Page 77 of One Hotlanta Night
Steeling myself for the next bit of torture, I reach across her ample breasts to buckle her in. I feel as well as hear her sharp intake of breath, and chance looking at her. Her eyes are wide and our faces are so close together, it wouldn’t take but an inch for our mouths to meet.
“Safety first, darlin’.” My words and breath coast across her lips which part instinctively. My tongue immediately swipes out, licking across my bottom lip, and her eyes drop to it.
Could I get away with kissing her right now? Do I dare?
I’m about to take the risk and find out when she quickly presses her lips together, denying me that taste of heaven. Her eyes close like she’s trying to block out what almost happened, and I straighten up quickly, closing the door firmly.
My head falls back, bemoaning the fact that I can’t even kiss Claire, much less tell the woman I love how I feel.
My cock isn’t very happy with me either, and I slowly walk around the back of the truck to the driver’s side to give me some extra seconds to readjust my jeans. Why did I think this was a good idea again? She’s going to think I’m just some young stud trying to get my dick wet when what I want is so much more. I want it all.
Well, as long as she considers me a stud…
My lips curve into a smile. The night is just beginning.
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Oh.
My.
God.
Michael
beginning of october
“Yo, Michael!” Adam pops his head up over the cubicle wall where I sit staring at the meeting notice that’s just popped into my inbox.
“Yeah?” I ask, twirling a pen in my hands. I’ve gotten a lot better at controlling my nervous habits when I’m anxious, but this email has my spine tingling. Could be good, could be bad… but my body’s signals never lie.
Recalling the last time I got called into Goldman’s office so he could read me the riot act, my chest tightens. Even though it put my job at risk, I’d still have beat up that cheating douchebag again in a heartbeat; no one messes with my friends, and no one puts their hands on a woman and gets away with it. He saved my ass that day, giving me a chance for a fresh start, away from the Charlotte drama.
First day at the Atlanta office, however, Goldman called me into his office and made it crystal clear that me being here was a favor, and that if I screwed anything up, I’d be out on my assfaster than the door could hit me. I gave him my unwavering assurance, and we’d had a good working relationship ever since. He gave me feedback on the projects I’d managed and connected me with more players in the industry. He could tell I was hungry to move up and make my mark in the corporation. However, in all these months there’d never been a reason to have such an official-sounding meeting again—until now.
“You wanna grab some wings after work tonight? We’re headed to Bennigan’s.” Adam asks.
“No, man, I got plans with my woman.” Just the thought of seeing Vivian tonight sets my blood aflame and distracts me from the unease swirling in my belly.
“Damn, you sure are pussy-whipped, aren’t you?”
“Watch what you say, Adam. That’s my wife you’re talking about there.”
“She’s not your wife yet, dude.”
“She’s got my ring on her finger, and she’s sleeping in my bed. Only thing left is to change that last name of hers.”Mrs. Stromberg. My mom’s always been the only Mrs. Stromberg in our circle, but there’ll be a second one come Christmastime if I have anything to say about it.
I love how Vivian Stromberg sounds. I love calling her “mi amor” even more.
“Well, you better get into Goldman’s office.” Adam jerks his thumb over his shoulder.
“You got one of these too?” I ask as he peers at my computer monitor.
“Yep,” he says. “Word has it some big changes are happening. Everyone’s getting called in for one-on-one’s, but no one’s spilling what it’s all about.”
“Huh,” I muse as I chew on the pen cap. Dammit, that’s the third one I’ve wrecked today. Throwing it on my desk, Ipush myself out of my chair. “Might as well go face the firing squadron.”
Everyone in the office has been a little on edge since the terrorist attacks, and understandably so. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before and people tend to flinch every time they hear an airplane flying a little too close overhead. Since we’re close to Hartsfield Airport that happens more often than not. My senses have been on high alert. It’s like you can feel the tension in the city radiating off every single person. No one knows what to expect next.
