The Other C-Word(20)

       
           



       

He moved his lips almost rhythmically over my mouth while he thrust in and out, hitting the tip of my tongue each time-it felt like he was having sex with my mouth. He tasted like sweet peppermint … fresh, hot and clean at the same time. I moaned-it was the most amazing kiss I'd ever had, and I didn't want it to stop. He moved his luscious mouth though, breaking our contact. He leaned against my neck, breathing heavily.

Rick backed away from me after a few minutes. It suddenly felt very cold. "I have to go check on the photographer and make sure he's doing his job. I need you to stay late tonight and make sure the webmaster has all the info. Can you do that, Marley?"

I didn't trust myself to speak so I just nodded and panted like some overzealous puppy. He walked out, shutting the door behind him. I allowed myself a few more minutes of solitude before going back to my desk. I had a little trouble walking in a straight line. How could a mere kiss do this?

It wasn't until I was reconciling the invoices for Alex's work that I realised his business card was gone. I was so happy I was all alone in my little island of the office as I groped myself looking for it. It was kind of ridiculous of Rick to take it, since I had Alex's number on his invoices and I was sure a simple Internet search could have located it as well. I thought the business card battle was more metaphorical for Rick. It wasn't as if I would even consider posing nude anyway, although based on Rick's response, I wouldn't mind grabbing a few more business cards.



* * * *



I didn't see Rick for the rest of the day. I knew he was somewhere in the building, working on his laptop. I pondered what the kiss meant, and whether he was ignoring me. All I knew for sure was that I wanted another and another. He knew how to kiss a woman senseless. At the end of the day, I texted him that I was leaving. His response was almost instantaneous that I needed to wait for him, even though it wasn't that late. We didn't speak in the elevator, exiling ourselves to our separate corners. We walked to the parking lot with so much distance between us, several more people could have fitted in the space. He opened the door for me. I was disappointed, but then he surprised me by opening the passenger side and getting into my car.

He didn't say anything, so I finally broke the silence. "Are you trying to make sure I warm up my car, too?"

He laughed. "It's a good idea, but I think we have other things to talk about, and I didn't want to do it in the building."

I nodded and readjusted the thermostat in my car, turned down the radio and fidgeted.

"Are we going to talk about the kiss, Marley?"

"We can pretend it never happened. We can add it to our list. We're really good at pretending."

"Is that what you want to do? I know how you responded to me, Marley. I wasn't kissing myself up there," he replied, running his hands through his hair. It all fell back into place perfectly.

"I admit I enjoyed it. I wanted more, but we both know this can't happen."

"Why not? There's another C-word we have yet to explore … compromise. You tell me your reservations, and I'll tell you mine. Hopefully, we can come to a consensus."

I swallowed. "Well the most obvious one is that you're my boss."

"First off, I'm not in the traditional sense. I'm a contractor, and you're an employee. We are simply teamed up on a special project. This company doesn't have a ‘no fraternisation' policy. Even if I were your boss in the traditional sense, we'd just have to sign a disclosure for HR. They wouldn't let me be your manager anymore, but since I'm not an employee, a disclosure isn't necessary."

I turned to him, tilting my head. "How do you know that?"

"It's my job to know these things," he replied with a boyish smirk. I had no idea how it was his job to know our company's HR policies, but I was glad he did. I wondered if he'd looked them up during the day. "So, that's out of the way. What else, Marley?"

"Even if it's not a policy, it would create a strain on our working relationship."

He chuckled. "I think the strain already exists, but we can make a promise to be completely professional at work. We've done a pretty amazing job so far."

That was true. I drew in a deep breath because I wasn't sure how I wanted him to respond to my next question. "I don't do relationships, Rick. Are you asking me to fit you into my rotation?"

His demeanour completely changed. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. I'd obviously pissed him off. "Fuck no, let's get one thing straight. If we do this, the only rotating you'll be doing is on top of me. Do you understand that? I mean it. No other guys. No goodbye fucks. No sexting. Nothing, but me. Got it?"                       
       
           



       

I flinched with the harshness of his words.

He softened his expression. "Sorry, Marley. Look, neither one of us can do a relationship, right? You apparently have some aversion to it, and I'm leaving in three months. I just ask that during the next three months, you are completely mine, and I will be completely yours. It's my hard-and-fast rule. Can you agree to it?"

I felt a fierce heat rise up in my belly at the thought of being Rick's, even if it was only for three months. "Yes, I can agree to that, but you have to know some things about me. We can have a civil relationship, but I don't date." He nodded, but I paused for effect to let him know not to dismiss my words. "That means no dinners, no hanging out, no personal questions and I'll never spend the night. That's my hard-and-fast rule. Can you agree to it?"

"I get it. We'll be friends with benefits."

"No, Rick, we'll just be … benefits." I didn't want to say it, but it was as much for my protection as his. I was pretty messed up and that's one thing I didn't want to reveal to him. I preferred to keep my secrets hidden away because the one thing I despised was pity.

His mouth formed a tight, grim line. When he spoke, the words were through gritted teeth. "Fine, I agree."

"Okay, I guess that's all of my terms."

"Are you on birth control?"

"Yes." I wondered if he wanted to take me right now. The thought was deliciously tantalising.

"When was the last time you were tested, Marley?"

Huh? I searched his face, trying to comprehend the question. "I haven't been, but I've been careful."

He sighed heavily. "You'll have to get tested then."

Even though my conscience said he was right, my loins screamed, ‘fuck you'. "What about you?" I asked in an accusing tone, narrowing my eyebrows.

He grinned. "Of course, me too. I completely agree. We can go together, tomorrow … or would you consider that a date?"

Despite the intensity of the moment I laughed. "No, that's fine with me."

He nodded then got out of the car. The move surprised me. I thought we might have engaged in more than kissing tonight. I was majorly disappointed. "I'll take care of the details. Drive safe, Marley."

He walked back towards the entrance. I banged my head on the steering wheel. I looked up in time to watch him kick a trash can on his way into the building. It was a little ridiculous, but I felt somewhat vindicated knowing he was suffering right along with me.





Chapter Six





The next day was Friday. Fridays were awesome anyway, but this particular Friday had me blaring Addicted by Saving Able on my way to work. The illicit lyrics painted pleasing pictures of going down on Rick, or vice versa. It was full of lust, sex and passion. I had no business listening to this song-it was a terrible choice when battling Chicago rush-hour traffic. I punched the radio off button so quickly my finger hurt. Then I had to turn on the air-conditioning to full blast, even though it was a somewhat chilly day.

I brought Rick his coffee in the morning. He complimented my jeans. They were my favourite pair, dark blue, boot cut and tight in the right places. He wore jeans too and they outlined his waist and hips in the most pleasing way.

"Lunch today at noon, okay?"

I was surprised by his request, since we'd never had lunch together.

"You want to have lunch?"

"We have an appointment. Remember?"

Oh yeah, of course we do.



* * * *



He drove us to a clinic close to work. We made small talk the whole way. I think neither of us wanted to venture into any tense topics. We sat next to each other in the crowded clinic and I squirmed in my seat, but was careful to remain at a respectable distance, although part of me longed to sniff his neck. He smelt lusciously palatable. He also looked delicious in his jeans and white button-down Oxford.

I was terribly nervous about so many things. Instead of trying to take my mind off them, I made a mental list, which only made the situation worse. I was anxious that despite our agreement, I knew our relationship would be different from any of my previous ones. This was because my feelings for Rick were different from any I'd ever experienced. I was apprehensive about the test, the lusty way he looked at me, that I'd be a disappointment in the bedroom and because our time together was short.