“All right, but I mean it Grace. May seventeenth, it’s a Saturday, you’ll come, you’ll meet the orthodontist, and you’ll fall in love. I’m sure this time. Watched this one grow up, so I know him. I’m sorry about the accountant, I had no idea he was into that stuff. Kisses, Grace, bye, Alex.” The click is a relief. I sink into the chair. I’m afraid to look at Alex. Edward has known me ten years now, there isn’t a whole lot he doesn’t know about me.
“What happened with the accountant?” Alex asks. I shake my head as I remember the painfully embarrassing encounter.
Edward laughs, “Poor Grace; Cathy had Grace sit next to the guy while he tried to talk to her about being a Furry. Something about dressing up in costumes and rubbing against each other. Don’t worry, Grace, I made her promise after the last time no more set ups and I’m going to hold her to it.
I’m hoping you two don’t have plans tonight. I know you’re probably in for another late night working on your campaign, Grace, but Tim and I are hoping you and Alex could take out prospective clients tonight. Tim’s son is in from Iraq and I have Cathy harassing me about seeing some stupid play I could have sworn I don’t remember saying I would go to. Tim got tickets for the four of you to a much better play; one I’d rather go to. Since it will likely be a late night, you both make tomorrow a half day, and come in around one. That will be nice, won’t it, a half day on Friday?”
“Sounds good to me, you know I’m always willing to do what you need, Edward.” I say, still not daring to look at Alex.
“My plans are flexible.” Alex says, and why, oh why am I wet here in front of Edward?
“I know I can count on you, Grace. Here you go, Alex, company credit
card and the tickets. You’ll meet them in the lobby of the hotel tonight at six-thirty. I made reservations for seven at the place we went to last weekend, Alex.” It’s clear we’re being dismissed.
Alex is close behind me all the way to my office. “You’ll leave here at five, go home, get ready. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“That works for me.” I agree.
He closes the door and pulls me into his arms. His kiss is hot and wet and so am I. I know I need to push him away, the idea of being caught while in his arms is horrific, but I can’t. I cling and rub against him. We come up for air and we’re both breathing hard, he nuzzles my neck.
“You aren’t going to that dinner party with the orthodontist. That was all I came in here to tell you. Now, tell me to stop kissing you and go back to my office.” He orders, as his tongue tastes my neck.
“Of course I’m not going to meet the orthodontist, I’ll have a migraine that day. I recall the last time I told you to stop, right here in this spot, you didn’t listen, or stop. It was also the single most pleasurable moment I’ve ever had in my life to date, so I’m not going to say anything, except kiss me again and I’m so wet for you right now.”
“I close my eyes and I taste you. You’re wearing a skirt for me, thank you.” His hand moves down and finds me just as wet as I told him. Alex moves the thong to the side and slips inside me. I moan his name. Long thick fingers play in the moisture then slide in and out of my tight channel. I’m begging him and pull him down to kiss me again. His touch is light, flicking over the sensitive bundle of nerves. I’m shaking and finally he applies pressure making me come apart in his arms. His mouth captures my moans of pleasure. My head falls to his shoulder, I watch him suck on his fingers, tasting me on him.
My phone rings and I startle at the noise. It gives us both the nudge we need to move away from each other.
“I can’t believe we just did that, with everyone here at work.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I get close to you and my instinct is to get you flat against me. I’ll work on that.”
I laugh and he walks out. Picking up the phone, I check my message and return the call.
I’m working nonstop and don’t notice the time until the knock on my door. Checking the time I see it’s a little after one. The blonde opens the door. She’s smiling, Alex follows, looking sheepish.
“Hi, I’m Marley and you’re Grace Moore. Alex told me you were asking about me and I just had to meet you. You have to come to lunch with us. Please!” She’s sweet, it’s hard to say no to her. “I know you never take a lunch break, but it’s right around the corner.” She names a deli I love, and order delivery from often.
“You two go on. I’ll meet you there in five minutes.” I give in. Alex smiles. I’m glad I agree.
Giving them a few minutes head start, I begin to save and shut down the files I’ve been working. Grabbing my purse, I head out, ignoring the surprise on the receptionist’s face.
I walk in, Marley waves me over. It’s the kind of place without a waitress, where you place your order and then they’ll call your number. Alex asks what I’ll have and goes to place the order. He isn’t gone ten seconds when Marley turns to me and lays her hand on mine.
“Okay, I’m only going to tell you this once. Alex is an amazing, awesome guy. He deserves the best. You treat him the way he deserves and we’ll be the best of friends. If you hurt him, I will find you and make you pay. He’s the kind of man who will do anything for you. He’ll never say a word against the woman he cares about. The last bitch he was with nearly destroyed him. I won’t let that happen again. I’m happy if he’s happy, but if you hurt him, I’ll make sure you hurt too. Got it?”
I nod slowly, afraid to do anything else. She smiles and hugs me.
“Great! I can tell you’re crazy about him, but I just have to cover all my bases.”
Alex comes back then, I’m relieved as I shift towards him. It’s an odd lunch, I can’t get what Marley said about a woman nearly destroying Alex out of my head. Who would hurt him? Why would any woman want to hurt Alex? Marley is sharing stories about Alex; revealing how great he had been about keeping the family in touch and connected. As we’re close to finishing Alex gets a call and decides to take it. The moment he’s up, I’m turning back to Marley, still slightly scared of her, yet desperate to know.
“How did a woman hurt Alex? What did she do to him?”
Marley sighs, “She was psychotic. Seriously, she’s in a mental facility right now. When he first met her, she was on her meds and everything was great. Then Alex isn’t feeling it anymore and tries to break it off. She freaks and tells him she’s pregnant. Alex is nuts about family so he marries her and she fakes a miscarriage. Who does something like that? That’s stuff out of a fucking soap opera, not real life, but that’s Sarah. She thrived on drama.
Alex has no idea she’s on all these meds. Her family, she’s from a really good family, see him struggling with her. It all comes out then, Sarah could never have been pregnant. She had a botched abortion when she was fifteen. But Alex was married, he wasn’t going to give up on her. Six years he put in with her, and it just got to be too much. She attempted suicide, then she points a gun at Alex, and he finally got it. She needed more help than anyone could give her. With her parents’ blessing, she was committed three years ago and he divorced her.