Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Chapter 19

ALICIA

I should be concentrating. I should be doing a last-minute handover.

Heck! I should even be packing up and getting ready to leave this place as it's my last day at Harry's cargo before school starts. Instead, I can't move a muscle even if I want to. My mind is on a hiatus.

Not on-the-beach-sipping-colada-kind-of hiatus. It's the spaced-out kind, the type that could get me fired out of this place forever if I don't snap out of it.

Except . . . I can't.

I can't stop thinking about Ash and his hands which had been all over me, touching me, taking me to the highest clouds. I never wanted to come down. I can still feel my toes curling from the pleasurable feeling of it.

The door to my office opens, but I barely acknowledge the person coming in.

"Shit, Lis, you've got that I just got fucked glow about you. Someone was a bad girl this weekend."

That statement snaps me out of my mind journey making me sit up and give Clarissa a wry smile. But even her statement is not enough to get a response from me.

"Yo! That bad?"

"A lady never kisses and tells," I say, making a zipping motion with my mouth.

"You mean a guy doesn't kiss and tell, but that doesn't count 'cause you're not a guy and I'm your best friend, so fess up." She's already striding towards the chair in front of my desk and depositing herself inside it.

"I plead the fifth." I press my lips into a thin line and give her a blank look.

"So. . . something did happen to you this weekend, hmm." She rubs her chin with her fingers, drawing my attention to her fingernails. They're painted black, just like the lipstick on her lips is black as well. "What part of you're supposed to tell me your deepest darkest secrets, don't you get?"

She's struggling, and she knows it. I want to put her out of her misery, but I let her stew a bit. The helpless look on her face is comical. I cock my head to the side and assess her. "Something did happen on Saturday."

"Get outta here! Bitch, I knew you were up to something." Her eyes are wide open as she leans forward expectantly.

"I met this guy, and well. . . he's a bit frightening."

"Wadaya mean frightening? Did he beat you or something? Is that how you get off now? Sadomasochism shit?"

"Eww! No way! Stop being so extra, I would never do that."

"Is that right?" She lifts a brow. "Not into kinky sex? So if you found yourself tied up and you liked

it, does that mean you wouldn't follow through?"

I actually pause to think about her question.

If Ash did try that with me and I enjoyed it, I guess I'd just flow with it. After he'd deposited those protein bars on the bed, he was the one who ended up eating them, but that was after we went at it a second and third time. It didn't hurt as much as it had the first, but he still wasn't gentle either.

His body was heavy on top of mine, his grip was strong, his hands rough as they'd fondled my flesh. He'd smothered me, covered me, and I felt nothing, saw nothing, lived nothing except for him. I'd existed only in the moment as he buried himself inside of me. I barely even registered where I was. The man was a wrecking ball, pounding me, and I'd come to pieces almost instantly.

So, yes, if I did find myself being tied up by him, I'd definitely go with the flow.

I shake my head as Clarissa snaps her fingers in front of me. "Earth to Lisa." Her eyes narrow as she looks at me keenly.

"The guy I met. . . " I shake my head because how can I tell her it's the same person every female at Harry's cargo has their panties creaming for?

"Yeah?" She leans more on the table, her face open, expectant, but I'm going to have to shut it down. I can't tell her who I was with, at least not just yet.

I don't know what I'm even doing with him. I had expected to keep feeling a certain animosity towards him and hate sex with him, but after Saturday. . . that's definitely not the case.

"Are you going to make me beg, 'cause I would if only to find out who has you looking this way. Alicia Sweden Jackson, who did you do on Saturday?"

I wince. "Can you not call me that?" I hate it when she calls me by my middle name. Pretty sure my dad's looking down on me and laughing like a Jackal right now.

Hahaha! Thanks a lot, dad.

"Lisa, if you don't-"

A knock sounds at the door cutting off what she was about to say. The new front desk officer taking over from Clarissa comes in. "Hi!" Her smile is too bright and too cheery. "Alicia, you have a package up front."

She doesn't wait for me to respond, instead, she walks off swiftly, eager to get back to her job.

Clarissa makes a face at the closed door before she turns back to me with a sour look. "Uhh! I can't stand that one. She's so-"

"Happy?" I giggle. "Surely, you can't fault her for being that. Not everyone can be. . . "I put a hand on my chin. "Difficult."

She rolls her eyes and huffs. "How the fuck do you expect me to be any other way when I have to wake up at five in the morning to take the subway train all the way here?"

I sigh tiredly because we've had this same conversation so many times. She refused to look for a job close to her hostel, and instead, decided to take the one she was offered at Harry's cargo because of me. "You'll live." I pat her on the back before walking out of my office.

I don't need to get to the reception before I see it. A large bouquet of blood-red roses lays on the table still in packing paper. As I step closer, I see a white card peeking out. With my heart thudding excitedly, I pick the flowers and take a look at the card. My hands tremble slightly from nerves as I silently read the wordings on it.

Thanks for an unforgettable night. The roses are beautiful, just like you.

There's no name, but it's unnecessary. I already know who they're from. I lift the roses to my nose, careful to avoid the thorns, and sniff.

"Secret admirer, I see." The new front desk officer smiles widely. I know she's just trying to strike up a conversation but I feel she's trying to poke her nose where it doesn't concern her.

I smile tightly at her and turn to see Clarissa walking towards me with a coy smile. "You must have blown mystery man's mind on Saturday, or maybe it was something else you blew." She laughs airily when I make a face at her.

*

Julia Roberts struts towards the man on TV, but instead of watching her avidly as I would have, my mind wanders.

I eventually summoned up the energy to pack my few belongings on the table in my office - former office now. A picture frame of mother and a few accounting books. I crammed them into the cardboard box and clutched my purse in the other hand in which my pay slip was. Mr. Harry was very generous. He gave me double my salary.

For being an asset. He said.

My phone pings, alerting me to a text. I eagerly reach for it lying on the couch beside me.

It's a message from Ash.

Flowers? I didn't send any flowers, hazel eyes. Should I be jealous?

My blood runs cold when I realize the mistake I made. I sent him a message earlier on, thanking him for the blood-red roses I thought were from him. As I stare at where I displayed them on the table, they seem to mock me.

Who else could have sent them?

As if in reply to my answer, my phone pings again alerting me to yet another text.

Hope you liked the flowers. Before you start wondering who sent them, it's Leonard, the guy from the other night.

My eyes widen when I realize the grave mistake I made. I haven't heard from him in two weeks, and now, out of the blue, he sends flowers, red ones at that. My mouth twists when I remember how he'd screeched off, leaving me in a cloud of smoke, like he couldn't wait to get away from me.

Before I can help it, my fingers skim the keypad of my phone as I type a reply message.

Thanks for the flowers, but how did you get my number?

I press send before I realize how rude that sounded. Maybe! I shrug, but how did he get my number though. I silently groan when I realize Clarissa must have given it to him. My phone pings in my hand and I look down to see a reply text from him.

You're welcome, beautiful. Clarissa, your friend, gave me your number. Can we see now?

I glance at the time and see it's just a few minutes past 7 in the evening. I'm not in the habit of keeping late nights, but if I can do it with Ash, I most definitely can, with Leonard. Besides, he was nice company. It would be a refreshing change from Ash and his intensity anyway.

I type a reply message to him. Sure! You can come over.

I rush to the room and remove my Pjs and put on a pair of jean shorts and a faded tee. I pad back to the sitting room, bare feet, and pick up the remote, then I mute the volume and stare at the flickering screen.

Five minutes later, a knock sounds at the door. I take my time to walk to it and open it with a smile.

Instead of Leonard, it's Ash standing with a cocked brow. One ankle is crossed over the other while his hands are folded against his chest. He's wearing a plain tee and ripped jeans. All black. The air suddenly seems too hot, too muggy, too choked for my liking. I try, but fail to stop the quickening of my heartbeat. His eyes make quick work of my body, starting from my bare legs before working their way up. He moves into the apartment and I back away from him, watching as he closes the door and locks it behind him without breaking eye contact.

"Expecting someone else?" His voice is low, but I can clearly hear something else behind it.

I open my mouth but no words come out.

"Have you ever sucked cock before?" His eyes glimmer as he stares at me, their intensity terrifying, but exciting.

This is so sick. I should feel nauseated by his question, instead, I feel my lady parts flush with warmth. He keeps walking towards me making me back away until I feel my legs hitting the back of the couch. I move an inch forward and find out my head gets to his shoulder level. I'm forced to stare up at his face as I shake my head.

"That's good because your lesson starts now. On your knees!"

"Wh. . . what?" Did I just hear what I thought I heard?

He shakes his head and closes the small space left between us as he grips my chin. "I do not like to be disobeyed. Get on your knees now!"

There's a hard glint in his eyes reminding me this is the same man who told me to undress while waving a gun at me. Just because he's not brandishing one at me now doesn't mean it's not somewhere hidden on his person. Needing no further motivation, I sink to my knees and he moves back to give me space.

His hand cups my chin gently and lifts my face to meet his. "Don't look so glum, I promise you're gonna enjoy it." Still holding onto my chin, he uses his other hand to zip down his jeans. He brings out his dick which is at half mast, but I don't doubt it'll swell soon. He lifts it with his hand and looks at me. "Lesson number one. Don't use teeth."

I nod and he nudges my closed lips with the tip of his dick, urging me to open it. I do so hesitantly, not knowing what to expect.

"Wider!" He instructs. I open my lips wide enough for him to slip his dick inside my mouth. He releases a groan and fists his hand in my hair. "Damn! You're so warm. I could stay in here forever."

Inside my mouth, his dick swells to twice its size and I begin to panic.

What if I can't breathe?

What if I can't get him off?

Will he kill me?

I don't want to die.

I don't-

"Relax!" He slips himself out of my mouth. "You're supposed to enjoy it as well as make me enjoy it in the process." He slides only a quarter of his length back inside my mouth and then urges me to suck him slowly.

He informs me that area of a man is the most sensitive in his body and is easily aroused because of all the nerve endings there.

How's that for lesson 101 in dickology?

I find out it's not so bad if I pretend it's a lollipop. His grip on my hair tightens after a while to the point of pain as he urges me on with words. "That's right, fuck me with your mouth."

His thrusts become faster to the point he's hitting the back of my throat. I'm at the point of gagging when he pulls back a bit and then slams in once again, punishing my mouth. This goes on for a short while until he suddenly pulls out and cums in his palm, strangled groans coming out from his parted lips.

He looks at me with half-closed lids, a soft satisfied smile on his lips. "I think it's only fair I reciprocate the gesture."

I shake my head because Leonard could come anytime. I don't want them to meet. I don't know what Ash could do to him. I don't-

"That wasn't a request, hazel eyes." His hands lift to my shorts and zip them down. Like a marionette, I step out of them, my panties on show to him. "Nice thong."

The only one I have and it was Clarissa who bought them for me. I smile shakily as he slips them down my feet. He pushes me gently onto the sofa and I fall back. He makes eye contact with me as he hooks one of my legs on his shoulder and settles in between my legs. Before I can say, Jack Robinson, his tongue is licking its way down my thighs. As his tongue flicks my clit, pleasure so intense uncurls inside of me. It's my turn to fist my hand in his hair as I moan into the air.

While his tongue is working its magic on my clit, one of his fingers finds its way inside me and my eyes roll to the back of my head. Another finger joins it and hits my g - spot. "Ash. . . please."

He flicks my clit with his tongue twice before raising his head to look at me. "Tell me what you want, baby, don't be shy."

"I want. . . "

"Yeah?" One of his hands trails up my stomach and cups my breast. He releases it from my bra and rolls a stiff nipple around his finger. "Say it! Tell me what you want." His voice is insistent, urgent.

"Fuck me with your tongue!" I cry out as pleasure curls up my spine making me jolt.

I see the smirk on his lips before he dives back in between my legs. He becomes ruthless, licking, sucking, and lightly grazing my clit. I'm a hot bundle of nerves as I chase my climax. I barely register his hand moving to my other nipple when I suddenly shudder violently, my cries filtering into the air. Even then he doesn't stop, not when I come down from my high. He sucks up all my juices, caressing my breasts the entire time until I'm moderately dry.

By the time he comes up for air, I'm boneless. I can't feel my legs anymore. He moves up my body and kisses me deeply, giving me a taste of myself. "You taste so good, kitten, but after hearing you scream my name that way, I can't wait to fuck you till you can't walk."

He stands and removes his jeans, all the while keeping eye contact with me. I'm wondering how I'm going to move when I feel completely wasted. As he slides inside me slowly, pleasure begins to mount. This time, he gently nips the skin on my breast before taking a nipple into his mouth. I spasm with pleasure as he rolls it expertly around his tongue. My eyes roll to the back of my head from how much pleasure I'm feeling right now.

Is it possible to have multiple orgasms?

I always thought cosmopolitan magazine lied about that, but as Ash slides in and out slowly, I can't think, I can't function, I almost can't breathe. All I want is to get to the pinnacle and fall freely.

I barely register what I'm doing as I fist my hand in his hair and pull. "Ash. . . please!"

"I'm following through, baby, you can cum now." It's as if that's all I need to hear before I'm tumbling down the cliff, free-falling. My whole body is trembling so much that I think something inside might be broken.

He slides out of me as he lets lose a string of loud grunts and cums into his palm. Without another word, he gets up and walks in the direction of the toilet. I hear water running and stopping before he comes back into the sitting room.

Does this man ever get satisfied? His dick is at half-mast now but not fully down.

He wears his jeans while I put on my shorts. "Go wash up, kitten, I'm starving, bet you are too, 'cause we're going out for dinner."

Once again, that wasn't a request. As I make my way to the bathroom, I wonder why the thought of him getting tired of me feels me with a deep sadness. It's not until we're on our way out that I realize Leonard never came after all.