16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Layla

"Bitch, you are glowing. Italy certainly agreed with you!" Zane says from across my desk.

He's been catching me up on the week. We don't open for another couple of hours. Of course, the place ran smoothly without me. Zane had it all under control.

I'm actually more relieved than sad about it, which feels like progress. I think Italy showed me how much of the world is out there for me to explore. I don't need to hide away in my restaurant. I've worked my ass off. I should be able to enjoy the benefits of a successful career. Look what I would have missed out on if I refused to take the vacation.

"Italy was amazing! Seriously, the place is just indescribable. Every city, every town is unique. The people are so friendly and relaxed. It's impossible not to feel the same when you're around them."

"I'm so jealous you and Charlotte got to spend an entire week gawking at sexy Italian men without me. "

"Oh," I sit up a bit in my seat, "I can't believe I never told you. Charlotte canceled last minute. She's pregnant, and her morning sickness just kind of hit her with a vengeance."

"What the fuck, Layla! You didn't tell me this. Who did you go to Italy with?"

Okay, I love Zane. I really do. But let's face it, this man is a complete gossip. I'm afraid that if I tell him the truth, it will only be a matter of time before my entire family knows what happened in Italy. All it will take is one of my brother's coming here to eat, and Zane will find a way to talk about it.

"Josh," I reply, crossing my fingers that my poker face works.

"Josh?" he drawls out, almost screaming. "You went to ITALY with JOSH?" he questions me, like he doesn't believe it.

I feign indifference, shrugging my shoulders like he's totally overreacting. "Yeah. He was so annoying."

"So, the trip was miserable? Shit, that sucks."

"No, no," I defend, somehow not wanting him to think that about the best week of my life. "It wasn't miserable. I mean, Josh behaved after a while. It's Italy, that's a hard vacation to ruin."

He gives me a strange look. I hold my breath, waiting for him to just come right out and tell me he knows what Josh and I did. How dirty our sex got.

"Hmm, I don't know. Anyone could ruin a vacation if you hate them that much. I've got some exes that could easily ruin a trip to Italy for me. But I'm glad you had a good time. I'm so damn proud of you for not reaching out to me. I gotta tell you, I didn't think you had a chance in hell of not calling or texting for an entire week. "

I release the breath I was holding. "Yeah," I smile. "I honestly surprised myself. Maybe it was all the wine. It calmed my nerves and let me just enjoy myself. Maybe I should become an alcoholic." His eyes bug out, and I laugh. "I'm kidding, Zane."

"I think it's gonna take some time for me to get used to this new Layla."

I'm not sure if that's exactly how I would describe this. It's more like the old Layla finally breaking through. The Layla who would make dirty jokes and try new things. Who wasn't afraid to throw herself into any situation, not worrying about the repercussions.

I fulfilled a piece of my dream when I bought this restaurant but also lost a little piece of myself in the process. Truth be told, I lost a piece of myself before that, when Josh broke my heart and made me rethink trusting men entirely.

I can't believe I opened my heart back up to the very man who shattered it to pieces. That was not a very smart move.

Well, I can't think about that right now. I have a huge to-do list now that I'm back. First, starting with catching up on my emails. Zane leaves me alone to catch up on the administrative side of things while he takes care of making sure everything else runs smoothly.

Before I know it, it's already dinner time, and the restaurant is packed. That's one thing about owning the most popular restaurant on the peninsula: It's busy every night—a gift and a curse.

I'm walking around, checking to see that I'm happy with the quality of the food that is going out when I spot Josh walk into the restaurant. Like an idiot, my heart starts beating rapidly. I look behind him, expecting to see my brother or a group of his friends with him, but I can't spot anyone.

His eyes scan the restaurant while I stand frozen in place next to the bar. Once he spots me, a huge smile breaks out on his face.

He strides towards me casually, hands in his jean pockets, like he has all the time in the world. Why isn't he freaking out like I am?

"Hi," he smiles as he stops right in front of me.

"Hi," I breathe.

We both stand in silence for a moment, just looking at each other. I don't know what to say to him. I want to tell him how miserably I slept last night without him in my bed. How I replayed every detail of our nights together until I was so worked up that I had to slip my hand into my underwear to relieve myself.

He looks around the restaurant. "You guys look busy tonight."

"Yeah, it's that time of the year. There's really no slow night." I tuck my hands in my pockets, then feel stupid for mimicking his stance, so I pull them out and cross them over my arms.

His grin widens. "Are you nervous, Freckles?"

"Not at all," I lie. "Why would I be nervous?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. That's why I'm asking. There's nothing to be nervous about."

"So, what are you doing here?" I ask, trying to get the heat off me .

"I just got off work and was passing by on the way home. I thought I'd stop in and say hello."

That's it? He stopped in to say hello. What am I supposed to do with that? I'm equally annoyed as I am turned on by the sight of him in his torn jeans and old shirt. I love him in his work clothes. He has a baseball hat on, and his muscles are poking out of his shirt sleeves. It's almost too much for my mind to take.

Suddenly, my body is burning up. It appears the reaction I had to him in Italy has extended to here in the states as well. That is going to be a problem. I was hoping I could forget what it felt like to have his hands all over me, or his dick inside of me, and his tongue. Shit, his tongue.

I realize I'm lost in my thoughts. I look back up at Josh, and his eyes are boring into mine.

"Where's your office?" he says in a deep, demanding voice.

"My office?" I question, wondering why he's bringing up my office out of nowhere. "Why?"

He steps closer to me. "Bring me to your office, Freckles. Right. Now."

That's odd. Is he suddenly taking an interest in how I run my restaurant? Maybe Italy inspired him, and he's curious. Here I am, practically drooling over him, and he wants to see my office. How embarrassing.

I turn around and lead him through the kitchen, around the corner, and down the back hallway until we step into my office. I turn the lights on and walk further in .

"Here it is," I tell him. "It's not really much to look at. Just a desk and some filing cabinets. Why did you want to see it? Have you never been in the back of a restaurant before?"

He closes the door. "I don't give a fuck about what it looks like."

Next thing I know, he lifts me up and slams me back against the wall. His mouth is on mine. I claw at his back and wrap my legs around his waist. The strange, uneasy feeling I've had since we've been back evaporated.

Everything feels right again.

His hand reaches up and wraps around my breast. I moan into his mouth, reveling in his attention. Then he moves us off the wall and places me on the ground next to my desk.

"Get on your knees, Freckles," he growls.

I should be pissed that he comes into my restaurant, tells me to take him to my office, then demands I get on my knees for him. But I'm too turned on right now, and the truth is, I've been wanting him in my mouth again. I think about it all the damn time.

So, I obey his command and slowly lower to my knees. I watch him unbuckle his belt then pull himself out for me. I lick my lips in anticipation, and a small grin peeks through his hard demeanor.

He grips his dick and then moves forward. He moves it in a circle around my lips, teasing himself. I'm too desperate for a taste, so I move my tongue along his tip.

He growls. "You're greedy for my dick, aren't you?"

I nod my head in agreement .

"Open your mouth, Freckles. I'll give you what you want."

I open my mouth wide, and he slowly pushes it inside of me, moaning instantly. I'm too aroused to go slow and build the pace. I wrap my lips around him and start to suck, moving up and down enthusiastically.

He closes his eyes like it's already too much for him, and he needs to gain some control. But I don't want him to have control; I want him to lose his mind.

I take my hand and place it at the base of his cock and move it up and down as I glide along his shaft. His hands are in my hair while his body tenses. I keep my pace until he pulls me off without any warning. I'm breathing hard as I gasp for more air, but I've never been more turned on.

"Hands on the desk, Freckles. Turn around."

Before I have time to do so, he's turning me himself and pushing me down on my shoulders. Then my pants and underwear are pulled down and at my ankles.

I hear the tear of a condom wrapper. With no warning, he pushes inside of me until he bottoms out. I do my best to stifle my scream. He starts fucking me roughly against my desk, his dick hitting the right spot over and over again.

"Ahh," I exhale as the feelings start to take over me.

Josh slaps my ass and grabs my ponytail. "I like your hair up like this. It helps me get some leverage so I can fuck you harder," he growls. "Like this."

I've never been fucked this hard. I didn't know it was possible. My orgasm comes barreling through. I grip the end of the desk with both hands as I do everything in my power not to make too much noise. I could only imagine what my restaurant guests would think if they were eating and heard a woman scream bloody murder through her orgasm.

Josh starts to slow as he empties himself inside of me, growling and cussing the entire time.

I don't even realize my office door has opened until I hear Zane.

"Oh shit," he gasps.

Josh and I both turn around quickly to find Zane's jaw on the floor. Then the door shuts, and there's silence for a minute.

"Shit," Josh whispers, his hands on the desk by my shoulders as he leans over me. "We just got busted. Was that Zane?"

"Yes," I whisper with mortification.

"Sorry, guys," I hear Zane's voice whisper through the door.

My head falls on the desk as I shake it back and forth. I can't believe he is talking to us right now, knowing what kind of position we are currently in. Josh's dick is still inside of me.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," he continues. "Keep doing what you're doing. Looks like Italy must've been a blast."

Embarrassment is an understatement for what I'm feeling when all of a sudden, Josh's forehead falls on my back, and I hear him laughing. His laughter starts to shake my body until I can't help but join him.

"That guy is crazy," Josh says through his laughs.

"He's a dead man," I tell Josh .

He pulls out of me and gets rid of the condom in my trash, first folding it into some tissues from my desk.

Very classy, Layla.

After we clean ourselves up, he pulls me into a hug. It instantly calms my nerves after just getting caught in such a compromising position. I wrap my arms around him and enjoy the warmth of his embrace.

I wonder what cologne he wears. Maybe I can find out and buy some and spray it on my pillow. It might trick my brain into thinking he's with me at night so I can sleep better.

"Well, that was unexpected," he whispers in my ear.

I pull away and look up at him. "You mean you didn't come here with the intention of having sex in my office?"

"No," he smiles. "I really did just stop in to say hi. But now that I know that sex is on the table, I might just stop in all the time. Maybe three times a day."

"Are you kidding me? We can't have sex in here again. The first time we did it, my manager got a full view of both of our asses. I don't even want to think about what else he saw."

He kisses my forehead. I missed him doing that, too. "Somehow, Zane doesn't seem like the type to scare easily. I think you'll be okay. But I should probably go so I don't get in the way any more than I already have."

His thumbs stroke my cheeks tenderly then he leans in for a soft, slow kiss. I'm barely able to remember my own name when he pulls away .

I want to ask him when I'll see him again. I want to ask what the hell we are doing. But instead, I let him walk away. My body feels satisfied, but my heart isn't so sure this is a good idea.

I take a deep breath and walk out of my office to find Zane. I apologize profusely and beg him not to tell anyone.

But before I even get out of the back hallway, I spot him in his office. He is sitting behind his desk, tapping his fingers. You would think he just met Chris Evans or something with the look he has on his face.

"Soo," he drawls out, "I see we did more than just sightseeing in Italy."

"I'm sooo sorry you saw that," I walk in and close his door. "I'm so mortified."

"Girl, don't be embarrassed. You should feel proud. In one week, you went from not being able to remember the last time you had sex to being fucked over your desk by a guy who clearly knows what he is doing. And his size is…"

"Okay, okay. I got it. You're not mad. And oh my god, you saw his thing?"

"Mad? Are you serious? No, I need details now. How did it start? How many times? How kinky did it get? That man has kink written all over him. And yes, I saw his thing, and you are one lucky girl."

I slowly take a seat in the chair across from him. "Details? We never talk about this stuff with each other."

He scoffs. "Only because you never had any details to share. I didn't want to depress you with the details of my epic sex life. Now…spill. Before I go outside and tell everybody what I just saw."

"You wouldn't dare."

But I think he would, so I started talking. I tell him about our first kiss, our first night that he fingered me, and all the details about our sex. But I leave out the finger in the butts. That part feels too intimate of a detail.

He taps his chin when I look up at him. "What?" I ask.

"You're not telling me everything."

"What makes you say that?" I ask him, wondering how the hell he knows.

"Because the second you stopped talking, you looked anywhere but me and got all weird. What else did you two do? It must be dirty if you don't even want to tell me."

"It was…ummm…butt stuff."

Zane gasps. "Did you seriously have anal with him?"

"What? No! It was just a finger."

He leans back in his chair with a look of disappointment. "Aww, a finger is boring. But for you, it's a big deal. I never would've thought you'd be into that. I'm proud of you. You certainly knew your assignment to be adventurous and damn did take that seriously."

"Well, I wasn't the only one," I mutter to myself.

"You weren't the only one what? To take a finger?" He straightens his spine, mouth falling open. "Are you telling me the insanely sexy Josh took a finger, too? "

I nod my head slowly.

"Did he like it?" Zane whispers like there's all of a sudden a crowd of people in his office.

It makes me laugh. "He seemed to enjoy it. I mean, it was only for a second."

Zane begins to fan himself. "Holy. Shit. Layla. I'm dying. You just literally blew my mind. That is so damn hot when a guy doesn't shy away from trying kinky things."

"Josh is comfortable enough with himself to try something like that," I agree.

"So, what does this mean? Are you two dating?"

I swallow hard, trying to find a suitable answer. One that doesn't invite more questions that I don't know the answer to. "We're just seeing where things go."

Even though that satisfies Zane, my mind is congested with doubts and fears.