~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brianna
I don’t feel wounded. Chet left a hole in my heart, but this…fight with Michael doesn’t make me feel like I did with Chet.
Does that mean I’m just a glutton for punishment? Am I too trusting?
I sit at the dumpy bar I met Michael at, waiting for Deb so she can answer all these questions for me. Deb knows me better than anyone. I trust her judgment.
I gaze to the table I remember Michael sitting at that night we ran into each other. I wish he was here right now—which sounds ridiculous. I see him every day. But part of me is getting used to being around him.
Pulling out my phone, I keep my eye on the entrance so I can direct Deb to my table. I write up a quick text for Michael.
Should have told you I won’t be home until later. I’m meeting with Deb.
I realize, since I’m supposed to be part of a couple and I want Michael to be forthcoming, I’d better do the same thing with him.
Instead of texting, he calls. “Brianna.”
His deep voice sends chills down my body.
“Hi,” I say, trying not to sound breathless.
“I wish you would have told me you were going to be gone.”
“I’m sorry—I’m not used to having to report into someone.”
I hear the chuckle in his voice. “Feisty. I just want to make sure you’re safe. I would have sent security with you—keep the photographers and reporters away from you.”
“Oh.” I soften. “I think I’m fine here.”
“Where are you?”
“The bar where we met.”
“Ah…Good memories.”
“I know.”
He lets out a soft growl. “Damn it, I wish I was there with you right now.”
I squirm in my seat, his voice doing things to me no man’s voice has ever done before. “I’ll be home later.”
“Not soon enough.”
God, he’s making me throb in all the right places. I spot Deb walking through the door and struggle to control myself. “Deb’s here.”
“Shit.”
I laugh at the huskiness I hear in his voice. The need. “I have to go.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Deal.”
When I hang up, part of me wishes I would have invited him. Or told him I’d be home sooner. I want to see him so bad I can hardly stand it.
I’ll leave early. That’s what I’ll do. Surprise him at work.
Deb slides into the booth across from me. She releases a long sigh. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“You’re not. I’m early. I needed to get out.”
“He’s keeping you locked up in the penthouse dungeon?”
I laugh. “No. I’m just used to being out more. Working.”
“Yeah. I’d probably lose my mind if I worked at home. I still can’t believe Bruce fired you—or whatever. What an asshat. You could sue him, you know.”
She sounds like Michael. More upset than I was—because it’s actually a blessing in disguise. I get to work on my career—and it’s the best time to do it. When I have financial security.
“It’s not worth it. I’m doing what I want to do anyway.”
She orders a drink and then angles her head at me. “Are you really?”
“Am I really what?”
“Doing what you want to do?”
I take a moment to really think about it. Deb will be able to tell if I’m lying. “I am. I’m doing what I want to do. I feel…this freedom I never had before.”
Deb laughs. “Financial freedom.” When I flip her off, she shakes her head. “You know I’m joking. You deserve this. To take a break from all that shit—from Chet—and do what you love.”
“Thank you.”
“How’s the man? Michael? You guys ever even see each other or do you just keep to your side of the apartment?”
This question makes me squirm. We are definitely not keeping to our side of the apartment. We’re barely keeping our hands to ourselves.
“No. We…talk.”
Deb’s eyes widen. “You do realize how you just said that, right?”
I sip my drink and shrug like I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“Talk? Talk? Is that code for something? A metaphor?”
“For what?”
She grins. “You know. Getting very friendly. I mean, he’s hot. I wouldn’t blame you.”
“I don’t—”
“Think he’s hot? Because you agreed the first night we saw him. He’s treating you well, isn’t he?” Her face goes serious in an instant. “Because if he isn’t I’ll kick his ass. I swear, I’ll—”
“No. No, he’s treating me fine. And yeah, he’s hot. He’s…”
Her eyes grow large again. “OMG. You’re totally fucking him!”
“Shh—Deb! No, I’m not.”
“But you want to be.”
God, yes. “No comment.”
“Hell, live a little. If he’s not a dick and this whole arrangement is working for you, then go for it. Charm the one-eyed snake.”
I groan. “God, Deb. You have such a way with words.”
“There’s more where that came from.”
We joke our way through a few more drinks, but I’ve already made up my mind. I have Deb’s blessing to live a little. And more, I can’t seem to stop myself. I want Michael, and I plan on getting him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I ride the elevator to the top floor of Michael’s office building, using the time to touch up my makeup and run my fingers through my hair one more time. I undo the top button of my blouse as well, all the while feeling my heartbeat pick up.
By the time I get out of the elevator, I have myself worked up. Nervous, but ready to take charge.
Michael’s secretary sees me and smiles. “Miss Stevens.”
“Hi. I’m…” I point to the office. “I’m here to see Michael.”
“Oh. He left thirty minutes ago—said he was going to surprise you.”
I blink, and then laugh. “Of course.”
“You’re here to surprise him, I take it?”
I nod, leaning against the desk. “Looks like I’d better head back home.”
My phone rings and I pull it from my purse. My stomach clenches in anticipation when I see Michael’s name on the screen. “Hello?”
“Where are you?” he asks, voice low.
“At your office. Where are you?”
“Home. Damn it.”
“I’ll come back.”
“Don’t you dare move. Go into my office and stay there.”
My clit throbs with his words. “Okay.”
He hangs up, and my cheeks heat. I hope Ms. Brown didn’t hear what he said. She smiles like she knows a secret, but doesn’t say anything.
I point to the office again. “I’m going to wait in here.”
I hurry into the office, trying to ignore the throbbing between my legs. I guess Michael had the same idea as me.
To distract myself, I walk around his office. The view is spectacular, and the office is bigger than my entire apartment. My old apartment.
I don’t miss it at all. In fact, I’m pretty settled in Michael’s place. It feels like home. It worries me how fast it happened. How easily I’m sinking into this new life.
More worry starts to seep in, making me think less of who’s on the way and more of what I’m doing. Where this is taking me. If Michael and I get intimate, it’ll change things. We’ll be putting ourselves in a different position. We’ll be a couple—and not just on paper.
By the time ten minutes passes, I’ve convinced myself what a terrible idea this is. Taking this step with Michael is a risk. I already took risks with Chet, and look where that got me.
Pulling my purse over my shoulder, I walk to the door. Meeting Michael here is a terrible idea. I reach for the handle, pull it open, and gasp.
“Michael!”
His eyes are hot, tracing my face, then the length of my body before rising to meet mine again. “Where are you going?”
“Uh…” My throat dries. “I was thinking, maybe…”
He steps inside the office and closes the door before I can protest. “Thinking? That doesn’t sound like a good thing.”
It is a good thing. Or it was until I saw him. Now, all the thoughts have left my head because he looks so hot. He’s wearing dark jeans that sit low on his hips and a button-up dress shirt that’s loose a few buttons on top. His hair is mussed like he’s run his fingers through it a few dozen times, and his eyes won’t leave mine.
He’s making me want him all over again just after I talked some sense into myself.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea,” I say, backing up. My legs hit the edge of his desk, and I realize I’ve been taking steps backward this whole time, while he’s been stalking toward me.
“What’s not a good idea?”
I point between us. “Uh…you know…”
“I don’t know. Right now, all I can do is feel. All I can do is see something I want, and go for it. That’s why I’m here.” He gives a grin that’s almost animalistic. “And I think that’s why you’re here, too.”
It is. It was. But now…
“The truth, Brianna,” he says. “That’s why you’re here, right?”
The throbbing between my legs is back, and this time I can’t make it go away with rational thoughts. Not with Michael standing in front of me looking like that.
I swallow and nod, giving in. “Yes. That’s why I’m here.”