Chapter 28 - Harper

This is the hardest I’ve ever worked, but it doesn’t feel like it. I’ve never put so many hours in to finish a project but the only real memory I have from this week is my time in Zach’s arms. His voice is deep and triumphant as he announces to our small team that the proposal has been sent. I watch the way his shirt pulls against his shoulders as he raises his arms towards the employees. He turns to me and smiles and I feel my knees go weak. That smile knocks me out every time.

I turn to Rosie and congratulate her.

“Couldn’t have gotten this over the line without you, Rosie,” I say. She smiles and opens her arms up for a hug.

“Stop, Harper. You know you carried us all this week.”

She lets go of me and I take a step back. She cocks her head to the side and I see a mischievous gleam in her eye.

“Plus,” she adds. “I’m impressed you’ve been able to do it considering you haven’t been getting any sleep at night.”

I can’t help it, I start laughing. I can feel the flush in my cheeks creeping from my face out to my ears. I don’t say anything, because she’s right. I haven’t been sleeping much but I feel more energised than ever. Every time Zach touches me or looks at me it’s like a bolt of lightening right through me.

We all gather our things and head down into the cold New York winter. We make it to the same bar we go to for all our team events and stumble in the door. It’s already half-full of people in sparkly hats, drinking as the New Year approaches.

Zach makes his way to the bar and speaks to the bartender, who produces half a dozen bottles of champagne. It’s almost one bottle each and I start laughing.

“Don’t you think this is a bit much? There’s only eight of us!”

“We have a lot to celebrate!” Zach says. He turns to me and it almost looks like he’ll lean down and kiss me before he catches himself. He hands me a champagne flute and pours them for everyone else. We all raise our glasses. Zach clears his throat.

“To a successful proposal, and a healthy and happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year!” We respond, echoing him before clinking our glasses together in a circle and taking a sip. I look around the team and I can’t help but feel a burning in my heart. I’m proud of our work, proud of our team, proud of myself. For the first time I feel like I get to share that pride and happiness with someone else.

The bubbles explode on my tongue and I feel a small shiver travel down my spine. I love champagne. I glance up at Zach and find him looking at me. His eyes are deep and I see something like a current of happiness in them. He lets his hand drift to the small of my back and I lean into him ever so slightly. From where we’re standing at the bar, no one can see the movement and it feels like our little secret. Even just standing next to him feels more intimate than I could imagine.

He fills up my glass and the bubbles rush and climb up the sides, trying to escape out the top. Right before the bubble over, the liquid turns golden and settles down. I giggle. Everything about champagne is excited and happy, and it’s exactly how I feel right now. Zach’s hand presses into my back and drifts down. His fingertips brush the cleft of my ass and I shiver. The wetness between my legs soaks through my panties in an instant as his fingers ever so gently travel down the line of my ass.

I take a sip of champagne to hide my constantly blushing cheeks. With my nose buried in the glass, I close my eyes and lean into him a tiny bit more. His hand cups my ass and gives it a soft squeeze. The warmth of his hand as he squeezes sends a jolt of desire coursing through my veins. I don’t think I’ll make it to midnight. All I want to do is ring in the New Year with his cock buried deep inside me.

As if he can read my mind, he leans over and whispers in my hear. The heat of his breath tickles my neck and I try to focus on his words instead of the warmth radiating between my legs.

“Let’s get out of here,” he breathes. “You are driving me wild.”

“So are you,” I reply.

“I’ll go first,” he says. “I’ll wait for you in the car. Don’t be too long this time.”

I grin. It’s our usual routine. To avoid gossip, we never leave the office together. We typically stagger our exit by ten or fifteen excruciating minutes. As soon as he makes his goodbyes I know I won’t last that long. Five, six minutes tops. The seconds drag on one by one as I wait for my opportunity to leave.

Rosie slides in beside me. “So I guess you’ll be leaving in what, seven or eight minutes? Do you guys have a timer set?”

I glance at her sideways and start to laugh. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to me,” she grins. “I don’t think anyone else knows.”

“Good.”

“They’ve only just gotten over the tree incident, I think an affair with New York’s sexiest boss would be too much. You’d never recover,” she says with an exaggerated sigh.

“I can’t believe this is all happening.”

“You deserve it, Harper. You’ve worked your ass off and been through so much. Why not you! Why not be happy!”

Rosie turns to me and puts her glass of champagne down on the bar. She puts her hands on my shoulders and gives them a squeeze. Her eyes are shining and it looks like she’s about to cry. My throat tightens as I wait for her to speak.

“You’re the best friend I could ask for, Harper. When all that stuff with Greg was happening last year it scared me and broke my heart. The way you and Zach look at each other just makes me so happy for you. Don’t be afraid of this. You are amazing, and you deserve an amazing man by your side.”

My eyes start prickling as the tears gather in the corner. My throat feels like it’s almost completely closed and I try to swallow before answering.

“Rosie, that’s such a nice thing to say.” She smiles and blinks a few times, trying to hold back her emotion.

“I mean it. Now go,” she laughs. “If you’re able to walk tomorrow I’ll be very disappointed. You have some celebratory sex to have!”

I laugh and wrap my arms around her. She’s right, we have lots to celebrate so we might as well get started as soon as possible. There’s a bounce in my step as I walk out of the bar. I check the time before laughing to myself. I barely lasted four minutes in there on my own. My body wants what it wants, who am I to deny myself that kind of pleasure?!

Zach is in his car. The passenger’s side door swings open as I get close and a wave of heat falls out of the car. I climb in and close the door before turning to him and crushing my lips against his. The taste of champagne is still on my lips but his kiss tastes a million times better.

“Let’s get out of here,” he says when we pull apart. His eyes are shining in the dim light and all I can do is nod. That’s exactly what I want to do.