Chapter 18
The next week flew by in-between catching The Russian when I could between his training and work schedule; my last week at The Sports Daily; completing my remaining sponsorship commitments for my team, the Suns, including promoting the end of season last home match which The Russian had bought the VIP seats at; and some commitments for the new job – it was fast and furious. Saturday would also mark my last game reporting in the Saints’ media box before I started my new gig, and the Saints were playing the Chicago Cats – not an easy team to beat. This game was different though from any other that I had reported at because for this game, The Russian and I were in deep like, maybe luuvvveee –yes, I had to say it like that. I’m now one of those pathetic over-the-top people who are smiling all the time and putting smiley faces on messages. And yes, I’d tried out the name Carla Renwick out loud. Sounds so good!
I met up with my new fellow commentators—Suzie and Catherine—during the week as the station wanted to shoot some promos with the three of us ... that was fun. After the promos, we had lunch with our boss—my new boss—Karen, the Cable TV Head of Production. It was nice to relax with them as friends over lunch instead of glaring at them over a basketball as opposing team members. We reminisced about some of our more memorable games and then Karen went through the expectations for the season ahead. I was so excited to be on board that at home, I kept practicing around the house, trying to get my pace right and not talk too quickly; Josh must have wondered who I was talking to all the time! I spent time getting up to scratch with all the other teams’ players and coaches. Luckily, because I was still a signed player, I knew of most of them.
On Friday the Saints’ were holding one of their pre-match press conferences which Sasha had to organize and The Sports Daily sent me along to hear what the coach had to say. The Russian wasn’t on the roster for this conference – Lucas was always in attendance being Captain Fantastic, and this time he was joined by Buzz aka Damien Hall, the team’s practical joker as I had already experienced. Buzz looked like an ex-marine, hence the buzz cut which I assumed had contributed to his nickname.
I arrived right at the last minute, thanks to the traffic, and saw The Russian’s silver Merc in the parking lot. I didn’t have time to go to the offices and say hi as I raced into the media room, in the building next door. I wasn’t the last to arrive as one more journo came in after me, but the coach was just starting. I recorded him and jotted down a few things as well.
After it was over, Sasha indicated for me to wait a moment and then Captain Fantastic came past me.
“Hey Carla, how are you?” he said, stopping nearby and looking tall, handsome and glowing in his Saints’ dress pants and open shirt.
“Hi Lucas, I’m great thanks, how are you?” I smiled back at him like a woman in love ... with someone else. He had a look on his face that said he knew I was great.
“I’m very well, so is my Forward I believe?” he said, referring to The Russian.
“Really?” I asked, looking innocent.
“In fact, for a grumpy bastard, I’ve never seen him so happy. Even shouted me a coffee today,” Lucas said, a mischievous look on his face.
“Wow,” I said, eyes wide. “What on earth has come over him? Have you spoken to the team psychiatrist about him?”
Lucas shook his head and looked alarmed. “No one is brave enough to go into the dark spaces of The Russian’s mind. At least I know you won’t distract my player given your own sporting pedigree.”
“I’ll do my best, Captain,” I said, saluting him and he gave me a wry look as he made a sound of disbelief and wandered away. I stuffed my notepad and phone in my bag and Sasha joined me.
“Hey Sash,” I said, “all okay?”
“All is very good. I have a message from The Russian ... he said he’d text you but it takes so long with his ‘big, masculine hands’,” she did air quote marks and rolled her eyes.
I laughed hearing The Russian saying those words in my head.
“Sure, is it above board?” I said, now a little worried.
She nodded and, doing a Russian impersonation, crossed her arms across her chest and lowered her voice. “Tell Brooker to see me before she leaves, I’ve got something for her.” Sasha said, and fell out of character. “Got time?”
“Sure. I don’t need to be at The Sports Daily for another hour if I include my lunch break,” I said.
“Good, if you give me a minute to lock up, I’ll walk to the office with you.”
I helped her lock up and then we wandered over to the administration building, chatting about her designing business. As we walked through the office, Sasha introduced me again to her colleagues Kay and Alice.
“Of course we remember Carla from your last visit,” Kay said, smiling and giving me a small wave from her desk in the corner.
“And we’ve seen a fair bit of you since,” Alice teased, “kissing The Russian, feeding The Russian, dancing with The Russian ...”
I sighed. “Someone’s got to do it.”
“Kay would have,” Sasha dobbed her in and laughed. Sasha could be wicked.
Kay went bright red and shook her head at Sasha.
“Don’t you believe it Carla,” she turned to me. “I’m a happily married woman with two children ... I just like to ensure The Russian is looking after himself ... purely maternal.”
The Russian must have heard me from his office next door and appeared in the doorway.
“Haven’t you three got something to do?” he asked, looking from Sasha, to Kay to Alice. He reached for my hand and pulled me into his office. Eddie was sitting working on a spreadsheet.
“Hey Eddie,” I said.
He spun around and looked genuinely pleased to see me. “Hi Carla, good to see you.”
“You too!”
“Ed’s just leaving,” The Russian said.
Eddie looked surprised. “Am I?” he glanced from me to The Russian. “Ah, yes, I am just leaving ... got to go get some lunch ... I’ll be back in ...?” he hesitated.
“Thirty minutes,” The Russian said, and I giggled at the two men.
“That’s right,” Ed said, grabbing his keys and wallet. “The usual?” he asked The Russian.
“Thanks,” The Russian answered.
“Anything for you Carla?” he asked. So polite.
“Thank you, Eddie, but I’ve got to get back to work,” I said.
“Yeah, so go,” The Russian said, and pushed Eddie out the door. I could hear Eddie chuckling as The Russian closed and locked the door. He moved to the stereo and I thought he was going to turn it off, but he turned it up. “Thin walls,” he said and leaned against the door, pulling me against him.
“Hello Brooker,” he said, smiling down at me.
I grinned back at him. “Hello Russian.” I took in his handsome attire: work dress pants and open shirt, a tie hung over his chair. He was checking out my outfit at the same time: a black pencil skirt and fitted white blouse, along with reasonably high heel black court shoes.
“Don’t you look sexy and all corporate,” he said.
“That’s me, the sexy corporate journalist,” I teased him, “able to drill down to get a story.” I brushed my hand right down his front as I said it and I swear he stiffened the whole way.
He leaned down and kissed me, slowly then hungrily, and I wrapped my arms around him to steady myself.
“I’ve missed you,” he groaned. God I loved how open he was with his emotions. I’d never had that, and never for one moment expected it with The Russian.
“I’ve missed you more,” I promised him. “I’ve had to take matters into my own hands so many times this week.”
He grinned and shook his head. “Brooker, isn’t that a sin? Will you need to say four Hail Mary’s for that?”
Before I could reply he began to unbutton my shirt, revealing my white lace bra. I looked around quickly.
“Russian, we’re in the office,” I said, alarmed while looking at the window and all the camera and security equipment in the room.
“We are indeed. The security cameras are not on in here, the window is frosted, the door locked.” He rubbed his thumbs over the lace covering my nipples and they hardened instantly as I drew a sharp breath and tried not to moan too loud. There was a sharp knock on the door and I jumped.
“Ignore it,” he said.
“Russian, are you there?” A voice boomed. I recognized it as Captain Fantastic.
“He’ll go away,” The Russian said, and pulling down the lace, he started sucking on my nipple right then and there. I was torn; terrified that Lucas could get in and distracted by The Russian’s lips tugging me and the scent of his hair and cologne.
“Russian?” Lucas said again, tapping on the door.
The Russian stopped, pulled away from me and sighed. “I’m not here,” he called out in exasperation and I heard Lucas laugh.
“Okay, come and see me when Carla leaves.” I heard him stride off and I pulled my shirt around me, mortified.
“What?” The Russian asked, “he can see me anytime, and don’t worry, no one is seeing this part of you except me,” he said, resuming his touch of my breasts. “I’ve never had sex in my office,” he added.
“Really?” I asked. Now he had my interest, this could be a first and I had a thing for milestones. If it was memorable, The Russian would think about this whenever he walked into his office ... at least for a while. Suddenly I was inspired; I moved my hand back down to his crotch and rubbed him gently. He already had a sizeable, hard bulge there, so I undid his belt, his suit pants button and pulled the zip down. His breathing was matching mine now and the only reason I hadn’t fallen over from the attention he was showing my nipples was because I was distracted working him out of his pants.
I pulled his erection free and then reluctantly pulled my nipples free of his mouth and hand. I slid down onto my knees and took him in my mouth. The Russian swore under his breath, bracing himself against the door and trying not to make a sound that could be heard over the stereo. My hair was up in a high ponytail, but that didn’t stop The Russian grabbing it and twisting it around his hand, moving with me as I moved up and down his penis. I swear he held his breath the whole time I worked him, and he tried to pull me away when he was just about to come but I didn’t let him. His whole body shuddered and he was completely in my control.
I finally released him and a very satisfied-looking Russian helped me up off my knees; I reached for a few tissues from the box on Eddie’s desk.
“I’d stay for lunch, but I’ve just eaten,” I teased, wiping my lips, and he smiled, his eyes still a bit hazy. He tucked himself away and then grabbed my butt and pulled me tight against him.
“Wow,” he said, “that’s ruined me for the rest of the day. Can we just curl up somewhere now?”
“I wish. But I’ve got to go write up what your coach said at the press conference.”
“Not before I see you arched over my desk,” he growled.
“You can do me another time,” I said, and started to do up my shirt.
“No way, Brooker, I’m taking you here and now.” He read my concern. “Relax, it’s totally private, I promise you.” He reached behind me, unzipped my skirt and lowered it for me, and I stepped out of it. He lifted my shirt and his expression said he appreciated my white lace panties. Then he reached up under my white shirt and pulled my panties down and completely off.
“Good look,” he said, taking in my white shirt and high heels. Then he headed straight into my phobia zone. He lowered me onto his desk and spread my legs apart – I was wide open to him.
“Russian!” I hissed, alarmed and turned on.
“Shh, relax, don’t think,” he said.
He pulled my hips towards him and with his thumbs he separated and pulled back the fleshy lips and his tongue went to work. I hadn’t showered or come off the beach, I was open in front of him and he was driving me wild. My nipples were still peeking out from my bra, my shirt was undone and now he moved a hand up to pull on my nipple as his tongue worked me down below and one finger slid into me.
I struggled not to groan loudly in ecstasy and I think I used every Saints’ name that I could remember from my Bible study days. I came in minutes, my body arching in pleasure and when I was spent, The Russian gently pulled me up and off his desk.
He tapped my butt. “You’re delicious, Brooker. You can put your clothes on now, you hussy,” he teased.
I smiled, a love drunk, super chilled out smile and pushed my nipples back into my bra. The Russian reached down for my lace panties and, leaning down, slipped them over my legs and pulled them up ... there was something very sexy about being dressed and undressed by The Russian. I reached for my skirt hanging on the back of the chair and slipped it on, tucking in my shirt. The Russian zipped me up at the back, even though I could do it myself. He turned me around, as I patted down my hair and he looked me over.
“You’d never know except for the glaze in your eyes and blush on your cheeks,” he said. He pulled me closer and we just hugged. It was so good just holding each other for a few moments, and then he pulled away.
“I think I got all the information I need,” I teased him as if I’d been doing an interview.
“If you need anything clarified ...” he said, with raised eyebrows.
“Oh, I’m sure I will.”
“Tonight?” he said. “Are you still coming over?”
“Do you really want me over before a match?” I asked, frowning at him. “I get it if you want to just have a night on your own to prepare.”
He moved the chair out of the way of the door as I powdered my nose and straightened up.
“Brooker, you keep me awake when you’re not with me, so if you stay the night, I might have a better chance of sleeping.”
I grinned at him. God, I loved that he’d said that.
“I’ll think of a way to exhaust you before bedtime,” I said, brightening.
“Oh I’m sure you will,” he said, and opened the door to walk me out. “I thought I’d cook up some pasta.”
“Sounds great. We’ve got three games to watch tonight,” I said.
He looked over at me surprised. “You want to watch them?”
I frowned. “Of course. You have to watch your opponents play and I need to watch them since I’m reporting on the Saints game tomorrow. So here’s my plan, tell me what you think ...” I said, lowering my voice, Lord knows we loved a plan – we were both methodical. “Dinner while watching the games, some sort of physical contact to ensure you are spent—I have plenty of ideas—then bed to sleep at a reasonable hour. Simple.”
He put his hand on the back of my neck and pulled me in for a kiss, even with the door open.
“Love the plan,” he said, his eyes genuinely looking happy and I think relieved. Did he think I’d want to watch a romance movie or something?
He walked me out and luckily Alice and Sasha were out to lunch, but Kay was there; she gave me a knowing smile and wave.
“Good to see you again, Kay,” I said, on departing.
“Yeah, she’s the best of the bunch,” The Russian said, with a wink in her direction. Kay blushed again. I wondered how many nights she had fantasized about The Russian being in her bed. Tonight, I’d be in his. Thank you, patron Saint of love, yet again!