Chapter Twenty
Carina
The hours of preparation had paid off. Carina had answered every question with confidence. She knew each member of the interview committee had been impressed with her, but would it be enough? Before she forgot or exhaustion kicked in, she sent a thank you email to each interviewer. She would have to wait until next week to find out if she was being called back for a second and final interview. Carina shot Mia a text and told her that the interview went well. Mia responded with a string of emojis and exclamation points. Carina didn’t want to get ahead of herself and get caught up in the fantasy of working in the same school as Mia. It would be a dream come true to go to work and see her best friend every day, doing what they loved.
She needed to take one day, one interview, at a time and not get her hopes up.
She also needed to relax.
Carina kicked off her heels and instantly felt the stress of the day lessen. She went to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of white and poured herself a glass. With drink in hand, she nestled into her oversized couch. Her cell chirped within seconds and she read the incoming message:
“Home safe?”
She had received the same text the night before. It seemed innocent enough, but Carina knew there was something behind the two simple words. Ensuring her safety, for whatever reason, was becoming a bit of an obsession for Josh. Like the previous night, she sated his need and responded:
“Yes…you?”
She knew she shouldn’t engage in conversation, that a simple yes would have sufficed, but she wanted to know what he was doing at the moment, if he was studying or lying in front of the television like she was about to do.
“Heading to work. How was the interview?”
Two emotions hit Carina at once. She was brimming with jealousy at the mention of him going into work, where countless women would be flirting with him, where Nicole could swing her petite ass in his face. But she also felt overwhelmed with the latter part of his text. He had remembered her interview and had cared enough to ask about it.
“Interview went well. Hoping for a second. See you Saturday.”
Carina tossed her cell phone on the coffee table, dug the remote out from between two couch cushions and flipped on the television. She was surfing along, looking for nothing in particular when her cell buzzed across the tabletop.
“Sleep well, Carina.”
Carina knew that wouldn’t happen tonight. She hadn’t slept well any night this week. Her dreams were consumed by him and she had awoken frequently in those early morning hours, breathless and needy. And each time her sleep had been disturbed, she found herself desperate to quell that need.
And she was again restless, desiring him, wanting him to finish what they had started in the office. With just the glow of the muted television, the room was blanketed in darkness and she felt her hand slide between her thighs. She wasn’t surprised to find her panties soaked, her juices seeping through her stockings as well. Carina lifted her ass and shimmied out of her skirt, panties and stockings and fell back onto the couch in anticipation.
She undid the buttons on her oxford blouse and exposed her breasts over her bra. The hard peaks ached to be sucked, but they would have to settle for the caress and plucking of her fingers instead. Carina took a nipple and squeezed, sending a sudden rush of heat to her core. Her fingers slid past the drenched curls and circled her clit. She tugged her nipple with more force this time and her back arched. She needed more. Her body throbbed, begging to be filled. Carina released her nipple and inserted two fingers into her waiting heat. She continued to caress her clit while she penetrated herself. Her orgasm took hold as she imagined that it was Josh’s cock stroking the walls of her pussy, sliding out and crashing back into her.
***
Josh
“Why the hell did you cut that one loose?” Bryce nodded across the bar. “She’s fucking hot!”
Josh followed Bryce’s gaze and locked eyes with Amanda. What was she doing here? There were plenty of bars in this city. Why did she have to walk into his? Amanda had texted him several times since he had walked out of her office, but he didn’t respond to any of them. He didn’t want to hurt her, but there was no way he was going to give her what she wanted. He had no desire to fuck her anymore. In fact, he hadn’t had the craving to engage in a mindless fuck since he had met Carina. That realization and the fear it invoked shook him.
“Mind if I take a shot at her?” Bryce asked, not seeming to care that Josh hadn’t answered him before.
Josh shook his head. “No, go right ahead.”
Bryce smiled. “Must be nice,” he said, topping off a glass of Merlot, Amanda’s drink of choice.
“What is?” Josh detected a hint of sarcasm and an edge to Bryce’s tone.
“To be in your position. To be able to dump a woman who looks like Amanda. You have to tell me. Is it because of that fine piece of ass I caught you with in the office?”
Josh felt his fists clench and his blood boil. Bryce made the encounter he had with Carina in the office sound dirty. But in Josh’s mind, when he had been on his knees making her come, tasting her, breathing her in, he had cherished her.
“Carina is off limits.” Josh filled his drink order.
“Seems like I hit a nerve.” Bryce chuckled. “That’s a first.”
Josh wasn’t getting into a pissing match with this asshole, and allowed him to have the last word. He watched Bryce deliver the glass of Merlot to Amanda’s table. A woman Josh had never met before sat at Amanda’s side. From this position, it was easy to see beneath the tall tabletop for two. Amanda’s hand rested on the woman’s thigh. Josh’s cell vibrated within his back pocket. He withdrew his phone and stared at the text:
“Want me to go higher? I bet she tastes sweet.”
Bryce was talking to Amanda, trying to put the moves on her, all the while completely oblivious to Amanda’s hand navigating up the other woman’s skirt. Ordinarily, the sight would have aroused Josh. Watching two women caress each other, having two women please him simultaneously, were things he had indulged in before. But his cock remained soft even when the woman gasped and bit her lip at the welcome intrusion. Another text chimed:
“She’s your present. Let’s open her together.”
Bryce droned on, not seeming to notice or care that Amanda was texting while he was trying to pick her up. Josh couldn’t help but think Bryce probably wouldn’t care if she was texting while he was in the process of fucking her. Josh turned away and walked over to a couple who just stepped up to the bar. He filled their order quickly and before Amanda could send him another text he sent her a message that was direct, with no chance of misinterpretation:
“We’re over.”
Josh didn’t look over to gauge her response. He didn’t care enough to ponder what she thought. But what did set his mind reeling was something Bryce had said. Bryce Newcomb, one of the biggest assholes Josh knew, had hit a nerve.