Page 56 of The Interns

“Yeah.” He forced a chuckle at her little joke which was all the more laughable since she wouldn’t even consider practicing law back home never mind give it up all together.

“No,” she said, her tone growing more serious. “It’s going in my office someday.”

“Really?” It was hard to imagine such a thing finding a place in her sure-to-be modern, impeccably designed corner office.

“Yeah. I’m proud of it. I’m proud of us,” she decided instead, smiling fondly at him. “I have a lot of good memories that go with it.”

He smiled back, tightening his hold on her hand and stilling their fingers that had been entwined and playing together while they sat on his couch. They grew quiet, the shyness from earlier returning as they gazed at each other. He wanted to kiss her again. His mind went back to a time where she could barely stand to be in the same room as him, and now she was in his house and the six inches between them was too far. There was hesitation on his part, though, knowing how hard it would be to stop this time, but desire was a powerful thing and there was no question how badly he wanted her. And he sensed she wanted him, too.

He leaned in to kiss her again, and from there it all moved so fast. She was on her back and he was between her parted knees, hovering over her with a smile as she reached for his face and drew him back in for a kiss. Their lips collided and tongues tangled, soft moans and sighs slipping out as their hands frantically explored each other’s bodies now that they had the time and privacy to do so.

With one arm propping him up, he slid the other under her sweater and over the soft skin of her abdomen then up the slope of her breast that was covered by a thin lacy layer of fabric. Her hands made a trail from his cheeks through his curls and down over his shoulders and chest until they reached his beltline where she grabbed the slack fabric of his shirt and hurriedly pulled at it until it was untucked. He sucked in a sharp breath as her cool hands moved over the bare skin of his sides and back.

She slid her hands out and began undoing each button from the bottom up and tugged at the sleeves, signaling for him to stop what he was doing with his hands and lips, and rid himself of the shirt entirely. He did, and she smiled, liking what she saw hopefully. She lifted her back off the couch to assist him as he grabbed the hem of her sweater and started guiding it up her chest and over her head revealing her breasts, so full and perfect to him with very little help from the thin, lacy black bra that covered them. They slowed for a moment, eyes roaming over each other’s bodies to appreciate what had been just beneath the surface this whole time, and when their eyes met, he saw his raw need and desire reflected back at him.

He reached for her breasts again, palming them in his hand as he leaned down and resumed their kiss. Barriers fell between them so quickly that he barely had time to register what was happening. He relaxed into her and let his lower half meet hers, the feel of her center against his bulge turned his aching want into an urgent need. Her arms slid between their bodies and both hands unbuttoned his jeans and undid the zipper giving her room to explore. He was just behind her as he used one hand to do the same, while keeping the other braced on the couch behind her head to keep enough space between them for this exploration. She slipped her hand between the waistband of his boxers and belly, sliding it down and taking hold of him. Their kiss broke as his mouth went wide and let out a shuddering breath at the contact.

As soon as he succeeded in undoing her pants, he slipped his hand down the front of her matching black panties. With just a few passes of his hand, he felt the slickness of her arousal which heightened the sensation for her even more as he rubbed it over the length of her opening and circled his fingers over her most sensitive spot.

While this felt beyond amazing, the past six months had been all of the foreplay he could handle. He needed her. Now.

“Do you have any protection?” she asked through ragged breaths as she tore herself away from his lips.

“In my room.”

Their hands continued pleasuring each other after it was decided, feeling too good to break away for a moment even though what awaited them would feel even better. But he willed himself to stop and reluctantly pushed himself off of her, then took her hand to help her up and lead her back to the bedroom.

They started through the house and as they reached the hallway, she slowed. “Reed,” she whispered as she tugged on his hand to stop him. “The pot.”

His eyes went toward the kitchen and his nostrils flared as the scent hit him at the same time, reminding him of the dinner date that had long been abandoned.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath, which made her giggle.

He looked toward the bedroom then the kitchen then the bedroom again, actually considering taking his chances of letting the whole house burn down to the ground for fear that she’d change her mind in the few seconds it would take to turn off the stove. She flat out laughed at him now because it was an absolutely absurd thought.

“I’ll be right there,” he promised, his level head prevailing.

“Okay,” she whispered into his lips as she gave him a parting kiss. “I’ll be waiting.”

26

Maya

Maya walked down the hall and into his darkened bedroom then headed straight for his nightstand, figuring she would find what they needed there. She opened the drawer and blindly rifled through, her hand passing over papers and small indeterminate objects until it stopped on a larger metal object. Perhaps he had his own pipe crimper. Out of curiosity, she grabbed hold of it and pulled her hand out revealing a gun with a shiny silver barrel and wood grained handle. Hello, Officer Stanton.

It was beautiful, if a gun could even be described as such, she thought as she stood there with it in her hand. And it was fascinating, finding out that he kept a gun within arm’s reach of his bed. That he knew how to cook. That he wore boxers instead of briefs. And that he had a tidy room and perfectly made bed. This was a wonderful night of discovery in so many ways.

“Shit, Maya.”

She looked up to find him stalled in the doorway, shirtless with his jeans on but undone, exposing a hint of his light gray checked boxers. He stared at her with his mouth slightly agape.

“I’m sorry. I,” she stammered as she looked down at the gun in her hand.

“No, I am. I should have warned you. I usually have it locked away when company comes over. You ever used one before?” he asked as he walked toward her.

“Never even held one until now,” she admitted as he stepped in front of her and covered her hand with his, taking the gun.

“Well, I can show you sometime if you’d like.”

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