“Who wouldn’t be? I’m always number one.”
We laughed, and I turned the volume up, so I could hear her a bit better.
“Were you up doing work?” I asked.
“Yes, sure.”
“The words ‘yes, sure’ always mean you’re lying to me, Tara.”
“Okay, well just yes. Yes.”
“What were you doing?”
“Tell me more about what it feels like to be number one year after year.” She changed the subject. “I don’t think I’ve heard you brag about yourself as much lately.”
“What were you doing, Tara?” I repeated. “Stop bullshitting me.”
“I was doing what I usually do whenever it’s late at night, and I’m thinking about my boss.”
“I’m not playing the guessing game with you.”
“I was masturbating with my vibrator, okay?” She scoffed. “Is that okay with you?”
I held back a laugh. “It’s more than okay.” I stood up and walked to my liquor cabinet, pouring myself two shots of whiskey. “What was your fantasy for tonight?”
“It’s the usual.” Her voice was soft. “Nothing special.”
“Tell me.”
“Now?”
“Right now.”
She remained silent, and I tossed back the first drink.
“What’s the usual, Tara?”
She cleared her throat, still not saying anything, and I was certain I heard the light buzzing of her vibrator in the background.
“Do I need to repeat the question?”
“No … It usually starts with us arguing and then we end up having sex on your desk.”
“I need you to describe it better than that,” I said. “Am I bending you over the desk or fucking you on top of it?”
She sucked in a breath. “On top of it.”
“You know that doesn’t have to remain a fantasy, right?”
“Right …” Her vibrator sounded a little bit louder.
“We’ll have to make a few changes, though.” I tossed back the second shot.
“Changes like what?”
“Well, first I’ll need you to sit on my face for at least an hour, so I can taste everything I love about your pussy again, so I can make sure you’ll follow the rest of my instructions for the remainder of the day.”
Her breathing became slightly heavier over the line.
“After that, I’ll bend you over my chair and fill you with my cock until you’re on the verge of coming for me. And when I’m sure you’re close to the edge—when I’m sure your pussy is seconds away from an orgasm, I’ll flip you over and fuck you on top of the desk until you beg me to let you come.” I paused. “Only if that’s what you want …”
Her breaths sounded even louder than before, and I could hear her softly murmuring.
“Is that what you want?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. We’ll do it the second you get back from Europe.”
“Um hmmm….” She let out a soft moan. “Okay.”
I waited until her breathing became normal again. “I think we should talk on the phone without work more often.” I smiled.
“I would like that.”
“I also think that you shouldn’t come to work for the rest of this week.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” I said. “Your trip starts in two days, and if I see you this morning, I won’t let you out of my office.”
“You don’t want me to come in and at least show you my mock presentations?”
“You’ve never needed to practice those,” I said. “Yours were always perfect.”
“Thanks for finally letting me know that once I’m quitting.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t say thank you.”
“You were about to.”
She laughed. “So, since I’m off today, does that mean you won’t send me any emails?”
“Absolutely not. It just means you don’t have to answer them as fast.”
“Noted. Well, I’m going to take a shower. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Talk to you later.” I ended the call and sat on my sofa. For some strange reason, I was tempted to call her right back, to find something random to discuss for a few more hours.
As I was contemplating it, her name crossed my screen via text message.
Tara: Are you still planning to start your day at 4:30 a.m.?
Me: Yes.
Tara: Mind if I call you while you’re riding around looking at all your hotels? [water emoji] [water emoji] [water emoji]
Me: Not at all. [umbrella emoji] [umbrella emoji] [umbrella emoji]
I laughed and set my phone down.
As I was setting aside my shot glasses, I heard the sound of pattering feet in my hallway.
Dragging a blanket and clutching her teddy bear, Violet climbed right next to me on the sofa. She picked up my juice box and shook it—frowning once she realized it was empty.
“These are me and Bear’s juices.” She narrowed her little eyes at me. “Not yours.”
I smiled, holding back a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She lay down on the cushions and placed Bear next to me. Then she told me to go to sleep, too.
“Goodnight, Uncle Preston,” she said.
“Goodnight, Violet.”
Twenty-Five
Tara
“Can you hear me?” Ava’s voice crackled over our Skype connection. “Hello? Hello?”
“I can hear you.” I plugged in my headphones and looked outside the plane’s windows.
“You never called me back after the gala,” she said, her face appearing on my laptop screen. “What did your boss say when you left him there alone? And please tell me you haven’t shown up to work this week at all.”
“Not exactly,” I admitted. “We kind of um—”
“You kind of um, what?”
“We had sex in the bathroom, and then again in his car, and we’ve had sex in his office a few times since.” I paused. “Are you judging me?”
“No, I’m grabbing the popcorn.” She laughed. “I haven’t been laid in a while, so I need you to back up and give me every explicit detail. After you give me all that, then I’ll judge you.”
I smiled and slid under my blanket, replaying every moment me and Preston shared over the past few days—even the new late-night phone calls that were devoid of any work. I felt myself blushing with every word, secretly looking forward to seeing him again at the end of my trip.
“Wow.” Ava fanned herself. “I think I need to go and change my panties when I get off the phone.”
I laughed.
“Feel free to enjoy all the sex with him you want, but do me one favor,” she said, looking right at me. “Don’t let the sex distract you from the fact that he’s still a terrible boss, made you agree to a six-week quitting term instead of two, and honestly still thinks that he’s done as much for you as you have for him over the past two years.”