His words echoed in her head for the remainder of the day, and she found it difficult to concentrate. Even worse was that he kept coming out of his office and walking by her even though he never stopped to say anything to her again.
She found some real estate listing and browsed through trying to find a property she could practise her newly taught skills on. Luckily she found one that wasn't too far away. Selena thought she might visit the location first thing in the morning, but each time she saw another woman enter his office, her heart raced. Her mind kept flitting back and forth between their shared moments and focussing on her job. Several times she caught herself staring off into space, reminiscing on the way his arms felt around her and how he felt inside.
She got up one of those times and walked to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face. "Get a grip Selena," she told herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. "You can't continue like this."
When she returned to her desk Mr. Bloomfield was just heading out and she almost bumped into him at the door. He reached out and caught her, and electricity shot up her arm at his touch. She shook him off and without a word she went to her desk. It was better for her if she went to the location today after all. But when she did, she realised the manor was rather large and beautiful and once more she stared fantasizing on what life would be like if she were always with Ethan. She walked about the house, taking it in, studying its history and its decor until she became very familiar with it. When she passed the rectangular mirror at the foot of the stairs, she paused and stared intently at her reflection. She bit her lips and soon after one hand lifted and cupped her breast and the other slid under the hem of her skirt. She closed her eyes as she moved the lace fabric with her thumb and used her middle finger to stroke her sensitivity. Instantly she grew wet and she dug into her breast as her finger moved faster and faster until she could feel her juices saturating her underwear.
She wanted Ethan Bloomfield, and it didn't matter how many times she denied it, she wanted to be back in his bed. She wanted to taste of the pleasures he had shared with her before, but she fought with her conscience. She didn't even remember where she was until she heard a slight knock on the door and realised the first of her prospective buyers had arrived. Luckily she could not be seen and she hastened to remove her hand and tidy up before admitting them.
One way or another, this couldn't continue. She just wished she knew how to make it stop; how to find a way that wouldn't lead her straight to his arms.
Chapter 8
The next three weeks weren't any different for Selena; Ethan was relentless in his pursuit of her. He took every chance he got to steal a kiss, and he often called her into his office for ‘meetings' which were getting far too common. Sometimes she tried to dodge him, but it was harder to do when he sent someone for her.
"You can't keep doing this," she told him one of the times.
"Selena I know you want me. Look, I am having my boat serviced today and I plan on going sailing on the weekend. Won't you come with me?"
"I'm not sure..."
Her words were cut off as he crushed his lips to hers, and this time, no matter how much she fought internally, she couldn't resist him. Desire was threatening to mad her and she knew if she didn't indulge, if even one more time, she would cave under the pressure. She inhaled sharply as the sweet sensations she had so long craved engulfed her, and as he locked his arms around her and moulded her into his body, she felt the ache rising in her. She wanted him, and there was no point in denying it any longer. She had already opened Pandora's Box, and now that the contents have escaped, she could not force them back in.
"Okay, okay," she said as she weaselled her way from under him. "Not here."
"So you will come sailing with me then?" he asked excitedly and she couldn't help but smile. She felt like she hadn't smiled in a long time.
"Yes," she finally agreed. "I will come with you on Saturday." Her response excited another kiss out of him and by the time she made it back to her desk she was bubbling over with joy. Needless to say, she was still unable to focus on the tasks she had assigned herself, being distracted now by the prospects of going sailing with him. Selena had never been on a boat before and she looked forward to it in the same way children looked for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
"What was she to do under the circumstances?" asked Krystal. "Do you think you can really sleep with someone like Ethan Bloomfield and just walk away? I've seen him and he has this magnetism that once you get pulled in, it's hard to just walk away. He gets under your skin."
"But we all know where this might lead?" Melanie said. "If she goes out with him again, then she gets further wrapped up in him. I think she should take a leave of absence from work so that she can clear her head and be away from him for a while."
"That might work, if he didn't already know where to find her," Krystal continued. "He won't even grant her that leave; he is the boss remember? And even if he did, he wouldn't just sit there waiting for her to return one month later. Men like Ethan always get what they want."
"You make it sound as if she doesn't have any control over this," Melanie said.
"Okay, how about we try something; you go and sleep with him, and then let's see you walk away."
Selena sat there listening to them argue about her life like she wasn't there. She had considered everything they were both discussing; taking leave, walking away or just succumbing to her feelings; the latter had seemed the easiest to deal with.
"Don't be silly Krystal," Melanie said. "I could never be caught with the likes of him," she said and then shrank as Selena turned to look at her. "Sorry," she told her. "I didn't mean it like that."
"It doesn't matter," Selena said as she uncurled her legs from under her. "The deed is already done; there is no point in discussing this any further. I have been at that office everyday for the last three years and as much as I assume Megan and some of the other women have slept with him, I have never seen him actually pursuing anyone. That's what's confusing to me now."
"Well maybe he is really interested in you," Krystal told her. "After all, you are young and beautiful. Why wouldn't he want you?"
Selena smiled at Krystal's words. "You are my friend; you are supposed to say that."
"I just don't trust him," Melanie said.
"That's alright Mel; it isn't for you to trust him. And I am not saying Selena should trust him either. I'm just saying ride the wave and see where it goes. Men don't have to be billionaires to disappoint you. At least she would be living in the lap of luxury rather than wallowing in the gutter for that heartbreak."
"Do you really think...?" Selena began.
"No, I don't think he will break your heart," Krystal said as she read what Selena was going to ask. "Just have fun."
For all the years Selena had known Krystal, she had never viewed her in the counselling capacity. But everything she said now made sense. Selena had stressed over whether or not she should be with Ethan or not for a month, and it had all culminated in her agreeing to be with him still. There were no short cuts when it came to emotions and she now took Krystal's advice in taking it as it is. She didn't have to get her hopes up about where it could lead, or think about whether Ethan was wining and dining anyone else. She only had to enjoy what she had now with him for as long as it lasted.
Saturday morning brought with it a basket of nerves for breakfast; Selena could barely drink her coffee as she checked her bag for the millionth time.
"Just relax," Krystal told her.
"That's kind of hard to do," Selena admitted.
Just then she heard the familiar honk of his Volvo and she squeezed Krystal's hands before she left. Melanie had to work, and it was just as well, for she didn't need her negativity now. Selena was wearing a white halter summer dress that flared at her knees and sandals. She wasn't sure what she should take on their little excursion s she brought items she would normally use on overnight trips. Who knows, maybe she wouldn't be back until Sunday.
"You are looking lovely," he told her as she sat down. He leaned over and gave her a slight kiss on her cheek. Selena only smiled and remained tight lipped; a reaction she had developed whenever she was close to him. She rested her bag at her feet and clasped her hands in her lap as she looked outside.
"Don't be nervous; I'm not going to kill you," he said as he flashed her a grin.