Chapter 45
Monica
“ D o you have to go?” I asked.
Troy slid on a pair of dark jeans, balancing on one foot in the doorway of his closet that was bigger than my entire apartment. I was still in his cloud of a bed, watching him as he tugged an olive-green sweater over his head. He shook his hair and gave me that close-lipped smile that only tugged at one side of his perfect mouth. The smile that meant he was up to no good.
He walked over to the bed where I lay naked and rolled me onto my back. He hovered over me, his eyes straying slowly up my body that was hidden underneath his silky sheets. They were somehow a deeper green than last night. That sweater did wonders for them.
“You could try to tempt me to stay…” he suggested, his voice hoarse. The vibrations of it ran up my spine, causing me to instinctively arch my back.
We had spent all night winding each other up until we both succumbed to intense pleasure that left us both breathless, our throats dry, our bodies left with impressions from fingertips and teeth. When I woke up this morning, I could hardly move, but now…Now I was ready for more. Needlingly so.
The sheets slipped down ever so slightly, revealing the soft pink color of my nipples where Troy’s eyes snapped to. He leaned down and used his teeth to pull the sheet down further. His breath against my chest made my eyes flutter closed. I felt the warmth of his tongue surround one nipple and then the other. I let out a little moan, my throat tight.
“I could risk being late…” he said as his teeth grazed against me.
“Mhmm,” I said on a breath as he peeled the sheets further down, his mouth following.
His tongue trailed down the center of my abdomen, and I had to open my eyes to watch him. His face hovered just above me and he gave me that grin again, just before his strong hands gripped my thighs and pushed them apart. I let out a gasp.
The first touch of his tongue against me had me gripping the sheets on either side of me. He let out an audible moan of pleasure at the taste of me, sending the vibration straight to my core. I spasmed slightly, and his hands gripped my hips, pinning them down to the bed as he continued moving his tongue in long, slow strokes. I whimpered in desperation. Desperation for more.
When his tongue slipped inside me, I cried out and squirmed, but he held me down, letting me know he wasn’t finished. His thumb circled my spot, matching the rhythm of his kisses. I was powerless at his touch. His mouth. I pulled the sheets so hard, they threatened to unhook from the corners of the bed. My toes curled when I let out a silent scream as I released against his hungry mouth.
I lay there trembling, unable to move as he slowly released his grip on me and climbed up the bed toward me. He licked his lips, as if savoring the taste of me, and I almost went over the edge again just at the sight of it. He hovered over me.
“That was worth the risk,” he whispered into my neck.
I shuddered, like an aftershock hit me.
He pulled the covers over me, tucking me in gently. “Stay,” he said.
“What?” I asked, confused. “What about work?”
“It’s practically noon, anyway. Kathy probably thinks you’re running errands for me before I leave. Go in late, or not at all. I don’t care. I just like seeing you here in my bed.”
He gave me a kiss on the lips before pushing off the bed. He checked the time on his watch.
“How much trouble are you in?” I asked.
“Oh, I just held up two jets full of corporate douches from leaving by a few minutes,” he said with a smirk. “They’ll survive.”
I shook my head at him and he leaned down to give me another kiss.
“Like I said…worth it.”
He turned and walked out of the room, grabbing his suitcase on the way out. When I heard the elevator doors close, I lay back in the bed and let out a dreamy sigh. I fell asleep to the smell of him. Kathy wouldn’t miss me.
The next day dragged on slowly, like a slow drip of a faucet. This morning on my way to work, I had to remind myself not to stop by the coffee shop, or at least not order an iced Americano. Sitting across from Troy’s empty office was depressing. I didn’t really even need to be in the office, but it gave me something to do. Somewhere to go.
Troy hadn’t left anything for me to do, so I spent my morning writing for Erica’s newspaper. Her editor was upping the number of pieces, along with their word counts. She said my first article, the sample piece, had sold more papers than they had in years. I wondered if my loyal fan base of readers had caught wind of me writing again, even if it wasn’t in the form of books.
It gave me the confidence that I had been lacking over the last year. I was even toying with the idea of writing a new book, much to my agent’s excitement. She had only been hounding me every week about what my next move was. I felt like I had enough material to write a whole new series, thanks to Troy. Probably the steamiest series yet.
I thought about the little feast he had yesterday before he left, and blushed, the words already coming together in my head. The warm sensation between my legs. He was miles away, and I was still turned on by him.
I picked up my phone and decided to text him: Missing you.
Troy: Miss you too.
Me: What do you miss?
Three dots bounced on the screen as I anxiously waited for his reply.
Troy: The way you taste and tremble around my mouth.
I squeezed my legs together tightly. The three dots bounced again.
Troy: The way you pulse around my cock when it’s buried deep inside you.
I looked around the office as my face began to burn. I was playing a dangerous game.
Troy: The way your lips fit around me, taking me all in.
I felt like I was going to disintegrate right there at my desk.
Me: You’re making me wet.
Troy: Show me.
I read his words again. So demanding. An idea came to mind. I quickly stood from my desk and walked into his open office door, closing it behind me. The shades were already pulled. I rounded his desk and shimmied out of my skirt quickly. I sat in his office chair, spreading my legs to reveal the damp, white lace panties. I took a photo and hit send before I could change my mind.
Three dots. I waited impatiently.
Troy: Fuck.
Troy: FUCK.
Troy: I’m coming home.
Troy: I’m rock hard under this table.
Troy: Why would you do this to me?
I laughed, satisfied with his response.
Me: You asked for it.
Troy: You’re in trouble when I get home.
Me: Can’t wait.
Troy: You bad girl.
Me: XO.
I quickly picked up my skirt and shimmied it back on. The last thing I needed was Kathy coming around asking questions. I went back to my desk and opened a new Word document on my computer. I was suddenly inspired. I started typing, and soon had enough for two chapters of a book.
For lunch, I had plans with Erica. I was happy to have another friend in the city now, and one who enjoyed writing. Like I did. It was just a bonus that she was Troy’s sister. I’m glad we got along so well.
I met her at another trendy restaurant she had found. She always knew the best places because she was good friends with the food critic at her paper, and he was always trying new places that opened. This one was Asian fusion to-go. We took our takeout cartons to a nearby park and enjoyed the sunshine New York had desperately been lacking. Spring was just around the corner. I couldn’t wait. It felt like a new beginning.
Everything did. With Troy. Friendships. Work. The city.
“Soooo?” asked Erica in a sing-song voice as she took a bite of noodles.
“What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, even though I knew what she was getting to.
“How are things going with my idiot brother?”
“Well, he’s not an idiot anymore.” I laughed.
“Thank God for that. I was going to disown him if he messed things up with you.”
I smiled as I popped a mini egg roll in my mouth.
“But things are good between you?” She nudged me.
“Good. Very good,” I replied, thinking about our texts from earlier. My face burned.
“ That good, huh?” she said, looking at the rosy color of my cheeks.
“Stop!” I giggled. “He’s your brother.”
“Yeah. I know. Gross.”
“You asked!”
She stuck out her tongue before leaning back against the park bench, letting the sun fall across her tan face. She looked like her brother. I didn’t really see it until now. Tan and green-eyed.
“I’m just happy for him,” she said, as if speaking to the sky. “He needed you, you know?” She turned and faced me.
“He wasn’t happy. I could tell. He could lie to me all he wanted, and tell me that this was the life he wanted, but I knew. He was never meant to be the playboy, Richie Rich type. Troy was always just Troy growing up. Kind to everyone. Funny. Smart. Then our dad had to go and fuck him all up. I hate him for it sometimes.”
My heart broke at her words.
“You’re his silver lining, though. He wouldn’t have met you without his fancy job. I just hope he doesn’t stay forever. He deserves more. He deserved to stand on his own two feet.”
“He does,” I said softly.
“Okay.” She clapped suddenly. “Enough seriousness. Tell me about your next submission!”
I smiled at her as I told her about my short story about a girl from a small town coming to the big city, but with a spin no one sees coming. It felt good to be excited about something, confident in my words.
When I got back to the office, there were three new emails in my inbox waiting for me. The first one was from a tech executive, asking for an interview. The second was from a financial lawyer, asking the same thing. The third was from an advertising exec. Again. The same. I had sent résumés out just a few days ago, hoping someone would bite. It seemed as if they all had.
One email even wrote:
A personal assistant who lasted for more than a few months with Troy Gunner. I’m in awe and utter curiosity. You have my attention.
His reputation clearly preceded him, and while I didn’t exactly like it, I accepted it. We all had pasts. Some messier than others. His, a lot more messy than mine, but I loved him just the same. Everything had led us to each other. Even his psycho ex-wife.
My excitement by the emails was short-lived as I looked over at his empty office, imagining him sitting there with that smile of his as he looked at me. Taking a new job meant not being here with him. I somehow missed him already, and I hadn’t even interviewed yet. He had only been gone on his retreat for a day, and I felt like a piece of me was missing.
But, I had to push those feelings aside, knowing that the outcome of us not working together meant being together. Really being together.