Jameson
Glancing at my watch, I tried to occupy my mind. My political consultant firm was booming. I’d had requests for new candidates on a daily basis. What started out as a small experiment two years ago turned into one of the most successful firms in the D.C. area. Hundreds of potential senators, governors, and presidents wanted my attention. I had to expand my staff last month and I needed to hire more. I personally couldn’t take on every client. I sought out those who I knew I could make win. I could do whatever I wanted with the marketing and the data, but if I didn’t think a candidate had what it took, why waste my time?
I picked up my cell, debating. It had been two days since my last visit with Cecilia Keller. What started out as something I thought I’d do a couple of times to get it out of my system had become a full-blown addiction. I didn’t know why that surprised me given my personality. One or two times was never enough once I got a taste for something spectacular. Ms. Keller was certainly spectacular.
Gazing out of my office window, overlooking Capitol Hill, I lost myself in her. Recalling how stunning she always appeared when she showed up at my place. A hint of confidence in her flustered face as she tried not to look into my eyes. There was nothing overstated about her. No expensive clothes or shoes. She never wore jewelry. Her nails were natural and her luscious, long blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders and down her back. It smelled of vanilla. She was nothing like the trust-fund women I’d grown accustomed to my whole life. Socialites, politician’s daughters. Women who sought me out because I was exactly who their daddies told them to stay away from. Those same men who would do anything to have me represent them today.
Scrolling through my contacts, I stopped when I got to Cecilia's name. I promised myself I’d give us some space. Although dropping a grand on her was a lot safer than what I used to do with that cash. I partied hard and made a shit-ton of mistakes. Somehow I managed to fight the demons of my youth. I stopped drinking and snorting two years ago, but I struggled with temptation every day. When I saw her in that cafe a few months ago, she became my latest obsession. I’d never meant to go as far as I had with her. I expected her to turn me down and then I could get on with my life. When that shy beauty said yes to my filthy proposition, I couldn’t control myself. I thought I could limit my time with her to once a week, but the more we were together the more I needed. Booze and cocaine may no longer have been my vices but now I was addicted to her. At thirty, I thought I had my shit together.
“Hey.” My brother, Miles, tapped on my door. “You have a minute?”
“Is it going to piss me off?” I leaned back in my chair.
“It might.” He laughed. “But everything pisses you off, so...”
“Shut the door.”
He plopped down on the chair across from my desk and tossed a file at me.
“What is it?” I stared at the folder. “A new prospect?”
“Possibly.” Miles scrolled on his tablet, pulling up a website and showed it to me. “Remember last week when Dad mentioned his friend Michael Hayes?”
“Yeah, his son, Conrad, is eyeing up a senate seat.” The guy didn’t have a chance. He was far too arrogant and didn’t have the temperament to listen to me. “He doesn’t have what it takes to go all the way.”
“His file is impressive,” Miles said. “He looks good on paper.”
“I know what the file says.” I’d done my preliminary research because my father was going to make me consider Conrad as a client. “It’s not worth my time.”
“You gonna tell Dad?”
I clasped my hands and rested my chin on them, pondering my options. They were slim. My father had always been there for me. Even when I screwed up and I screwed up a lot. He supported my choices and helped me chase this dream of mine even after I embarrassed the family.
“No.” I sighed. “I’m going to put you on it for now. Conrad is months out from actually running for anything. We have time. You begin the process and I’ll reevaluate in a few weeks. We can meet with him after I see what you dig up.”
“Okay.” He stood and headed for the door. “A few of us are going to grab something to eat if you want to come.”
“Thanks.” Miles always tried to include me with the guys but ever since I left rehab it was just easier for me to avoid certain situations. “I have a ton of work to catch up on.”
“It’s just dinner.”
“Go.” I nodded toward the door. “Have a good time. You don’t have to babysit me. I’m the older brother, remember?” I recently hit thirty but I felt a lot older than that. Too many years of partying had taken their toll on me.
“Well, maybe this weekend just the two of us can go to dinner or something.”
“We will.” I focused on my computer screen. “See you tomorrow.”
One of the benefits of no longer drinking was the solid growth of my company. I had plenty of time and determination. But even I needed an outlet. I picked up my phone. If she was my latest habit then so be it. I needed her tonight.
My place at 8. Don’t be late.
I hit send and set my phone down. She never replied but always showed up. Once I saw her face all the tension of the day would disappear.
***
Ten after eight and she finally managed to make her way up to my penthouse. Opening the door, I shot her a stern glance. I didn’t like to be kept waiting. My world moved at a very fast pace. I didn’t have time for many things. She was a pleasure I didn’t want to wait for.
“You’re late.” I took in her flustered appearance. “I said eight.”
“Sorry.” Her clothes were wet and her hair damp but she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I never asked her age but she was younger than me by at least five or six years. “It’s raining really heavy and I walked here.”
Walked? Wasn’t I paying her enough to afford a cab?
She stood in the doorway shivering and I thought about not going through with this tonight. She appeared off. Not that she had ever been comfortable in my presence but she looked upset. Maybe I was being too hard on her but I didn’t want her to like me. I didn’t like myself for what I’d been doing to her.
What’s your story, gorgeous? Did I want to know? Maybe this wasn’t the right woman to be playing this game with. Was she too fragile for me or once she left did she forget what we had done? These were questions I probably should have asked before we started this whole deal.
“Perhaps we should forget about tonight.” I studied her face as disappointment overtook her delicate features.
“No!” She spoke louder than normal. “I’m late but just by a few minutes. I’ve done everything you’ve asked.” She pleaded with me. I saw the determination in her eyes. Was she so desperate for the cash? “Don’t make me beg.”
This was the most she’d ever spoken to me, and to my surprise, I liked it. “Come in.” I motioned for her to join me. She walked over to the foyer table and turned her back to me. I had her well-trained. No more second thoughts. I stalked toward her. I wasn’t forcing her to be here. I’d given her the out and she didn’t take it.
Trailing my hand down her spine, I secured the hem of her dress between my fingers. Stepping closer to her, I lifted the thin material over her back, exposing her sexy pale blue panties to me. She always matched her underwear to her dress. I wondered if she was as compulsive as I was.
“Spread your legs.” She did as I asked while I grabbed her wrists and pressed them against the table. She sucked in a sharp breath when I pushed my knee between her thighs and rubbed it along her smooth legs. She was tense. It usually took a few minutes to ease her into this. “Why do you keep coming back?”
I’d grown accustom to her not responding, but I continued to talk. I took her apprehensive personality as some sort of challenge. Sliding my finger down her back, her flesh grew hotter. Once I reached her panties, I hooked them on either side and glided them down her trembling legs and waited for her to step out of them. Resting my palms of her ass cheeks, I kissed my way up the back of her leg.
“Oh...” she moaned, relaxing just a bit when I ran my hands across her bottom and took her hips in them, slowly moving into a standing position.
“Will I be surprised to find you’re ready for me?” I was already solid as a rock, but when I slipped my fingers between her legs and pushed inside her sex I thought I’d lose it. “Perfect.”
I reached inside my pocket and retrieved the condom I’d placed there just before she arrived. Popping the button on my jeans, I lowered the zipper. She shifted from side to side as I sheathed myself in the latex. She was as impatient as I was. I heard it in her breathing, sensed it in her overheated flesh. What motivated her to do this? Why was I so intrigued?
“Arch your back.” I pushed her hair to the side and pressed my lips against the nape of her neck. Inhaling her warm vanilla scent, I fought the urge to kiss her flesh. Tonight I’d taken more liberties with intimacy than I had in the past with her. She didn’t seem to mind. Gripping my length in my hands, I pressed on the small of her back. Teasing her with my tip, I rubbed it along her entrance. What I wouldn’t give to go bare with her. That would really break the intimacy rule.
Her breathing was more rapid now. It filled the space between us. I liked the quiet. It gave me time to focus on her. Helped me forget the stress of my day and all my inner-demons I was so desperately trying to forget.
With one quick thrust of my pelvis I was inside her heat and she settled down. When I moved inside her she relaxed. I noticed it the first time we were together. She held on to the edge of the table, her knuckles white from her firm grasp, but once I started the in and out motion, she loosened up. And then there was that low, sexy moan she rewarded me with every time I entered her. Hearing her enjoy herself made me feel less of a sick fuck for doing this to her.
“Mmm...” she breathed out, fueling me to go deeper, harder and faster.
When she clenched around me, it took most of my effort not to lose my control. It was too soon to end this. Once it was over, she was gone. The first few times we were together, I preferred it that way, but now I wanted more. Hell, didn’t I always end up wanting more?
I twisted my fingers in her hair, wrapping her sexy tresses around my hand and pulling her head back so I could see her face. She quickly dropped her gaze. She never looked into my eyes. Maybe if I upped the price on our agreement I could make her look at me. Would she see me for who I really was? Did I want her to know me like that?
She bit her lip as she quivered beneath me. Her skin creased between her brow as her muscles tightened. I loved when she came. With each of my forceful thrusts she grunted.
“Let go,” I moaned. “Just let go. Let me hear you.”
She ignored my requests and I wondered if that was her way of staying in control of herself. Was she fighting a battle too?
I could hold off no longer. A hot wave of desire coursed through me, filling me with the need to release. As much as I wanted to prolong this, our encounters were meant to be fast, satisfying and nothing more than a quick fuck. That was what I said I wanted when I started this charade and now I couldn’t change the terms.
“Gorgeous.” I snaked my hands under her dress and squeezed her perky breasts. I’d bet my company they were the best set I’d ever seen, if I’d seen them. There was so much about this woman I wanted to see. “Ahh...” I pounded into her until there was nothing left for me to give.
Collapsing against her as she dropped onto the table, she rested her cheek on the cool wood. I lingered a few moments longer than normal, waiting for us to calm down. My chest against her back, both of us hot and disheveled. My heart beat hard as I tried to regulate my breaths. Coming down from the high she created left me craving more. I recognized the signs of my addictive personality and that annoyed me. She represented my weaknesses.
I stepped back and pulled up my pants. True to form, she didn’t move a muscle. She hated me as much as I despised myself right now. She had to. Didn’t she? It was a relief when she didn’t move. I didn’t want her to look at me.
Tonight I did something different. Before paying her, I opened the drawer of the foyer table. How she managed to stay so still was beyond me. Taking my wallet out, I found a fifty. I shoved my hand in my pocket and took out the envelope. Placing the fifty on top of it, I tossed them both on the table by her face.
“Take a cab home.” I stared at her for a moment before bending down and stealing her panties. That was my way of keeping her with me a little longer. I told you I was a sick fuck. “Use the service entrance when you leave.”
The last thing I needed in this town where everyone was looking for a scandal was for one of my neighbors to see I had a woman in here for less than twenty minutes a few times a week. It wouldn’t be difficult to figure out what she was doing here. That was just the sort of misconduct I would drop a client for. Good thing I wasn’t running for office.
As I headed upstairs, she didn’t make a sound. She never did. I wondered how long she waited until she snuck down the service elevator. Turning on the water, I made sure it was as hot as I could tolerate. I striped off my clothes, disposing of the condom in the wastebasket. Having unattached sex with her was intended to calm me down and make me feel better. Take away my stress. It wasn’t working. I wanted more, but I’d gone about this the wrong way. I could never expect her to see me as anything more than the jerk I was. Who propositions someone for sex?
When she left I wasn’t supposed to care. I should be going about my business but that wasn’t happening. What was it about this woman that had her invading my thoughts all the time? Why was I letting her into my quiet space? Why was I risking what I’d worked so hard to maintain for someone I barely knew?
I grasped the counter, staring into the mirror as the steam began to coat the glass. Bastard. I should leave her alone but I know I won’t.