Chapter Nineteen #2
I rack my brain, trying to think about what she could mean, but I come up empty. I haven’t been giving her notes at all. Except my therapy session notes for her to write up, but that doesn’t sound like what Austin is referring to.
“I…I don’t know what you mean.”
He dismisses my words with a flick of his hand. “It’s none of my business. All I’ll say is you should maybe rein them in a bit. I think the last few have been a bit much.”
A bit much?
“Are you talking about the therapy session notes? Because those are standard practice, and I only write what happens in the sessions.”
“No, man. I’m talking about the love notes you’ve been leaving on her desk.”
Love notes?
What fucking love notes?
I try to suck in a breath but it’s short and choppy, my lungs unable to inflate as if my chest has stopped functioning. I grip the arms of the chair and watch as Mia and Olivia skip out of the house unbeknownst that something is seriously fucking wrong right now.
“Champagne time!” Olivia trills, handing one to Austin as Mia passes me one too.
“Cheers, happy engagement and happy best man acceptance!” Mia announces.
“Cheers!”
Austin gives me a quick nod before downing half his glass.
I need to talk to Mia.
◆◆◆
Never say that you’ll just have one glass of champagne.
Because one turns into two, which turns into another bottle, which turns into tequila shots at a bar downtown, and before you know it, your fake girlfriend is learning how to line dance with a bunch of cowboys and Olivia’s girlfriends that make flirting look like a professional sport.
Not that I’m worried. Mia has been stealing drunken glances at me all night.
Running her tongue along her bottom lip, subtly flicking her hair over her shoulder, batting those heavy-lidded eyes at me.
All signs indicating that our deal to just be friends is off.
Now I just need to work out whether I should enforce her no-fraternization policy.
She’s drunk, but I’m halfway there myself.
I don’t want to fall into bed with her when she might regret it in the morning, but the ache I feel to just hold her is consuming.
The girls form a group, one by one looking at our table and turning back, high-pitched squeals coming from the chorus of terrifying heads.
Eventually, the redhead, I think her name is Blakely, slaps Mia on the ass and practically screeches for her to get her man.
I swear to God if she approaches any other fucker in this room, I’m going to lose it. But she heads straight toward me. Austin slaps me on the back, squeezing my shoulder as another guy from the group, Josh, tilts his beer bottle at me.
The neon glow of the room fades, the stamp of boots on the hardwood floor beats just for Mia, almost as if she choreographed this routine to make her way to me.
Her hips swing in time with the band, and it feels like, for a moment, all eyes are on us.
Except I can’t see them. I just see her.
Her long black hair is wavy, with a few strands damp and clinging to her skin from dancing.
The tiny denim shorts she borrowed from Olivia hug the curve of her hips and seem to elongate her toned legs.
Seeing her like this, so casual and happy, it makes me want to rip up my routine, start afresh.
To take her away for weekends, go on long hikes and runs, hell I’d sign up for one of her yoga classes if it meant I could see every version of her.
She reaches me and without hesitation, dips down, tilts my head to her and pushes her soft, pink lips against mine.
Austin and Josh start whacking their fists on the table, the girls squeal and I’m pretty sure the bell ringing behind the bar is for us.
Even if it’s not, it feels like the whole room is celebrating.
Like this kiss, the demand her mouth makes on mine, the way her tongue runs against the seam of my lips, it was inevitable.
We are inevitable. I’ve never wanted anyone like I’ve wanted her.
And it comes with pure adoration. I want to see all her goals met; I want her to be happy, healthy.
I want her moving past the demons of her past; I want her trusting me completely.
I want her. I know that. And I’m terrified.
I know I have to fix a lot of my own issues to be able to give her the life she wants.
I promise her, not with words, but with the flick of my tongue and the squeeze of her hips as she presses against me, I’m going to be the man she deserves.
Mia
The hum and buzz of the bar bring me back to the present.
I grin against Alfie’s lips, and he pushes my hair out of my face.
I can’t believe I just kissed my boss. His fingers cradle the back of my head like he’s scared I’ll run off.
Like if we stop for even a moment, I might change my mind.
We’ve flirted a lot, and he’s given me space.
Now I want to explore whatever this is. I’m ready.
I’m done playing games, and this time, I’m going to see it through. I’m not going to run away.
Alfie cups my face. Not happy for just one brutal, life-altering kiss, he wants more, and I’m more than happy to give it to him.
“Come dance with me,” I murmur against his lips.
“Anything you want, love.”
Love.
God, my body sets on fire when he calls me that.
Is that what this is? I’ve been infatuated with Alfie for so long, I’ve not allowed myself to analyze the depth of my attraction to him.
Physically, of course, he’s gorgeous. His dark hair begins to curl when it gets too long on top, his sharp jawline softened by the scruff he tends to keep now.
He’s not wearing his tortoiseshell glasses tonight, but when he does, he has that academic professor look that just sends my ovaries into overdrive.
Olivia twirls past us, reaching for Austin, who slips out of the booth with no hesitation.
Josh slides out, interrupting Nicole, who is talking to some guy at the bar.
He pulls her to the dance floor without asking, holding her firmly.
I can’t work out whether those two love or hate each other. Blakely is nowhere to be seen.
“Please tell me that was real, love.”
I smile against his neck, nuzzling in. I nod, and he pulls back, lifting my chin so he can study me. Damn, I love it when he does this. I feel exposed in the most seductive way. Like he can read everything I have to say without speaking a word.
“No more faking. No more pretending.”
I shake my head, biting my lip to hide my smile.
He nods, grinning too, crushing his lips against mine again.
“We’re going to discuss this in the morning. Sober. I want your absolute one hundred percent confirmation, because I’ve been holding back so much, Mia. I can’t tell you how much it has killed me to not indulge every fucking instinct I have around you.”
“I feel the same,” I say breathily. I pull my fingers through his hair, tugging on the strands as he kisses me soft and slow. “Is there somewhere we can go?”
“Right now?”
“I’m aching, Alfie. I need you.”
“Fuck, Mia…” He pushes his hair back, his eyes darting around the room.
Austin leans in toward him, whispering something in his ear, and Alfie nods.
He slaps him on the back as Olivia giggles into Austin’s chest. Alfie takes my hand, pulling me to the back of the bar where there's a big crowd standing around a pool table. To the right-hand side, there’s a door.
Alfie twists the handle, pulling me into the small office.
There’s not much. Just a few boxes, a desk and a chair.
It seems to act as a part storage room, but I don’t have a chance to think too hard because Alfie pulls me through the door, closing it behind us and flicking the deadbolt across.
The music is muffled, and the tight space makes the air feel thicker.
He steps into my space, backing me up until my ass hits the desk.
It creaks as he lifts me onto it, and he smiles against my lips.
“This desk looks pretty old; we may need to be gentle,” he murmurs.
“You don’t seem like a man who likes to be gentle, Dr. Adams.”
“Fuck, Mia. I dream about fucking you. Did you know that? Did you know how much you occupy my thoughts? I should start charging you.”
His erection presses against my stomach, his hands roam up and down my back as he clings to me. My legs spread on instinct so I can draw him in closer to where I need him. Yeah, I fucking know exactly what he means.
“Alfie, there’s not a day that’s gone by where I haven’t thought about doing this. I’ve had a crush on you for so long, but this…it’s different. The last few weeks have changed things. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted it so badly.”
“Ever?” he whispers, his lips dragging down my neck, causing my back to arch.
“Ever. I don’t think I can even remember anything else from before. It’s like you reset my brain.”
“Hmm, maybe we should conduct a study on it. The effect of sex on our ability to recall previous partners.”
“We haven’t even had sex yet, but I think it depends on the partner.”
“And yet we both know how fucking good it’s going to be, don’t we?”
I hum an agreement against his neck, trailing kisses along the column of his throat.
“We should probably keep the experiment to a small sample for now.”
“I agree.”
“I think two people should be sufficient.”
“Want me to write up our findings? Or would recording sessions be better in this instance?”
He pulls off my top in one fell swoop. Pulling down the cup of my bra so he can drag his teeth over my peaked nipple. I groan, rolling my head back as he sucks and then swirls his tongue, keeping up this pattern at a devastatingly slow rate.
“You want to record us having sex?” He pulls down my bra straps now, unhooking my bra one-handed, which sends a surge of jealousy through me. How does he know how to do that?
I shrug, stepping down from the desk so I can pull my shorts and panties down. I’m naked now, exposed. I could never be this free with anyone else. But I trust Alfie. I trust that he’ll take care of me.
“Fuck me, love. You’re so fucking perfect, you know that, right? You’re made for me.”
I whimper as he runs his fingers down my stomach, reaching between my thighs. My arousal lets him know I’m ready.
“Sweetheart, I’m going to give you some relief, okay? But we’re not going all the way right now. I want you in a bed, in my bed. I want us to discuss this before we go too far. Sober.”
I nod my head eagerly. I’ll do anything he asks if he just gives me some relief from this ache that’s been building inside me for months now.
“Please, Alfie.”
“This needs to be quick, love. Can you do that for me?”
His hand slips under my knee, and he lifts my leg up so my heel is resting on the edge of the desk, my pussy completely exposed to him. He bites my bottom lip, tugging on it hard as he slips his middle finger into my sex.
I whimper as he pumps his finger in a few times before pulling out to push in two this time. He curls them, stroking my padded textured flesh that makes my toes curl. Lowering himself to his knees, he circles his tongue around my clit, flicking the point over it again and again.
“Fuck, I’ve dreamed about this cunt,” he groans before diving back down, this time sucking the swollen peak hard enough to make me see stars.
Fuck, he wasn't lying when he said this would be quick. I feel my muscles tighten around his fingers, clenching them hard as he masterfully rocks his tongue against my clit.
The pressure and build of the last few months roll through me until I’m panting.
I’m groaning, tugging at the strands of his hair, the scent of him washing over me as he does unfathomable things to my pussy.
The beat of the music vibrates against the walls, pulsing like it’s beckoning me with it.
Alfie’s thick fingers are punishingly precise as I feel the build of an orgasm growing inside me.
Another suck of my clit and my thighs are trembling.
“Come for me now, Mia. Be loud for me.”
I explode, wave after wave of euphoria blissfully surging through my body and leaving me limp with satisfaction. Alfie doesn’t stop, he sucks and licks, kisses and nips. It’s relentless, not giving me a second to catch my breath.
Once the pulsing of my inner walls calms, Alfie withdraws his fingers, slipping them between my mouth so I can lick my orgasm off his fingers.
He stands now, kissing me again. “Perfect.”
“You’re very demanding, you know.”
He grins, helping me into my shorts. “It worked, didn’t it? You came on demand.”
“You can only call it on demand if you haven’t been practically edging someone for months.” I squeal as he peppers more kisses along my neck.
We make our way back to our group, and I flush, realizing they know exactly what we’ve been up to. Especially because Alfie has a big shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
“Calm your face down. For God's sake.” But I can’t help but smile too.
“I just ate your pussy for the first time, felt you clench my fingers like it was your a fucking life preserver. So yeah, I’m fucking pleased with myself, Mia. And we’re still going to talk tomorrow about all this.” His finger moves between us, his face suddenly serious.
“Yeah, yeah. Doctor’s orders.” I wink.