured us both a glass.

“Let’s get this party started!” I said.