Chapter Five
I paced the apartment, waiting for him to come home. Practicality had won out, and I only requested a text every couple of hours. This was the third day since my infamous walkout. From what Nicholas said, the tension lay so thick over the office, it produced its own weather pattern. I’d laughed, as I think he’d intended, but worry still set heavy on my heart.
Every night he came home, the stress caused lines across his forehead which only went away after sex. He kept apologizing to me for not having me back at work. Now that I knew he didn’t believe I did it, I had decided to just enjoy my paid vacation. I read books I didn’t have time for, took bubble baths, shopped for toys I thought he’d like to use on me, and treated myself to a spa and had my hair done with the luxury of not being in a hurry.
It was him I worried about. The more the investigation uncovered, the worse the tension became. About a week after our makeup sex, he came home, even more stressed than usual.
“This might break me,” he admitted, pacing the kitchen while I cooked us seared scallops in a white sauce and artichokes. “This isn’t the first time money has gone missing. The other times are covered up, and it had to take an accountant to do this. It’s worse than I imagined. Some going back to before I took over the business from my father.”
I wanted to go to him and comfort him, but knew he needed to get it all out, to work through it away from the office. “I’ve had to eradicate this sort of problem before. I thought I’d closed the loop holes. Seems I only redirected their efforts. They’ve used lots of people’s computers. Most of them are dead now.”
I gasped. “What? How?”
“I’ve had the investigators put on it when we found it out. I wanted to ask them questions about it, but one after the other turned up dead. So far, an accidental poisoning, a couple car accidents, a seeming heart attack. They were far enough apart, no one thought much of it. Now, with all the other evidence, the local police are going to re-investigate the deaths, see if there was something overlooked before. One of them…” He stood there, one hand on his back, the other pulling at his hair. “One of them is the reason I hired you. The poisoning. It’s how your position opened up. This is…”
Now I did go to him. I wrapped my arms around him, a little afraid for myself and a lot afraid for him. I was tucked away in my apartment, but he had to go be around the person or people responsible for whatever was going on. “This is looking like a long term sabotage, at the very least,” I finished for him.
“Or could just be plain greed. Going back only two years, I’ve lost about two million dollars in siphoned money across all aspects of the company, not counting the latest coup. Whenever I came close or put in new measures, there is a drop in money disappearing, but it only takes them a month or two to get back into the swing. The amounts are small, usually. A hundred charged to an account which never makes it to the company books. That sort of thing. I have an independent forensic accountant on the case. But, like they did with yours, they used multiple computers. Someone has a keystroke hack or something in my system that multiple scans haven’t found.”
He absently stroked my back as we spoke, his chin on the top of my head. “What are we going to do?” I asked, fearing for him more by the second.
“We are going to keep you away from the office,” he said grimly. “I don’t want you to have an accident, too,” he answered grimly. “It could be anyone. Ernie, Fred, George, at least one of them has to be involved, along with a slew of others, and the closer we come to catching them, the more I fear they’ll retaliate against you. Somehow, you’ve been a catalyst. I’m trying to go over everything you’ve worked on, especially the last few months. I’m convinced that you saw something that whomever is behind this didn’t want you to see. Which gives me hope that there is a way to catch them.”
“That doesn’t help as much as it sounds. I’m the one who checks all the files. I’ve worked in every division, at least one day.” The groan this elicited almost made me feel bad for bringing it up, but I sensed it was more that he knew that already and the headache it would all be. We continued to discuss things as we ate. I racked my head for anything which set off any alarm bells, but nothing came to mind. I always found small things in every file. It was part of the job and why someone like me was needed. I’s not dotted, t’s not crossed, but nothing that had hit red flag status. Usually, I just gave the file to person responsible and had them fix it with their client.
That night, we didn’t have sex, he just held me as he fell asleep, murmuring words of love. I stayed cradled in his arms, offering him what comfort I could, but what could I give him that would help with the knowledge someone was systematically trying to destroy him?
The next day, I was jumpy at every little sound. I wanted to leave the apartment, but wasn’t sure where to go where I’d be safe. I felt like I was living in an Agatha Christie novel, with no idea whom all the players were.
Nicholas called a little after lunch. “Fiona,” he said happily. “We’ve had a break. One of the lines of code has been traced back to the hacker. The local police also found evidence that the poisoning wasn’t accidental. They’ve apparently been looking into it for the past year. The thing they lacked most was motive.”
“That’s a relief. Does this mean you can save your company, everything you’ve built?”
“Yes. It’ll be lean for a bit as news leaks out, but my safeguards have kept them from being able to do more than skim off the top before it’s in the system. I’ll have to hire a lawyer, and I’m keeping this forensic accountant on staff until I figure out all the players, but yes.”
I grinned. His happiness had him talking more than usual, and it made my heart sing. “I’m so happy for you. I’ll help in any way I can.”
“You’ll be giving celebratory sex tonight,” he teased.
“My pleasure,” I replied, relief pouring through me. “Be safe. I’ll go pick stuff up for a special dinner.”
“Okay, but be careful. We don’t have all the names yet. This took a lot of help. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I promise.”
I made a quick dash to the local deli, picking up some special herbs and spices and a nice prime rib. I grinned as I did the prep work and seasoned the meat. I texted him to ping me when he left so I could start cooking at the right time. I took a shower, prepping as if for a special date. And it really felt like it was. I would be cleared and back to work, his business was saved, and hot sex. What more could a girl ask for? I smiled in the mirror as I plucked a stray hair between my brows and finished putting on my makeup.
Wearing only a robe with my hair in a towel, I went to go decide what to wear tonight. Something demure, yet sexy. Something that said come and get me but wasn’t too easy. Something that said submissive but not insecure. I literally couldn’t decide when I thought I heard a knock on the door. I snagged my phone off my dresser as I walked past to check if Nicholas had messaged while I had showered. I went out to the living room, the better to listen to see what had made the noise.
As I stood there, I heard the key in the lock and stood back as ordered for safety in case someone tried to get in. Really, I felt as if I were in a James Bond film at all the secrecy and caution, but every piece of evidence uncovered went beyond normal office security breech, and my imagination burned with possibilities. My earlier elation turned to a hard brick of fear. Maybe it was Nicholas, I told myself.
Patiently, I waited for him to get in. When he seemed to still have trouble, I almost called out to him, but something stopped me. Maybe my promise not to do that. I bit my lip, feeling stupid. Then I brightened. I could call him.
I pulled his number up and waited to hear his phone in the doorway outside. When he answered, I heard nothing outside my door, and, I hadn’t heard a ring. That fear trenched through me and settled in my gut which clenched tight enough to produce diamonds.
He repeated the hello and then said my name. I whispered, “Someone’s outside my door, trying to get in.”
He said, “Hang up and call the police. Now. I’m on my way. Don’t worry about if we’re wrong. Better safe than sorry under the circumstances.”
I hung up without saying anything and did as he asked. Even if it wasn’t related to the case, no one should still be trying to work the lock when I hadn’t answered the door. When the emergency dispatcher asked what kind of emergency, I whispered, “Police.” I backed away from the door and headed to my room, feeling my way along the wall.
Took forever, but a police dispatcher finally came on the line. “How can I help you?”
“Intruder,” I said as quietly as I could manage. I finally made it to my room and shut the door quietly. I went to my window and opened it, peering down as the dispatcher rattled off a bunch of questions in my ear. There was someone at the bottom of the fire escape. I quickly ducked my head back in.
“Are you able to answer? Press a button once for no.”
My eyebrows shot up my face at the ingenuity of the dispatcher, but I hit a button, grateful I didn’t have to keep trying to talk.
“Do you know how many perps? Press the button for how many you think there are. If there are three, press it three times, and so forth.”
I hit the button twice.
“Two people. Could there be more? Once for no, twice for yes.”
I pushed it twice. I had no idea how many were in the hall or if they had other entrances to my apartment complex watched.
“I’ve dispatched a unit to the address on file.” She rattled off the apartment complexes address, and I breathed in deeply, thankful it was correct. “Is this correct, same as before.”
A loud glass crash echoed through my house. I held my breath. They were in.
“Was that from within your apartment?”
I again pressed our developed code for yes.
“Help is minutes away. Hang in there.”
The seconds ticked by slow and terrifying, stretching to eternity to my fear filled mind. The absolute silence in the apartment felt wrong, abnormal, as if the walls themselves were trying not to breathe. Using the little bit of light from the bathroom’s night light, I knelt and snagged my jeans from earlier, throwing them on, along with the tee I’d been wearing. Whoever was breaking in, I didn’t want to be caught naked.
Huddled into a corner of my room, waiting, I heard a scuffle outside. Cautiously, I moved to the window and peered down in time to see Nicholas block a punch, then deliver three-part blows and then an upper cut, and the other man toppled over. I suppressed the impulse to cheer, but my heart quickened in relief. The cops may be minutes away, but Nicholas would be in the apartment by then. I’d take him and his army training any day for protection. Clanging footsteps echoed my way as he started up the metal staircase, and I glanced back to my bedroom door. My place wasn’t too big. If they knew someone was home, they’d be here soon.
I grabbed the lamp by the bed and then stood behind the door, waiting. The dispatch kept a running narrative of ETA for the cops, four minutes, what not to do if confronted, how to defend myself if necessary, and basically was my rock. But rock or not, I’d drop the phone in a hot minute if they came through that door. I wanted both hands on the lamp when it hit whomever had decided to scare the shit out of me—or worse.
Nicholas crawled through my open window, quiet as a ninja from my point of view. Probably something he learned in the Army. I couldn’t help the grin which crossed my face for a brief second as a nearby street light lit his face as he ducked sideways while holding up the curtain, but then the door near me moved. I let the phone fall and lifted the lamp above my head. Someone taller than me cleared their head of the door, headed toward the light of the bathroom, and I pulled down with all my might. The man stumbled, only dazed, and quickly recovered.
He turned in with a roar of fury at me. I backed up toward my closet with half a mind to lock myself in there. The guy pursued me in a silent game of cat and mouse. I tried to keep my focus on the bad guy, but the intruder reached out and managed to grab my throat. His extensive reach surprised me. All I could do was gasp and try to get his hand off me, hoping Nicholas could fight the man off before he hurt me too badly. The low light of the bathroom kept him backlit, the face hidden from me, making him like a shadow of terror attacking me.
I heard a click sort of noise and peered over the shoulder of the man choking me. He’d stopped squeezing, and now I could see why. Nicholas held a gun to his head.
“Move slowly. Take your hand off her throat.” Nicholas backed way off the guy as he gave the order.
I wondered why, but then the guy flung himself around. He’d misjudged where Nicholas stood. But he still tried to get to Nicholas.
“Stop. I’d rather take you in alive because I hate the paperwork of killing someone,” Nicholas said in a low voice as if discussing the constant rainy weather. He shrugged. “But you touched my woman and tried to kill her. Your choice.”
I shivered. I could finally see Nicholas as he would have been on the battlefield. The intruder took a step back toward the door, then became brave and sneered. “You won’t win this, Nicholas. My friend will help me.”
Nicholas’ white teeth gleamed in the streetlight which shone through a crack in the curtain. “You mean the one kissing the pavement, waiting for the police to round him up? That one? Or the one already in jail? Have you heard from Jose lately, Ernie?”
I gasped. Ernie? “From the tech center, Ernie?”
Ernie sneered. “Shoulda known you were sleeping with the ice princess,” he said.
The police came just as I saw Nicholas tense up. They burst in, their guns blazing, their flashlights blinding. Ernie rushed at me, but as I stood off to the side and a little behind the door, I hadn’t been blinded as the men were. I jumped out of his way, and he stumbled into the closet.
The police yelled freeze at both Nicholas and Ernie, asked if I was okay. “This man broke into my home,” I said, pointing to Ernie. “This one is my boyfriend who saved me. There was another guy down there,” I said, gesturing out my window.
“She means at the bottom of the fire escape. One was waiting for her to try to run. I knocked him out and came up the fire escape.”
It took hours to get our statements done. Ernie and his accomplice, Fred from accounting, got hauled off in a beautifully undignified matter.
I was exhausted and couldn’t hardly think, but of course, when we lay naked in bed, my mind latched on to the oddest thing. “Ice princess?”
“Yes. I have heard it bandied about when they think I can’t hear. You are apparently telling everyone no if they ask to sleep with you, even the women.”
“So I’m an ice princess instead of a professional who doesn’t want to have inner office sexcapades?”
He laughed, but I was pretty sure I remained scowling. He kissed me affectionately. “I know you’re not an ice princess. Most of the people who work with you daily know that.”
I caught the qualifier most, but decided to ignore it for now. I’d had a good scare, and my hero had rescued me. I sighed. As if I’d needed another reason to adore him. “Well, my big, strong hero, whatever shall I do to reward you?” I batted my eyelashes then started laughing. I couldn’t really do it with intention.
He slapped my ass and grinned. “I’m sure, if you put your mind to it, that you’ll think of something.”
I returned his grin with a saucy one of my own and reached for his semi-hard dick. “I suppose I could think of something pleasing to both of us. Hmmm…” I teased his nipple then moved down while I stroked him with my hand.
I’d crawled between his legs within a short time. By that point, his wood had gone full hard on. I licked my lips and peered up at him from a position a hair’s breadth away from the tip. His eyes darkened as he watched. I flicked my tongue out and ran it along the tip as I clutched the base tightly with my hand. “Maybe…”
His hand snaked out and grabbed my hair while pushing me down on his now throbbing penis. I shuddered in pleasure at his taking control. His hips rose and dropped as he fucked my mouth. I skimmed my nails across his thighs and had the satisfaction of catching him moan.
I drew him in, making pleasure noises in the back of my throat. My pussy clenched as a small orgasm slipped through, and then a bigger one started to build. Between his hand in my hair and his dick in my mouth, my body was enticed and teased and wanted more. More. I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of having him in me, anywhere he wanted to put it. He pumped one long time deep to my throat and then just held it there. I thought for sure he’d come then, but his self-control impressed me.
He pulled his dick out and brought me up to his face as he kissed me hard. “On all fours,” he ordered roughly, already flipping me to the position he wanted. His nails scored my back.
I arched and screamed in shock and pleasure-pain he’d already taught my body to enjoy. Then he slowly entered me. I tried to back into him, and he smacked my ass and pulled my head back by the hair, the other hand on my hip as he held me still. “Not until I say, remember? On all fours, you are totally submissive.”
The roughness of his voice had me breathing hard and quivering. In the aftermath of being attacked, I’d sort of forgotten. I could beg, if I wanted. I turned my head and looked at him over my shoulder, then winked. I caught his grin before he could suppress it, but he still slapped my ass again in punishment. I guess being saucy didn’t count as totally submissive with him.
To my mind, he was trying to go slow to get control back after having someone break in the front door and try to kill me. I wanted to celebrate being alive and having Nicholas protect me. My hero, I thought again. “My hero,” I whispered as he made it balls deep within me.
I don’t know if it was my words or if he’d used up all his control trying to torture me, but at that moment, he started thrusting hard in and out of me. My throat was sore from the man’s hands on me, but I ended up calling out in pleasure until it was raw, painful, and still, he slammed into me like he’d never stop.
I held as immobile as I could, but I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Please,” I begged. I wanted to beg him to move, but wasn’t sure if I were allowed. I was panting by this point, my pussy swollen, my nipples aching as they swung every time he slammed into me.
He reached a hand around to my breast, bringing his body more aligned with mine. “Since you asked so nicely…you can move now, but you can’t come until I say.”
I cried in relief and began letting my body move as it desired in time with his movements. Soon I was begging for release, to allow me to let it loose. Each time I asked, he spanked me again, or sometimes, he pinched a nipple.
Finally, he said, “Come.” as he moved his hand down to my clit and pinched with a quick release. The quick pain then super sensitized sensation rolled through me and knocked me into a screaming orgasm I couldn’t control. He sped up and followed me over the edge before I’d finished. I just kept milking him with my climax as it continued to rumble through my body. Finally, I could move enough to flop down on my belly.
He followed me down, still joined, so I shivered as another orgasm wound its way through.
Obviously quite proud of himself, he rolled to the side next to me and stroked my arms as he spoke. “Well, am I still?”
Confusion filled me. Was he still what? I cast my mind back and realized that I’d called him a hero. I grinned. “Oh yes. Definitely. My hero.”
***
Come Monday, I seriously considered not going in to the office even though I’d been cleared. Nicholas had spent the weekend celebrating by really pushing my submission training. He’d added a couple more rules, then made me practice over and over again. He’d even brought out whips.
I caught myself grinning again despite the pain in my whole apex area and my back and my front and my thighs… A groan left my lips as memory brought on echoes of orgasms. Maybe I should go back home after all. I still hurt from head to toe, in every crevice, and every movement caused flashbacks to the weekend. It would be hard to focus on work. Then again, I expected a difficult day. Might as well have the pleasure of the distraction of my body and memories of Nicholas to keep me from losing my cool.
From what the investigator said, there had to be more people involved. At least one person with inside knowledge beyond the IT guys. I was a little nervous going back before they had everyone, but the police seemed to think Fred and Ernie were the ones likely doing the physical damage.
I parked in my usual spot, took the elevator, and walked back in the office, head held high. I made eye contact with every one of them. A few couldn’t hold my gaze, the others clapped at my return. I allowed myself to smile. Nicholas was right—as usual. I sighed and took my place at my desk.
The office chair pushed into my swollen vulva, and I nearly stood straight back up with a scream. I bit my lip instead. Holy hell, did I hurt. I think both us had been working out the stress of this last week. I began the arduous task of sorting emails and easing my way back into a routine…and ease my way around the chair. Fucking. Hell.
“We all know you’re sleeping with the boss,” Kim hissed suddenly.
I jolted. So intent on my work that I hadn’t heard her, the words came even more ominously to my consciousness. I tilted my head to the side and slanted my eyes as I deliberately and quite obviously eyed her up and down. “Missing Ernie,” I countered, taking a stab in the dark as to why she’d become bold in her harassment.
Her face drained of all color. The translucence of her skin came so strongly and suddenly that I stood up with half an idea that I should call an EMT or something. “You bitch,” she said and stalked off.
Worry etched its way into my heart. Despite my being gone for a week, the personal enmity between her and myself had hit mountainous proportions, and I didn’t understand why. My flippant remark meant to say I knew what went on while I was gone and so didn’t care about her office gossip had not gone as planned.
That night, I told Nicholas about the conversation as we ate dinner out. His hand stopped midair, and for the second time that day, I wondered if I needed to call for an ambulance. I raised my eyebrows at him and waited for an explanation.
“You may have found the missing link,” Nicholas said, color back in force on his face.
For the love of… “To what, exactly?”
“The investigators couldn’t line up all the pieces. Something didn’t fit.”
“But Ernie was in my house!”
“Yes, there’s no doubt Ernie, Fred, and Jose are part of it. However, the motivation to kill you seems less than stellar for the prosecution, and I agree. Killing you puts them from thieves to murderers, and that’s a huge jump, profile wise, mainly because they haven’t found proof against them regarding the other deaths yet. They need something tangible. Then they think they can begin to link all the pieces. You may have provided it.”
This time, my fork stopped midair. He was right. Why hadn’t I thought of that already? “Then, what do you think…” She wouldn’t have…no.
“Shake your head all you want, but it makes sense. She’s been jealous of you since you started. She used to come into my office three times a day, complaining about ‘that new girl’ who couldn’t seem to do anything right. I had to talk to my assistant about you to see if there was anything to Kim’s prattling. I thought it might just be from having you come on so soon after Denise’s death.”
I swallowed hard, the last bit I’d eaten still lodged there as hurt and anger dueled for supremacy. Anger won. “What in the fires of hell did I ever do to her?”
“I don’t know what her problem is. Off and on since she’s worked for my company, she’s been in a relationship with Ernie and Jose and Fred, with rumors about women too…”
He trailed off, but I saw a flash of knowing cross his face. Probably matched mine. “All of whom she has used to do her dirty work,” I finished for him. It made sense. “Let me ask you this, how much of a play has she done on you?”
He frowned. “She hinted quite a few times she’d be willing to do more than paperwork for me. Always tried to make it like a joke or something when I responded in the negative. I finally had to really be cold to her about it.”
I stabbed my shrimp and then pointed it at Nicholas as I spoke. “And there’s your reason for her hating me.”
He frowned, and I just knew his male brain wasn’t grasping the concept. “But…we didn’t sleep together until that fire drill two weeks ago.”
“But, while she’s making moves and being shut down, you not only hire a beautiful woman, you hired one that was more than eye candy. I’m someone who could figure out what she and Ernie and the rest were doing if I had my hands on enough files. She felt threatened, like her power throne was given away. And, now that you’ve told me this, so much more of the office dynamics make sense.”
I bit the succulent, butter covered shrimp, enjoying it even more as it’s juices sprayed my mouth. I hated women like that, and the knowledge I was dealing with petty jealousy and power play lightened the load considerably. I pointed at him with the fork in between bites.
“So,” I said, taking another small bite and swallowing it. “I come in. Smart, intelligent, great at my job, and I’m at least as beautiful as she is, arguably more so. Then, to top it all off, I’m nice to everyone else. People aren’t all listening to whatever she feeds them. She can’t control them. They’re starting to take my side.” I sipped on my expensive white wine.
“Since she’s obviously set herself up and used sex to control more than one man, someone like me would totally upset that balance of power. So when she’s sure we had sex together, she goes on the offensive. She has to get me out of the way. Setting it up to appear as if I’d stole the money is a brilliant move on her part. Her hands are still clean since she doesn’t have the hacking skills. I’m out of the office, leaving her queen bee again, and she can work to get her hooks in you, make you complicit in everything. Tell me, Nicholas, how many times did she work to get you alone or in a compromising position while I was on my forced vacation?”
He flushed red, and the bite of steak he’d been about to eat paused before passing his lips. He chewed slowly, thoughtfully. I could tell he wasn’t avoiding my question, but rather giving it deep thought. “Unfortunately, too many, and it frustrates me I didn’t see them earlier.” He paused and cut more of his steak. “That first day when you left the office looking like death scraped your insides and served them up to the demons of hell, she came in within minutes, offering comfort, words of advice. I’d been too caught up in my own regret and pain to think about her motivations or the insinuations behind her words.”
He took another bite, watching me closely. “You never did that. You never pushed me for sex, or tried to get me into compromising position. Women have played that game with me so long, I’ve missed that you didn’t. I only noticed because I’ve been trying hard not to be like all other bosses, even by accident, into making them think they had to be sexy for me to keep their jobs.”
I nodded. I’d witnessed it for the year I’d been there. “There are women out there working just to score a man.” I shrugged. “More power to them. But I don’t think this is the case here. She’s definitely of the compromising position sort. It’s a power trip for her. I would bet you a home cooked meal by yours truly that she has slept with all three men you have in custody and promised they were her favorite.
He narrowed his eyes on me. “Obviously, I am not stupid enough to take that bet. If it’s anything like the meals you’ve already made, I’d hate to lose it.””
I laughed and flirted with him by staring into his eyes then staring down into my meal. The blush wasn’t intentional though. Damn his eyes. They had me thinking of the beach at the ocean and naughty things. “I’m glad to hear that.” I laughed and cut another bite of my sumptuous shrimp. I’d finished most of the salad already.
“You’ve let me do most of the cooking,” he said.
“Did I?” I giggled. “Hmmmm. Maybe because I was too sore to do it most days.” I blushed again, though I tried to act suave. “Anyways, back to the subject at hand,” I said. “Whether or not you take that bet, I still think you need to set security on her.”
He completely ignored the last part. “You were quite delectable this weekend, too. However, I think you need punished for your sass.”
I grinned. “Looking for an excuse to use the whip?” Oh, how I loved to tease him.
He cleared his throat. “Maybe. Okay, back to business. As you say, I should put security on Kim, and you need to be extra careful at work. In fact, we need to come in together. I’ll pick you up in my truck.”
My ass tingled when he said he would punish me. Lordy, how did he work me up on sex even in the middle of a serious discussion. Holy hell. I took a deep breath. I stared at his eyes, wishing we were alone and not in public. I loved how he looked at me, especially when we were making love or I’d earned his approval as his sub. I wanted to take him home right now and have my way with him. Screw the office politics. No, screwing him would be much more exciting.
“Well?” he prompted.
I blanked. My mind having gone elsewhere, I couldn’t fathom what he wanted. “I’m sorry. I am not sure what you’re asking of me.”
He gave me a quizzical stare and then said, “You and me, carpooling. I’m going to pick you up at five in the morning, so we have time for coffee and still beat the worst of traffic.”
I flushed. Oh, that’s right. He’d asked me about that. I nodded and stared back down at the rice pilaf I still had left, picking at it with my fork. God, if he had any idea how horny I was right now, he’d probably ask for the check right away.
“Fiona, look at me.”
I lifted my gaze to his, falling down the well of that love/lust combo his eyes held for me. Much as he wanted to punish me, all of sudden, I wanted, needed, gentle. The office stuff had kept me riddled with stress too long. I needed the affirmation that all people weren’t like the ones trying to hurt me, to bring him down.
I saw a sweet look sweep across his face, his lips holding a quiet smile, his eyes resting on me as if I were something beloved to him. How in the hell had I ever resisted him, much less for a year?
The waiter came by just then to see if we needed anything. “Check, please,” Nicholas said, never taking his eyes off me.
My stomach hardened. We didn’t speak much on the way home. It didn’t take long as we’d gone out late and were closer to my home than not. For the first time, I was struck by an idea of how much he must like me. He spent most of his time at my apartment. Though nice and in a decent neighborhood, I knew that his home was big enough to hold office parties in because I’d been to one.
How intuitive of him to understand I needed my own home and the security of it when everything else was up in the air. And after the break in, he probably wanted to take me away to his place for safety, but let me face that as well so I would not be afraid of my own place.
I’d given him a key to my place, and he’d given me one to his home, so he wasn’t trying to keep me away either. I hugged that thought to myself. While Kim still had her freedom to hurt me, anything that helped me feel safer was welcomed.
He found parking and scooted out. I’d learned to wait for him to open my door when in his car. I’d argued at first, but he’d decided it was part of my care as my Dom. I could hardly argue with that. If it was part of what he wanted to do outside of the bedroom, I could deal with it. It hadn’t taken me long to get used to it, though.
We strolled into the lobby arm and arm and headed up the elevator to my apartment. Every time we were in an elevator, I blushed. I could not stop it. How could I? I could feel his hands on me as if we were reliving the moment. We almost never talked in the elevator, as if both of us had those pictures in our minds.
My heart raced as I imagined his hands on me. My floor dinged, or I may have jumped him right then. We walked down the hallway, holding hands. He unlocked my door, and we both went straight to the bedroom, shedding our coats as we went. My emotions had filled me too far for words. I just wanted him touching me, loving me, caring for me.
He began unbuttoning my dress, my back to him, pushing my hair around the front. As if he sensed my need for gentle, his hands caressed their way down my back as the shirt fell apart. The fabric whispered off my shoulders under his guidance. He pressed his lips on my neck, then moved up to my cheek, his hands on my shoulders.
We stood there, in silence for a long moment. Then he turned me to him and finished undressing me, barely-there touches lighting a fire under me. Then I took care of his clothes, kissing him lightly here and there, letting my hair fall against his legs as I bent to take off his boxers and pants.
The hissed intake of his breath was my reward. I smiled a bit. I loved garnering those uncontrollable responses from him. Only fair when he had to but crook a finger at me to get me going. I stood up and stared into his eyes. Our bodies were but centimeters apart. The tension grew. I wanted to touch him, but there was something intense about the now, and I couldn’t stop staring.
Then he bent his head and met my lips in a searing kiss which melted my heart. I sighed into his mouth as his arms came around me. Then the kiss heated up and our tongues met even as our bodies aligned. Everywhere we touched became sensitized, and by the time he led me to the bed, every bit of me felt as if an ocean of light flowed through me.
He laid me back with care, following me down with a kiss, his hand stroking the nipple to a hard peak. He massaged it then back to playing with the tip. My body turned languid under his ministrations. His mouth moved to the other breast, and I wove my fingers through his hair as my body started up the climb to its orgasm. It took longer under the gentleness, but it rose just as strong, just as sure. When I neared my peak, he stopped sucking and positioned himself over me, just staring at me.
I’d never seen him look at me quite like that, like I mattered more than his next breath. It stopped my heart for a second, stole my ability to think anymore. Then, he entered me and kissed me at the same time. He rocked into me the rhythm strong but not frantic. I felt the clenching start, and my whole body started to shake, and I still hadn’t dropped over the edge into my orgasm. It hung there, ready to crash, but not quite going there.
Then he caught one hand in his and laced his fingers through it and put it on the bed beside my face as he still moved in me, strong and steady, and he just looked at me. I gasped as my body tightened even more, and he took my other hand, repeating the treatment, always watching me. That was it for me. I cried out and arched as the climax finally rolled its way through me like a hurricane, leaving nothing for me to hide behind, my heart, my soul, opened wide to him, the walls I had left crashing down in surrender to him.
He sped up his pace and came soon after, gathering me up in his arms as we lay there recovering. We’d still not said a word since entering my apartment. It felt sacred. I know I’d promised, with my body, more than I’d intended this early in our relationship. I didn’t regret it, but I also didn’t know how to go from here. He may not be there with me. And wow just didn’t sound right.
“I love you,” I said quietly. “If I need to find a different job, I will. But I can’t hide my feelings for you anymore. I’m not going to be able to pretend that it’s work as usual.”
He stiffened up beside me. “You can’t work with me?”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that. I meant I can’t work without revealing how I feel about you. I’ve fallen head over heels, and there is no way I can pretend otherwise day in and day out.”
He relaxed and pulled me in tighter. “You don’t have to. We will trap Kim up tomorrow. I need you safe as well. I will have to restructure things a bit at the office, but it will be worth every second. I enjoy working with you, and you’re the best in your division.”
Another reason Kim hated me, I knew. I’d taken that title from her within a month of starting and never lost it. I frowned. Maybe I had now. Losing a week of work while under a cloud…and God knew what the hell she’d said to my clients. Whatever happened, I could take care of things.
By the next morning, we’d devised a plan to trap her into revealing herself. We arrived together, and I went straight into his office with him. We went over the reports and accounts that were mine, trying to determine just how badly Kim had screwed us, but also, to keep me in his office to push Kim’s jealousy and rage.
I left with a flush on my face. His fault. He’d kissed me senseless, his hand going under my skirt, thrusting with power and strength which left me breathless, then told me it was time to return my desk. I clutched the files to my chest, hiding the hardened nipples, and went to my desk and began working. Soon, the flush had left as I went into full work mode. I’d become so deeply ingrained in my work, I’d about forgotten about our plan.
Kim walked by and pinched me as she went. I yelped a bit and said, “What the hell is that for?”
“What, you going to go tattle to the boss? Think you’re so high and mighty now that you’re sleeping with him?” Her sneer turned her face ugly.
The rage I saw behind the sneer was what worried me though. “I’m going to insist you don’t assault me again, or I’ll be calling in the police. I don’t need to be sleeping with the boss to not be treated like a punching bag.” I saw her mask slip when I mentioned police. A swift pass of panic had flashed on her face.
I stood and faced her, not liking how at a disadvantage I felt with her standing. I crossed my arms and tilted my head. “Hey, didn’t I hear a rumor you were sleeping with Ernie? In fact, not a rumor, but you bragging one day in the ladies restroom?” I took a stab in the dark as she seemed the type to have to reveal her conquests.
She sputtered, and her face turned so red, I thought she’d have an aneurism right there from her piss off. “I have slept with more men than would ever want you,” she said.
I gaped at her then snapped my mouth shut. “I…”
“Kim,” Janice said, aghast. “What a horrible thing to say.”
I seriously could not fathom why she said that. Maybe my inner bitch wasn’t as well developed as hers. “Well, none of mine are sitting in jail cells,” I replied. Then again, it had been a rough few weeks.
Kim’s fury burst out, and she ran straight at me, knocking me over my desk, the computer coming with me. A loud snap echoed in the room a split second before my scream pierced the air. Pain ratcheted through my arm, but I concentrated on defending myself. I kicked at her face with my stiletto heels as she tried to jump me again. It scraped her cheek hard, and she jerked back and held it for a second, her mouth rounded in an “o” of surprise.
I brought my leg back in preparation of kicking her again just in case. I cradled my broken arm, careful to not touch the protruded bone which had ripped through my blouse, staying on the floor, the flat screen behind me, its base digging into my back. Excruciating pain lanced through me in time with my heartbeat. My arm shrieked with acute nerve pain. Tears leaked from my eyes, but I didn’t let loose a good cry. I held myself as immobile as possible, but if she jumped me again, I’d probably pass out from the pain when I tensed to defend myself. I stared her down, though.
I don’t know who, but someone apparently told Nicholas. Next thing I knew, he stood over me, facing Kim. “Security will be here momentarily. I suggest you don’t move,” he said, his voice barely audible.
I shivered at the lethal sound of it, which set off the pain in my arm and back. With him protecting me, it was harder for me to maintain my tough exterior. The blood from the break soaked my blouse and was dripping to the floor through my fingers which held the arm. I whimpered as the pain crushed its way through me.
Nicholas looked back at me when I whimpered, worry evident in his eyes and by the furrowing of his brow. Behind him, I saw movement.
“Look out!” I shouted.
He turned and blocked her adroitly, managing to turn her around, her arm behind her back, and her face in the desk. Relief shot through me that Kim was now subdued. All at once, colors pushed in swirls in my vision as the rest of it went dark.
“Nicholas,” I whispered. “I—”