Beyond Bliss (5 page)

You ninny.

She stopped berating herself and focused on the task at hand, getting out of there. There was no way she could have dinner with Lucas. Men like that didn't go for women like her, and when they did it was because they were seeking to control a robot.

She fought away images of her ex as she tried to keep herself together.

Lucas was obviously powerful, and seemed in control all of the time. By contrast, even her ex-fiancé hadn’t possessed the same raw, animalistic power this man had over her body. If she went out with him, even just for dinner, after a night like they'd had, she would want more.

She knew it.

She would want more, and he wouldn't be able to give it—or he’d give it to her under pretense, and she'd be left heartbroken.

She cautiously sat on the edge of the bed, making sure she stayed a safe distance away from him. "I don't think so, Lucas. I'm not really looking for anything, casual or otherwise. You promised me one night, and it was amazing and that's how I'd like to remember this, errr, experience."

He frowned at her, but then he got out of bed, holding the sheet over himself—she supposed it was out of deference to her modesty before he strolled over to his travel bag. He pulled out a flimsily wrapped package of white tissue paper with little imprints of red kisses and handed it to her.

"I got this for you on my trip. I was hoping we could use it, but maybe you'll have better luck with this one than your current. It still can't kiss you like I can though," he said teasingly.

Confused, she opened the package and her mouth fell open when she discovered it was a shiny, new vibrator. The package had tawdry picture of a blond with her eyes closed, obviously in orgasm.

Confusion and embarrassment slowly turned to horror.

She looked at him.

He grinned sheepishly.

"What exactly do you mean it can't kiss me like you can?" she asked slowly.

"Ahhh, nothing, it's just an expression, I guess," he rushed out, but she could tell he wasn’t being honest.

"No it's not. You bought me a vibrator, barely knowing me, and then you say that." She kept shaking her head, intuitively not liking where this was headed.

He closed his eyes.

"Look, Sophie, two weeks ago, I had a business dinner at The Grill. I was there early, so I went to the bar to grab a drink and -"

"Oh my God," she shrieked. "You eavesdropped on my conversation. You knew— you knew I was going to be there, you—oh my God…"

"Sophie, I— "

"Don't say my name," she yelled. She pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You do not get to say my name. Oh
my God
, I feel so dirty. What, did you think I was going to be an easy lay? Well, I guess I was, wasn't I? And it was all that much easier because you listened in on a private conversation and planned this."

"I didn't plan anything," he said quietly. "If you'll only listen—"

"No!" she yelled again.

She was horrified when she felt tears pooling at the bottom of her lashes. One slipped down her cheek. He looked like he wanted to come to her, but if he made a move in her direction, she’d deck him.

She pulled on her skirt and blazer. She nearly ran to the door of the room in her haste to escape. She placed her hand on the knob and turned around.

"You—you told me that I had nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to feel guilty about. Well, I don't, not anymore. I may feel used, and I may feel cheap, but you," she pointed a finger at him, those big brown eyes accusing, "You are the one who should feel ashamed and guilty. And if you don't, then I just hope there aren't more people in this world that are like you."

Determined, she stormed towards the door, but then she spotted a flash of bright color. 

Without making eye contact, she stalked over to the vibrator, still in it’s packaging, before picking it up and walking calmly to the door. 

Then she turned, slowly, almost diabolically.

A low scream gurgled from her throat as she pitched the package at him with the finesse and strength of a quarterback—before he could duck.

And once she’d made it safely into the hallway, even though she could still hear the slam of the door reverberate in her mind, she felt not one ounce of satisfaction.

*****

Lucas didn't care for the way he felt. He couldn't identify the feelings, but he suspected she was right when she told him that he was the one who should feel ashamed and guilty. His eyes landed on the vibrator, which had fallen to the floor, still in it's packaging.

He laughed without humor.

Fucking hell.

Chapter Five

“So have you met anyone yet?”

The phone she balanced precariously between her shoulder and ear slipped and clattered loudly on the hard cherry wood desk right as she reached for the stack of files sitting at the edge.

“Sophie?  Sophie?  Are you there?” Her mother’s high-pitched voice screeched from the fallen receiver. She fought the temptation to leave it there when her mother continued. “I don’t know why you can’t put me on the speakerphone. You’re always dropping the phone and banging it in my ears.”

What about the torture you inflict on my ears? On a daily basis?

Wisely, she kept her mouth shut and picked up the handset again. Putting her mother on any kind of speaker would guarantee that the entire office would know all of her business by the end of the day. 

“Are you there? Sophie, are you there?”  

“Sorry Mom,” she sighed into the phone. “My speakerphone is broken right now.” Out of habit, her index and middle finger automatically crossed. 

It was so much easier when her dad was alive.

Or maybe her mother only turned into a paranoid, nagging wreck once he’d died?

Either way, things would have been better for both of them if he was still around. Ever since Jeannie Harlow had become a widow, she’d focused her attention on her only child with the same kind of single-minded determination that took out international terrorists.

“What kind of law firm do you work for that won’t provide proper telephone equipment to their employees?” her mother asked irritably. 

A smart-mouthed reply was on the tip of her tongue, but she kept quiet. At least her mother was off the topic of her disastrous love life.

Well, disastrous sex life.

Actually, when she thought about it, not really a sex life at all. One mind-blowing, orgasm-filled evening did not a sex life make. 

In the two weeks since that awful morning at the W, she’d managed not to think about it too often. 

Every other waking hour, and maybe a few sleeping ones did not amount to too often.  

Her mother continued her signature habit of chattering and complaining.  She only heard half of it as her mind drifted. 

Something about a cruise her mother was going to take with her aunt and property taxes.

The neighbor who purposely let his dog do number two on the front lawn. 

Files and phone conversation forgotten, she closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair as phantom particles drifted together in one mouthwateringly male form. 

It began with a finely chiseled chest, not too sinewy but with just the right amount of lean muscle covered by taut skin with a healthy tan. Strong, broad shoulders curved up with masculine grace. It was hard to decide exactly which direction to go for the piece de resistance. 

If she moved up, she’d find the face of an Adonis. A strong, angular jaw, lips that were almost too full to belong on a man, and dark, intense slate gray eyes.

If she moved down, she could picture exactly the thick, perfect length—

A sharp rapping sound on her door made her jump and jolted her out of her reverie.

She flushed guiltily as Liz stood in the doorway.  The other woman gave her a meaningful look, and she began to shift the files on her desk around in no particular order. Her mother was still going on, and it didn’t appear like she was going to run out of steam anytime soon. 

“Mom, I have to go,” she murmured, motioning the other woman into her office.

“You never want to talk to me anymore, you’re always too busy. You never pick up the phone when—”

“Mom,” she interrupted firmly, “it was great catching up, but I have to go.  I’ll call you later.”  Sound was still coming out of the receiver when her finger moved to disconnect the call.

She sighed heavily as Liz comfortably settled herself in a chair.  “Sorry about that.”

Her friend smirked in response.  “Honestly, I don’t know how you put up with Jeannie.  No offense, but I could hear her in the hallway outside of your office.”

She shrugged.  “She means well.  She’s just lonely.”

Liz stared at her friend.  “Honey child, I have known you since high school.  Even as kids, every single time we were on the phone, I could hear her in the background.”

She just shrugged again and opened a file folder.  She began to scribble notes on her legal pad, her eyes steady on the documents in front of her.

“Are you still mad at me?”

Yes.

She crossed her fingers under her desk.  “No.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t care,” she muttered.

“Well, clearly you
are
still mad at me.  You can barely look at me!  We haven’t been out for drinks in weeks, and—”

“There’s a good reason for that!” she interrupted. 

Liz held her hands up dramatically.  “Well, I don’t know the good reason because you’re keeping me in the dark. Jesus H. Christ, getting laid is supposed to loosen you up, not tighten you up. Just be honest with me,” she pleaded. “Was he that awful in bed? Did he have a small dick? If you’re going to blame me, you at least owe me some details.”

Even though she was used to her friend’s blunt way of speaking, she still slightly cringed at Liz’s blunt words. 

"Liz," she hissed furiously. "The door is still open!

Liz's eyes took on a wicked gleam. "Spill everything or I'll keep going."

She wouldn't do any such thing, but Sophie did need to get it out. She twisted her lips wryly. "You know this line of questioning constitutes as sexual harassment?"

"Pssh Counselor Harlow" Liz huffed, but she got up and shut the door. "I was the first person you called when you got your rag. You're going to tell me eventually. I'm just saving your stubborn ass the time. Come on, tell Aunt Liz. What, he couldn't get it up?"

She'd been in the middle of taking a sip from her water bottle, but it came streaming out of her mouth like a fountain at her friend's outlandish question.  

"Need me to whack you on the back?" the other woman offered
un-
helpfully.  

Mutely, she shook her head before she cleared her throat.  

Liz sat back in her chair and folded her manicured hands expectantly.

Sophie drew in a deep breath. "It was amazing," she muttered.  

Liz leaned forward, eyes bright. "Go on, go on," she waved her hand. "Orgasm?"

"Several," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Spaced apart or one right after the other?"

"Both."

Liz let out a tiny squeal and clapped her hands like a small child at a carnival. "Yay! What's that?" She cupped a hand behind an ear. "Oh, is that a thank you from my best friend for helping her get laid before the next ice age? Oh, it is! You're welcome oh-sister-of-my-heart!"

It took a few seconds before Liz realized the room's other occupant was glaring at her. She stopped crowing for a moment, an uneasy look starting to take hold on her face.

"Uh oh.  What happened?"

"I should smack you, not thank you!" Sophie exclaimed indignantly.

"Well, before you do that at least tell me why."

"I threw a vibrator at him," Sophie nearly shouted. Just as quickly, she slapped a hand over her mouth when she realized she hadn't exactly been quiet.  

Liz's blue eyes nearly bugged out. "Come again?"

"Oh God," Sophie groaned, her head sinking into her hands.  

"Did you just say you threw a vibrator at him? I thought you didn't want a sex toy?" she asked, confused.  

Sophie's head snapped up. "You are completely missing the point."

"Which is?"

"Liz, did you ever wonder why someone hot, clearly successful, and obviously loaded would proposition me?" Sophie asked the question she herself had been stewing over for weeks.  

"Uhh, cause you're hot and he wants sex as much as you?"

"No!  Because he's a pervert!"

"He wanted to tie you up? Tried to use anal beads? Butt plugs?" Liz was still baffled.  

Sophie prayed for patience before she began to recite the story from the beginning. Liz's eyes shifted from questioning to interested.  

"Wow," she breathed. "Mark and I haven't had sex like that in ages. What are you getting all pissy for?"