Page 46 of Give Me a Chance
Connor chuckles. “However, you want it to work. Though, knowing Nats, I’d start casual.” I nod my head in agreement. We talk some more, mostly about our jobs. It’s so nice to have a job you’re excited to talk about.
Three beers later, we’re heading home. Connor’s right. I’m stuck in my ways and maybe this will force me to open up. Sex was definitely never better.
As I headto lunch with my mom, my hands itch with the need to text Natalie, but I refrain myself. I don’t want to scare her away, so I’ll need to get a grasp on my need for her.
“Hi, honey!” She greets me with a wide smile. “Come help me in the kitchen.” Mom knows my wish of being able to sustain myself with cooking, so each time I come, she waits for me to show me some cooking tips and tricks.
“I’m making gnocchi.” We’re not Italian, but she likes to try out new recipes. “Most of it is done, but you can help me with the rest.” She shows a pile of dough on the counter.
“Gnocchi, huh? Sounds complicated.” I wash my hands in the sink.
“Not at all. I cooked some potatoes, mixed them with salt and flour and voilà! Now we roll them,” she rolls out a snake out of the dough, “and cut them into gnocchi.”
I follow her lead and the gnocchi appear faster than I expected.
“You’re right. This isn’t too hard.”
“Told you. Besides, every good meal has a common special ingredient.”
“Salt?” I quip.
“Well, that too.” She laughs. “But I meant love, care. Everything you make with love will taste great to the person it’s intended for.”
“What’s the sauce? I don’t smell anything.”
“That’s because you’re going to make it.” I groan, not because I don’t want to, but because I don’t want to ruin our meal.
“Tell me what to do.”
She guides me, step by step while I make the butter and sage sauce. Even by my standards, it’s pretty easy. I could learn all this on my own, but she likes to still teach me things. Plus, I like to spend time with her.
“You see, this is perfect,” she says as she chews on the first bite of our meal.
“It’s pretty good,” I respond. The whole time we eat, I think of Natalie.
Gnocchi is probably a staple in her house, and I’m proud to know I can make her something she most likely loves to eat. If only I were able to get her to my house for a homecooked dinner.
21
NATALIE
It’s been two and a half days. That’s sixty hours since the coatroom incident and exactly zero hours since I last thought about it. Images of it haunt my every waking (and sleeping) minute, and knowing I’ll see him today, my nipples tighten in anticipation.
I wanted to get the upper hand, make him lose control. But seems I’m the one who lost it.
The way he choked me with his belt while fucking my mouth—he literally had me at his feet. Fuck. He didn’t touch me, and that orgasm was still out of this world.
Still, my body feels neglected, aching for his touch, even after the rigorous self-care sessions this weekend. I tried to capture the same feeling with each and every toy I own, but no luck there. My pussy’s begging to be filled by him the way my mouth was.
Heading into work, I’m a nervous mix of panic and excitement. I would prefer to maul him the minute I enter the office, but it isn’t an option. I also how no idea how to act next to someone I need to be professional with but want to be anything but professional.
That’s why I don’t normally do this. The sex isn’t worth the complications. At least it didn’t use to be.
After Friday, I’m thinkingthissex could be worth it.
I spot him the second I enter the office. He’s wearing a gray turtleneck that does more to me than I’d care to admit. His glasses are, once again, framing his handsome face, and he sends me a wicked smile from his desk. My hand lifts in an awkward wave. I have no idea where the confident, man-eater Natalie went, but I miss her. This nervous wreck is not my cup of tea.
Silently groaning, I head to my desk. I spend the morning organizing the best way to handle my team’s responsibilities for planning the gala, postponing the meeting until tomorrow. I’m not collected enough to handle leading a meeting with him in it today.
