“Hey, boss, you got a minute?” Dan, my right-hand guy, strides over from his desk, and I pocket my phone, ignoring the group convo of texts from my family. They’re planning a birthday party for Katie’s stepdaughter, Addison, and there’s seemingly no end to the list of details that need attention.
“Sure, what’s up?” Dan’s maybe a few years older than I am, and he’s a good guy who knows his shit.
“Everybody in copy and marketing has gotten the latest update, except Elaine Madigan, but you always take care of her stuff, so…”
I smile because I’ve definitely been taking care of her stuff lately. “Yea, I got to that awhile back. She’s all set.” Dan smiles knowingly. Lainie and I haven’t publicly declared our relationship or anything, but we both know we’re not fooling anyone.
“About that…” Dan clears his throat in that sort of universal, manly, conversational way. But I have no idea where Dan is going with this.There’s no policy against employee relationships, according to the handbook, which I happen to know is lovingly and attentively updated by Elaine each year. So, yea, I give Dan the side-eye. “Yea?”
“Well, uh,” More throat clearing. “It’s just really cool, is all. I mean, you and Elaine are about the nicest people here, and anyone with eyes knows you’re perfect for each other. Anyway, uh,” Impossibly more throat-clearing. I’m beginning to wonder if he might want to see someone about that when I realize he’s talking again. “...just wanted to say I’m, uh, really happy for you guys.”
We stand here awkwardly, and just when I think he’s about to envelop me in a bear hug, he leans forward and pats me on the back. I’ve got nothing against hugs, per se, but I’m a solid six inches taller than Dan, and to an outsider, it must look like a koala trying to climb a tree. And I’m damn sure not an expert on social graces, but I clap him back because it seems to be the right response. Though I’ve gotta say, it’s a little weird that he’s congratulating me on my relationship, right? Like, I didn’t just bag a doe, you know? Still, I think his kind words are sincere, so we man hug and step back.
“Well, I’d best get back to work. Harold called earlier and said he thinks he deleted all the copy that Elaine and Molly sent, so I’ll be putting that fire out all day.”
I wince. “I do not envy you. I’m going to head up to my meeting with Daryl. He’s leaving for that conference in Vegas tomorrow, so I want to get things squared away before he leaves.” Apparently, there’s a huge coastaI merchandise convention each year, and I don’t think Daryl has missed one yet. I turn toward the steps. My check-in with Daryl isn’t for another half hour, but I think I’ll swing by Elaine’s office to see how her day is going.
Ducking into the stairwell (this old building was not made for tall people), I see that my lovely girlfriend had the same idea. “Hey, you. I was just on my way to the third floor to pay you a visit, but it seems that great minds think alike.”
“I’d say so. I just wanted to see how your day has been. Mine’s been a train wreck. Harold confused the backspace key for the spacebar, and he’s swearing on a stack of Bibles that Google keeps spamming him when really, Molly and I are just sending him files. If this is what it’s like to live in your world, I want no part of it.”
“Oh, that’s just a small taste. It gets a lot worse. There’s this woman on the third floor, maybe you’ve seen her there? Gorgeous face, killer legs? Anyway, she’s some hotshot copyeditor, you know?”
“I know the type.” She keeps tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, only for it to fall forward again. I want to reach over, lift her hair back, breathe in the scent of her, and kiss that sweet spot where her neck and shoulder meet.
I don’t.
But I want to.
I keep the banter going. “Thinks she’s hot shit because she knows all 643 comma rules.”
She laughs out loud, and god, I don’t know what I love more, the sound of her laughter or the fact that I bring it out of her.
“Sounds about right…though, I think your math might be just a bit off.”
“Maybe.” I smile. “Anyway, she is hot shit. But she’s hell on hardware.”
We’re close now, closer than we should be in the stairwell at work, despite my employee’s approval of our relationship.
I’m two seconds away from suggesting we take a long break at her house, but then I remember I’m meeting Daryl, and I get a genius idea. I take her arm and lead her gently to the back of the IT floor and the elevator bank.
“Where are you taking me? Oh, no, I’m not getting in that thing. Molly and I rode in it last week and nearly got stuck…” She finally catches on and smiles coyly, pressing the button. “On second thought, perhaps this is a better mode of transportation than the stairs.”
The old car rattles to a stop, and the door creaks open. It really should be put out of service, but I’m fully going to take advantage of the privacy it lends. And since I control all the cameras in this old building, I can be sure our secret is kept safe.
I follow Elaine in and embrace her as the doors shut, indulging my earlier impulse to kiss her neck and shoulder and the outside of her ear.
“How long do you think we have?” She’s already breathless, but then, I’m already hard, so…
“It’s after lunch, so we should be good for a while, but…” I open the panel door and hit the stop code. “This should buy us a solid twenty minutes.” I turn back to her, eager to return to my post, but she surprises me by dropping to her knees.
Christ.
Her hands move over my belt buckle with a tender swiftness. “That,” she licks her lips. Fuck. “is excellent news.”
“Elaine, I, uh…” She peers up at me, her movements halt for a moment and a flash of insecurity mars her face. Damn. I would sell my soul for the feel of her lips on my dick, and I can’t let her think otherwise. I tip her chin toward me with the tip of my finger. My hesitation makes her think I don’t want her, and that is not remotely accurate. I need her to know that I want her like it’s my goddamn job, but that I’d never compromise her privacy. “Elaine, you are a goddess. And if you’re about to do what I think you’re about to do, I’m the luckiest guy in Maryland. I just want you to know that there are no cameras in here, and we are fully stopped without alerts. No one else will see this. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
Her smile returns, and her hands resume their task. “I trust you,” she says, barely louder than a whisper. Those words mean more to me than the three little words she’s yet to say. I get it. She’s not ready, and it’s too soon, and oh, sweet Jesus. My head hits the wall with a thud, and I lock my knees to keep from tipping forward. Her hands are on my dick, caressing it as she frees it from my boxers. Fuck. I could come right now. She strokes the already hard length and swallows the tip with a moan.
