22. Xavier
CHAPTER 22
XAVIER
“She’s just a friend.”
“Uh huh. Keep saying that Xav, and you might convince yourself it’s true.” Lena rolls her eyes.We’re sitting in my office after the madness of the lunch rush, having a beer before preparing ourselves for the Saturday night revelry. By the time I got home from Ella’s house, quickly showered, then got dressed, I was ten minutes late for work. Dad gave me a scolding for “rushing in like a mad idiot” and is now probably less likely to hand over the baton. Not ideal, and another reason why I probably shouldn’t have slept over last night. The way she chased after me to give me one final hug goodbye this morning has me worried she’s getting attached and not telling me. Lena saw how flustered I was when I got in, so she came to her own conclusions as to why I was late. I told her to leave it and we’d talk about it later. Later is now, it seems .
“It’s true, Lena. Yes, we’re sleeping together, okay? But that’s it. She’s a friend, we’re fucking. There are no feelings involved, no emotional attachments. I’m enjoying spending time with her and keeping things casual. I’m not ready for more than that.” I’m not, and while I know that my words are probably coming out a bit harsh, at least it’s true.
Lena fidgets with her bottle cap as I’m saying all of this. She looks guilty, like she knows she probably shouldn’t have brought it up.
“Please don’t talk to Jade about this,” I say. “We had a deal. I know you’re still friends, but I really don’t need my ex knowing all the details about my current sex life.”
“Yeah, sure. Just… be careful Xavier. You might not want more, but that doesn’t mean she’s on the same page. You’re a good guy and I’d hate to see you in a position where you have to reject someone and hurt them like that. I also really like Ella, so don’t fuck it up,” she says.
“Okay, you’ve met her twice, but sure. Plus, she and I have spoken about this. She promised if she develops feelings she will tell me and I’ll back off,” I say.
“Oh, Xav. You clearly don’t understand women all that well if you think she will just tell you when she develops feelings. Knowing you will walk away if she does? Do you really think she will admit that when she knows she would lose all of you?” She says in a way that’s almost patronising.
Ella wouldn’t do that—at least I don’t think she would. She would tell me.
“We could still be friends, just without the sex.” I reply.
“Ooh boy. Yeah, okay. Good luck with that.” She scoffs and rolls her eyes again. “I need to get back to work.” She gets up and leaves my office.
“Where did that attitude come from?” I mutter to myself. Lena has been so hot and cold lately. I wonder if she’s looking for another job. She just seems so on edge, and almost nervous at times. I can never pick what mood she’s in, but today it seems she’s easily irritable.
Whatever, she’s wrong. It’s not a problem. Ella and I are just friends who have great sex and have a lot in common. We have fun and… yeah. But it’s fine, it won’t go any further. It can’t. It’s not the right time.
I take a deep breath and do a long exhale out of my nose. I have too many other things to worry about at the moment, I need to focus. I have some major sucking up to do with my dad. I down the rest of my beer and am about to leave the office when my phone buzzes. It’s a photo from Ella with the caption:
Ella
LOOK WHAT YOU DID !
She’s sent me a photo of the inside of her thigh, decorated with a bite mark that has started to bruise beautifully. Seeing my mark on her, along with the lacey trim of her underwear which I’m sure was a coincidental choice on her part, has me growing hard once again.
“So much for fucking focus,” I mutter as I adjust myself in my pants. She sends me another message.
Ella
I like having your mark on me ;)
“Fuck.” I breathe. This woman is going to make work very difficult for me this evening, I just know it.
Xavier
I enjoyed leaving my mark on you. Keep sending me pictures like that and you're going to get me in trouble for having a hard on at work.
Ella
Oh? Well, what about pictures like this?
My phone lights up with a glorious photo of her bent over in a lacy black thong, her perfect arse in the air just begging to be spanked. I am in so much trouble with this one, but I just can’t seem to help myself.
Xavier
Fuck, Ella. You’re going to destroy me. I’m so fucking hard and all I want to do is drive straight back to your house, spank that perfect arse of yours, and bury myself inside you.
Ella
Hmm. Too bad you’re at work, then. Have a good night, Xavier!
Xavier
Girl, you are the devil. I will get you back for this.
Ella
I look forward to it xoxo
I’m now sporting a major boner and need to sort my shit out so I can go and be the responsible manager that I appear to be. I think of every unattractive thing I can think of, and when I am finally down to only a semi that I can tuck away, I leave my office. The dinner crowd has started filing in and it’s soon busy enough that images of Ella’s perfect arse are replaced by cocktail orders and spilt beers. By the time I knock off, it’s almost midnight. I didn’t hear from Ella again, but a plan did form in my head on how to get her back for turning me on at work. I just need to wait for her Christmas party to implement it.