Her nipples press against my chest as she rocks back and forth. There’s no dirty talk tonight; we’re going merely on touch. Feather-light touches leave shivers in their path like waves rolling onto the beach. Each caress has a deeper meaning than any words could describe.
My knuckles skim down her spine to her ass, which I take in my hands, molding and gripping and pulling upward.
“Please don’t stop,” she whispers. “I want to feel like this forever.”
I ignore the hitch in her voice as our tempo increases and her moans turn from a submissive whimper to a groan. Since I love watching her come, I’m relentless on getting her off once I feel the sighs of her impending climax. She rocks harder, chasing the friction of her clit along my pelvic bone.
“That’s it, baby.”
Her love-filled eyes gaze down at me, her hands tightening on my shoulders, her nails digging in. My hips push up off the couch to get as deep inside her as I can. She cries out and the walls of her pussy tighten around my cock. There’s no holding back tonight—my own orgasm comes right after and I spill inside her.
Her body falls to mine and her arms wrap around my neck like a scared child. I run my hands down her back.
I can do this. I can be mature about this because why would I ever chance losing something so good in my life?
Chapter Thirty-One
Rian
I dial up the video call to Dr. Quinton. After his assistant sent me the information on the position, I asked if he and I could talk before I headed down to Houston and she arranged this call. I purposely waited until Dylan was at Ink Envy because things are weird between us. We never talk about the job in Houston. He’s quiet and withdrawn except for when we have sex, and then it’s like a flood of emotions seep out of him. My heart races when he caresses my body with a longing look in his eyes as though I’ve already left.
Which is why I felt it was better to schedule this call when I was by myself.
Dr. Quinton answers the call. He’s not at all what I pictured. I think I had an image in my head of an older version of Johann, with glasses and a thin frame. This man clearly works out and takes care of himself. Behind him is a framed picture of two blond kids and a woman who I assume is his wife.
“Miss Wright.” His smile is bright and welcoming.
“Hi,” I say, waving like a moron.
We exchange a few pleasantries about weather and our day. Summer is just on our horizon and I love the change of winter to spring to summer that we get in New York. When I tell him that, he says they get a different change of seasons down there.
“Have you had a chance to review the email?” he asks.
I pull out the paperwork I printed a few days ago. “I did. It’s all pretty straight forward.”
“Before we begin, I have a question.”
“Okay.” I look up from the paperwork.
The smile that’s been so permanent you’d think it was sewn on his face isn’t there anymore. “I wondered why you chose Pierson as your next step after your undergrad? You have some remarkable accomplishments. There are many places you could have gone. Why Pierson?”
“Um…” Think, Rian. If I could hit my head, I would. All I can think about is that I wanted to torture my parents, but that won’t sound very mature.
“I don’t mean to pry. I was just curious. If you’d rather—”
I’m not dumb—I need to answer this question if I want this job. Which I don’t even know if I do. “I found Pierson at a job fair my senior year. I was unsure about going to graduate school, so I figured they’d be an interim.”
That’s the story I told my parents when my mom was appalled that I’d taken the job.
“What made you not pursue your master’s? Are you still thinking about further education?” He sits straight with his fingers weaved together before he grabs a pen and poises it to paper.
“I think I got distracted but…” I got distracted by this life I live with Sierra, Dylan, Seth, and Knox. I put more effort into developing recipes than I did looking into graduate programs. “I think I would be interested in continuing my education.”
He smiles and checks something off on his paper. “That’s great. We do encourage continued education so that you can advance your position within our organization.”
“Of course.”
We go over some more questions about my education and my ambitions. He explains the job a little more.
“How about you come on out and you can tell me yes in person?” He laughs.
“I have to think about it,” I say.
He sobers up and looks me square in the eye. I hold my breath. “Can I be candid, Miss Wright?”
“Please call me Rian,” I say.
He nods. “Rian, what’s holding you back from accepting this position?” He scans the paperwork in front of him. “You’re more than qualified, just from your background. You went to Pierson after college when there were other opportunities for you out there. I see the hesitation in your answers. I don’t mean to be arrogant, but we are NASA. Rarely do we hear the word no. Especially when we come to you. I guess what I’m asking is, what am I up against to get you here?”
I blow out a breath and bite my lip. “Truth is, I’m not sure I love math enough.”
He sits back in his chair. “Oh. I thought for sure it was a fiancé or boyfriend. I had a speech ready for that. This is a first for me.” He chuckles.
“Do you mind if I take a few days to think about it?” I could tell him it’s the boyfriend thing too, but that’s only a piece of the puzzle.
“Not at all. We’d really like to have you on board, but let me give you some advice. This life is short. Last year I went through some health issues. Before then, I was in the office all the time, never home with my kids for dinner. A typical workaholic. After I became sick and I was forced to slow down, I realized that getting sick was a blessing.”
“How so?” I ask.
“Because I got the wake-up call not everyone does. I got to reexamine my life and I found that I love my job, which I’m grateful for, but it’s my wife and my kids I love the most. There’s truth in the cliché ‘you only have one life.’ I’d hate to lose the opportunity to bring you on board, but you should do what makes you happy.” He smiles, and I nod that I understand. “I’ll wait to hear from you, Rian. It was a pleasure talking with you.”
“You as well, and thank you for the opportunity,” I say.
We say our goodbyes and hang up. I close my laptop and sit in my chair. I need to really consider what I want my life to be moving forward.
The buzzer to my apartment goes off, and I jolt.
I head over to the door and press the intercom button. “Hello?”
“Rian?” It’s my dad. “Can we come up?”
I sigh and look around the apartment. No reinforcements. But I need to face them eventually and I’ve been dodging them for long enough.
“Sure.” I allow them in and open the apartment door, grabbing a soda before sitting at the kitchen table.
My mom peeks her head in. “Rian?”
“Come on in.”