Page 25 of Alluring

"That's only the beginning, sweetheart. There are many more delights to be had. And there's no need to thank me, the pleasure was entirely mine."

She removed her hand from his hair to rub along his back. Just her touch gave him pleasure.

"Why are you still dressed and I'm not?" she asked, giving his T-shirt a tug.

"I only have so much control. Being naked, the same time you're naked ... yeah, I would lose it."

He watched her nose wrinkle in thought (it was the cutest damn thing) before understanding lit her eyes. "Is there ... um ... something I can do for you?"

"No." He bent and touched his lips to hers. "The first time I come with you, I want to be buried deep inside you."

He kissed her deeply then reluctantly allowed her to get dressed. He even let her pick what they would watch on TV while they snuggled on the couch.

A few hours later, they got up, so he could drive her home. And on that drive, he vowed he would not be doing this shit much longer. He just had to convince Alexis to move in with him.

* * * * *

Alexis had come to a decision. After coming to that decision, the week dragged by, but Saturday had finally arrived, and she was a bundle of nerves. She knew, although nothing had been said, that Jack expected her to spend the night because tomorrow was her day off, and Sunday washis day. So tonight, she was going to give him her virginity.

She didn't come to this decision lightly. She'd come to it after much soul-searching. She didn't want to stay a virgin forever, but she did want her first time to be with someone special, and to her, Jack was special. She wanted him to be her first. She always wanted to remember him that way, and that was a good enough reason for her.

After her decision was made, she just wanted to get it over with. She figured if Jack only wanted to get in her pants then dump her, knowing now would be best. Dragging it out another few weeks was not going to make any difference to anything but her heart.

And that was the one thing she was trying to protect. Her heart had been broken far too many times in her young life. When her dad left. When her mom died. When her sister left for college. She was strong. She would survive another heartbreak. She would just rather survive it now rather than later. Now, it would just break in two. Later, it might shatter.

He texted her frequently during the week and came by during her breaks every night (even though she begged him not to because people were really starting to talk). She kept getting evil looks (from the women) and overheard snide comments (mostly about some fourth-floor suite). Alexis ignored everything and went about her work.

She missed Steph. They used to work nights together, but since she was switched to days about two months ago, she didn't see her very much. Steph would have made all the petty remarks, more bearable.

The end of her shift was fast approaching, and she was getting antsy. Jack hadn't shown up during her break (thank goodness), but he did text herto come on upwhen she finished. He had given her a key to his private elevator Tuesday night, letting her know she could sleep over anytime she didn't feel like going home. She would make one more round of her section and then be done.

Unfortunately, when she walked into the employee lounge to change, Erica was there. They seemed to be on the same shift schedule, and she was, by far, the biggest instigator of gossip out of all her coworkers.

"I didn't see lover boy tonight," Erica said, in the middle of changing into her street clothes. "Is there trouble in paradise?"

Alexis thought it best, not to say anything. She didn't want to instigate further trouble.

"Cat got your tongue?"

Geez, what was she, a walking cliché?

"Maybe he's bored with you already and decided to take someone else up to the fourth-floor tonight."

Alexis knew she shouldn't ask, but the words fell out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Fourth-floor?"

Erica's eyes got wide, and she said in a pseudo-caring voice, "Oh honey, do you not know about the fourth floor? Has he never taken you there?" She looked at her from top to bottom before saying, "I guess you're not really his type. He does have impeccable taste after all. But anyway, getting back to the fourth floor, he takes all his fuck-pals there. Guess you didn't make the grade."

Alexis felt sick, but she wasn't about to let Erica get away with walking all over her. "Fourth floor? No, I don't know anything about the fourth floor. I've only been to his penthouse." God, she hoped he hadn't brought many women up there or she would feel foolish.

By the look of shock on Erica's face, she guessed he did not. Not wanting to hang around any longer, Alexis grabbed her bag out of her locker, not bothering to change into her street clothes, and left the lounge.

She slowed as she neared the elevator. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see Jack right now. But, what does knowing about the fourth-floor really change? She knew he was a player before she got involved with him. He's admitted he's slept with a lot of women. He had to have taken them somewhere, and she was glad it wasn't his penthouse. And she did feel special as if she were one of a few instead of one of the many.

She decided that knowing about the fourth floor didn't change anything. She would still go through with it and see what happens. She inserted her key in the elevator and made her way upstairs, to Jack.

CHAPTER TEN

The penthouse was quiet as she made her way through the foyer, her heels sounding unusually loud on the marble. The living room was empty as was the kitchen.

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