51. Fifty-one Freya
Fifty-one: Freya
A bigail placed her hands on my shoulders as we stood backstage, forcing me to look into her enthusiastic eyes. “Freya, you’ve got this. All you need to do is head onto the stage and collect your award. There’s no need to make a big speech or anything.”
“I’m going to say something,” I told her, nervously twirling my hair around my finger. “Being given this award is a big deal, and I don’t want to disrespect Robert by acting like it’s not.”
Abigail shrugged, smirking at me before she leaned over to swipe a bottle of tequila from the table next to us, pouring me a shot. “For the nerves.”
I gulped the battery acid-like liquid down, holding back a gag. “Well, if I didn’t feel like I was going to throw up before, I do now.”
She shushed me, pointing out onto the stage, where Robert continued his speech about the company before he clicked a button on the controller in his hands. The slideshow behind him switched to the next slide, where a large photo of me beamed out at everyone.
Oh, fuck.
“Now, it's time to move on to our coveted Designer of the Year award!” Robert beamed. It was one of the first times I'd seen him smile properly, and I wondered if it was because Abigail had also forced him to take a tequila shot with her earlier. “I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone who it’s going to. Freya Henderson has been with us for just over eight months, and she’s received the most positive feedback from clients to date! Not only that, but the traffic she’s gained for the company is admirable. We’re busier than ever because of her designs. Freya, come on out!”
Abigail squealed from next to me, and I straightened my cream-coloured blouse before striding out on stage, grasping Robert’s hand in a firm handshake.
The spotlight beaming down on me was blinding, but Kaleb's grin caught my attention as I squinted out at the crowd below. He cheered loudly, and I blushed.
Beside him were Hannah, Josh, Brent, Kaylee and Ty—who all whooped loudly, embarrassing me further. Madison had also been invited since she and I had become friends—I'd designed tattoos for a few of her celebrity friends, and my waitlist was now in the months—but her manager had decided against her attending. He claimed my company wouldn’t appreciate dozens of paparazzi trying to force their way into the hotel building to get a snapshot of her at an event, and as disappointed as I was that she hadn’t made it, I knew her manager had a point.
Kaleb had signed another year-long contract to remain her bodyguard. He’d learned to enjoy the role, and it was a major plus that Madison had offered him a shit tonne more money to stay.
Although, his chief had been on his back about rejoining his team, letting him know he could pull a few strings and get Kaleb a job on the frontline again for next year—since he had been promoted due to Frederick’s… disappearance.
Kaleb wasn’t keen to take him up on the offer, though. He missed the work but claimed nothing was worth being away from me for. He was settling into the low-risk life of being a bodyguard, and I could tell he was a lot less stressed since he wasn’t worried about being killed every time he left the house—the house we now shared.
I'd also taken up public speaking, and I visited different trauma recovery groups every other month to share my story. It was liberating knowing I was helping others who had fresh trauma. It meant I hadn't gone through it all for nothing.
Robert thrust a shiny gold trophy into my hands, gesturing for me to approach the microphone.
“Thanks, everyone.” I cleared my throat. “This year has been crazy. I didn’t expect so many people to love my work, but I definitely didn’t do it alone. Abigail.” I gestured towards backstage, where she looked at me with wide eyes, her face turning red before she hesitantly made her way out. “Abigail was the best mentor I could have asked for, and even to date, I still look up to her. If there’s anyone that deserves this award, it’s her.”
She wrapped her arm around my side and gave me a squeeze, and we made our way off stage and lingered at the back of the crowd before Robert announced the bar was open, causing everyone to cheer, the music starting up again. After Abigail engulfed me in a spine-crushing hug , she excused herself to grab a drink, and I beamed as Kaleb and the others approached me.
“No cash prize?” Brent teased, making me roll my eyes as Hannah squished my face.
“I’m so proud of you!”
Kaylee linked her arms through Brent’s, nodding towards the bar. “I say we go and celebrate with shots.”
Kaleb nodded. “We’ll be right there.” He took a few steps towards me as everyone rushed off, and I gulped as his finger found my chin. “I can think of a much better way to celebrate than shots.”
I hummed teasingly. “Oh really? Is that so?”
“I can show you if you’d like?”
“What kind of person would I be to turn down a celebration?”
That was all it took for Kaleb to grip my hand and lead me away from the crowd. We moved through a few double doors until we reached a spiral staircase leading to a small booth right above the stage. A thin layer of glass separated us and the crowd, and I peered through to see our friends cheering as they downed shots, bouncing to the music.
Kaleb trailed his fingers down my cheek, smiling at me and pressing his lips to mine—the kiss desperate and dominant but full of love and passion. Wetness pooled between my legs, and I moaned into his mouth as he began to unbutton my blouse, throwing it to the floor at the same time I dropped my trophy.
His hard cock strained against his jeans as he pushed up against me, and my breath hitched when I felt him grip my hips and spin me around, his hand moving up my back so he could gently push me down, leaving me bent over for him.
“Look at all of them down there,” Kaleb said. “Unknowing that their most prestigious designer is up here about to get fucked until she’s seeing stars.”
I gulped, gasping as he slowly peeled my skirt off me, leaving me in nothing but my lilac lingerie set.
“What would Robert think if he knew about this?” Kaleb bent down and latched his mouth onto my pussy from behind, having moved the fabric of my underwear to the side.
“Shit.” I gripped the metal of the windowpane, my fingernails feeling as if they were about to snap from the force.
“Good girl. Let me hear how good I make you feel.” Kaleb’s voice was husky, and I quivered at the tone. He lapped at me, and I pushed myself further against him, indicating I wanted more, causing him to chuckle. “So impatient.”
“Please, Kaleb.”
“Fuck, I love it when you beg.”
The sound of a condom wrapper being ripped open caused my insides to tense in excitement, and a small yelp escaped my mouth when I felt the tip of his cock press against my entrance. Before I could beg him to hurry, he slammed into me, gripping my hips harshly.
“Getting fucked at a work party—it’s very unprofessional of you.” Kaleb scolded. “But the fact that you wore this skimpy little set underneath your clothes makes me think this is precisely what you wanted.”
He was right.
“Fuck, harder, Kaleb.” My eyes rolled back. “Oh, shit.”
He pounded into me, his cock hitting my sweet spot with each thrust, and I met every one of them, angling my head to look back at my god-like man. But Kaleb tutted, reaching forward to grip my chin and turn it back towards the window.
“Keep your eyes on them. Watch how oblivious they all are to you taking my cock up here.”
Knowing how wrong of a setting this was to fuck in—it made it all the better. Moisture dripped down my thighs, and with the symphony of our moans and grunts filling the room, Kaleb circled my clit with his fingers, causing me to pant.
He continued to pound into me until I came loudly, my pussy clenching around his cock, and he grunted, pulling out, gripping my ass and manoeuvring me so my back was pressed up against the window, my legs wide. He slid in with ease.
“If any of them down there were to look up, they’d see you with your legs wide open for me.” Kaleb groaned and smacked his hand down harshly on the window next to my head, experimenting to see if anyone could hear us. My mouth hung open as I came again, and he kept eye contact with me as he finished, too, my name leaving his lips over and over again.
“Shit.” I clung onto his neck, my body shaking and my chest heaving. “I love you.”
He smiled, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead. “I love you too, my little artist.”