It had been a month since that fateful day when Peri had spilled her lunch over herself and Josh Craig. At work he was all business, they had both decided it was best to keep what happened between them outside work. He was still the arrogant control freak she had always known in the office, but there were subtle changes in his demeanour now, and how he interacted with her. His eyes still followed her every movement, and when he came to see her about a project she was working on, he would lean over her or brush against her, the contact making her dizzy with joy.
Josh was a driven man; you didn’t get to be in a position like his at such a young age, without putting in the hours and hard work, to back up his talent. Peri often stayed behind with him at work but found when deadlines approached he was better left to himself. After the first incredible week where they had barely spent a moment apart, she felt lonely on the nights that she came home alone to the house she shared with Andie.
For her part, Andie seemed to have settled down with a mysterious man. She was home some nights and seemed to have become a regular home maker. Peri was startled when she walked in and found the house clean and her mother in the kitchen cooking, when she finally went home for the first time since packing a small bag to keep at Josh’s that first week. There had been an uneasy truce between them since that night, but it was better than how it had been.
Peri watched Andie folding some laundry, still not quite sure what to make of the change in her, “You going out tonight Andie?”
“No, not tonight,” she answered wistfully.
“I was thinking it was time to update my wardrobe a bit, do you want to come shopping with me, it’s Thursday the stores are open late. We could, you know, hang out,” Peri thought that if her mother was trying to change she should give her a chance to mend the bridges so to speak.
“Really?” Andie smiled widely, “I’d genuinely like that. Just let me make a call first.”
Peri watched as her mother walked into her room opening her mobile and went to brush her hair and slip on a pair of heels. Peri knew the type of things she wanted to try on, and she would need heels to see how it would look. She didn’t want to change her look so much as she just wanted to make it less frumpy seeming. Josh liked the understated, quiet librarian, persona she had at work just as much as the sexy girl he took home most nights.
“Let’s go kiddo! I haven’t been shopping for ages,” Andie grinned at her.
Peri found herself enjoying shopping with Andie who seemed strangely restrained in her choices agreeing that Peri’s style was all her own and making gentle suggestions rather than forcing her into uncomfortable and revealing outfits that did not suit her short curvy figure. During the shopping trip, Andie brought only one dress and Peri was surprised that it was a sedate style that suited her age as well as flattered her phenomenal figure.
Andie was actually a treasure trove of advice now that Peri was actually listening to her rather than cringing away from the lurid details of Andie’s past conquests. She gave advice on inserts for high heel shoes to stop the ache that came after extended wear, the best bras for her larger cup size, and the benefits of natural fibres particularly in lingerie.
The whole night was fun for them both, Peri even allowing Andie to give her make up tips, and they treated themselves to some take home food and red wine from one of their favourite restaurants as the stores were closing. As Andie drove them home Peri’s phone rang and she picked it up happily seeing Josh’s name on the screen she answered with a smile, “Hi Josh.”
That was the last word she got out of her mouth as she listened to his tirade, he had tried to call her several times, he had been to her house to find no one home, he had no idea where she was or whom she was with. He would meet her at her house, and he hung up. Trying to hold it all together not wanting to ruin the first fun night she had enjoyed with her mother for years, she looked at her watch gauging the time.
Andie in a rare show of maternal care reached over and patted her leg, “He was just worried about you baby, and that shows he cares more than he wants to admit.” She glanced over and smiled slightly before drawing her eyes back to the road, and Peri burst into tears. “Aw baby, don’t cry. Sometimes love happens so fast you don’t even notice it until something like this happens. It’s a good thing to know he was worried and cares about you so much, right?”
Peri took a deep shuddering breath considering her mother’s words. “It’s more like he is a control freak and I wasn’t where he thought I should be.”
Andy laughed, “It didn’t sound like that to me, he was shouting loud enough for me to hear the worry in his voice. Whether you two want to admit it or not, it sounds a lot like love to me.”
Peri sniffed, “We have only been dating a few weeks. It’s fantastic don’t get me wrong, I have never been so happy, but love Andie? You of all people aren’t going all Mills and Boon on me, are you?”
“It happens to us all sometimes,” Andie said wistfully. “Finding that right someone worth settling down for, someone who appreciates all of you not just how you look or whether you give a killer blow job.” She grinned and waggled her eyebrows as Peri looked at her opened mouthed.
“There’s the Andie I know,” Peri couldn’t help but join Andie’s good mood and wiped her face one last time. They pulled into their driveway and took everything inside the house, Andie was setting the table for two as Peri emerged from her room having put away her shopping bags.
“I am just going to take this,” she held up a glass of wine and a small plate of food, “and go and make a few phone calls. Try and remember he was just worried about you.” Peri looked at the table, Andie had set out everything so nicely, she just hoped Josh would be in the mood to appreciate it.
Josh arrived minutes later, and she opened the door before he had time to knock, “Where the hell were you?”
“Hello Josh,” she said pleasantly, “What a surprise to see you. I thought you were pulling an all nighter.”
“Yeah well I didn’t,” he saw the table set for two and turned on her with blazing eyes. “Interrupting, am I?” Josh sneered.
“Actually yes,” she responded a little too quickly, “but luckily Andie doesn’t mind, she went to make a few phone calls and left some food for you.” Peri flounced over to the table, “Let’s not waste the dinner. You can yell at me from over here just as well as there and I am starving.”
Josh followed her still seething but feeling a little foolish for the last remark. “I was worried he said plaintively, “You’re usually so predictable.”
“Oh no,” Peri said with a perfectly straight face, “We have been dating for a month and I am already predictable?”
Josh was not used to being on the wrong end of an argument. The people he dealt with were ‘yes’ people who did not use sarcasm or pleasantries in the face of his wrath. The problem was that she wasn’t arguing with him, there was no argument to win. She made him feel foolish for being angry and he didn’t like not being in control of any given situation or feeling foolish.
“Next time, answer your phone or better yet tell me when you’re going out, save the worry it causes, okay?” He finally sat at the table with her.
She smiled, “Sure I can do that, now eat before I start on yours as well.”
He leaned over and kissed her, “I am hungry for something else,” he murmured into the kiss, and she felt a thrill run up her spine. This man dominated her world, he was all controlled passion, in work and in pleasure, and she realised tonight could have gone so differently, if not for Andie’s advice.
“You don’t like the food?” Peri grinned at him.
He moved rapidly pushing his chair back and grabbing her arms to pull her over is lap growling as he slapped her up turned ass, “When did you become such a cheeky girl.”
Peri yelped and squirmed as he slapped and squeezed her ass feeling his cock hard against her belly. Pulling her up to sit on his lap he kissed her deeply murmuring, “The food won’t be as satisfying as what I had in mind, but if you insist I will eat,” he looked at the plates.
She pressed her body against his and wrapping her arms about his neck kissing his ear and whispering hotly, “What exactly did you have in mind?”
He needed no further invitation. He picked her up kissing her as he walked to the bedroom. Pressing her against the door as he closed it, he undressed her. He loved peeling away that frumpy sexless exterior to reveal the curves and softness of her incredible body. Her hands worked nimbly unbuttoning his shirt and pants with the eagerness she always felt when she was alone with him.
His worry and anger had been fuelling his need for her for hours and lifting one leg high over his hip he bent his knees and entered her roughly pinning her to the door and taking full possession of her with his hand, cock and mouth. He began fucking into her hard and deep growling into his kisses as their tongues danced around each other.
Josh half push and half carried Peri back to the bed. He fucked her with animal lust as he satiated his deep need to bury himself within her. Lifting her legs up to his shoulders he practically bent her in half as he pounded her, his hands gripping her bouncing tits roughly making her cry out louder as she gasped open mouthed her eyes glazing over in pleasure.
Peri looked up into Josh’s face watching the intense expression as he breathed heavily, she loved the way he made her feel over powered and helpless to his needs as he gave her the thrills and tingles that rolled through her body. She ram deeply inside her and pull her nipples up from her chest twisting them sending a jolt of pain lancing into her brain pushing over the edge into bliss as she cried out filling the room with her orgasm.
Josh groaned deeply as he rammed into her feeling her cunt clamp around his cock and spasm, milking at him with internal muscles, she came writhing below him. He began fucking hard and deep again until he couldn’t anymore and collapsed on top of Peri smothering her and wrapping his arms around her as he rolled to his back pulling her with him.
They lay there catching their breath for long minutes as he stroked his hands down over her soft curves enjoying the quivering feel of her highly sensitized body. Finally smacking her ass he grinned, “So about this food you were offering me before you realised my idea was better than yours.”
Peri laughed and wriggled free of his arms wrapping her robe about her, “Better go see if I can salvage any of the food.”
Josh followed her out to the kitchen after pulling on his boxers to find her pulling two plates carefully from the warming tray of the oven and putting them on the table. “Andie must have done it,” Peri shrugged.
They talked quietly about the changes in Andie, and the fun Peri had shopping with her. “Seems this mystery guy is a good influence,” Josh’s smile bordered on a smirk and took her hand, “Family is extremely important to me, Peri. I’m glad Andie is treating you more like a daughter that is how it is supposed be.”
She smiled, “I don’t think my phone gets coverage in the mall, it didn’t ring once while we were shopping.” Peri got up to take their plates to the kitchen and retrieved her phone from her bag.
Josh pulled a face, “I have never seen your phone before or I might have understood.” He held out his hand for it, “This is practically an antique don’t you ever upgrade?”
“I never had a problem before tonight,” she shrugged.
His tone turned sharp, “Don’t shrug Peri. I didn’t like not knowing where you were or whom you were with, and it won’t happen again, understand.”
Peri was taken aback, his tone was that of the control freak work Josh and how he dealt with people who worked for him. The tone was not how they were outside work, and she felt the command in each word. Stunned she didn’t respond so he pressed her, punctuating each word, “Do. You. Understand?”
Peri nodded reminding herself of Andie’s advice, he was worried because he cared about her, he wouldn’t be angry if he didn’t care. Josh continued to stare at her until she whispered, “Yes, I understand.”
Josh’s mouth tilted to a smile, and he leaned forward to kiss her murmuring, “Good girl.”
Josh dressed and left shortly after leaving Peri to clean the kitchen and consider the strange night. By the time Peri crawled into bed, it was well after midnight, and she fell into a restless sleep confused as to whether Andie had finally out grown her cougar period and that it seemed Josh truly cared about her, he just showed it in his own controlling way.
Andie woke Peri up the following morning, “Come on baby your going to be late for work it’s not the weekend yet.”
Peri blinked and looked at the clock, before gasping and sitting bolt upright. “Shit I must have slept through my alarm,” she bounded from bed and into the bathroom having the quickest shower on record. Flying into her bedroom she saw that Andie had made her bed and laid out an outfit from the new clothes she had bought last night allowing her to dress without the usual worry about what Josh might like or not. Pulling on her boots she glanced quickly in the mirror surprised at how well her boots went with the outfit. She brushed her hair and pulled it back into her usual ponytail and dusted her face with glow to hide the worn look of not enough sleep. Peri rushed out of her bedroom to find her phone and bag and Andie smiled, “Slow down, baby. You have plenty of time, eat some breakfast.”
“After last night I just don’t want to give him reason to worry again, I will take some fruit,” she threw an apple and banana from the fruit bowl into her bag along with her phone. “Have a good day, don’t be late for work either,” Peri said as she walked out the door.
Eating the apple on her way, Peri pulled into the underground parking of the publishing house with minutes to spare. Hurrying into the lift with several co-workers she kept glancing at her watch. A girl jostled closer within the lift and whispered to Peri, “Wow, you look good today, have you lost weight?”
Peri looked up into the eyes of a friend from the research department smiling, “New dress that’s all,” she whispered back, but she straightened her back feeling good about the wardrobe make over she had begun last night and for the first time in years felt good about having gone shopping with her mother.
“Come down and visit us more often,” her friend said as she stepped from the lift, “before you are too far out of our league.” Her friend’s laughter sounded as the lift doors closed once again.
Stepping out of the lift she hurried to her small office peeking in to see Josh was not at his desk. Breathing a sigh of relief she put her things away and sat to start working, she was enjoying the latest project she had begun which focused on a group of rural families in Lombardy, Italy during the revolts of the 1840’s and 50’s. Doomed to failure many families had fled the lush farmland for safer ports leaving the way open for a land grab and monopoly of the produce market by only a few. Lost in her research of family feud’s and alliances the courier at her door had to clear his throat twice to get her attention.
“Oh gosh, I am so sorry, come in come in,” Peri smiled and blushed, “I was in another world just then.”
The courier laughed, “I wish my work was that engrossing. Just sign here and it’s all yours.”
“Odd,” she mumbled more to herself than anything, “I wasn’t expecting anything, I wonder what it is.”
“Only one way to find out,” the courier quipped as he took his board and left the office.
Peri smiled then tore open the padded envelope, a box holding a new android phone fell out with a hand written note. She read the precise hand writing,
“People in my life have gone missing before, indulge me and use the new phone. It is set up and ready to go with this number, but if you can change it to your current number, either way let me know a.s.a.p. Josh”
Peri sent the next 30 minutes, flicking through the instruction manual and transferring the numbers she wanted to keep in her phone before sending out a group text to alert her friends of the number change. She stepped out of her office concerned that Josh still wasn’t at work and went to ask his PA if he would be in soon ostensibly because she had research questions.
Sabrina looked up from her desk smiling as Peri interrupted her, “He’s in meetings all morning, Peri. I am not sure when he will be back.”
“Something far more important than my research, no doubt, I’ll just email him instead,” Peri smiled back and went to return to her office.
“Wait,” Sabrina called. The leggy redhead stood and walked around her desk toward Peri. “Nice dress, who knew you had a figure under all that frumpiness.” Her laugh was haughty sounding and Peri cringed. This was why she had always been happy in her mediocrity she realised, comments just like that made her feel that she would never be quite pretty enough, or tall enough, or one of the in crowd.
Sabrina linked arms with Peri as she walked back to her office with her, “There’s been quite a change in you over the last month,” Sabrina fell into a chair in front of Peri’s desk, “So who’s the new guy, dish, I’m dying to know.”
Peri went wide eyed in surprise. “New guy?” She questioned, “What makes you think that?”
Sabrina laughed, “I can tell you’re getting laid, just look at you all glowing and starry eyed. Now the new clothes; next it will be a change to the hair and make up and the transformation from research dungeon frump to sexy research assistant will be complete.”
Peri just sat there startled. This sleek beautiful woman had almost called her sexy albeit in a terribly condescending way. She was at a loss for words.
“Come on,” Sabrina wheedled, “It’s not just me who’s noticed, give me the gossip. Some of the girl’s thought you had a crush on Josh but that ridiculous, he’s such a perfectionist I doubt anyone would meet his standards, especially a research frump, like you.” She saw Peri’s face fall, “No offence sweetie, but you do realise how many gorgeous women have thrown themselves at him, and he hasn’t even given them the time of day!”
“Yeah, I can imagine,” Peri mumbled, “She didn’t know why the barbed comment hurt so much, she should have been used it, she had spent her short adult life firmly in the shadow of Andie. In a small show of private rebellion, Peri said, “Who ever is dating Josh must be pretty remarkable. I mean, I imagine it would be hard to live up to those standards day in and day out, it’s hard enough working for him.”
“You’re telling me,” Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Now you, little miss make over, tell me everything. Until I capture the man of my dreams I have to live vicariously through other people’s happiness,” she leaned forward placing an elbow on the desk and propping up her chin before adding, “Please, Peri.”
“Fine,” Peri started. She truly did want to tell someone how happy she was, she didn’t have to say with whom, “I am seeing someone, and the sex is unbelievable! It’s just it’s so new and exciting, I don’t want to say whom it is just in case it doesn’t work out, he’s way out of my league.”
Sabrina crowed, “I knew it!” She just about jumped out of her chair but sat back. “Well that dress certainly makes a difference, where did you get it?”
They talked about clothes and shopping for a little while, Peri explaining that Andie had an eye for what suited people’s body types when they were shopping on a budget. They laughed, and Sabrina rose gracefully, “I better get back to my desk, I have probably missed a few calls and driven the receptionist insane looking for me.” She laughed merrily and walked out of Peri’s office.
Peri picked her phone back up and sent a text to Josh, thanking him profusely for the new phone saying she would have gotten one herself in a few days, and he didn’t have to go to all the expense. The phone came to life in her hands a moment later, the ring tone set to a familiar tune she couldn’t quite place.
Answering it tentatively she recognised Josh’s amused reply, “About time you thanked me.”
Peri immediately gushed, “I am sorry, I didn’t know whether to ring you or not so I went to ask Sabrina then we started talking and…” her voice trailed off as she heard his laugh, deep and rich making her want to see him, desperately.
“Look I am walking into another meeting, but…” he seemed to hesitate before going on, “I ran into my sister this morning, and she wants to meet you, Pete told her, I was seeing someone. She wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, so we are going to lunch with them okay?”
Peri squeaked, “Today?”
“Yeah, today, I know it’s weird meeting the family, but you will know someone there,” he sounded unsure of her answer.
“I guess it’s not your parents or anything, and it’s not like you haven’t met mine. Just as well I wore a new dress today, so I don’t look all frumpy as usual,” she gave a self effacing giggle.
“I like you frumpy,” he murmured softly, “It’s like that hot body of yours is my little secret.”
“Okay, where and when,” she was smiling widely and blushing.
“Pete will pick you up around twelve, send me an email asking for the afternoon off work, I’ll approve it and send it through to Sabrina and HR,” he, of course, had everything under his control and she laughed, “What’s so funny,” he seemed genuinely confused by her laughter.
“I was supposed to see Pete next week anyway, this might save me the trip,” she lied. She had seen Pete once a week during the last month for test results and to make sure the things he had prescribed for her were working.
“Again?” Josh growled, “I think he might like your frumpiness too,” he teased her eliciting more laughter. “Gotta go see you at lunch,” the phone went dead, and she placed it on her desk and sent the email he had wanted, asking for the afternoon off work.
Looking at the clock and seeing that it was already ten, she grabbed the banana from her bag and went to the kitchenette to grab some cold water still smiling happily, she had totally forgotten to pack lunch for today, and it would be nice to go out for lunch, if not a little nerve wracking to meet someone from Josh’s family.
Peri left her mug and banana in the kitchen and went down the hall to the bathroom as the nervous excitement got the better of her, catching her reflection in the mirror she saw how pale she looked. “Urg,” she groaned, of all days to have woken late and rushed out of the house. She desperately didn’t want to disappoint Josh, and she considered whom she could ask for help. She had friends here at work, but the glamorous girls who would have makeup in the handbags were not quite those sort of friends and the ones she liked to hang out with were more her type of mousy quiet girls.
She considered Sabrina, but she just reminded her of Andie at her worst, predatory and not particularly likable. Maybe Andie’s new found maternal streak would stretch this far, she had always wanted to make her over, Peri shook her head wondering at the change not within Andie but within herself that she was even considering this as she called her Mother.
Fort-five minutes later Andie stood in her office, looking utterly beautiful as usual. Peri looked at her and with a firm voice spoke bluntly, “I am warning you Andie. No pink cheeks or caked on foundation, just eyeliner and mascara, okay?”
Andie grinned, “I was near the store when you called,” she pulled out a brand new tub of Glow, a soft make up brush, eye liner and mascara and finally placed a small pot of pale lip gloss beside them. “See, I understand now that you just want to be you,” the startled look on Peri’s face made her smile wider. “Just one little thing,” she asked tentatively as she handed Peri a small hand mirror.
Peri’s eyes narrowed, she knew it was too good to be true, “Can I do something with your hair, pretty please, I am so tired of that ponytail you must be as well,” Andie said surprisingly softly.
“Only if you won’t get upset when I pull it out because it makes me look even frumpier,” Peri smiled lightening her words slightly, but new Andie or not, Peri had seen her mother’s attempts to do something with her hair before.
Andie grinned and pulled out a hairbrush before peri could change her mind. Pulling the tight pony tail out, Andie braided the wavy locks loosely down Peri’s back, it was soft around her face and allowed for small tendrils to curl about her ears. Andie pushed bobby pins with small white flowers into the braid and smiled. Picking up her phone she took a photo if the back of her hair and showed it to Peri.
Peri pursed her lips as she looked at the photo, then smiled up at Andie, “Thanks, it’s perfect.”
“Tell me all about your lunch when you get home,” Andie grinned, “I told you, it’s love!”
Shaking her head, Peri was about to argue the point when Sabrina appeared in the doorway. “Andie isn’t it? I think I met you the day Peri burnt herself.”
“Hi,” Andie said easily, “You are?”
Peri interrupted, “Andie, Sabrina; Sabrina, Andie.”
“Seems our frumpy little book worm is getting some glam, she told me that you helped pick out the dress,” Sabrina chatted to Andie ignoring Peri’s introduction. “Do you do any personal shopping, if so I would like to book in for a few pointers, I mean look at the difference,” she waved her hand in Peri’s direction without actually looking at her.
Peri felt her mother stiffen and reached out to take her hand squeezing it and shaking her head imperceptibly. “She does have a style all her own,” Andie smiled through gritted teeth, “but I quite like it, she is her own person, unique like her name…”
“Oh no, you don’t,” Peri cut her off stand up.
“What,” Andie cried in dismay, “You have a gorgeous name I made it up myself.”
Sabrina’s eyes were alight with curiosity, “Yet another mystery, Peri. How curious you are.”
Andie laughed, “What other mystery do you have?”
Sabrina warmed to gossip, and went through the whole story of thinking she had a crush on Josh and how ridiculous that was and that Sabrina knew she was getting laid and that Peri wouldn’t tell her anything other than that there was a mystery man. Sabrina barely paused to take a breath.
Andie smirked, and leaned forward toward Sabrina, “I’ve met him, did you know? Totally dreamy, I imagine women throw themselves at him all the time. Probably why he chose her, she has a sweetness that isn’t painted over by the fashion hype.”
“Now let’s go talk about this personal shopper thing, you think some of the other’s would be interested too?” Andie began to steer Sabrina out of Peri’s office walking arm in arm like bosom buddies as Sabrina had done to Peri earlier.
Sabrina stopped and turned her head speaking over her shoulder, “Josh approved your afternoon off, Peri, lucky duck!” Andie winked at her and continued to propel Sabrina away from her daughter.
Peri finished her little touches of make up now that Andie wasn’t playing with her hair, trying not to worry about what Andie was telling Sabrina.
Deciding it was a good idea to keep some make up at work she put everything into her draw leaving the lip gloss beside her phone to take with her. Andie returned with an agonised expression, “Tell me that I was never that bad, or awful to you.”
Peri could have, but it would be a lie. If anything Andie had been worse in her criticism of her daughter’s looks over the last few years, than Sabrina had been. “Its fine Andie I am used to it,” Peri smiled weakly, “you didn’t tell her anything about um, you know who, right?”
“No way, I know her type all too well. Hell, I am her type, or was,” she looked at Peri and smiled crookedly, “I am so sorry baby that I made you feel crummy about yourself, but look at you now, your gorgeous!”
“Don’t you have to get back to work?” Peri blushed under her mother’s unexpected praise.
Andie grimaced, “Yeah but that personal shopper thing sounds exciting doesn’t it. I might have to investigate that, can you imagine shopping for a living, how wonderful!” Andie hugged her, “that dress looks great, you look great, don’t let Sabrina get to you.” She lowered her voice and whispered in her ear, “You got the guy she is after.” Andie stepped back and nodded at Peri’s stunned expression. Then laughed and left calling, “Have a great time,” over her shoulder.
Peri felt as if she had wasted the whole morning at work. Trying to put the hurt she felt at Sabrina’s careless remarks aside, began emailing herself some notes and websites to work on at home now that she had the whole afternoon off. She didn’t imagine lunch would take that long. Once again she became involved in the story and it’s characters as she pulled out information to be researched more thoroughly and jumped when Peter Lee flopped into the chair in front of her desk, “You scared me!”
“Aww come on little red, I’m not the big bad wolf remember,” he smirked at her using the nickname he had given her when they first met.
She grinned and shook her head closing her lap top, “I’m glad to see you, how are you?”
“Great! You?” He smiled as she cleared off her desk and grabbed her bag throwing the phone in and applying a quick coat of lip gloss.
“Nervous, I didn’t even know he had a sister,” Peri gave a nervous half laugh.
“Hate to break this to you little red, but Josh comes from a huge family,” Peri squeaked looking up at her doorway making sure no one was close enough to overhear, Pete looked around curiously and back at Peri raising an eyebrow.
“We aren’t exactly announcing our relationship at work,” she mumbled, “Rumours will probably fly around that you’re the mystery man I am seeing, just because you’re here in my office.”
“I’ve been called worse,” Pete smirked.
“Let’s go before I have to explain to anyone, hopefully they are all at lunch,” Peri grimaced.
Pete took her hand as she stood up and started singing the mission impossible theme softly, “Dun dun dun dun dun dun doo dedoo doo dedoo dede … Your mission should you choose to accept it…” He laughed with her as they ran to the lift and were stalled having to wait, “You look great, by the way.”
Pete looked around and murmured, “I think our cover’s been blown, my dear.” Peri poked at the button determinedly as she saw one of the girls disappear into the kitchenette and a moment later Sabrina’s head poke around the corner.
“You’re quite the catch Doctor Pete, do you want an introduction to the office barracuda?” Peri sighed.
“Nah let’s see what the rumour mill makes of this,” he bent to kiss her chastely and bundled her into the opening lift, closing the doors on the stunned expression of the approaching woman.
“Oh, my gosh,” Peri held her hand to her cheek. “Last week I was the fat, mousey little office girl that everyone knew had no life, now I am the source of the latest juicy gossip,” she punched his arm, “Thanks a lot, Doctor Pete. You’re going to have to explain that kiss to Josh, I am not doing it.”
“At your service as always little red,” he was still laughing enjoying her consternation. “Oh yeah Josh, he probably won’t like that huh?” He continued to tease her.
“Oh yeah,” Peri mimicked him. “The rumours will be running thick and fast by the time Josh get’s back there, and she will make sure he knows I am not the shy little wall flower they all thought I was,” she pulled a face, “I shouldn’t have worn this dress to work, by tomorrow they will have us making love in this lift.”
He laughed uproariously at her babbling, “I’d hate to disappoint the fans,” his hand hovered over the emergency stop button and she leapt at it dragging it back.
“Don’t you dare! She took a deep breath, “I am acting nuts, I know,” she just got under my skin earlier, and I can’t shake it, especially going to the last supper like this.”
“You’re not a drama queen, Peri, what exactly did she say to rattle you so much?” Pete held her hand and walked her to his car helping her in. Peri just waved away the question as he closed her door.
They pulled out into the traffic, and Pete said quietly, “Look you can tell me what happened or I can tell Josh the barracuda made you crazy. Don’t forget I am a Doctor and I can make that diagnosis, technical terms like bat shit crazy and everything.”
Peri laughed, “You really are so sweet to me, Pete.” She narrowed her eyes at him, “Blackmail?” She looked away sighing heavily, “I don’t know why it hurt so much, its, not like I haven’t heard stuff like that a million times.” She smiled crookedly.
“Stop dodging the question,” he replied softly.
She knew she sounded silly, but she related the conversation Sabrina had initiated with her earlier in the morning and again with Andie. Peri surprised herself at how good it felt to unload, not something had ever had the opportunity to do before, very often.
“Did anyone else hear her say that to you?” He asked incredulously.
“Not at the time but she essentially said the same thing to Andie when I was sitting right there. She probably thought she was just stating the obvious and didn’t realise I might be hurt. I don’t even know why I let it upset me in the first place,” she sighed, “it’s not like I don’t know what they all think of me.”
Pete was silent, and Peri let her nerves get to her, “I don’t feel very good could you just take me home I will call and apologise to Josh. Don’t tell him what happened, please. I just feel terribly silly now.”
“You remember I am a doctor right?” Pete laughed and she blushed putting her face in her hands. “Here’s some medicine that might make you feel better instantly if you honestly don’t feel well enough to go to lunch, I will take you to the surgery for a check up and Josh can pick you up from there, and I’ll explain to him why.”
“You wouldn’t…” she looked up at him, and he nodded. “I didn’t sleep very well last night,” she tried without conviction.
“All the more reason to eat something decent, plus I would rather endure your pouting than the wrath of Nik,” Pete chuckled. “Josh has never had a serious girlfriend before that the family knew of if I robbed her of this lunch my life wouldn’t be worth living.”
“Oh no, take me the surgery, I can’t do this. It’s only been a month how serious could it be?” Peri’s voice became high.
“Too late,” the car pulled up in front of a familiar looking Italian restaurant and Pete turned to smirk at her as he got out of the car and came around to her side. “You have nothing to worry about, honestly.”
The walked into the restaurant, and Peri was greeted with hugs and kisses finally remembering she had been here before on that first night she had gone out with Josh. She smiled at the owner, “It’s so lovely to see you again,” she laughed as he kissed both her cheeks loudly. She was shown to a large table, and her eyes widened as she realised the lunch would be bigger than she imagined.
Her eyes searched for Josh, but she couldn’t see him yet. Standing at the end of the table each person stood and hugged her and kissed her cheeks like a long lost friend, she barely took in any names as she froze in place her arms going through the motions of each embrace.
“Come sit with me,” a bubbly brunette girl called out as she stood awkwardly beside Pete as everyone finished hugging her. Peri smiled and moved toward the chair Pete closely behind her. “I know it’s a little over whelming to meet your boyfriends family, so we kept it small,” the girl chattered away, and Peri assumed this was Nik, Josh’s sister.
“This is small?” Peri asked incredulously.
Pete interrupted the chatter, “Take a breath now and then, Maryann, let someone else get a word in.” Peri took the opportunity to rummage in her bag for her phone, checking that Josh hadn’t tried to ring or text her, but it was blank of anything new.
Pete whispered, “He’s probably picking up Nik, she notoriously late,” he grinned.
“Thanks,” she turned to Maryann and whispered, “I didn’t catch anyone’s name could you run through them again, slowly for me, please? And maybe what relation they all are?”
Maryann laughed, “Well the boys are brothers, and the girls are sisters,” she laughed at the look of wonder on Peri’s face, “Except Pete, of course, he’s a cousin but we love him like a brother.” Maryann ran through the six other names with little anecdotes about the person. “There are two more older brothers at home on the farm Papa, and Nik and Josh and another sister who is in Italy at the moment.”
“Twelve! There are twelve of you?” Peri was amazed.
“Three sets of twins sort of blew that out a bit, but yeah, nice big Italian family,” she grinned. “What about you?”
“I’m an only child, it’s been just me and my mother for years now,” Peri said quietly. “No extended family that we see regularly either, this is a little overwhelming.”
“I can give you some of my cousins I have a gazillion of them, take Pete, he’s nice enough when he isn’t lecturing me,” she poked her tongue out at Pete who scowled at her.
“Hey Romey, swap seats with me, I need to talk to Ben,” Pete smirked and stood up leaving Peri surrounded by strangers. Antipasto platters and wine arrived along with a variety of breads, and Peri smiled nervously as her glass was filled up and she was passed the platters to choose from.
Romey smiled as he sat beside her and grabbed a platter, “Have more,” he said quietly, this bunch won’t even leave crumbs for Josh and Nik.” She took the tongs he offered and helped herself to a little more.
“Actually,” Peri said, “I was here once before, with Josh, they had this amazing cheesy garlic bread, do you see any of that on the table?”
“Might have to pry it away from Lucy but I will see what I can do,” he laughed, “If she bites my finger like last time, you have to kiss it better.”
Peri giggled, “Oh let her have it, I am sure if I ask they will make another one.”
He raised his voice, “Lucy if you don’t share that bread, Peri is going to order more.” Ben stopped scowling at the now quiet Maryann long enough to turn his glare on Lucy who pushed the basket across the round table toward Peri. “We’ll order some more anyway,” he winked at his sister and offered the basket to Peri.
“What have you done little brat,” Romey reached behind Peri, to poke Maryann in the ribs.
“Dated the wrong boy,” she lowered her voice, “How was I supposed to know Pete would be at the club on a week night and see me?”
“There are only one a few families that could make Ben frown like that, better go and promise him your soul if you don’t want him to tell Papa,” Romey said seriously.
“Fine!” She scraped her chair back and flounced over and tapped Jules on the shoulder who vacated his chair for her.
Jules took the seat on the other side of Peri, “Nik is later than usual. Josh must be freaking out at her which would make her go slower on purpose.”
Peri giggled at the thought of her controlled Josh freaking out, and the image of him storming into her apartment last night flashed into her head.
Romey refilled Peri’s glass, “No worries, gives me time to get his girl drunk and steal her away.”
Peri laughed again and took a sip of the wine, she was slowly relaxing, “If he doesn’t come soon I might just take you up on that offer.”
Jules pouted, “Hey, his name is Romeo because he gets all the girl’s, I am a much safer bet.”
“Aren’t you twins?” Peri looked between them, “I bet neither of you two have problem’s getting girls.”
“See what happens when you so late Nik, the valentine brother’s try and steal my woman,” Josh’s voice boomed from behind her.
Peri turned to see Josh walking toward her with the most glamorous woman she had ever seen as Romey turned with her smirking, “You snooze you lose, baby brother.”
Josh grimaced and pulled Peri from her chair kissing her passionately in front of everyone, when he came up for air he murmured, “Hi, remember me?”
She smiled, “I think it’s coming back to me.”
“Can’t compete with that,” Jules muttered, and Romey whistled nodding. “Guess we better move then and let them sit together.”
Peri drew her eyes from Josh to Nik, “Hello,” she smiled, “I had no idea Josh had a twin.”
“Let go of the girl Josh she can hardly breathe,” Nik nudged him. Josh released her and Nik immediately took his place hugging her and kissing both her cheeks, “Hello,” she said finally.
The lunch rolled on with people playing musical chairs constantly, the wine flowed, and enormous bowls of a variety of pastas arrived for them to share. More cheesy bread arrived in front of both Peri and Lucy with a napkin folded into a heart on top, Peri looked up at Romey and mouthed “Thank you,” across the table and he winked at her.
Josh growled in her ear, “At least wait until I leave the table before flirting with Romeo Geez.” His hand squeezed her thigh tightly making her squeak and blush deeply.
The wine was getting to her and Peri excused herself asking where the bathrooms were, “I’ll take you,” Lucy piped up, “I haven’t had the chance to talk to you yet.”
Peri stood and smiled, “Thanks.”
They walked back through the restaurant, Peri repeated the same answers to the same questions again, work, family, friends and the polite chatter strangers do. Before they left the bathroom, Lucy stopped her placing a hand on her arm and whispering, “Be extremely careful of Nik. She can be a real bitch and is extremely protective of Josh.”
Peri was stunned and gaped at her open mouthed, but before she could ask any questions Lucy pushed the door open and pulled her through walking back to the table. Pete had taken her seat, so she walked around the table, sitting next to Ben and Dante. “More wine,” Ben asked.
“Actually I would love some cool water,” Peri replied hopefully. Ben grunted and got up to go to the bar.
“You seem to be handling meeting the family, or some of it, last girl I tried this on ran for the hills,” he said sadly.
“I asked Pete to take me home when we were on our way here, no such luck, and I am not much of a runner I wouldn’t have got far,” she grinned at him, “Short legs, quite stumpy really.”
“They look pretty good to me,” he chuckled as she turned toward him and lifted a leg up.
“It’s the boots. They’re like an optical illusion,” she laughed and took the glass of water Ben handed her. Dante chuckled louder as she thanked Ben profusely taking a large sip.
“Not many people can make Dante laugh,” Ben nodded in his direction, “he’s the dark, brooding type.”
I was explaining he was seeing an optical illusion made better by the wine,” she explained.
Dante chuckled again nudging the man beside him, “Do boots make a woman’s legs look longer?”
Emilio looked up, “Depends on the boot I guess.” He could see Peri nodding and smiling over Dante’s shoulder and nodded, “I would say yes if asked by the woman wearing them though,” he said covering himself.
Ben burst out laughing then, and Dante turned back to eye her suspiciously as she gave him the most innocent look she could muster shrugging her shoulders. “Stumpy,” she said again nodding. “So you see running wasn’t an option for me.”
Dante shook his head at her, “Is that how he caught you?” Dante nodded his head in Josh’s direction.
The wine had made her relax and become bolder with these people and she lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Actually the first time he ever spoke to me, he yelled at me for doing my job too well,” she looked at their stunned expressions, “I know right?” Her eyes had gone wide in an appeal for their sympathy.
“And you still went out with him?” Dante was aghast.
“Well,” she said, “Not right then. A few weeks later he ran into me in the lunch room and spilled scalding pasta and sauce down my top,” she was gesticulating and pulling faces as she condensed the story making it seem like it should have been on funniest home video’s, “and after a trip to Doctor Pete and no food all day I feinted.” The three brothers were laughing loudly now, “So Pete made him take me out to dinner. We came to this very restaurant. Smooth moves, huh?” She was laughing with them at this point, and Emilio almost fell off his chair.
The rest of the table was looking at them with confused grins. The laughter from their small group was highly contagious. Ben took a deep breath, “That’s priceless, unquestionably the best first date story ever. Smooth, Josh, smooth.” Ben called across the table.
Peri looked at Josh’s quizzical expression with pure innocence and blew him a kiss. The waiters had cleared the table of the debris of lunch and musical chairs began again as the siblings moved around to talk to each other. Josh came and kissed her, “I’m just going to check out Pete’s new car he’s been talking my ear off about it. Back in five minutes”
All of the men decided to go look at the car leaving her alone with the sisters. Peri moved down to sit with Lucy who had seemed the friendliest and smiled. “Men,” Lucy rolled her eyes, “They all love their big boy’s toys,” she took another gulp of wine. “You should see them up on the farm with the quads.”
“Where is the farm?” Peri asked.
“Up the coast, they call it little Italy up there,” Nik shuddered, “I hate going back, but we all do for two weeks every year in April and May.”
“Yup, big festival,” Lucy was starting to slur.
“It’s not so bad, we get to see the whole family, all the cousins and aunts and uncles and everyone,” Maryann smiled.
Nik waved Peri over to her side of the table, “What you have to understand is that up there they haven’t come into the 21st century. Women stay in the kitchen, barefoot, and pregnant type of stuff, but we have maids to cook, so that doesn’t quite work out all that well.” She shrugged, “They are just stuck in the old ways of the old country, men rule the family and women do what they are told.”
Peri considered her, she had researched a lot of Italian history lately, “Pater familias,” she smiled, “I understand that, but it’s probably not so strictly adhered to as what I have been reading about it from the ancient roman days.”
“Don’t be so sure, prepare yourself to be meek and mild and slave like if Josh ever takes you home to meet the folks,” Lucy was waving her glass around as she spoke spilling it slightly.
Nik snorted, “They have only been dating for a month Josh won’t be doing that anytime soon, he wouldn’t take her home to meet the folks,” Peri cringed feeling her relaxed easiness dissipate as the barbed words opened her insecurities again.
“She’s here with us isn’t she?” Maryann piped in. “Even Dante seems to like her,” she thought about it for a moment, “He is so moody I am not even sure he likes me!”
“Your right,” Dante said from behind Maryann as he came back to the table, “I don’t like you,” he smirked, “I love you little brat.”
Ben followed him in, “Come on Luce, D and I are going to drive you home.” Lucy grumbled and finished her wine moving over to hug and kiss the other women goodbye including Peri.
She whispered in Peri’s ear, “Remember what I said.” Lucy then leaned on the table as the men hugged and kissed the women and helped her out to their car. The twins followed suit claiming they had to return to work, and Emilio offered Nik a lift which she refused, saying she wanted to catch up with Pete anyway, and he could drive her. “You can walk me to my car if you like brother dear,” Maryann said sweetly. Offering her his arm they left leaving Peri alone with Nik.
“I’d love some more water,” Peri said cheerfully, “Do you want to go to the bar area with me?”
“Sure,” Nik stood and started toward the bar area leaving Peri trailing behind her. She had just got her water and was preparing to engage in conversation with Nik again when Josh and Pete came back in.
“We need to take off, Pete will drop you back, Nik,” he kissed her on both cheeks and hugged her tightly, “Thanks, for the lunch, it was great,” he smiled broadly at her. Peri went to hug and kiss Nik as Josh shook Pete’s hand, “Thanks, mate. No more kissing my girl,” he chuckled and stood back while Peri hugged Pete.
Josh took her hand, and they walked out to his car. “I didn’t realise your family was so big,” Peri smiled up at him, “I can’t imagine what a full family gathering would be like. Are any of them married? Do they have kids?”
Josh chuckled reminding her of Dante’s slow quiet laugh, “Some of them,” he replied as he helped her into the car and pulled the seatbelt across her chest watching the cross over bodice of the dress gape open slightly exposing the curving roundness of her full breasts. “Mm,” he murmured, “Did I tell you how lovely you look today,” his hand fondled her breasts frowning at his dislike for the constricting bras she wore to support the heavy globes of soft flesh. “Except for this,” he grumbled pulling at the bra strap.
She touched his handsome face, “Next time Andie, and I go shopping I will ask her about bras,” she grinned.
“You’re going to ask Andie’s advice,” he smirked at her and closed her door to walk around the car as he got in, he continued, “Will wonders never cease?”
“She been so different lately. She even came to my rescue today bringing a few things I needed to work and did my hair for me,” Peri looked at Josh who was wearing a self satisfied smirk. “What?” She asked, “What’s going on that I don’t know about?”
“Nothing, sweetness,” he leaned over and kissed her deeply, “I am just happy. I am happy that Andie is treating you better; happy that my brothers all love you; happy that your mine.”
Peri melted under his kiss and words, lifting her hand to his cheek she stroked it slowly down over his chest to his groin as he kissed her again making him groan into the kiss. “You have the afternoon off, but I have to go back to work for an hour or so,” he growled as she fumbled with his belt a smile tugging at her lips which turned into a pout as he spoke.
Josh straightened up and pulled out into the traffic, Peri had got used to his driving over he last month he seemed to know only one speed, fast. She continued to play with his cock as he drove, smiling up at him cheekily. He drove into a service station winding down his window quickly he pulled a card from the pocket in the side door swiping it through the machine and wound the window back, the car jolted onto the moving floor, and Josh pulled her head down into his lap as the carwash started.
Manoeuvring quickly, she snapped the seatbelt off, and half knelt on her seat as her mouth engulfed the cock she had been manhandling out of his pants since leaving the restaurant. Peri sucked him deeply filling her mouth to the point of gagging before beginning to bob her head, she felt one of Josh’s hand rest heavily on the back of her head as the other trailed down her back and over her ass slapping her, “Insatiable slut,” he growled.
She whimpered around his cock and squirmed pulling one leg underneath her body the other kneeling on the floor beside her seat. He continued to spank her as she sucked him, his hand alternately caressing the soft pliable flesh and slapping it as he took him deeply, swallowing around the cock, to take him into her gagging throat. Josh’s lifted his hips bucking up into her mouth.
The car rocked as automated brushes battered at the sides and top disguising the occupants as Josh roared, “Fuck, yeah, yeah, Yeah!” Forcing her head down hard before pulling her head up, his eyes were glued to her face, her mouth wide and gasping as he shot sticky ropes of cum onto her willing tongue and across her pretty face. Letting go of her hair he pumped his cock hard spurting a last strand across her nose before letting her suck him dry.
He leaned back in the seat as the final layer of wax sprayed onto the car and the buffing pads came down. Pulling her off his sensitive cock to sit up in her seat again, he looked at her cum smeared face and growled, “You are such a cumwhore.”
Peri ran a finger through a line of cum across her cheek and nose before sucking on her finger, “Mm hmm,” she looked up at him with sex glazed eyes showing how horny she was. His hand ran up her leg drawing her dress up and exposing the lacy panties she wore. She widened her legs as she continued to clean her face with one finger. Lifting her hips as his fingers teased at her pussy lips, she breathed deeply. Peri slid deeper in the seat as Josh pulled the panties aside running his finger along the length of her wet lips.
The car slid out of the carwash, and Josh murmured put your seatbelt on as he redid his one handed. As the car came to a halt, he took his hand from her cunt and drew one of hers down to replace it as he turned the ignition and peeled out of the service station back onto the road. “God I love to watch you like that,” his eyes darted between the road and the hot slut beside him.
Peri was panting hard and rubbing desperately at her cunt as they drove through the city traffic back towards the office, she had got herself off often as he watched her over the last few weeks and she knew it drove him wild, “Not yet,” he growled reaching over to slap her exposed thigh. She was so close, so very close. She whimpered loudly her eyes falling closed not caring anymore if anymore looked into the car.
Josh’s eyes flickered constantly to her, he knew her well now, and he could see how close she was and smirked. “Now,” he said as he pulled up at a red light, and slapped her thigh again. Peri started to cum, oblivious to the fact that Josh had pushed the button to wind her window down lightly exposing her body and cries of pleasure to the SUV that had pulled up beside them. The light turned green while she was still cumming and the wind from the open window hit her in the face making her eyes flare open. The humiliating knowledge that she had been seen rolled into her orgasm firing yet more waves of pleasure into her body.
Slowly she came down from her high, lifting her fingers to her mouth sucking them noisily to tease Josh. She knew what it did to him to know that the shy office mouse would be such a nymphomaniac for him, and only for him. She looked up at him her face still sticky and streaked with the remnants of his cum, and her thighs glowed with the evidence of her own pleasure.
The office building came into view and Peri leaned forward to grab some wet wipes from the glove box. Parking the car, Josh smirked at her, “You are incredible, unbelievable, so totally…” he searched for the right word and settled for, “Mine.” He finished with emphasis.
Peri had never felt the way Josh made her feel, she didn’t know quite how to describe it, she just knew she wanted it to go on forever, she didn’t care that Sabrina and her cronies thought it was ridiculous that he would even look at her twice, she could take all they dished out and more because of the way he looked at her right at that moment.
Restraining themselves, they got out of the car, and he walked her over to hers, looking at his watch he smiled, “I’ll pick you up in a couple of hours, let’s get away for the weekend.”
“That sounds wonderful,” she whispered, wanting desperately to kiss him, “I better go before anyone sees me looking less than the frumpy little research assistant you wouldn’t look at twice.” He frowned at her but said nothing, shutting the door to her car and letting her go before striding into the building.
Arriving at his desk, he called one of the senior editors and spoke briefly, making arrangements quickly enjoying the idea more and more as he listened to the crude man on the other end of the phone. “Happy to help, Mario,” Josh chuckled as he hung up the phone, “I will smooth it with HR.”
Hanging up he called Sabrina into his office, “You’ve been with me for over a year now as my P.A.,” he smiled at her as she sat and crossed her long legs letting her skirt ride up on her thigh. “I think perhaps you have become too comfortable here, and you are not being challenged enough,” he continued.
Sabrina looked shocked and started to protest, but he waved her words away, “Mario, up on the top floor has lost another P.A., and I told him that I thought you had earned the promotion,” his smile widened as she paled.
“But, I am happy here,” she looked up at him licking her lips nervously, “with you.”
“I could never be selfish enough to hold you back from such a big promotion, big raise too,” he said magnanimously, “I would never forgive myself.”
Sabrina felt sick, the reason Mario lost so many P.A.’s was because he was so sleazy and hit on them in acts of gross sexual harassment, her mind was working quickly to find a way out of this nightmare as Josh continued. “Move your things up this afternoon; Mario is expecting you so you can start Monday morning first thing.”
Josh walked around his desk and help her stand leading her from his office back out in the larger floor with all the cubicles of assorted employee’s announcing loudly. “Sabrina has just won a huge promotion and will be leaving us for the top floor, today, make sure you all let her know how much she will be missed as she moves her things.”
Walking back to his office he called HR and made all the arrangements for Sabrina’s move. Saying he would find his own new P.A. Sabrina had been good at her job and though he knew she bullied the other staff it did not affect him, so he had ignored it, until today. He knew exactly where he would find a new assistant that better suited his needs. Walking through the building he made his way down the research department.
People scattered to look busy as he walked in, looking at each other nervously. Josh walked to the desk he wanted and smiled down at the girl he had seen peri have lunch with and leave work with some afternoons. “I am instigating a bit of a staff turn over he announced,” as she looked up at him nervously. Peri had told her that he wasn’t so scary once you got to know him but right now, Louisa wished she could crawl under her desk.
“Is there something I can help you with,” she asked quietly, confused as to why he would be telling her this.
“Yes, actually,” he smiled, his voice was quite mellow when he wasn’t yelling, Louise noticed. “I heard you might be looking for a change of pace, and an opening as a personal assistant has come up, phones, date books, talking with writers etc,” he could see her eyes glitter at the prospect. “The last girl I pulled out of this dungeon has worked out exceedingly well upstairs I thought I would try it again.”
“Me?” Louisa whispered.
“Give it a week’s trial, if it doesn’t work out you can come back down and scurry around with all the research mice again,” from what Peri had told him of her friend he had no doubt she wanted and could do the job, she could be trained easily by the office manager on his floor. He could handle the short term inconvenience, and he wanted to do this for Peri.
He wanted Peri from the first moment she had stood toe to toe with him in this very room, she was unlike any girl he had ever known, and he had decided the first night they had spent together that she was ‘the one’. He was just waiting for her to realise that he was hers and if a short term inconvenience gave her a friend to confide in and make her work life easier, so be it.
“Well what do you say,” he asked, “You come highly recommended.”
“Yes,” she finally burst with excitement, “Yes, I would love to try something new. I will pick it all up quickly I promise, I won’t let you down, Yes!”
“Good,” he consulted his watch, “I will organise it with HR and your boss here, pack your desk up and come up to my office in about an hour.” He caught himself up short and smiled at her, “Unless you were planning on leaving early today.”
“No. It’s OK. It’s fantastic, I will be there,” she returned his smile.
“Just one small favour,” Josh said quietly, “Let’s not tell Peri yet. It will be a nice surprise for her on Monday. Plus I don’t want all her friends thinking I will find them better jobs. I have this ferocious temperamental persona I am trying to protect,” He winked at her, and she laughed.
He left her and walked over to the research department head, explaining he had reassigned Louisa to his floor and would clear it with HR to hire a more suitable researcher. No one questioned him, or Louisa assuming that she had messed up something he had given her to work on. Walking past her desk she smiled again, “Our little secret until Monday, come see me in an hour.”
Josh left the dungeon planning his weekend, gratefully he had met his deadlines the night before and could take a well earned rest with the sexy girl who clouded his thoughts. He wanted to dominate her properly, to use her thoroughly, to introduce her to his darker side. He had been playing it safe, gently demanding more and more of her like today, but his need was strong and he had big plans for this weekend.