Chapter 16

Sixteen

SARA

My eyelids flutteredopen as the bright rays of the morning sun hit my face. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up in bed and looked around, taking in the strange surroundings, memories of my night with Tom rushing back.

I was still in his beautiful four-poster bed, his sheets draped over my waist, the light from the sun splaying on my naked breasts, warming my skin. I rushed to cover myself then smiled, realizing it was a little too late for modesty. Craning my neck to my left, a disappointed sigh bubbled from my lungs. Tom was gone, but a neatly folded note sat on the feathery bulk of his pillow.

Seriously?

I stretched my arms as I took a deep breath, feeling sore, yet refreshed, but the smile that had begun to pull at the corners of my mouth quickly faded as the sad realization the weekend was over washed over me.

There was no way I’d make it to work on time. I jumped out of the lofty comforts of his mattress and scanned the room for my clothes. They were nowhere to be found. The place seemed eerily silent, and cloaked in his thick cotton sheets, I walked over to Tom’s side of the bed and retrieved his note, flipping it open:

Sara,

Had to go early into work. You looked so peaceful wrapped in my things, I didn’t want to wake you. Please, make yourself at home. There are muffins on the kitchen counter, coffee in the pot. Fresh fruit and juice in the fridge. I’d love to find you still naked in my bed when I return from work, but I know you have a life of your own and it doesn’t revolve around me…not yet at least ;-). I left you the keys to the Rover in case you absolutely have to leave. Call you later.

I read the note a million times, my face hurting from how big I was smiling.

His proposal was tempting. Staying in his posh apartment, gazing at the city from the feathery softness of his bed, my naked skin reeling in the cool caress of his sheets? Who wouldn’t want to stay?

But reality hit hard and fast. I did have a life of my own and right now I was running late for my job.

Losing the sheets, I walked over to an armchair where his bunched-up shirt from last night rested. The smell of him lingered on the fabric, and I inhaled him deeply as I pulled the shirt on. It was huge for my frame, but who cared.

Me in his things…

Still, I needed to find my clothes. ASAP.

The washer and dryer were behind a set of double doors in the kitchen. A laundry basket sat on top of the dryer, my clothes neatly folded, including my bra and panties.

After getting dressed, I rummaged through my purse, looking for my cell. As I retrieved it, the missed-calls notification flashed at me. Ten calls. All from Jen.

I was supposed to call her the day before. Dammit.

As I headed out the door, I grabbed a banana and muffin off the counter, and actually contemplated taking the keys to the Rover. However, as much as I would’ve loved to drive into the city in pure luxury, the PATH train was a more efficient way back home.

Once I made it to my apartment, I skipped the shower and threw on the first pencil skirt I found along with a cream-colored, silk camisole and matching cardigan, then slipped into a pair of black pumps. After brushing my hair really quick and dotting on some light makeup, I shot back out the door in less than fifteen minutes. As I ran down the hall, Jen came out of the elevators, her eyes bloodshot from working an overnight double.

“Jen.”

She barely looked at me. “Hey.”

I grabbed her elbow. “You okay?”

She turned around, her face grim. “Just a long night. These double shifts are killing me. How did your date go? You didn’t come home last night, so it must’ve been good?” She mustered a meek smile, her eyes practically closing as she spoke.

“I’m running late for work and you look like the walking dead. I’ll catch you up tonight. Sounds good?”

She nodded half-heartily then turned toward the apartment and continued to walk, looking exactly like a zombie. My heart ached for her and the number of hours she put into her work and studies. It was who she’d always been, a bit of an over achiever. I’d known her all of her life, and she’d always been top of the class. The best at everything she did. But I knew she did it all for her parents—for their approval.

Sometimes I simply worried she pushed herself too hard. One of these days it was going to take a serious toll on her.

The elevator doors opened, and even though I wanted to run to her and make sure she went to bed to grab some shuteye instead of drinking coffee to keep herself going, I jumped in the elevator. I growled out a curse. I’d have to find a way to make it up to her for being so caught up in Tom the last few days and neglecting our friendship.

I arrived at work by eight thirty, and thankfully, Rebecca was running late as well. It was shaping out to be a slow day, which sucked because I couldn’t keep Tom out of my mind. The whole weekend had been a whirlwind, then he kind of just up and left me that morning, naked on his bed.

Were we dating? Were we exclusive?

Not being able to focus on much, I snuck into the studio to watch the dancers rehearse for the big show. It was my secret indulgence, stolen moments where I dared dream of the life I wish I’d had. I always left feeling sorrier for myself. Sitting in the back of the room, I watched as Alexei worked his magic. Having trained in one of Russia’s most prominent contemporary dance companies, Alexei’s style of dance was nothing the company had ever seen. He challenged the dancers to their max. While his pieces were works of art, they came at the expense of their morale.

As I watched them dance for their lives, that burning desire to join them sparked deep inside. The music licked my muscles. I swayed, living through their practiced moves. Up and down with each lift, spinning with them on their pirouettes, flying through the air with their leaps and arabesques. Before I knew it, I’d shed my shoes and was flexing my feet, pointing my toes. No matter how hard I tried, purging my blood completely of dance was an impossibility I hated to entertain.

“Stop the music,” Alexei shouted in his heavy Russian accent as he approached the lead pair of dancers who had just finished the lift. “God dammit, Estella. How many times do I have to tell you to keep your fucking toes pointed? Your feet are hideous. You are ruining my piece. And you…” He pointed to her partner. “You are going to drop her. How can she perform if she has an imbecile underneath her? She needs a man holding her, not a pussy. Again. From the top!”

Alexei counted off beats, his hand snapping in the air. “Four. Six…seven, eight…and lift…hold…hold…point your toes. Bring her down gently; slide her off your arms. Now look at her eyes. She is the ghost of your beloved and the last time you will ever see her. One…two…beautiful. Yes. Yes.”

He was a hard ass, but when you watched his art take form, it was a painting coming to life. Magnificent. What I would have given to be one of them, to be up on that dance floor dancing for my life…

“Take five, everyone,” Alexei bellowed.

Estella exited out one of the back doors. Moments later, Alexei looked around the studio making sure no one noticed as he followed behind her. He didn’t see me sitting in the far back. A bad feeling burned in my chest. I remembered the rumors about him harassing the girls.

I headed down the same exit, which opened into an empty corridor, not sure what I was planning to do. As I walked down the hall, I heard strained voices coming from Alexei’s office. The closer I approached, the louder the muffled sounds grew. When I reached his office, his door was ajar. The sounds were more urgent—an unmistakable panting noise vibrating through the door.

The worst thoughts ran through my mind. Part of me wanted to take off running, but another part of me felt an eerie feeling creeping up my spine. Something was not right.

What if he is forcing himself on her?

I peeked through the open crack.

My eyes widened at the sight. He had Estella bent over his desk with her legs spread open and her dance shorts by her ankles. Alexei’s naked ass faced me as he violently thrust into her, muttering what I could only imagine were profanities in his native tongue. When he was done, he grabbed her by the long pony tail and pulled her head back. “Next time, don’t make me have to tell you twice to keep your toes fucking pointed. Now, get your cunt out of my office.”

I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to not make any noise as I leaned my back against the wall. Estella burst out of the office, not giving me time to disguise my presence. Startled to see me standing by the wall, she turned to close the door, tears streaming down her face. She paused for a brief moment to look at me, then ran off down the hall back to the studio.

As I tried to make sense of what I’d witnessed, my cellphone buzzed inside my skirt pocket. “Hello?”

“Girl, I’ve been texting you for the past fifteen minutes.”

“I’m sorry, Martha. Had my phone on vibrate and I must have not felt it.”

“Thought you might have been busy with the witch so I didn’t want to bother you. You have a gentleman at the front desk waiting to see you.”

“I don’t have any dancers scheduled for interviews today. Who is he?”

“Don’t know, but he looks important. Good looking. Very. Is this your mystery guy, hmm?”

“There’s no mystery guy. What’s his name?” I asked her abruptly as I reached my office, opened the door, and hid inside, needing to catch my breath after the atrocity I’d just witnessed.

“Um, sir, I have Ms. Hart on the line. What did you say your name was, again?” After a brief pause, she said, “Sara, he says his name is Mr. Charming. Is this guy for real?”

I shook my head as I tried to hold back my chuckle. Such impeccable timing. “Mr. Charming? Well, tell Mr. Charming he’s going to have to give me a few more minutes to clear my schedule.” Flutters sprung up in my stomach as I headed over to the reception area. When I spotted him, the oxygen was sucked out of the room.

Dressed in another perfectly tailored gray suit, he sat at one of our waiting area’s modern chairs. His right ankle rested on his left knee while his right arm leaned on the armrest and those expert fingers supported his chin. He scrolled through his phone, looking very nonchalant.

I cleared my throat as I approached. “Ahem. Mr. Charming?”

Turning around, his eyes widened. “Miss Hart. You always keep your guests waiting this long?” he asked with a smirk.

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. “Well, I wasn’t expecting any guests, Mr. Charming,” I replied pointedly. “If you would be so kind and accompany me to my office,” I said turning around, my lips twitching, trying to suppress a laugh.

“Certainly, Miss Hart.”

As we walked past Martha’s desk, I whispered to her, “No interruptions, please.” To Charming, I said, “Follow me. My office is right through here.”

As we entered the long hallway, Tom moved up next to me, and I gave him a playful elbow jab. “So, Mr. Charming, nice of you to call me and let me know you were stopping by my office.”

“And ruin the surprise? Unless you don’t like surprises?”

I paused to look at him. “Oh, I love surprises. But did you forget my boss is a witch? She’ll kill me if she finds out I’m hanging out with my…um…with you, instead of running her errands.”

He kissed my pursed lips. “You look cute when you’re mad. Did you know that?”

The soft touch of his lips was magic. Instantly, I forgot I was trying to be upset. Once inside my office, I offered him a chair in front of my small desk before closing the door. Tom removed his suit jacket, revealing the sculpted slabs of muscle covered by a matching suit vest and a black button-down shirt opened at the collar.

The coziness of my office made his large frame even more impressive. Guy was cut like a freaking Tight end in a pro-football team. He laid his jacket on top of the twin chair next to his. My heart drummed as I scurried over to my desk. The partially closed blinds to the picture window behind me muted the view of the noon chaos of Midtown Manhattan.

“So, what’s up, Charming?”

He leaned back in his chair, slouching to one side as he crossed his ankle over a knee, regarding me intently, perhaps considering his answer. “What’s the matter?”

“What do you mean?”

“Something’s got you troubled. I can see it in your eyes. This isn’t about me showing up here unannounced.”

“You simply caught me at a bad moment.”

“Boss giving you a hard time?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then what is it?”

“Really want to know?

“If it’s bothering you, I want to hear about it.”

Hands shaking, I told him every detail of my encounter with Estella and Alexei. I was so troubled by what I saw, I didn’t think I could focus on anything else.

“You’re sure about what you saw? He was forcing himself on her?” he asked.

“It’s not entirely uncommon to have a relationship with your instructor. Dancing can be very intimate. You have to get very close to your partners. But, I don’t know if this is that type of relationship. She came out of the office crying.”

“They saw you?”

“Only Estella, but she bolted back to the studio when she realized what I’d seen.”

“This Alexie sounds like a complete dick.”

“Yeah, but he is one of the best in his field. This sort of shit could get someone fired and I’m afraid it wouldn’t be him. The company needs him.”

“Nobody needs a scumbag like him, I don’t care how great a choreographer he is.”

“These girls…people have no clue how hard it is to be a female dancer in this business. They are at the mercy of these sleazy men in power. It doesn’t matter how well you dance, it’s how pretty you are and how wide you are willing to spread your legs to get ahead. He probably promised her the lead.”

“I’m sorry you had to witness that.”

“It’s not just what he did to Estella. I hate the way he treats all of the dancers. He’s so fucking toxic and Rebecca just keeps kissing his ass.”

Tom rose from his chair and walked over to me, kneeling down so we were face to face. “I don’t like seeing you upset.” He cupped my cheek in his broad hand. “He’s an asshole that needs to be reported. Or I can simply kick the shit out of him and put him in his place.”

I pulled away from his hand. “You’re not serious.”

“I am. Guys like that deserve to get their asses kicked. I’ll be happy to do the honors.”

“No. You don’t need to get arrested. Not for him. I just need to figure out how to encourage Estella to open up about the abuse so we can report his ass.”

He leaned in and kissed me. “You can try it your way, but if he lays a hand on you, trust me, he’ll wish he were dead.”

Shit. The cold, stern look in his eyes sent an arctic shiver down my spine. He was serious, and I didn’t know how to feel about it. A part of me had warmed at his protectiveness. It made me feel safe, but another part of me felt a little sliver of dread coil in my gut. He talked about beating the shit out of Alexie a little too easily. Made me wonder about how many people had been at the receiving end of his fists.

“So, tell me…” I said, changing the subject, needing to get Alexei and his disgusting behavior out of my mind. “Why are you here? Did you come to save me again from my troubles?”

“Actually, I was hoping to take you to lunch. But now that I’m this close to you, I think I want to jump straight to dessert.” He reached in for an even deeper kiss and I surrendered. He parted my legs with his hands, causing my skirt to ride up past my thighs. He pulled my chair closer to him, exposing my black, silk panties.

“How did you know I didn’t stay in your apartment?”

“I asked the front desk to tell me if they saw you leave.”

“You have people watching me?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Well, when you say it like that it sounds kinda creepy.”

“That’s okay. I like your kind of creepy.”

He smiled. “Christ, Sara. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I couldn’t focus on my morning meetings, my mind invaded by thoughts of you in my bed last night.”

The warmth of his breath over my lips radiated throughout my body, plunging straight for my center. The temperature in my office seemed to have risen by ten degrees. Playful, but in that raspy sultry voice of his, he said, “You know, this is one of my fantasies.”

“What is?”

“You and me. On this desk.”

“Since when?”

“Since I walked through that door.” Releasing me from his arms, he stood up and walked over to my blinds, then closed them completely.

“May I ask what it is you think you are doing?”

“What does it look like?” His gaze darkened, his intentions clearly broadcasting through the airwaves, loud and crystal clear.

“Tom. No. I can’t. We can’t.” I pulled my skirt back down and crossed my legs. Yet, as I looked at him, I couldn’t fathom how I would resist this man. His golden-brown hair was perfectly styled in that yeah-it’s-messy-on-purpose look and his smooth, clenched jaw was still freshly scented with the mountain rain aroma of his after shave. With so much manliness wanting to explode out of those formal clothes, my mind went bonkers. Those deep predatory gold and olive eyes said so much without having to utter a single word, and right then they were telling me he was famished.

“You need to stop looking at me like I’m a juicy steak,” I said.

Thrill crossed his eyes and his lips curled to the side. “I can’t hide what I’m feeling for you, Sara.”

“That was not an invitation to unleash all your artillery on me, you know,” I continued.

In two long strides, he stood in front of me, looking down at my frazzled face. I eyed his crotch, unable to ignore the proximity of my face to the massive ridge rising under his gray pants.

“What’s that you said about artillery?” he asked with a smile. He was just bluffing. He had to be. I was sure of it. There was no way he was really thinking we were going to have sex in my office—in the middle of the day.

That was ludicrous.

And fucking hot.

“Two can play this game, you know,” I told him.

“Is that so, Miss Hart?”

My hand made its way up his thigh before taking a turn into his groin, but right when I was about to glide my hand up his beckoning erection, he took my hand in his and motioned for me to stand. He held me in his gaze for a lengthy moment. “I said my dessert. Never mentioned anything about yours.” He gestured toward the door. “Is it locked?”

Speechless, I nodded yes.

Sliding his hand down my thighs, he brushed his hot lips over my ear. “This skirt is awfully sexy, but right now, I think I’d rather it like this.” Grasping the hem, he hiked up the fabric until it was sitting scrunched up on my waist. “That’s better.”

He cupped my ass cheeks and electricity sparked on my skin as his eager mouth nibbled on my neck and jaw, culminating at my parched lips. When he kissed me, the whole world melted away. I was no longer in my office, two doors down from my boss. Nope. I was in my own little private fantasy about to have sex on my desk.

In one swift move, my papers were lying scattered on the floor and my almost-naked ass sat atop of my cold, cherry wood desk. The hum of my desktop’s dying fan behind me suddenly made me aware of how crazy this was.

Tom was in his element. I was a hot mess, heaving and panting.

“Relax, baby.”

“What if someone—”

A finger to my lips silenced me.

He scooted me closer to the edge of the desk, then he took a seat in front of me on my chair, gingerly parting my legs, exposing my silk panties. Circling my clit with his thumb over the material, he expertly awakened all of my nerve endings.

The tingly sensation reached every muscle. The pleasure was so heavenly, I arched my head back, succumbing to his hand. And right when I thought it couldn’t get any better, he pulled my panties to the side, putting my pussy on full display for his eyes to feast.

“There’s my dessert,” he whispered as he parted me with his fingers to fully expose my clit. “How badly do you want me to lick you?”

“Very…” I said breathless.

He wasted no time getting to work, his tongue flicking me in just the right place, making me so wet, all I wanted was to spread my legs and be filled by him. As if hearing my thoughts, he pumped his thick middle finger inside me.

“Oh fuck…” I hissed as he hooked his finger and hit my G spot. “Yeah, yeah. Just like that,” I urged him.

He smiled as he fucked me with both his tongue and finger.

Reaching for his shirt collar, I said. “I want you to make me come with your cock.”

“I didn’t bring a condom.”

“Shit.”

“Tell me about it. But don’t worry. I promise my tongue can make you curl your toes, too.”

Nodding at him to keep going, he closed his eyes as he devoured me, but I also noticed he’d unzipped his pants and was stroking his cock. My mouth salivated, and I wasn’t able to hold on any longer, coming on his tongue in wave after wave of mind-blowing pleasure. I muffled my cries as best as I could and prayed Rebecca hadn’t been in her office.

He helped me off my desk, guiding my hand to his cock so I could feel how hard he was for me. “See what you do to me?”

I slid a finger over the dewy tip, loving the silky feeling of his precum.

“I want you on your knees. But keep your skirt hiked up. I’ve had visions of you in that skirt and heels for too long. It’s time I make those visions real.” He lowered my camisole and bra, making sure my tits were out and ready for him to play with if he chose to. Right now, it seemed he just wanted to look at me like this, though. Like I was his little erotic play thing.

Doing as he instructed, I got on my knees and drew him into my mouth, practically gagging on his length, and he wasn’t even fully inside. Oh, but the feel of his thickness made me wet all over again, and I sucked and sucked like I was famished and only his cock could fill me.

Tom threaded his fingers through my hair, loosening up my pony tail, making messy strands fall over my face. “Fuck, baby girl. You do that so well.” He pumped his pelvis, and I swore he hit the back of my throat.

Then a knock sounded at the door. “Sara, you in there?”

Shit. Shit. Shit. I went to pull away from him, but he held me in place. “Not yet,” he whispered.

My eyes widened. His smile curled.

“Sara, I need to speak with you!”

“She’s currently occupied,” Tom responded for me, his cock growing harder. He took it out slowly, letting the head brush my lips, signaling for me to reply.

“I’m…” I said, as he slipped his cock inside then back out. “With…” He repeated the motion. “A client.” This time he went deep, leaving it there, my lips stretching around his girth.

“Sara, answer the door this instant.”

Using my hands, I pumped him fast making sure to suck on his head until I knew he was ready to explode.

“Swallow,” he said before spilling his load down my throat, not giving me a second to process what was happening. Still, something primal came over me, and I drank it all like it was the most delicious filth I had ever tasted, licking up every drop off his dick.

He ran his thumb over my lips. “So fucking beautiful.”

Rebecca knocked on the door even harder, jiggling the knob and sending my heart galloping out of my chest.

In less than a minute, Tom and I re-clothed ourselves and fixed my desk as best we could. Tom put on his suit jacket and sat down, looking like a typical business man at a meeting. I wiped my mouth, adjusted my skirt, then as nonchalantly as possible, opened the door.

Rebecca’s complexion matched the fiery red mop atop her head. Ms. Fitzgerald did not like to be kept waiting. Arms locked across her bosom, she sneered at me as she peeked inside my office, trying to figure out why I hadn’t jumped at her beck and call the instant she knocked at my door. “What the hell took you so long?”

I sucked in a shaky breath. “I was busy.”

“You didn’t have any interviews scheduled for today.”

Tom stepped up from his chair and walked over to the door, extending his hand, a warm sensual smile coating his lips. “Ms. Fitzgerald, pleasure to meet you.”

Rebecca’s expression immediately softened at the sight of him. She was easily twice his age, but the look that crossed in every woman’s eyes the moment they realized they were standing in front of pure manly gorgeousness hit her out of nowhere. And like the rest of us—whose drenched panties dropped to the floor whenever Tom entered our field of vision—she was instantly enchanted by his looks and charm.

She extended her hand to shake his, but Tom took her slim fingers in his and pressed a soft kiss on top of her hand. She blinked repeatedly at his gesture as her blood saturated her skin to a fire-engine red.

“Ms. Fitzgerald,” Tom acknowledged, “Sara was telling me all about your wonderful work here. Seems your new Russian Choreographer, Alexei…”

“Vonorov. Alexei Vonorov,” she replied quickly, her hand still in his.

“Sara tells me he is carving out a new dance masterpiece?” Tom finally let go of her hand.

“We are all very excited about the experience he brings to our company. Alexei is extremely talented and is an exceptional addition to our dance family. His professionalism is unmatched,” she added proudly.

Tom looked at me, his eyes assuring me he knew I was figuratively gagging at Rebecca’s praise for Alexei.

“So…mister?” Rebecca waited for his name.

“I’m sorry. How rude of me. Thomas Wright, but please, call me Tom.”

“Well, Tom, what brings you to our doorstep?”

“My company handles real estate business for extremely high-profile clients. I have a couple flying in from Milan for a few days at the end of the month and I was hoping to snatch some tickets for your opening show. A gesture of appreciation for their loyalty.”

Rebecca’s eyes widened along with the smile tracing across her lips. “Really?”

Tom winked at her. “What better way to show them a good time in our city than by treating them to a spectacular dance performance. Europeans aren’t the only ones with culture, after all.”

Rebecca closed her eyes and shrugged with accord. “Isn’t that the truth.” She winked at Tom as she placed her hand on his forearm. “I like you.” Then she turned to me, her charming smile now frosted with ice. “Please, ensure Tom gets the best seats in the house, compliments of the company.”

“Of course,” I replied with a tight smile.

She turned back to Tom and offered him her hand. “Delighted to have made your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure was mine, Rebecca.”

I dropped my chin to my chest and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to avoid rolling my eyes at the awkward exchange between these two.

“Do you plan on staying long, perhaps you want a tour? I’ll be happy to show you around,” she asked, her chest puffed.

I don’t think so, lady.

“Mr. Wright was actually just leaving.”

She wasn’t able to wipe off the disappointment from her face. “Oh? Well, I hope you enjoyed your visit. Sara will see you out.” As she headed down the corridor, she turned back, and added, “Oh, Sara, come to my office when you are done, and please fetch me some coffee. I’m due for my afternoon caffeine break.”

“Of course, Rebecca, right away,” I called back with a mirthless smile as she trotted away. When I was sure she was out of earshot I turned to Tom. “Oh, my God, that was close. I can’t believe I let you do that.”

“Do what?”

“My boss almost caught me sucking on your dick.”

“Don’t tell me that wasn’t hot.”

I couldn’t—because it was more than hot. It was the single most erotic thing I had ever done in my entire life and I was already craving more. My phone chirped with a text, the theme from a popular Halloween flick announcing the sender.

“Should I even bother to guess who is texting you?”

I separated from him to retrieve my phone from my skirt pocket, then looked at him and raised an eyebrow as I laughed. “Is it that obvious?” Rebecca sent me several coffee icons followed by a myriad of exclamation points. “Well, I guess that means she wants her coffee. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“It’s okay, beautiful,” he muttered with a sigh. “I can walk myself out.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed your visit. Call me later?”

Tom reached across and rubbed his knuckles across my cheek before planting a kiss on my lips. “Of course.” He turned to leave but stopped and looked back at me. “By the way. Do me a favor and stay away from that creep.”

“Alexei? I can take care of myself. Don’t worry.”

“Sara. I mean it. Promise me. I don’t trust that guy.”

“I promise. Just go, before Rebecca comes looking for me again.”