Rodney
On Friday afternoon, just when I thought the week was finally winding down and I could have an early night in, I got a call from Jonathan Green. Jonathan was my stateside contact guy for the Chinese development team that collaborated with Berry Software.
“I hope you have the evening free,” Jonathan said. “Lu Chen and his team are in town on unexpected business, and he asked me to set up a meeting with you tonight. Please tell me you are available.”
“Tonight?” I asked. “That’s pretty short notice.”
“I know,” Jonathan said, sounding apologetic. “But you know how serious they are about business. It will be great if we could arrange something.”
Jonathan’s job was merely liaising for Lu Chen, and he had nothing to do with my business. Still, I liked the guy.
“It just so happens that I don’t have any plans for tonight,” I said. “If you book a reservation at the restaurant, I’ll be there.”
“Thank you,” Jonathan said, sounding relieved. “I’ll take care of the booking and send you the info. We’ll see you tonight.”
I put the phone back in its cradle and scratched my head. It was short notice, but I could prepare something for the meeting. I was good at what I did, I knew my company front to back, and conveniently, I had some news I could share with Chen and his team. It was a little harder taking care of Tommy for the night. I glanced at my wristwatch. I needed someone to watch Tommy for me within a few hours.
The only person I could think of was Danielle. She was great with Tommy and often available at short notice. Things hadn’t exactly been running smoothly between us, but we had managed to put our differences aside for the past two days and work together in a semblance of harmony. I hoped that it was enough to get Danielle to agree to come tonight. If she refused, it would be her choice, and I wouldn’t hold it against her, although it would leave me in a bind.
I picked up the phone and called Danielle into the office. When she walked to the door, I noticed what she was wearing. She wore a pencil skirt, but it was shorter than I was comfortable with. Her heels were also higher, making her look like she was ready for a night out on the town, rather than a day in the office. I tried to ignore what she was wearing, but God, this woman never ceased to turn me on.
“An emergency meeting has just popped up for later tonight,” I said. “Lu Chen and his team are in the States unexpectedly. I was hoping you would be able to watch Tommy for me. I know it’s short notice, so if you’re not able to, I will understand.”
Danielle thought about it. I wondered if she would turn me down for the sake of rejecting me as a person. Danielle and I had never gotten stuck before all this happened between us, and I had no idea what she was like when she was upset with someone.
“All right,” she finally said. “I’ll watch Tommy for you. What time do you need me to be there?”
“I don’t know yet. My contact will let me know a time as soon as he’s made a reservation. I’ll let you know the moment I know.”
Danielle nodded. “Is that all?” she asked. She wanted to get out of my office as quickly as possible. I didn’t blame her, but I had something I wanted to say.
“No, that’s not all. Please sit down.”
Danielle stepped forward and sat down in one of the chairs facing me. Her knees were together, her hands were on her thighs, and her back was straight.
I cleared my throat. “I didn’t think I would have to speak to you about your clothing again. This is your last warning. If you don’t change it, you’re not leaving me any choice.”
Something flickered across Danielle’s face, something naughty.
“You can’t tell me you don’t like it,” she said. “As far as I remember, it wasn’t a problem before that I wasn’t wearing panties.”
My eyes widened a little. Was she telling me that she wasn’t wearing panties again? As if Danielle knew the question was on my mind, she opened her legs a little, just enough to give me a glimpse. Indeed, she wasn’t wearing anything.
“Let me know what time for tonight,” Danielle said, closing her legs as if nothing had happened. She stood up and walked out of my office.
I couldn’t believe how arrogant and obstinate she was being. I had known she was a little rebel from the start. Mark had complained about that for a long time. I had known she was cheeky and arrogant, but being the recipient of her attitude left me reeling in ways I hadn’t expected. I wasn’t only shocked that she would deliberately defy me, but I was really fucking turned on.
Was Danielle never going to stop tormenting me?
I shifted in my chair, leaning back and yanking on my belt to try to arrange what was going on in my pants more comfortably. I glanced at Danielle when she sat at her desk, making sure she didn’t see me doing it. I didn’t want her to know what effect she had on me, or that her attempts to work me up were successful every time. If she knew it worked, I worried she would never stop. At this rate, it didn’t seem like she would ever let up, anyway.
Jonathan Green called back less than half an hour later, giving me the name for the reservation and address of the restaurant. I had to be there at seven, and as soon as I knew, I let Danielle know. After work, I headed home to spend a bit of time with Tommy before I had to go out again. We had a movie night planned, but I promised him I would make it up to him the next day.
“It’s a work emergency, buddy,” I said to Tommy when he was upset that I wanted to postpone our night together. “You know I can’t get out of those.”
Tommy was angry. “You’re always working. That’s all you ever do.”
I scolded him for talking to me that way, but when he stormed off to his room, I knew he was right and I was wrong. I did always work, I often put him second, and he was starting to notice. Or maybe he had noticed for a long time, and I had been too busy to realize how fast he was growing up. With everything going on in my life, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know how to stay on top of things or how to keep everyone happy.
The doorbell rang, and I opened it for Danielle. She stood in front of me wearing dark jeans that shaped her ass perfectly, a tank top the same color as her eyes, and a jacket that hung off one shoulder like she had thrown it on last minute. She looked casually sexy, perfect. I couldn’t help but look her up and down when she stepped into the house.
When she saw me looking, she smiled sweetly at me. “Oh, is what I’m wearing all right?” she asked in a syrupy voice. “I guess it doesn’t matter because you can’t write me up when we aren’t at work.”
She was being cheeky, a little bratty, even. It made me want to take her to the bedroom and spank her. I knew I couldn’t respond to it, though. I couldn’t let her know how much she was getting to me. Besides, I had no idea what to say to that.
Instead, I ignored her comment and ran her through what I had planned for Tommy for dinner. I showed her the movies we were going to watch and pointed to the plastic packet with microwave popcorn and chocolate I had gotten from the store the day before.
“Looks like we’re having a movie night tonight,” Danielle said to Tommy.
“Yeah, looks like it,” Tommy said bitterly.
Danielle shot me a look, and I shrugged, not knowing how to defend myself when I knew I was wrong. I left Tommy and Danielle to start the night while I grabbed the last couple of things from the bedroom. When I returned, Tommy and Danielle were playing a board game she had brought with her.
“I’m off,” I said. “I don’t know what time I’ll be back.”
“That’s fine. I know how to reach you if I need you.” Danielle looked at Tommy, who usually gave me a hug before I left.
“Bye Dad,” Tommy said without getting up. I realized I was being punished. I didn’t have time to fight about this. So, I left the house feeling unwanted.
The meeting went well. Chen and his team were happy with what I had to show them, and after we wrapped up business, we drank together, joking and laughing and talking about nothing in particular. Even Jonathan, who was often uptight around his foreign clients, relaxed. I had a couple of drinks too many, and by the time it was time to leave, my head was spinning, and I couldn’t feel my legs. I couldn’t quite remember how I had gotten home, but the next thing I knew, I stood in front of my front door, fiddling to find the right key.
When I managed to let myself in, I found Danielle on the couch again, lying on her stomach, tank top riding up, her body on display. Fuck, she was so hot, and I had no defenses tonight. I wanted her immediately, and I couldn’t find a reason not to have her.
Danielle glanced up at me and smiled. I shrugged out of my blazer, folding it over the back of the armchair, and walked toward her. I sat down next to her on the couch. Danielle remained lying down, but she turned onto her back so she could look at me.
Her body was enticing, inviting. I knew it was a bad idea. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a little voice screamed at me to stop, but that little voice was drowning in alcohol. I reached for Danielle, and she didn’t move away.
It started innocently enough with my hand on her arm, and then her shoulder. But I wanted more, and her eyes told me she wanted more, too. I ran my hand down her chest and onto her breast, touching her. A hunger grew in her eyes, and I knew she enjoyed it. I touched her everywhere, rubbing my hands over her whole body, touching every inch of her which I hadn’t allowed myself to even think about for the past week.
The alcohol in my system had lowered my inhibitions, and I was hornier than I had ever been before. I didn’t want to stop.
“What are you doing?” Danielle asked, but it didn’t sound accusatory. Her voice was sultry, and the question was almost a come on.
“Something I’ve been dying to do all week,” I said.
Danielle parted her lips, and I put my hand on her cheek, tracing her bottom lip with my thumb. Her lips were perfect. I had never studied them before, the way I studied them now. She always had a slight pout, not too much, just enough to make her adorable. And her lips were full and utterly kissable. It couldn’t hurt to have a taste, could it?