Louisa Neil (17 page)

Diana hoped her monster lover would return, but somehow she understood he probably wouldn’t. He had warned her he wouldn’t come back, but he’d offered her an option she’d never have seen on her own. So tomorrow, she’d start contemplating how to approach Sloan and Dane. Telling them of her needs would be difficult, but she would do it, mainly to keep her sanity. And to keep herself sated. For today, she didn’t want to think about anything but her night with Martin. How their bodies looked reflected against the stone from the candlelight. How he smiled knowingly at her while spanking her, and how his face looked when he finally came up her ass. She dozed on and off throughout the day, refusing to do anything but relax. Tomorrow would come soon enough.

* * * *

Monday morning came much too quickly, and she thought to call in sick. But she didn’t. She pushed through her morning routine and, while a bit sore, forced herself to walk to work, smiling and nodding to the other employees when she arrived. There was much more conversation going on in the main room than she’d become used to since Walter left. Then she realized that was the point of Sloan and Dane’s party, to put their employees at ease. While she didn’t have any long conversations, she began to relax a bit. Downstairs in her basement waiting for her machines to warm up, she wondered when she’d see the men.

She went almost a week without actually running into either of them. She kept to her routine and by Thursday night was becoming disappointed when her dreams didn’t conjure up any version of Martin or her Monster. Friday afternoon, on her way back from lunch in the square, she saw Sloan waiting outside the building, a lit cigarette between his fingers. Diana got an instant feeling of dread seeing him. Then she remembered Martin’s words, that she’d need two men to satisfy her after him. She also remembered glancing over her shoulder and thinking her monster had turned into Sloan. With a blink, that image was gone, and the monster was still her monster, and Sloan was just her new boss. Her body shivered as if she’d walked into a freezer. Her nipples pebbled hard, and her pussy went wet. Watching Sloan leaning on the building so casually gave her ideas she refused to accept before.

He was so tall and muscled, and his denims fit in all the right places. She noted he was wearing a dark, man-tailored shirt again, this one in a cotton fabric. Diana decided he wore the dark colors to enhance his black hair and eyes. While she wished she had something to cover her erect nipples, she knew there was no way past him without seeing them erect. She held back a smile as she stood to her full height, knowing they’d be more prominent. The initial dread she’d felt first meeting him was changing. She finally admitted to herself she was attracted him. What woman in their right mind wouldn’t be? Lately, her mind had been locked in a muddle of Martin or Monster. Now she understood it would be filled with Sloan and Dane. She understood acceptance would be the key to finding out the truth from Sloan and what he had called their connection with Dane. With the idea that Martin would never visit her dreams again, she decided to take the man of flesh and blood standing before her.

Deep inside, she’d known all along he would be important to her future beyond the job. Once she accepted the concept, it was hard to keep her gruff attitude. While she didn’t quite flirt with him, she was determined to relax and try to enjoy his company until he proved they weren’t compatible. It had been a very long time since she felt feminine around a man. Usually she forced an aggressive role with men to hide her insecurities.

After the changes these last months, she decided she could be feminine and demonstrative on occasion. Dressing up for their party had reminded her of a side of herself she pushed deep down and refused to accept. Now she understood she would be herself in all ways. If the two men didn’t like it, well, time would tell. While she preferred her chinos and work boots for work, it was intriguing to dress up occasionally and let her feminine side take over.

“Diana,” he said with a nod of his head, taking a puff on the cigarette.

“Sloan, nice party last weekend.” She stood before him, just to the side of the main doorway. Now she was curious how he’d bring up the idea of them together. When he remained quiet, she reached for his hand, taking the cigarette and several puffs before handing it back to him.

“I didn’t know you smoked.”

“I don’t anymore. But, once in a while I just want the memory of it. How the smoke slipped down my throat with a slight acrid burn. How it felt to exhale and take in a fresh breath. The slight rush the first puffs of the day gave me.”

“Why did you stop?” He was watching her, staring at her eyes.

“It became politically incorrect and expensive. Also, I couldn’t smoke down in the archives and couldn’t leave every hour for my fix. So it was easier to quit than deal with the cravings all day.” She reached to take it from him again and took one last pull before handing it back. “Of course, it was months before I was able to get through the day without sneaking one here or there. Now I savor one occasionally, like a forbidden treat.”

“You’re a very interesting woman, Diana.”

“And you, sir, are an intriguing man, but you know that already, by your appearance and how you carry yourself. You know just the impression you give to the public. Always dressing in black to accent your skin tone and features.”

“You’ve noticed,” he said and laughed. It was probably the first time she’d seen him actually relaxed with her, his laugh a bit deeper than she’d heard before.

“You should do that more often. It almost makes you look human.”

“As opposed to?”

“As opposed to the repressed businessman aura you reflect to the world. Like the dark monster everyone should avoid.”

“Just as you wear those clunky work boots and knit shirts to hide the woman underneath.” His eyes dropped to her breasts and slowly scanned back to her face. “Although, right now I’m beginning to appreciate those knit shirts. Aren’t you similar, descending to the basement each day to keep people away?”

“We all have our habits. Some are easier to break than others. At least mine comes with a paycheck.”

“You broke one habit last Saturday. You looked magnificent in that dress and heels. But you knew that, didn’t you. It was the way you carried yourself all night, all naked under the cloth. I saw the men and women watching you, seeing the real you that you hide away.”

“I appreciate the compliment on the dress.” Diana paused before adding, “It wouldn’t be conducive to my job to dress like that every day. All the dust and newspaper print.” She scrunched up her nose, and Sloan nodded in agreement. “Besides, if I dressed like that every day it would become ordinary very quickly. This way, I can turn a head or two when I’m in the mood.” She was about to head inside but paused. “You do have an amazing smile, Sloan.” Pulling the door half-open, she hesitated when he spoke.

“Any ideas how you can make me smile?”

Diana knew this was a direct comment on them as a couple. “I don’t know you well enough to make that call.”

“Not like you know Dane?”

She let her hand drop from the door handle and took a step back before him. “What I did with Dane was my business. Too bad he had no discretion about it. But he was just for fun when I was bored.”

“And now you’re not bored anymore? What’s changed in your life?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Again, she reached for the door handle.

“Have supper with me tomorrow night. Tell me then, and see if I believe you.” He dropped the cigarette butt to the ground and stepped on the glowing head.

“Why? So you and Dane can compare notes on my performance?”

“I make my own decisions on all topics, including you, Diana.”

“So I’m supposed to sleep with you, so you can decide for yourself if he was telling the truth?”

“It’s one possibility. I offered supper and conversation. If you offered sex, I wouldn’t be offended.”

“No, I’m sure you wouldn’t. But it wasn’t a good idea to have sex with Dane. He seemed to just sneak up on me, always finding me off guard. Sleeping with my other boss is a worse idea. Especially since you live together. Is it a competition between you or just a good-natured rivalry?”

“I’ll meet you at eight tomorrow night.” He gave her the name of a restaurant she enjoyed. “We can continue our conversation then and you can make your decisions about Dane and me.” He reached over her head and grabbed the door, pulling it completely open, ending their conversation. He hadn’t given her time to decline his offer. She walked through the office, knowing everyone there saw them come in together.

She wouldn’t go, she decided. She’d call the restaurant tomorrow night and leave a message for him. Thankful to leave the office for a few days, she walked home wondering what it would be like to have Sloan make love to her. How his large hands would feel on her skin, how much pressure he’d use, and if his fingers would fill her anywhere near what her monster’s had.

Diana went through her normal Saturday chores and errands with the definitive idea she was staying home alone that night. Then why was she standing before her bedroom mirror with her hair freshly blown out and makeup on? She held a hanger in each hand, debating which dress to wear. One was a black dress with long sleeves and a high neck. The other was her tan sheath, simple with short sleeves and a rounded neckline. She chose the tan and slipped into the pumps that matched. With the dress being so plain, she added a pair of long, clunky earrings. They had three elongated beads of gold with small chunks of a green stone with gold veining between them. They were a total of four inches hanging beside her throat. If she turned her head a certain way, they would brush against her skin, giving her a secure feeling. They had been her favorite as long as she could remember. They were a gift from her mother, something she wore on occasion, not wanting to take any chances losing or breaking them.

She grabbed the small purse that matched the outfit and stuffed money, lipstick, keys, and her driver’s license in it. Pausing to take one last look at herself, she watched a smile cross her lips as the idea formed. She got a flash of an image of her monster fucking her from behind and blinked. Then it was gone. It left her nipples hard and her pussy full, wanting attention she didn’t have time to give it. Quickly, before she changed her mind, she unzipped the dress and dropped it from her arms. There was no hesitation as her fingers unclasped her bra. She let it fall from her arms, and then she put the dress back in place. Then she scrunched up the hem and, with her thumbs tucked under the elastic, pulled down her panties and let them drop to the floor. With a step, she was free of them, too. This time when she looked in the mirror, she smoothed everything back in place. The material against her nipples made them harder.

“Good, a new game for the evening,” she said and walked from the room before she changed her mind. As she was leaving the house, a cab pulled up in her driveway. The driver told her his name and that Mr. Shayla had sent him to bring her to the restaurant. She took the ride, somewhat annoyed that he’d sent the car for her and overtly annoyed that she accepted the invitation and the ride. What happened to calling and leaving a message that she wouldn’t go?

She’d known while showering that she was going, especially when she had used her own hand and a soft washcloth to bring herself to a small climax. She hoped it would hold her through the evening from being impetuous by horniness. Deep inside she acknowledged that she wanted to sleep with Sloan. Diana decided Sloan wanted the sophisticated woman she could be, sleek and ready for presentation. Dane had accepted her as she was, boots, knit shirts, and braided hair with no makeup. She was beginning to like taking a bit of time on her appearance occasionally. While she could never keep it up on a daily basis, it did give her a new confidence in social situations. Opening her purse, she used the small mirror on the inside flap to take one last look at the woman she was, knowing somehow after this night was over, she’d be different…somehow. She wasn’t exactly sure how, but she would be different.

The restaurant was crowded, the music spilling out into the street. She began to wonder if she’d find him in the crowd and remembered this was Sloan she was meeting. He’d stand out in any crowd. Once her eyes adjusted to the dark lighting, she scanned the bar and found him at the far end. Again tonight, he was dressed in a black shirt with black slacks. She had to admit he was handsome, even if his arrogance made her crazy.

“You look beautiful tonight, Diana. The color complements you. What can I get you to drink?” He sounded so normal and nice she almost didn’t believe it was the same man.

“White wine, please.” She watched as he raised his hand and motioned to the bartender. Quicker than she imagined, the man was placing a glass before her. “Thank you.” She took a tentative sip and enjoyed the fruity flavor. “This is wonderful.”

“I thought you might like it. It’s the same wine we served at the housewarming.”

“You and Dane managed to get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time at the house.”

“Once you have a vision it goes quickly. It was merely a matter of some renovations and unpacking.” He sipped from his glass and leaned closer to her. In a conspiratorial tone he added, “I’ll tell you a secret about the housewarming if you’d like.”

“I’m not sure I want to know.” Her tone was curt.

“I’ll tell you anyway. You looked amazing in that night. I almost shot my load when I first saw you, all naked under the dress letting the material flow around you. What a difference from the basement mouse I was used to. You truly surprised me.”