Disastrous: Cautious Part 6

"Marcus, that's fine. I trust you, and I appreciate that you're being honest. That means a lot to me. Seriously, you have a firm that you need to successfully run and a trial to prep. If she's the only person who can help, then you have no other choice." Hesitating, she sighed and then added, "But if she touches you or tries any c.r.a.p, I will go right down to your office and cause some mayhem. Make sure you let her know that."

I laughed at her attempts to sound intimidating, and my breathing became steady. "I'll be sure to tell her, but I'm positive I can handle myself."

"I'm sure you can, but it would make me happier to handle it instead." The sound of her hopping off the bed and landing on the wood floors came through. I could hear her padding around her room. "Well, I'm going to shower. Are we meeting up tonight? I missed you last night."

"I missed you too, but I can't. I have something to do tonight. I wish I were there to shower with you."

"Yeah? Well as you sit for the next few hours with Stephanie, I want you to picture me standing in a hot steamy shower with my hands slowly lathering every inch of me. The entire time my thoughts will be of you, Marcus: the way you touch me, the way your hands feel against my skin, my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and every single inch of my body. Oh, and Marcus?"

"Yeah?" Sucking in a sharp breath, images of her naked body glistening with soap suds were running through my mind.

"Only four days until you can have me any way you want."

"You do know you're a tease, right?" My pants felt uncomfortable with the f.u.c.king hard on I had. She had been teasing me for f.u.c.king days, counting each day down. I swore when I got my hands on her I'd make sure she'd have no choice but to break this stupid f.u.c.king bet early.

"I love you, baby," she whispered then blew me a kiss and ended the call.

I waited five minutes to calm down before I opened the door and let Stephanie in.

For the next couple of hours, Stephanie and I worked together on the case. At first it was awkward. Neither one of us mentioned the incident that had occurred. Instead, we dived right into the work that needed to be done. With piles of files and doc.u.ments scattered everywhere, we continued to work persistently. I sat behind my desk, keeping my distance as she lounged on a chair by the coffee table with a laptop on her lap.

I could tell at first that she was nervous. Every time I was close by to hand her doc.u.ments, she would fidget with her fingers, shift uneasily, and be sure not to make direct eye contact. I felt bad that my presence was uncomfortable for her. When it was dead silent in the room and all you could hear was the sound of papers shifting or the sound of our fingers typing along the keyboards, I had the urge to start a conversation, but I managed to stop myself. I didn't want to mislead her in any way, shape, or form.

I was in the midst of deep concentration on the legal memo I was preparing, when the sound of my office door opening forced me out of it. I turned my head to see who it was and was both shocked and pleased to see Mia walking through the doorway. Her trench coat hung over her arm as her perfect hips swayed with her confident stride. She was wearing the tightest and shortest black long sleeved dress with f.u.c.k-me knee boots. I could also tell she took her time to make sure her hair and makeup was at its best. My smile broadened as her lips twitched into a slightly playful smirk. I also wanted to burst out laughing because I knew exactly why she was here and I found it beyond amusing.

"Hi, baby," she chirped, leaning in as she planted a long kiss on my lips. She jerked back to a straight posture, and her eyes turned toward Stephanie. Mia's lips slightly trembled in place and then formed a huge smile. "Oh, hi, Stephanie, how are you?"

Not taking my eyes off of Mia, I could hear that Stephanie had shifted and made her way across the room. "Hi, Mia, wow you look great. Better than great, you look awesome."

Mia's face slightly slanted as she studied Stephanie. Mia waited a few seconds before responding as if she were biting her tongue. "So do you, Steph."

"Thank you. Marcus, it's only eleven. Would you like me to come back after lunch hour? Say one o'clock?"

"That sounds great. Thanks, Stephanie."

"No problem. It was nice seeing you again, Mia."

"Same here, Steph. Take care."

I waited until I could hear the sound of the door close behind Stephanie before fully giving Mia my attention. I angled my head and studied her. She laid her jacket down as her fingers trailed along my desk. She hummed to a tune, attempting to avoid eye contact. My eyes trailed down the V-neck of her dress that enhanced her cleavage. The scent of her perfume heightened my senses. My mind drifted to the thought of forcing her across my desk and f.u.c.king her senseless. The thought of being inside of her caused my pants to tighten against my hard on.

This two-weeks-without-s.e.x bulls.h.i.t was killing me.

My eyes continued to trace the flawless curves of her body. My stare-down froze at the end of her dress, which landed at mid-thigh. Wetting my lips, I leaned forward in my chair and ran my hand up her inner thigh. "This is a nice dress. It's kind of short, though. You usually wear dresses like this when you meet my mother for lunch?"

"Actually, I do. I dress like this all the time, minus my low-down days. I'm surprised you're just noticing." She said sarcastically. Turning her head, she looked down at me, and then her eyes lightened upon realizing something. "You got a haircut."

"Yes I did. You don't like?" I continued to trace small circles on her inner thigh.

Her lips curled into a smile as she reached for my hair and ran her finger tips through it. "I love it. It's short but still long enough for me to play with."

That small gesture of her fingers caressing my hair caused a burning sensation that shot through me. I dragged my hand higher and cupped her s.e.x as I ran my finger along the seam of the panties. Looking up, I caught that she took in a sharp breath. Standing from my chair, I firmly pressed my body against hers. Out of balance, she sank down on top of the desk. Her breathing became heavier as my palm rubbed against her c.l.i.t and two of my fingers slipped between her sleek walls. I could feel that she desperately wanted me. She was ready for me in every way: the unsteadiness of her breathing, the quickening of her heartbeat, and f.u.c.k, most importantly, how f.u.c.king wet she was for me as I worked my fingers in and out of her.

Desire poured into her eyes as she stared into mine. "Marcus, what are you doing?"

"Why did you come here?" I demanded in a low tone.

Her brows kneaded together as her face washed over with frustration. Lifting her hands, she tried to push me away, "Can I not visit my boyfriend at his place of work? Or was I interrupting you?"

"Stop it!" I grunted as I shoved both of my fingers deeper inside her. Her lips slightly parted as she panted heavily. "Why did you come here?" I asked again, this time my tone harsher. Without answering, she wet her lips and gave me the you-should-know look.

Leaning in, I brought my face toward the side of hers, my lips brushing her soft cheek along the way. The fresh scent of her hair drove me insane. She let out a slight cry as I removed my fingers from inside of her and ran my hand up the side of her body to cup her breast. She arched into me as she sucked in air between her clenched teeth. With my other hand, I very gently wrapped it around her throat. Her breathing hitched. I felt her heartbeat quicken as my arm lay against her chest. "You came here for a reason, Mia. Tell me. What do you want?" I blew out in a harsh whisper as I caught her earlobe between my teeth and ran my tongue along her flesh.

"I came here for you." Her voice was a low whimper.

"You came to tease me again?"

Slightly spreading her legs wider, she leaned back on the desk. Her lashes fluttered. "No." She gripped my hand and brought it back down between her legs. I wanted her to ache and suffer as I had. I gripped her thigh and yanked my hand from her grasp as I brought it up to lie on her waist.

Frustrated, she huffed out, "Now who's the tease?"

Laughing once, I brought my face around to hers so that we were a mere inch away from one another. "What do you want from me?" I caught her bottom lip between my teeth and sucked against her flesh. The cherry scented lip gloss she wore tasted just as good as it smelled. "What do you want me to do?"

With the sweet warmth of her breath against my face, I couldn't take it anymore. Gripping her a.s.s, I shoved her against me. I wanted her to feel the effect she had on me, the desperate need to relieve the s.e.xual tension. Lifting a hand, I balled a fist full of her hair and tugged her head back, forcing her to stare at me. I could see it deep within her eyes: the f.u.c.k-me look. She didn't give two f.u.c.ks about that bet anymore. She wanted me right then and there.

"You know what I want, Marcus." She whimpered.

Tightening the grip in her hair, I brought my lips against hers as I said, "Do you want me to f.u.c.k you hard, Mia, or make love to you?"

Her mouth opened with antic.i.p.ation as her breathing became evidently needy. "I want you to f.u.c.k me hard then make long sweet love to me."

I flashed a crooked smile and whispered, "That's my girl."

She melted in my arms the moment my lips crushed against hers: deep, pa.s.sionate, hungry kisses that were f.u.c.king amazing. G.o.d, I wanted her more than anything. I longed to touch her, to feel her, to enjoy the way she felt in my arms as her body quivered after her o.r.g.a.s.m, the panting and screams as I slammed my c.o.c.k inside of her. I wanted that feeling right then and right there.

It was the perfect time, until there was a knock at the door that ruined the whole f.u.c.king moment. Mia jerked back as her hand came up to a halt. Cursing a storm, I backed away from her and watched my beautiful, hot-as-h.e.l.l girlfriend jump off my desk and adjust herself.

f.u.c.k.

f.u.c.k.

f.u.c.k.

I wanted to kill whoever was behind that door. Cold-blooded f.u.c.king murder.

My head whipped toward the entry the moment it opened. As soon as I saw it was Jimmie, I flipped him the f.u.c.king bird. "My bad, Bro, should I come back?" He asked with a mockingly raised brow.

"No, no, no." Mia blurted. "I was just leaving." Catching her breath, she grabbed her jacket and turned to face me. "Sorry," she mouthed. When she leaned in to kiss me good-bye, I grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear, "You have got to be f.u.c.kin' kidding, Mia?"

"I'm sorry, Marcus. It's only four days. A bet is a bet."

I pulled her into me again and harshly blurted, "You weren't f.u.c.kin' saying that a minute ago."

"Please don't be mad, okay?" she whispered back.

f.u.c.k, I didn't want to be mad, but my d.i.c.k was on the verge of exploding. That's how h.o.r.n.y I was. Her eyes pleaded with mine, and I couldn't be p.i.s.sed anymore. I let out a deep breath and nodded. "Fine, have a good time at lunch." I planted a kiss on her lips.

She gave me one last slight smile, turned, and made her way toward the door. Jimmie gawked at her. "Whoa, you have a hot date, Mia?"

She smiled at him and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Yes, with your mother."

Nodding, Jimmie smiled, "Ah, well the two of you will be the hottest chicks in the place that's for sure. Have fun."

"Thank you, Jimmie. Catch you guys later!" And just like that, she was out of my sight. My body heated with the adrenaline.

Jimmie turned his head my way pointed at me and burst out laughing.

"f.u.c.k you, Jimmie, you f.u.c.kin' c.o.c.k-blocker."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

MIA.

With wobbly legs, I exited Marcus' office and treaded toward the elevators. I needed to get out of there fast. Once the elevator doors opened, I entered, pressed a b.u.t.ton, and sank against the cool metal barrier. Breathing heavily, I stared at my reflection along the silver-plated wall opposite me. Emerald eyes narrowed back at me with the I-want-to-f.u.c.k-and-f.u.c.k-now look. The red smeared lipstick was not pleasing. I reached in my purse to grab a tissue and my lipstick. Wiping my lips clean, I gave myself a fresh coat of red. Giving myself one last look, I straightened my dress, teased my hair with my fingertips, and walked out of the elevators and into the lobby to meet up with Theresa.

If Jimmie had never entered Marcus' office, there would have been no stopping me. Marcus would've had me, right then and there. I was angry with myself, not for letting myself cave in but rather for thinking that I was being childish with the stupid bet. I just wanted something different for us. Before our separation, we never talked. Everything was resolved with s.e.x. Now Marcus confided in me. He trusted me enough to pour out his feelings and secrets. I didn't want to lose that. However, deep down, I knew I had to please my man, because I felt that if I didn't I might lose him to someone else who was more than willing.

Someone like Stephanie.

That brought me to the reason why I showed up at his office unexpectedly, overly dressed, with my best pair of four-inch boots, along with my hair and makeup done as if I were scheduled for a photo shoot.

What was wrong with me?

Hearing her name over the phone left an unsettled burning deep within my stomach, and as much as I wanted to brush it off, I couldn't. I did trust him with every inch of my being, but what woman would have just let it slide? Again, was I being childish, or it could just have been me reminding him what he had.

No, I guess it was juvenile. I was frustrated that I allowed myself to stoop so low. There was no turning back now. What was done was done, and I couldn't change anything about it. Though, I had to admit seeing the look on his face when I entered his office unannounced was priceless. The way he gawked at my appearance forced me to laugh at the memory.

I spotted Theresa the moment I entered the j.a.panese restaurant. Waving her hand, she stood at my approach. "h.e.l.lo, Theresa." I leaned in hugging her.

"Whoa, Mia, you look amazing." She pulled away from our embrace and settled back in her seat.

"Thank you. So do you." She surely did. Theresa was in her early fifties but could easily pa.s.s as Marcus and Jimmie's older sister. With smooth, long, brown hair and bright green eyes that brightened with her smile, she stood at four feet eleven inches. Even with heels, she was tiny. Theresa was also fashionable as she dressed in a cla.s.sy but s.e.xy way with her cream fitted dress, royal blue peep-toe pumps, and gold accessories. I aspired to be just as chic at her age.

A waiter approached our table. "h.e.l.lo, can I start you off with anything to drink?"

"Yes, I'll have a gla.s.s of merlot. Mia, would you like one as well?" I nodded with a smile. She ordered two gla.s.ses and the waiter left us. "So how's my favorite lady?" She asked with bright smile.

"I'm good. I've been stressing over this exam that's scheduled for tomorrow, but after taking a day break from studying, I think I'll be fine." The waiter brought us our gla.s.ses, and then we ordered a variety of sushi. "How are you?" I asked when it was just us again.

Sipping on her gla.s.s, she slightly nodded. "I've been okay, just a little down lately, but that's to be expected this time of year."

Theresa was never one to be upset or at least from what I'd witnessed, which worried me. "This time of year?"

"Yes, it's the anniversary of my husband's death. It'll be fifteen years next Sat.u.r.day."

A chill ran through me as I leaned in and folded my arms on the table. "I didn't realize he pa.s.sed a week after Marcus's birthday?"

Theresa ran a freshly manicured hand through her hair as she slightly nodded. "Oh yes, Marcus didn't want to celebrate his birthday for years after James' death." Laughing once, she continued. "Can you blame him? I think it wasn't until his twenty-first birthday that he allowed me to plan a party for him; even at that age, he was hesitant." She took a few more sips of her wine.

"So is he going to be okay with the surprise this week?"

"We'll find out then." Laughing at my wary expression, she added, "I was kidding by the way. I think Marcus will be just fine, especially because you'll be there." She leaned in and grabbed my hand, rea.s.suring me.

Nodding, I shifted the focus back to her. "It must be hard to deal with the loss of your husband. Even after fifteen years, how did you find the strength to move on after losing the only man you've ever loved?"

Theresa looked as if she had just been punched in the gut. Removing her grasp from my hand, she leaned back in her chair and blankly stared at me. I felt beyond terrible. I didn't realize my words would be too painful for her to handle.

"Theresa, I'm sorry I didn't mean to . . ."

She waved me off with a sway of her hand and shook her head. "No. That's the thing, Mia." She rested a fist under her chin as her eyes focused on mine. "That's why it was never easy to let go. The guilt . . . I just . . ." Her eyes began to water. She reached for a napkin and gently dabbed the cloth along her lids. I was confused by her reaction. There was definitely more behind the loss and mourning of her husband. It was as if she were carrying a burden that weighed heavily against her shoulders.

Looking back at me with wet eyelids, she pressed her lips together and studied me for a few seconds. "Can I confide something in you?"

Stunned by her instant change in demeanor, I simply nodded.

She wasn't convinced, "Mia, you have to promise me that you will never tell anyone. Okay?" Reaching for my hand, she gripped it tightly. "No one, Mia. Not even Marcus. Please promise me this."

Anxiety ran through me as I stared at the woman who was more damaged than I had a.s.sumed. So many scenarios sprinted through my mind as she begged me with her eyes to keep quiet. I wanted desperately for her to trust me and to be able to disclose anything. But why was I so nervous? One side of my mind was yelling, "Please don't tell me!" The other side was saying, "Just tell me. I can handle it."

With that, I nodded, allowing her to spill her deepest and darkest secret.

As I entered the shopping center with both my mother and Megan, I nodded at their comments and suggestions. I was there physically-laughing, talking, and even trying on shoes-but my mind kept drifting back to Theresa and our discussion at lunch. I felt every bit of the pain and guilt from the load she had been carrying for so many years. I cried along with her as she confessed and spilled everything. How I could keep it from Marcus was beyond me, but it wasn't my secret to tell.

"Mia, are you okay, sweetie?" Sara, my mother, reached her hand out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

Smiling at the gesture, I glanced at her, "Yes, I just have a lot on my mind."

"Ah, Marcus and you are doing fine?"