Undersold(20)

Janice was sitting at her desk and she smiled big as I approached.

“Well hello there Amy, that was quick.”

“I wasn’t super busy, and I don’t want to waste his time.” Was it obvious that I was eager to see him?

“Totally understand. Always a good idea to impress the boss.” Janice winked. If she only knew how badly I wanted to impress him, and how I wanted to do it, she might not be so ready to joke around.

Janice picked up her phone, spoke quietly for a moment, then hung it up.

“Go on in.”

“Thanks Janice.”

She gave me another smile, and then went back to her work. I opened the doors to Shane’s office, and walked inside. It was still Spartan and simple, which surprised me all over again, and the memory of his lips against my neck and his fingers between my legs came flooding back. I found myself feeling excited all over again, which was so stupid.

Shane was sitting behind his desk, and looked up when I entered.

“Hi Amy, take a seat.” He motioned toward the table we had used before.

“Okay, thanks.”

I put my laptop and notes in the same spot as the first time and wondered if it was the same chair I was sitting in. I was being a psycho, I realized, and pushed those thoughts from my mind. This was just a business meeting. This was just a business meeting. That would be my mantra from then forward.

He finished what he was working on, and came to sit at the table. This time, he sat across from me, and leaned on the tabletop with his elbows, his hands folded in front of him.

“Alright Amy, what do you have for me?”

I had a lot for him. But I spun my laptop around, and we dove into the project.

Twenty minutes passed that way. We went through all the work together, and he never once moved from his side of the table. He was cordial and professional, even comfortable, but we stuck strictly to work topics. We wrapped up, and I started putting my stuff away. He leaned back in his chair and knitted his fingers behind his head. I couldn’t help but stare at his biceps for a brief moment before looking away. He was beautiful, finely chiseled and well worked, at least six feet in height. He dominated whatever room he entered, and I felt myself drawn to him. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about his body.

“I’m really pleased with this, Amy.”

“Thanks, Mr. Green,” I said. I wanted to add, I’d rather please you in other ways. Those thoughts were getting harder to suppress.

He moved to stand up, and suddenly I was filled with something odd. It was a feeling, or maybe a compulsion, some irresistible force at least, and it felt like it came from outside of me. The truth was, it was my confidence, returning for a brief moment of insanity. And I really was insane to break our silence, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was completely swept away. I was willing to risk my job, maybe even my career.

“Listen, Shane. I just want to say something, real fast.” He stopped and looked at me for a second. I couldn’t read his expression, but at least he didn’t walk away or reprimand me for using his first name.

“I know you’re a private man, and I know you can’t do anything with me in public. I understand and respect that. I want to try this, whatever me and you have, but I can’t do it if you’re seeing other people. I mean, what else could it be? I feel so stupid saying this, but—“

Before I could finish, he held up his hand. That simple gesture made me stop talking as if he had touched me. Before I could say anything more, he was moving around the table. I lost my train of thought as his body filled my vision, and he stooped down to kiss my lips.

It took me completely by surprise, but I melted into his kiss. The hunger was back, and our mouths opened to let our tongues run against each other. I felt his smooth, soft lips against mine, and his hands ran through my hair. The kiss felt like it lasted an hour before he pulled away.

“Ah,” was all I could say. He crouched down in front of me.

“I have to apologize to you again, Amy.” His eyes were clear and serious, and there was a sadness to him I couldn’t place. He was brooding and dark, and I wanted to crack him open and to drink whatever secrets he had hidden away.

“What, that? I liked that,” I said, head still swimming.

He grinned. “Not the kiss. I’m not sorry about that.” He shifted his body and moved closer, and took my right hand between his fingers. “I’m sorry that I gave you the impression that there was somebody else. There is nobody else.”

“I don’t understand. You’re not seeing anyone else? You’re not embarrassed of me?”

He looked like I had punched him in the gut. “Embarrassed of you?”