Page 55 of Waiting for Tuesday

I placed my whole arm on the counter and pushed it all to the floor, not caring about the mess I would leave behind. I hadn’t made anything new in weeks, and even though the conditions weren’t ideal, these products were just for me. I would run them over and over again a dozen times before perfecting them, but I always felt so much better when creating.

I needed that now. I needed to clear my head and focus on something that filled my heart with joy, so some of the cracks would fill up, and I wouldn’t feel so empty anymore.

I ran to my office and got my cleaning supplies, then spent ten minutes clearing off enough space to work. When I was finally ready, I took three deep breaths, allowing my mind to go blank so I didn’t give too much thought to what I was doing.

I always allowed myself to make mistakes when I worked. I realized long ago that closing myself off to the idea of perfection only made for boring products, things that weren’t unique or special in any way. But when I cleared my mind and allowed my nose to guide me, allowed my heart and soul to express themselves in the form of a lotion of body butter, magic happened.

I scooped a good portion of shea butter into my bowl, added some coconut oil and vitamin E, then I started the electric mixer and began blending. This was my base for all my butters. From here, I just let things go. A little of this, a little of that, until it was done.

My arm tingled with the rhythmic hum of the mixer as I beat the formula into a substance that resembled a bowl of thick whipped cream. The door to the back room opened, and I didn’t even have to turn around to know it was John. I could feel his presence, because the piece of my heart he owned began beating. Soon he was behind me, brushing my hair from my shoulder and leaning down to kiss my neck.

“What are you doing?” His voice was low, happy, and caused my stomach to clench with the memories of last night.

I pushed them away, closed my eyes, and added a couple drops of Bergamot to the mixture. The room filled with the clean, seductive scent that always reminded me of a cool, citrus drink on a warm, summer day.

I cleared my throat, trying to ignore his lips that were placing feather light kisses along my neck. “I’m working on a new body butter.”

The heat from his body sent little surges of warmth to my belly.

He smiled against my skin and came closer, until the fabric of my skirt tangled around his legs. “It smells good.”

I took a deep breath, because what he was doing felt so good. I tilted my head to the side, allowing him better access, even though only minutes ago I had resolved to never let him do this again. “I thought you left.”

He shook his head then wrapped his arms around my middle and pulled me closer. “The guys were getting suspicious. I had to make sure they left before I came back. It took forever for Eddie and Marco to leave the lot.”

I swallowed. His words made me cringe. They confirmed once again how he felt about us. We were a secret, an affair that would end whether I wanted it to or not. I turned around, knowing I had to face him, knowing I had to say something, but not knowing what.

I was met with his face, his beautiful face that was both rugged and raw. Even though he wasn’t smiling, I knew he was happy—his eyes, big and brown, danced with joy at the sight of me. Eyes just for me. I swallowed. “What happens if they find out?” I asked in a whisper.

He shook his head. “They won’t.”

I took a breath, needing air. “But what if they do?”

He bit his lip then placed a hand on either side of me on the counter. “Then I fire them.”

I frowned, shaking my head slightly. “I’m serious. I don’t want you to get in trouble. With Jake—or… or with anyone.” It was such a sad attempt at ending things, but he was standing so close, his kisses still burning the skin at my neck, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to end it anymore. I knew I was being irrational, stupid, because the smart thing to do would be to push him away and tell him it was over. But I couldn’t.

He stepped closer until his body was flush with mine. “I like trouble.” His eyes traveled to my mouth. “I like trouble a whole lot.”

I nodded because the way he said it made me like trouble too. A lot.

He lifted me to the counter and spread my thighs until he fit between them. Then he kissed me so hard, so desperately, that I had to grip his shoulders to keep from falling backward. He kissed me with a hunger that shocked me; it was a kiss that held nothing back, a raw, teeth-clashing, tongue-plunging kiss that made me wrap my arms and legs around his body.

He pulled me tight against him, his erection pressed into my belly, and his hands gripped my backside. I could feel the emotion of the day bubbling out of me. I wanted this so much, but I was still angry.

“You ignored me all day,” I saidagainst his mouth, my words so full of emotion that he pulled back again.

He looked into my eyes, eyes I was sure showed every vulnerability I’d ever felt, and he shook his head. “I wasn’t ignoring you because I don’t want you.” He brushed a lone tear from my cheek and kissed it from this thumb. “I was ignoring you because every time I look at you, every time I get too close, this happens. Because I have no self-control when it comes to you, and I didn’t want the guys to see that.”

My lips began to quiver and he came closer again, resting his forehead on mine. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t ignore me, John, I don’t like it.”

His lips lifted in a sad smile and he kissed me again. “Never again.” His kiss was sweet, tender, and made me emotional all over again. “Never again.”

He lifted me for a second time and turned around to head for the office. I held on to him with arms and legs, completely trusting him not to drop me as he walked with me across the floor. Our mouths never parted the whole way, and when he kicked the office door open with his foot, I completely surrendered.

He laid me down on the couch, kneeled in between my thighs, and lifted my skirt. My fingers worked at the fastening of his belt, while he tore a foil packet open with his teeth. He rolled the condom over his erection and pulled down my panties. He yanked them the rest of the way down my legs, threw them to the floor, and we both called out at the same time when he entered me.

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