Chapter 15

Chapter 15



He pushed two fingers inside of me, holding my body completely still with his other arm. He kept his punishing rhythm at a steady pace, kissing my bare shoulders and whispering my name—waiting for an answer.

“This is our last midnight song ladies and gentlemen,” the maestro said as the horns began to play. “After this, we will be switching back to our in house DJ and turning on the lights.”

Jason slowly pulled his fingers out of me.

I thought we were going to dance to the final midnight song, but he began using his thumb to massage my clit. Then he pushed his two skilled fingers in and out of me again.

Oh my god...

His pressure was perfect. His rhythm was relentless. I was sure I was going to explode in any second if he didn’t stop.

“Mr. Ic—”

“Jason.” He kissed my shoulder.

“I...I...” My breath caught in my throat. “Stop...”

“Not until you answer my question.” He slipped his other hand underneath my dress and once again stalled when he realized I wasn’t wearing a bra. He cupped each of my breasts, softly pinching my nipples, pushing me further to the edge.

I said yes...


“The song is going to go off any second, Via, but I’ll hold you right here—just like this, with the lights on until you answer me.” He was rubbing my clit even harder—faster, and I felt intense tremors building inside of me.

“Yes.” I bit my lip to prevent myself from crying out. I didn’t want any of the other people around us to know what was going on.

“Thirty seconds until we speed things up again!” The maestro’s voice was muffled.

“Yes what?” He continued his rhythm, continued caressing my breasts, and I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I exploded in waves around him—shuddering and convulsing, biting down on my lip so hard it was probably bleeding. My knees nearly gave out, and it took every bit of energy I had to not collapse into his arms.

“Yes...I’m...free to go out tomorrow.”

“Good.” He withdrew his fingers and spun me around. He pulled the bottom of my dress down and grabbed my hand, leading me past the stage.

He led me into a private restroom and locked the door.

Helen was right—they were nice, too nice. There was a wall length antique mirror that covered the entire left wall, a rustic chandelier with glimmering emeralds, and a sofa and chaise covered in plush red velvet.

If Jason had been any other man, I would’ve immediately started berating him for what he did to me on the dance floor. I would’ve said it was rude and offensive and that I would never speak to him again. But he wasn’t any other guy and I couldn’t deny that I loved every second of it; I was still entranced.

He took a white cloth from over the sink and ran warm water over it for several seconds. He pulled me over into a corner and slid my dress up past my hips.

“Spread your legs,” he whispered.

I slid my legs apart and looked into his eyes as he gently wiped the inside of my thighs. He moved his way up in a slow sensuous motion that nearly sent me over the edge again.

I tried coming down from the intense high I was feeling, but the look he was giving me was preventing that from happening. He grabbed another cloth—a dry cloth, and caressed me with it until I was completely dry.

We kept looking into each other’s eyes and I thought he was going to say something—or kiss me, but he simply smiled and reached for my hand.

“Are you ready to rejoin your friends now?”

I nodded.

He gave my hand a slight squeeze and walked me back upstairs to our table. As soon as we arrived, he offered to take another drink order for Helen and Sandra.

“So?” Sandra smiled. “Is your boss a good dancer?”

“He’s very good...” I picked up my mojito and chugged it.

She raised her eyebrow but she didn’t say anything further. She and Helen filled me in on two men they’d met during the midnight dance, but I was only halfway listening.

I was still hypnotized by Jason’s touch and honestly wished that it hadn’t ended so soon.

When he finally returned to the table, he talked to us as if we’d all known each other for a long time. Much to my surprise—and disappointment, he didn’t touch me again.

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Jason put his jacket over my shoulders. “Where’d you park? I’ll walk you to your car.”

“The east lot.”

“Okay.” He clasped my hand and we walked over in silence. He helped me into my car and before I could drive off, he tapped the window.

“You never told me where you wanted to meet me tomorrow.” He smiled. “Did you forget already?”

“Oh no, I just...Um, how about doing an early run with a great view of the city? Around eight?”

“That sounds great. Where?”

“Corona Heights Park?”

“I’ll see you there.” He pulled a small box from his back pocket and handed it to me. “Happy Birthday again, Via.”

“Thank you.” I tried not to blush as I rolled my window up.

As soon as I pulled in front of my house, I opened the box and peeled the thin layer of tissue paper away. There was a note: “To the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met: Give me a chance to show you how great we could be together—Jason.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled out what was underneath: a diamond lattice bracelet that looked like it cost more than my house.

I latched it onto my wrist and watched it sparkle against the darkness, wondering when I would ever wear something like this out in public.

I wasn’t sure whether I should keep it or not, but I knew I would give it back if I chose not to date him for the long term.

I looked down at the box again and noticed that there was a tightly folded piece of paper at the very bottom. I used my nails to pry it out and unfolded it: a page from the Ice Industries’ employee handbook.

Highlighted in yellow were the words, “Revised as of January 2013: The no fraternization clause is hereby terminated. Interpersonal relationships between employees are no longer a violation of company policy.”

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I woke up at six in the morning, practically dragging Ashley and Caroline from their beds. No matter how many times I suggested that they go to bed early on nights that they had work in the morning, they never listened.

“Do you have your ID badges? You know I’m not driving out there to bring them if you don’t.”

“Yeah, yeah.” They both groaned as they zombie-walked down the steps.

I watched them take their time getting ready for work—ironing their white polo shirts and khakis, re-shining their leather flats, and arguing about whose turn it was to drive.

“Ashley, I’m pretty sure it’s your turn.” I sighed after watching them conduct yet another coin toss. “Please drive safely and—”

“Stay together.” Caroline groaned. “We’re sixteen, not six, mom. See you later.”

“Have a great day at work.” I shooed them out of the house and waited until their car coasted down the hill.

I rushed upstairs to my bathroom and changed into my most flattering workout outfit—a black and pink cotton pantsuit that clung to my curves, and matching black tennis shoes.

“Olivia Donovan, this is not a date. It’s just an outing. A regular outing.” I looked at myself in the mirror. “Do not show any signs of attraction. Do not agree to any dates past today. This is only because he made you cum on the dance floor last night and you lost control...That’s the only reason you’re going to this thing. After today, this goes back to being a strictly professional relationship.”

I headed outside and revved up my car, cutting through the city streets to make it to the edge of the park. I drove through the lot and spotted a beautiful silver Jaguar that I assumed was Jason’s.

How many ridiculously expensive cars does he own?

“Good morning.” He stepped out of the car and smiled at me. “How are you feeling today?”

“Great. You?”

“Perfect. Do you want to walk or run through the trail?”

“I want to run.”

“All five miles?” He tossed a jacket into his car. “Are you sure?”

“Are you not in shape? Would you prefer if we drove through the trail instead?”

He laughed. “I’m in excellent shape, Via. I was just making sure you have the stamina to keep up with me.” He gave me a wicked grin and I immediately turned away and started running.

He was at my side within seconds and together we sprinted through the clay trail, weaving through the clove of trees. We kept pace with one another, never stopping to catch a breath.

Every now and then I could feel him looking over at me, maybe even smiling at me, but I was too focused on making it to the end of the trail to return his gazes.

Running had a way of calming my nerves, making me feel at peace, and I couldn’t focus on much else when my feet were hitting the pavement.

Once I crossed the five mile marker, I stopped and held my knees. I heard Jason slightly panting next to me.

“Most women I know can’t run one mile without stopping, let alone five...” He sounded impressed. “Have you always been a runner?”

“Hell no.” I sank down to the ground and stretched my legs. “I used to hate running...I’ve only been doing it for the past four years. How long have you been running?”

“All my life.” He slid his shirt over his head, revealing a sweaty set of washboard abs. He sat down next to me. “It’s one of the few things I’m very good at.”

There seemed to be a double meaning behind his words, and a part of me wanted to ask him to explain it, but I remembered the speech I’d given myself earlier. I didn’t need to pry into his personal life because I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression.

I cleared my throat. “Oh...Well that sounds very—”

“How old are your daughters, Via? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Sixteen.”

“They’re twins?” He raised his eyebrow. “Are they identical?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I couldn’t really tell them apart until they were three. That’s when they started developing their own little personalities and—”

Whoa. Overshare. Stick to basic information...

“You plan on ever finishing that sentence?” He smiled.

I didn’t respond. Between the beads of sweat that were trickling down his sculpted chest, his gorgeous eyes, and that ‘I-know-damn-well-you-want-me’ smile, I was trapped.

I slowly stood up and dusted the dirt off the back of my pants. “Um...we should probably head back now. I think we should run again.”

“So you won’t have to talk to me?”

Yes.

“No, that’s not it. I’m sure you have a million other things you could be doing right now so—”

“Not at all. I cleared my whole morning for you.”

Damnit...

“That was...” I looked away from him. “That was very nice of you, but I only have time for a run so—”

“Via, you told me you were free last night, and I’m pretty sure nothing has changed between two a.m. and now. You and I are on a date, which means that since we’re not getting lunch or dinner, we are going to walk back together. Then our “miserable” date that I apparently forced you to come on will end, and you can pretend like you actually have some work to do.”

I tried not to smile, but I couldn’t help it. “As long as we’re done by noon. I do have some things I have to do today.”

“Like what?”

“I have to sort through some more sPhone blue ideas for the upcoming campaign. Mr. Barnes wants us to pick a favorite by Monday and that’s going to take a miracle...”

“Speaking of which, why do you hate your job?”

“Telling the CEO why I hate my job? I don’t think so.”

“I won’t take it personal.” He motioned for me to start walking beside him. “I really want to know.”

“No you don’t.” I laughed.

“Tell me.”

I sighed. “In a nutshell: the employee benefits suck, cars should never be towed off the lot, directors should be allowed at least fifteen hours overtime a month, and working two years just to be eligible for one week of vacation? That’s ridiculous. Oh, and what’s the point in offering free coffee if there’s hardly ever any, and when there is, it tastes like shit? Just don’t offer any and save your money. And don’t get me started on that motivational idiot who made us put beanbags in our offices and gave us “Zen” journals. I could’ve given you a much better way to spend two million dollars.”

Jason stopped walking and looked down at me, right into my eyes. He was quiet for a long time, and then he burst into laughter. “Are you always this blunt?”

“You asked for the truth.”

“I think I’ve learned my lesson.” He smiled and started walking again.

I thought he would ask me more questions, or that I would feel compelled to ask him a few to make our walk easier, but I was actually enjoying the silence; I had the feeling that he was too.

Before I knew it, I could see the parking lot in the distance and the quarter mile marker straight ahead.

Jason followed me over to my car and before I could pull the door open, he gently grabbed me by my shoulders and turned me around.

He looked into my eyes again. “I know we didn’t talk much, but I had a great time today, Olivia.”

“Me too...”

Silence.

I felt his fingers running through my damp hair, his hard chest pressed against mine.

My heart was beating an entirely new rhythm and no matter how hard I tried to control it, it only beat wilder and faster.

“I’m going to be in New York for a conference this week...” He readjusted my sweatband. “Can I take you out to dinner when I get back on Saturday?”

NO...No, you don’t want whatever he thinks this is to go any further...This does not need to turn into an every-weekend thing. That is not happening...Turn away from him and—

He raised his eyebrow. “Via?”

I nodded.

“I need you to say it out loud.” He pushed my body against the car.

Silence.

He smiled. “What? No smart-mouthed comments about dinner on Saturday?”

“I think we should go Dutch...I don’t want you getting the wrong impression.”

“And what impression would that be?”

“That I’m attracted to you, because that still hasn’t changed.”

“You’re right.” He slipped his arms around my waist. “I wouldn’t dare think that. Is that a yes to Saturday?”

“It’s a maybe.”

I heard him laugh and then I felt his lips brush against mine—softly, gently, as if he didn’t want to completely kiss me. He slowly released me and stepped back.

“I’ll call you while I’m in New York. We’re going to make sure that maybe becomes a yes.”