CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SHANNON
I wake up born again, the mysteries of the world laid out before me, everything solved with a simple ‘O’.
Nothing simple about it.
Which is completely true. For the longest time I’ve believed the female orgasm to be a myth, like a unicorn or healthy fast food, but what Gabe has been delivering is no myth. There have been times lately I seriously thought I was going to go blind.
It happened, he happened, and I’ve never been so happy.
I slide a tentative hand down the front of my panties and touch myself, my fingers jumping away at the fresh sensitivity.
I frame Gabe in my head—his hard cock and chest, his arms holding me tight as I shook and moaned against him again and again—when the kids start to squawk and squeak down the back. “Yes!” I shout. “You’ll get your breakfast when I’m good and ready.”
*
Whatever glow I’m wearing, it does not go unnoticed at work. People smile at me, compliment my appearance. It’s like I’ve got a big sign slapped to my forehead stating ‘Shannon Bailey, virgin no more!’
Juliana, one of the more esoteric employees, looks at me across the lunch table. “Your aura,” she says, her hands enveloping me a wide circle, “it’s really beautiful today.”
I place my cheese sandwich down. Even it tastes better today. I swallow before speaking. “Thank you.”
“Seriously, Shannon,” she continues, “have you been doing reiki or something?”
I shake my head. Only raking the garden.
“Chakra cleansing?”
Maybe not my chakra, but perhaps something else…
She clicks her fingers like she finally has it. “A healing crystal, am I right?
If by ‘healing crystal’ she means ‘massive penis,’ then yes, I’ve been working on that a lot.
I nod.
She claps her hands together. “That’s so wonderful. You must know what you’re doing. There’s no negative energy there whatsoever.”
She collects up her trash, calling out a final “Expect miracles!” before leaving the kitchenette.
My mind drifts to Gabe again. If you had of told me a week-and-a-half ago I’d lose my V-card to a guy like Gabe, I would have laughed you out of the room, but I’m happy it was him.
Perhaps it will add a touch of credibility to this whole fiancée thing. I’ve got no qualms keeping it up.
And neither does he.
It’s true. His stamina is insane. I’m barely breathing and there he is with his cock hard again ready to rock, over and over again. Maybe it’s some magic voodoo they teach in the SEALs. I have no idea.
After lunch I head into the abandoned office down the back and take out my cell, dialing Gabe’s number. I don’t know why, but I just want to hear his voice—the sexy, gravelly growl of it.
The call rings until his voicemail answers.
I try again, with the same result.
It’s no big deal, right? He’s probably busy. He’s a busy guy.
Yeah, that makes sense.
Maybe he’s with his mom and his cell on silent?
Of course. That settles it for sure, but through it all there is a nagging doubt, a hair in the soup, so to speak.
I settle back to my desk and call again when Daryl is out.
No answer.
I call an hour later, cursing myself for suddenly turning into one of those needy beings I’ve silently rolled my eyes at for so long.
Come another two attempts at the end of the day and I’m worried.
Doubt starts to quilt its way through my thoughts, threading itself through them until I’m questioning everything.
Yes, he did stay the night, but maybe he’s lost interest now we’ve had sex. Maybe he really is a ‘hit it and quit it’ kind of guy.
Maybe you just weren’t a very good lay.
I gulp hard at this, thinking back to the way he gripped me with his own release, the smile on his face as we lay side by side that first time… and the many times following. Surely that wasn’t an act.
But now I’m not so sure. It seems like he’s avoiding my calls, and I’m running out of reasons why.
I concentrate on work instead, but I barely get anything done. The sun is low outside, cutting across the partitions. The lower it gets, the more I begin to fret and obsess. Calm rationality has never been my strong suit, especially in matters of the heart.
Have a little faith, Shan. Seriously.
I dump the files I have managed to get through on Daryl’s desk while he’s away, shutting down my computer and heading out.
I turn the corner to the elevators and come awfully close to taking Daryl out.
I stand aside. “Sorry, Daryl.”
He smiles, pointing to his office. “You got a second, Shannon?”
I swallow hard again. He hasn’t called me into his office since Gabe’s little visit. I’ve heard barely a peep from him and thought he’d moved on the next brunette in the office.
I follow him into his office and take a seat, pressing my thighs together tightly while he closes the door and comes around in front of his desk, leaning on it with his hands in his pockets.
The sun’s a peachy orb outside. It drops between the buildings beyond the window.
Daryl’s head is hung. He’s quiet.
This is not good.
Finally, he looks up, awfully more subdued than normal. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to let you go, Shannon.”
I freeze, actually turn solid in the chair. “Sorry?”
His eyes flicker around my cleavage before lifting to my face. “You’ll get a severance package, of course, but I’m afraid I have to move you along.”
Move me along?
Shock turns into confusion turns into anger. “I don’t understand. Is this cost-cutting?”
I have no idea where that idea even comes from.
Daryl shakes his head, lips pursed together smugly. “No, I’m afraid not.”
“Is it… me?” I ask.
He pushes off the desk, standing tall in front of me. “Your performance just isn’t where I need it to be for a PA. It’s as simple as that.
“But I’ve been working hard, really hard.”
He taps the files I left on his desk. “You delivered me a faulty report. I can’t let that slide.”
“You haven’t even read that report yet,” I protest.
He smiles and ignores the question, eyes dropping back down to my chest. I want a shower his look’s so slimy and dirty. I want all the soap in the world.
I want Gabe.
“Let’s just say,” Daryl continues, “you’re just not living up to expectations.”
Asshole! I know exactly what he’s saying now.
Perhaps it’s Gabe rubbing off on me, perhaps I’ve finally had enough, but I stand and step forward, facing Daryl, my finger jabbing at him in accusation. “You’re firing me because I won’t, what? Flirt with you? Sleep with you?”
He puts his hands up. “Now, now, let’s not get into nasty allegations here. I’d hate to add a lawsuit into the mix here.”
“A lawsuit!” I stammer, loud enough for the entire office to hear. “Are you serious? You are the one who’s always coming onto me. You don’t think I’ve noticed?”
He looks me up and down. “You’re really not my type. I prefer my women…”
“Submissive?” I suggest.
“Attractive,” he retorts.
If I could summon the strength to kick him in his tiny, Tinkerbell balls, I would. Instead, I stand there with mouth agape while he moves past me and opens the door, a hand opening out. “I think I’ve said everything I need to.”
I turn and stop before stepping past him. He’s not going to have the last word on this.
I go to speak, but stop.
I can see others watching, their heads perched on their partitions, beady eyes soaking in the drama.
There’s no point, I tell myself. He’s not worth the breath it would take to cut him down.
I straighten my skirt. “Goodbye, Daryl,” I state, keeping my head held high as I make my way to my desk and start to pack up my things. It doesn’t take long.
Even once I’ve made it outside into the fast-chilling air, a box of belongings between my feet, I do not allow myself to cry. I’m not going to give that prick the satisfaction.
I take out my cell and call Gabe again.
“Come on,” I plead. “I need you.”
He doesn’t answer, even now in my time of need.
Something’s definitely wrong.
I just wish I knew what.