Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
“ J ack, sorry to have kept you waiting, but I’ve had a rather hectic morning, so what can I do for you?” Jon asked calmly.
“I wanted to discuss our contract, specifically the clause that gives you the services of Miss Pryor,” started Jack.
“Go on.”
“Well, we have had to let Miss Pryor go.” Jack’s shameless lies left Steph staring at Jon open mouthed.
He put a finger across her lips. “I see, well, I don’t, but maybe you could explain.”
There was a long pause before Jack spoke. Steph heard his breath falter several times, each time making her more and more inclined to swear at her former boss at the other end of the telephone line. Jon, sensing her angst, rubbed his hand in circular movements across her back, calming and soothing Steph, allowing Jack to speak, oblivious to Steph’s presence.
“It would be wrong of me to discuss the exact details with you, with anyone, especially as you have mutual friends, but there were a few indiscretions we uncovered and we had no choice but to let her go,” he explained, sounding truly sincere.
“I appreciate that Jack and although we do have mutual friends I wouldn’t allow that to cloud my judgement. Business is just that and shouldn’t be played with or jeopardised,” Jon told him.
His words caused a small smile to pull at Steph’s lips as she thought that was her lover’s way of telling her former boss that he had done exactly that by switching her with Martin.
Without waiting for comment, Jon continued, “She was a real asset though, but I’m not sure we’ll need that kind of support from you any longer as Miss Pryor was very thorough in her original dealings with my people.”
“Oh, don’t make any rash decisions because obviously we have no intention of letting you down.” Jack sounded whiny and creepy now.
“Are you saying that you wouldn’t recommend her to prospective employers?” Jon was curious as to how Jack would play this.
“She has left with a very good reference and as you have said she was very good at her job, but I think she wanted a little more than I was able to give as a happily married man, if you know what I mean?”
Steph stared wildly at Jon now. She resembled a goldfish with her mouth opening and closing but no words uttered before Jon used two fingers to lift her chin to leave it in a closed position.
With his other hand still circling and stroking her skin, encouraging her ongoing silence, Jon seemed to hum down the phone line, as if considering his next words.
“I see. Leave it with me Jack and I will speak to a few people here and get back to you. Do we have any of your people here today?” Jon asked innocently.
“Yes, Martin. He really is a most efficient and experienced accountant who was on Miss Pryor’s team,” boasted Jack.
Steph arched a brow while Jon shook his head, not at her but at Jack Baker who it seemed thought he was capable of pulling the wool over his eyes, but moreover he thought he could do it and leave Jon completely in the dark. He replayed Steph’s words that Jack wanted to see ‘how on the ball’ he was. Jack Baker might not realise it yet but Jon was far too on the ball to be taken in by this, or to allow the other man’s treatment of Steph to go unpunished.
“Martin? Oh yes I remember, he was one of Miss Pryor’s team members who was late for her team briefing if memory serves me right.” Jon was unable to resist one little dig making Steph smile at him.
“Erm, I don’t recall, erm . . .”
“As I say, leave it with me, but don’t send me anyone on Friday and I will let you know early next week, but I have to go. Thanks for your time.” Jon sounded impatient when he disconnected the call. “Steve’s right, he is a slimy bastard.”
“Indiscretions? I wanted a little more? From him?” Steph cried with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief.
“Darling, don’t sweat it. I have told you he will get his, but I am just not sure how yet,” said Jon as he stood up and took her with him. “Now, you need to go and meet Rosie and I need to check who has already sent me their quarterly figures. I will get a copy of them for you and Grant will call you to discuss your temporary contract.”
“Okay.”
“See, I knew you’d see things my way,” he said, spanking her bottom lightly before continuing. “Text me when you have a time for Eddie’s.” With a gentle kiss to her lips he saw her out of his office.
Steph was sitting watching an old black and white movie by mid-afternoon as she ate a packet of chocolate biscuits. She had agreed most of the details of her temporary contract with Grant, received the quarterly figures from Jon and agreed to have dinner with Eddie and Zoe at seven o’clock that night. Jon had confirmed that the time was convenient. Despite her offering him yet another get out, he had declined, in fact, he had insisted on going with her. He had told her to meet him at his and stipulated that she should take her car, as she knew where they were going.
She arrived at Jon’s early and it felt strange to let herself in, but she had only enough time to put her clothes for the evening, the following day and her toiletries in his bedroom and bathroom before Jon appeared behind her as she made her way into the kitchen where she was opening a bottle of water.
“I could get used to coming home and finding you in my kitchen,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her.
“I don’t think your wife would appreciate that.” The words came out curtly and she immediately regretted them. “Sorry,” she said sincerely now as she turned to face him.
“So you say.” He frowned down at her.
“I am really,” she insisted as she stretched up to kiss him.
“How much?” He cocked his head to one side.
“Enough to let you take me to bed.” She began to undo the buttons of the silk blouse she was wearing.
He allowed his lips to curl slightly now. “You’ll let me take you to bed anytime, darling.”
Although she knew it was true she felt slightly embarrassed by his observation, embarrassed and a little ashamed that she really was that easy.
She was still trying to think of something witty or cutting to say when he grabbed her hands to stop her from undoing her blouse further and smiled. “But I believe I offered to remove your chamois leather blouse for you and I am a man of honour, so . . .” he said as he continued to undo the buttons for her. “You smell fucking amazing.” He nuzzled her ear as he pulled her blouse from her body.
“You’re not too bad yourself.” Steph offered him a huge grin as she pulled his tie off.
“How was your afternoon?” His fingers found the zip of the trousers she was wearing.
“I watched old movies, drank tea and ate biscuits, so pretty bloody good,” she acknowledged as her trousers fell to the ground, pooling around her feet. “Why am I almost naked and you’re virtually fully dressed.”
“Because you look far better naked than I do,” Jon replied, his hands already settling on Steph’s hips that he was using to pull her closer while his lips were heading for hers. “Now, let me take you to bed.”
“Or we could stay here.”
“As you wish, Stephanie,” Jon agreed freely with a huge grin as his lips landed on hers while his hands gripped her hips more firmly to lift her up onto the kitchen counter and immediately prepared to remove her underwear.
“Huh-uh, not yet. You need to lose some clothes first, Brooker,” Steph told him, removing her own bra and leaning back on her elbows, displaying her charms in case he needed any further encouragement.
“Whatever you want, darling.”
In a flurry of flying clothing, Steph watched on as Jon shed every item including his socks which she found amusing and sexy as hell at the same time. Stepping back towards her, Jon grinned broadly as his body nestled between her thighs where his arms wrapped around her, one hand skating up her back while the other rested on her behind, coaxing her to the edge of the countertop.
“Better?” he asked with a cocky grin.
“It’s getting there.” Steph’s own hands gently traced a path across Jon’s chest, travelling towards his face where she skimmed his jawline before pulling his face closer to kiss him.
The feel of his lips softening beneath hers, allowing her to mould them empowered her to continue. Breaching his lips, her tongue already stroking his forced a gasp from her. She had never ever kissed anyone or been kissed by anyone quite like it was with Jon. It was sexy and intimate, but it was so much more besides. The sensation and feelings of having her lips working with his and their tongues softly duelling had her body reacting with heat flooding her system and moisture gathering in her most delicate places. There was a tingling and tightness running from her stiffly pulled nipples down into her belly and then gathering between her thighs, in the depths of her core that was already clenching against the emptiness there. The power of the kiss was beginning to be exchanged. Jon was taking charge now, his tongue overpowering hers to dictate the pace and depth of it. Forcing hers to calm and slow, taking her feelings, thoughts and sensations down a notch, making her gain some control of her body and mind. Now she became aware of the fact that Jon was relieving her of her remaining piece of clothing, her knickers that were becoming increasingly damp. With a small lift of her bottom they were discarded too before he adjusted her position so that her behind was balanced on the very edge of the counter.
Steph heard a loud smack of their lips echoing around them as Jon broke their kiss making her feel almost bereft at the loss of his mouth on hers, the loss of the love she’d felt while they’d been kissing.
“Shit!” she cursed. More at her musing that there was love involved here than anything else.
The fact that Jon had a wife seemed to suggest that love was the one thing not available, certainly not from him to her.
Fortunately, her single expletive required no explanation as the precise moment she uttered it, Jon was entering her in a single thrust.
She followed her shit with an oh God as she desperately tried to adapt to the rapid stretch of her body. There was no time to adjust to the invasion she was being subjected to before Jon began to thrust against her causing further expletives and exclamations to follow. With his hands holding and supporting her behind to enable his smooth thrusts and Steph’s coming to rest on his shoulders, they worked together like a well-oiled machine until they were both gasping and panting, chasing their own and each other’s release. A release that they found together in a series of cries, muttered endearments and expletives.