19 — Mark my whole body

I wish I could live forever in this weekend. Unfortunately, reality comes fast, like a cold breeze coming through the window. And Monday has arrived, the day I hate the most. Because not only a new week is coming to torture me, but duties are also knocking on my door, as well as the fact that I'll have to see Laura's face again.
Well, at least I can debut my new clothes… especially the ones I bought for the office.
As I leave my apartment, not quite ready to start a new hard week, I freeze in place. Julian is leaning against the side of his door, typing something on his phone. Seeing his perfectly combed hair, I can't help but remember how I tangled my fingers in it… But I stop my thoughts when I feel his eyes on me, and a discreet smile lands on his lips, so seductive that it steals my breath as well.
“A scarf?” He asks with a certain amusement, putting his phone away in his pants pocket and coming over to me slowly.
“Someone left hickeys all over my neck.” I grumble, tapping my heels on the floor, approaching the elevator.
I reach out to press the button. However, he holds my wrist, preventing my finger from reaching. I raise my eyes, noticing that his smile has widened.
“Well, perhaps this person would like you to show these hickeys?” He stops beside me, his body behind mine, wrapping his other arm around my waist.
I crunch my lips together, feeling his hand loosen its grip and his fingers slide across my skin, searching for my fingers, intertwining with mine, clumsy. Then he brings my finger to the button, and presses it.
“It's not fair,” I mutter, feeling his cologne penetrate my nostrils, soak into my skin. “You have no hickey at all.”
“You can do it…” He brings his lips close to my ear, from behind, pushing his arm so that my body presses into his slightly. “You can mark my whole body.”
A shiver runs down my spine.
“Stop it.”
“Heh.” I hear his laugh.
As the sound of the elevator rings and its doors opening, I pull away quickly, practically dragging my body away from him, pretending not to notice his hungry gaze as he enters the small cubicle that will leave us alone for a few moments.
“Let me take you to work this time, okay?” His voice is husky, and I just mumble, pressing the parking button. Even if I wanted to deny it, I couldn't. I'm suffocating with this tension, with this desire that takes over every inch of my body.
What the hell is it? I can't recognize myself.
I feel him coming close to me because his cologne gets stronger. My skin shivers as if drawn to his. And this heat… this heat that takes over my body and makes my head foggy is driving me crazy… I don't dare look back at Julian; his presence is enough to make me completely stunned.
And when the elevator doors open in the parking lot, I get out quickly, slamming my heels on the floor, trying my hardest to focus on the sound of my shoes instead of the surreal power this man has over me.
We walk a considerable distance from each other, but when we spot his car, I immediately begin to regret it because the thought of being so close to him already brings me a tickle totally inappropriate for this time of the morning.
He opens the car door for me, and I give him a smile in response, sitting down on the seat with my knees already pressed against each other. The skirt that goes up to them reveals my desperate shocking of skin, and this attracts Julian's eyes and is probably the reason he smiled provocatively before closing the door.
This man… he knows it!
He knows what he's doing to me!
I bite my lip and look out the window, ignoring that he's entering the car and sitting down beside me. The hollow sound of the door closing gives me a little jolt, but I keep my eyes focused on the parking lot, on any uninteresting spot, as his scent invades my nostrils, intoxicating me.
“Angel?” I close my eyes; his voice is soft and inviting.
“Hum?” I mumble, trying to feign indifference.
His hoarse laugh completely dismantles me, and I simply melt, shrugging my shoulders and finally looking up at him. I notice that he's leaning in, resting his hand on my seat, while the other searches for my face.
Instinctively, I close my eyes, waiting for his lips to meet mine.
“If you react like this every time you're near me, you'll give yourself away.”
I grit my teeth… What?
I open my eyes, staring at him sharply, noticing that his face is close enough to mix our breaths, but he doesn't intend to seal our lips. In fact, he's wearing a really cocky smile right now.
He's teasing me!
I sigh deeply, with obvious irritation — which seems to make him even more pleased.
So, that's how it will be? All right, Julian… I accept your challenge.
Slowly, I move my body toward him and bring my hand to his collar, to his perfectly aligned tie. With my hooked finger, I loosen the tie, and lift my finger, brushing my fingernail across his neck, his Adam's apple, to his chin.
Julian holds his breath.
“You said I can mark you?” I lean in, asking in a coy voice.
“Oh-oh…” He laughs, keeping his eyes locked on my face. “Make yourself comfortable.”
I loosen his tie further and unbutton two buttons, pulling his shirt away slightly. It's hard not to think about how hot he looks this way.
Bringing my lips closer to his neck, I lick his skin, feeling a grunt reverberate through his Adam's apple. This makes me smile, and I finally kiss his neck, sucking the skin with the same intensity that I sucked his cock. And I know he probably remembered this because his hand went to my hair, entwining his fingers tightly in it, guiding my head as if I were doing a mouth job.
Then I dig my teeth into his neck, and hear a pained grunt, “Easy, girl.”
His husky voice makes me shiver, and I pull my lips apart, noticing the red mark that my mouth made on his skin. Our eyes meet, and I notice that he's smiling.
“Does that mean you're going to show what I did to this pretty little neck of yours?” He pulls on my scarf, showing off my neck, which is red from kiss marks.
I bite my lips, feeling his fingers glide across the hickeys he left on me.
“So beautiful.” He reaches up to caress my face. “If we didn't have a meeting first thing in the morning, I'd make you suck me off here in the car.”
My eyes are guided to his lap, and I notice there's a hard-on in his pants. I let out a grunt and sink into the seat, averting my eyes again beyond the window as he straightens his tie and starts the car.
***
Our team is sitting at the conference table, listening intently as the manager passes on some important information about a big project that's starting up. The company that my father founded with Julian is a giant in the technology scene, and several other companies, national and international, are looking for our services.
Although they both have the same percentage of stocks, Julian is the Project Director while Dad is the President — actually, my father is constantly complaining about how Julian purposely gave up the position because it's too much work.
When the manager finishes his presentation and sits down, I'm roused from my thoughts. I fix my hair, trying to hide the marks on my neck… Fortunately, my blouse isn't low-cut today.
My eyes land on Julian because he's getting up. I try not to feel a chill in my stomach at the brief eye contact that's quickly broken when Julian is pressing a button so that the screen displays a familiar face… my father's.
My heart flutters strongly. I haven't had the courage to talk to him about Eric yet. My conversations with my father have been reduced to brief messages, and I have not dared to answer his calls. I'm justifying my lack by the time zone difference, but I know that I'll not be able to hide what happened for a long time.
So, seeing him through the screen makes me miss him, and feel a twinge of guilt.
“Hello team… As you know, we're negotiating with a big company! They're willing to accept, but only if we deliver a sample of what will be done. I have already asked for the details to be sent to each of you, so I need the effort and commitment of each of you to make this work.” My father's voice comes out mechanized, which makes me uncomfortable.
The manager raises his hand, asking permission to speak up, “Mr. O'Neil, I don't think it will be possible to mobilize the entire team, we have three projects close to the deadline.”
My father shows his thoughtful expression through the screen, then the voice sounds again, “Who's got room on the schedule?”
The manager fiddles with some documents and reads aloud, “Ethan, John, Steven, Naomi, Sarah, Angelee, Deborah, Grace… and Laura. Nine of us.”
“Right. I want all of them to work as a group for this project. The deadline is two weeks.” My father says seriously, then lays his eyes on me, “Angelee, I want you to be the leader. Besides, that's it, you can continue with the meeting, Julian.”
And just like that, the screen goes off.
I lower my head, avoiding the eyes that are on me, sharp and displeased… Especially Laura's. Because not only will I have to work with her for the next two weeks, but with the person who I hate the most in this company.