Chapter 18

“Thanks for coming over,” I said after a few breaths.

“I’m glad I did.”

“I guess that’s the benefit of dating someone without a job. Weekday sex.”

His crinkled eyes shone as he chuckled, “Good thing, huh?”

I laughed with him though my insides were still in disbelief at the presence of the man in my bed. Even though we had finally had sex, that I finally gotten what I was after, I couldn’t help but feel something more for him.

Eventually we got out of bed and dressed. I pulled on jeans and a fresh T-shirt, and Jay put his suit back on, but he left the jacket and tie hanging on the doorknob. I poured us each a stale cup of coffee. We sat in our old seats at the dining table.

“Was I the only reason you were upset?” he asked.

“No. Yes. I don’t know. Normally I can bury my head and ignore Calvin, but it seemed like with everything going on with you, that I lost my ability.”

“Sorry.”

“Or maybe Calvin’s just getting closer and closer to forcing me out.”

“Did you give that folder to his boss?”

“No,” I admitted.

“I’m telling you, do it.” he said in his stern voice.

“I sent my resume out. That’s positive.”

“Not from your company’s perspective. I’m sure they’d hate to lose you.”

“Tell that to my boss.”

“Your boss sounds like a real dick. I wouldn’t be surprised if his boss was working on a way to fire him with cause.”

“Heh, that’d be awesome.”

“You would help them by giving over the file.”

“That’s too much dreaming. I can’t take the risk.”

“What’s the risk if you plan on leaving anyway?”

“Maybe,” I hesitated. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good.”

Maybe he was right, I had thought about it, but I always chickened out.

I’d been wondering why Jay was so near my condo. And why was he wearing a suit? But did I dare ask him after what happened last time we’d sat at this table? I took a sip of my coffee, debating. In the end, like the email file, I pushed the thought to the back of my mind.

A far larger, more important thought took over. I loved being with Jay. It was difficult to imagine a better way to spend my time than sitting with him drinking coffee. I should be wary. I should keep my guard up. But every time his eyes caught mine I melted.

My stomach grumbled, and I realized it was almost two.

“Hungry?” I asked.

“Starved.”

I threw a frozen pepperoni pizza in the oven. When I bent over to put it in, Jay grabbed my hips and dug his groin into my ass. I wiggled my hips, and his cock twitched. As I closed the door, I stood, but he kept a firm grasp on me. I leaned back into him, and he reached around me, placing one of his hands on my breast and the other on my crotch.

The thick material of my jeans lessened the impact of his touch, but before too long I was sucking in my stomach and he slid his hand down the front of my pants.

“The pizza won’t take very long, you know.”

“I’m amusing myself while I wait.”

I closed my eyes while his fingers worked through my hair and down to my now hypersensitive mound. He kissed my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Being in his presence was electrifying. For the first time in forever, my body felt alive. I moaned in approval.

My breath quickened, and I inched my feet apart, willing his fingers in. His hand left my breast and traveled up to my mouth. His fingertip ran over my lips before I opened and sucked his finger into my mouth. I could have stayed there all day in his arms, leaning against his strong frame.

But he kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, “Let’s go sit down.”

He pulled his hand from my jeans and led me to my sofa. I sat beside him, snuggled close against his body, my head leaning on him. Jay wrapped an arm around me, and I felt at home. Like I could spend all eternity right here, right now. Part of my brain was screaming at me to get away, to make it only about the sex. That he, like all men, couldn’t be trusted. But the comfort his presence instilled in me eclipsed the screaming.

We didn’t even talk as we waited for the pizza to cook. We only sat against each other, content with all the world. The timer buzzed and together we took it from the oven, sliced and plated it and went back to my dining table.

Completely relaxed, I smiled at Jay and said, “I wish you could stay here all day.”

“So do I,” he replied, “but I have a dinner engagement to attend that I can’t get out of.”

“Oh. What kind of dinner engagement?”

“A meeting with…” he paused and looked up from his pizza, searching my eyes, “just a meeting with someone about a job.”

“That’s great news!”

Jay nodded and went back to eating his pizza.

“What job?” I asked.

“Something in IT. Just a plain old boring normal job.”

“Is that why you’re wearing your suit?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I was being prepared.”

“Like a Boy Scout.”

“I never was much of a Boy Scout.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now that you’re a man.” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“A man who’d like to bend you over that chair and fuck you senseless.”

“I think you’ve already achieved that today,” I said giggling.

Jay’s eyes shone as he flashed his big smile at me. “I don’t like to leave a lady disappointed.”

“I don’t see how you could.” Not with that body or that smile.

“Are you up for more tomorrow?”

Hell yes. “Sure, what time?”

“I’ll come here in the afternoon, then we can go out to dinner.”

“And come back here afterwards?” I said hopefully.

“Absolutely.” His eyes twinkled, sending my pulse racing.

We finished our pizzas and sat at the table chatting.

Jay looked at his watch. The watch that, until now, I hadn’t noticed was chunky and expensive looking.

“I have to go,” he said, standing.

I stood up and ran my hands down the front of my jeans. “Shame,” I said.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He grasped my hand, and I didn’t want him to let go.

“See you tomorrow.” My lips longed to be against his.

He bent over and kissed my lips, my cheek. When his mouth reached my ear, he lowered his voice and said, “Wear a thong.”

I blushed, envisioning what we would get up to the next day. I struggled to reply, and only managed to say, “Okay.”

“Good, I’m looking forward to seeing you in it.”

My cheeks burned as he turned, put on his jacket and tie, and walked the few steps to the door. He opened it, and I watched him walk to the elevator from my doorway.

While he was waiting for it to arrive I called, “And, Jay, thanks for coming. I was really upset, and, well, now I’m not.”

The elevator doors opened. He reached out his hand to hold them open, turned to me and said, “It was a pleasure.” Then he stepped inside and was gone.