I smile at him. I give up. There's no way I can still act so composed around him when he's just seen me with caramel between my teeth, nor can I act distant towards him when he's just told me an embarrassing moment from his past to make me feel better. I don't know why he's being so kind, but I know I have to return the favor."Don't worry." I tell him. "I won't tell anyone about your mustache if you don't tell anyone about my...""Chocolate tooth cap? Deal."He glances at the display. "So, do you want to try something else? I'm guessing you're not buying the one with the caramel.""I am actually," I reply. "But not for me. For a friend.""A friend?""Randy from IT."Shawn's eyes narrow. "I thought you didn't have any friends from work."I touch my chin. "Did I say that?"I don't remember."You just haven't mentioned anyone before," Shawn says.Well, until last night, we'd never really talked about each other's personal lives."But I'm glad," he adds. "I'm glad you have friends."I no
"That was lovely," I tell Shawn after dinner as I dab my moist lips with the table napkin. It may not have been a four-course meal at a fancy restaurant, just a hearty main course — a flavorful pork stew - and a simple dessert — the best apple strudel I've ever tasted — at a cozy little place by the side of the road, but it was just as satisfying."I know," Shawn agrees. "I can't believe I've never eaten here before.""I can." I reach for my glass of wine. "Don't you usually eat in restaurants where they have at least four sets of utensils?"He leans back in his chair. " Believe it or not, the most expensive meal I've had was a single platter of sushi which I ate with a pair of chopsticks.""And the least expensive?" I ask curiously after taking a sip. Shawn touches his chin as he pauses to think."I bet you've never had a burger and fries from a fast-food chain," I tell him. "Or eaten at your school cafeteria.""I did eat at the school cafeteria, actually. "I lean forward. "Let me g
"Good night," I tell Felicity once we reach the door to her hotel room.No smile. No further niceties.No stalling. Just the usual parting words we give each other when our day at work is done, and we have to go our separate ways."Good night," she replies.I walk towards the next door. My hand slips into my pocket to retrieve my key card."And thank you," Felicity adds. "For accompanying me around the city today. I had fun."My lips almost curve into a grin. This from the woman who was insisting on going alone earlier. I want to tell her that I also had fun, but I'm afraid if I say another word, it will lead to all the other things I've been trying not to say. Or worse, if I spend another minute with her, I might end up kissing her, because that's what I want to do right now. I want to pin her against that door and kiss her thoroughly, then go inside her room and do other things to her with my mouth, my hands, my entire body.I'm doing my best to hold back right now, but I don't trus
Has she been thinking of me just as much as I've been thinking of her?I sip my Scotch. "Can't sleep, huh?""Yes," Felicity answers. "Must be the jet lag.""Must be.""I thought I'd be tired enough to be able to sleep, but I guess I'm not. I thought the wine would help, too, but maybe I need something stronger."I glance at the liquid in my glass and then at her. "Want some Scotch?"Her eyebrows arch. Then she waves her hand in front of her. "No, thanks. I...""I've got plenty," I tell her.She shakes her head. "I... I don't drink Scotch."And yet, she's looking at my glass.I lift it to my lips. "You just said you needed something stronger. This might do the trick."Still, Felicity hesitates. Her eyebrows furrow as she taps her fingers on her arm.One more push."You know, if you don't get your beauty sleep it will be a problem for me, too. I need you to be at your best tomorrow."That does it. She lets out a sigh and gives in."Fine. I'll give it a try."I nod. "Come on over and I'l
I should have said no. It isn't right for Shawn to kiss me. But that wasn't his question. The question was if I wanted him to kiss me, which I did.I've been wondering how it would feel to have his lips on mine since the night we met. For the past two years, I've been dreaming of it, imagining it. Yes, even masturbating to it.And yet this is unlike anything I've ever imagined.Shawn's lips are soft yet firm, like my favorite pillow. The moment they touch mine, my eyelids fall. They press against me gently, reverently, and my heart flutters. Excitement bubbles up in my veins. His lips keep going, over and over as he runs his fingers through my hair until I feel the rest of my defenses crumble. My mouth relaxes.I kiss Shawn back tentatively. I don't know what I'm doing, after all. But Shawn clearly does. He traps my lower lip between both of his. Then I feel something warm and wet graze against my upper lip. I part my lips and push my tongue out just a little. It rubs against his and
Shawn's lips press against me. I hold my breath. Then I feel the tip of his tongue on my heated skin. I gasp.He's... licking me?Now I'm even more embarrassed. And not just that. I feel exposed.Vulnerable."Not there," I tell Shawn as I push him away halfheartedly.He meets my gaze. "Why not?""It.. doesn't feel right," I answer.I know I took a shower just minutes ago and I don't have any diseases, but it still feels... dirty. It feels like something I shouldn't be asking any man to do, much less this man.Shawn's eyebrows furrow. "You mean it doesn't feel good?"Did it? I was too nervous to notice."It's not that. It just feels.. " I pause as I struggle to find the right word, or at least a better word than what I'm thinking."Dirty?" Shawn plucks it out of my mind.I look at him in surprise. How did he know?He grins in amusement and I feel even more confused. Is he making fun of me?Then he takes my hand. After he kisses my palm reverently, he looks into my eyes, his gaze tender
"Should I stop?" he asks next.With what? I wonder only to realize his meaning as he pulls on the sash of his robe. The white garment comes undone and falls to the floor. And my head rises off the bed. My jaw drops as I take in the sight in front of me.Shawn is completely naked. For the first time, I lay my eyes on his bare chest, the muscles not bulging or laced with veins like those of a bodybuilder but tightly packed and smoothly sculpted like a bust of ivory. His abdomen, too, looks firm, though I can't fully describe it because I'm distracted by the shaft of flesh pointing upwards from between his legs.I've never been good at measuring things by eye, but I can tell that it's well more than six inches long. And thick. I don't think I can wrap my fingers around it, though I suddenly have an urge to try. It certainly seems to be inviting me in all its glory, its swollen mushroom head glistening.I swallow thickly."Felicity?"I look up at Shawn. As if his erect cock wasn't proof e
When I open my eyes again, Shawn is still beside me. At first, I think I'm dreaming, but then I touch his hair and realize he's real. The corners of my lips turn up into the edges of a smile — only to droop when I realize what I've done.What Shawn and I have done.A quick glance at the naked bodies beneath the covers confirms it. Shawn and I had sex.As the cobwebs of sleep fade, every detail comes back to me and I clasp my hand over my mouth in horror.I just had sex with my boss.The one man I told myself I wouldn't have sex with.How could I let it happen? Was there something in that Scotch?Something in this fresh Swiss air?Was it jet lag?I shake my head. No. It was all me. I lost control. I gave in to desire. I made the mistake. No excuses.No time for regret, either.What's done is done. All I can do now is clean up the mess.I get off the bed, carefully so that I don't wake Shawn up. As I stand up, I feel something leak between my legs. I look down and see the sticky substan
The weeks passed, and after confirmation from the doctor, they set to work decorating one of the rooms into a nursery. They went for neutral colors and gave Logan free rein to help them decorate. He had an artistic eye, and Norman loved seeing the boy come out of his shell. During the decorating of the nursery, it sank in that he was going to have a baby.They were going to have a tiny little life in their hands. It wasn't about being a father, or for Sasha a mother, as they already felt that way for Logan. He'd spoken with Sasha about it, and she had the same thoughts and fears as he did.Norman knew he hadn't made a mistake with Sasha. Not only did he love her, but she was a fantastic mom, and she knew exactly what to say and do to help Logan along the way. Therewere moments, late at night, where he'd still have nightmares.She never once shouted at him. Instead, she'd nurture him, and love him.Once the nursery was complete, they went shopping, letting Logan pick some of the stuff
Two weeks after purchasing the house, they had Logan officially adopted. Norman took as much time away from the office as he could. Sasha went to the office between school hours, completing his work for him. He didn't want her to hire anyone else. Another two weeks after they had Logan, their house was available, and they moved in on that weekend. Her parents came to help as much as they could.They looked after Logan while she and Norman organized movers. They had her mother's slow-cooked pulled pork for dinner rather than have takeout.For an entire weekend, they got the house exactly as they wanted, starting with the bedrooms, and bathroom. Time seemed to move quickly but smoothly where life just played out.Logan came out of his shell, and completely animated their lives. She loved him like he was her own son. He talked constantly about what he loved, which bands he enjoyed listening to. It was fun getting to find out what food he liked as well. He didn't like broccoli, which was
Norman watched as Sasha kissed Logan's cheek, wrapping him up in his new jacket. Each time they brought him back to the foster home, the harder it was to leave him behind.There had been a snag with the adoption, but Shannon was dealing with it.There had to be an assessment done on Logan to make sure he wanted to live with them.Their backgrounds had come back fine, and Shannon assured him it was just down to paperwork. One department needing to talk to another, and rather than phone calls, they had to do it in paper. He was used to problems like this.Logan threw his arms around Sasha, holding her close.She was so beautiful, and she took his breath away. They had been together for a little over a month now. A month of being married, and he loved her ever more.Shannon nodded at him, taking hold of Logan's hand as Sasha came back to him."I hate this. I hate leaving him.""We'll have him soon. I've already got my lawyers working on speeding up the process." He handed her some leafle
Sasha watched as Norman spoke with his clients. It had been a week since he'd asked her about Logan. Things were moving slowly with Logan, but Shannon was reassured that they would be able to have him by next week. Until then, they both went and visited, getting Logan used to them.The boys with Logan weren't angry or upset that he was coming home with them. In fact, they were damn happy. She was shocked by the love the boys showed Logan, and she was proud.The workplace gossip had died down now. No one was whispering behind their hands, looking at them, and laughing. It was the laughter she'd hated more than anything. Norman wouldn't let them hide their relationship anymore, and for that she was glad. She'd never enjoyed hiding that part of herself, and it never felt natural for her to."Here you go," Lottie said, interrupting her."So sorry, I was away in a different land there," she said, taking the mail from her."Marriage must really suit you.""Why do you say that?""You're pract
"Norman, this is my mom and dad, Emma and Harold Miller," Sasha said.The two people were a lot older than Norman imagined, but he saw that they were loving, caring people. The kindness in their eyes showed through. While he'd been participating in this yearly event of torture, "taste the food", he'd noticed her parents arrive. The care they gave to each child was something he admired."Hello, it's great to meet you," he said."It's about damn time we met you. Been married for what? A month or so, and we're only getting to meet you now. It's a disgrace.""Dad, stop it," Sasha said, chuckling. "We've been busy, and we both know you'd have needed to calm down before you could even accept him into your life.""Yeah, well, a father is still allowed to be ... annoyed."Norman smiled as he noticed Harold hesitated before saying something, making sure kids didn't hear any cussing words.According to Shannon, the event was a roaring success. Norman would double, maybe even triple, his donatio
That Saturday, Sasha stayed beside Norman, holding onto his arm as they were surrounded by congratulations. She didn't miss the questioning looks that some were throwing their way. There was no mistaking their confused thoughts. They were all wondering why he was with her.Norman, though, he was so different. The kids from over ten different foster homes in the area had turned up at the school for a day of fun. Every year Norman would donate money to the school so that he could host these events. The previous four years she had stayed in the background, playing her part but never really getting too close.This year was different. Norman grabbed her arm, holding up their hands, and announcing to the whole event that they were husband and wife. He didn't address anyone but the kids."Kids, listen up. Something is a little different this year. You see this beautiful lady by my side?""She's your PA," one kid said."Now she's my wife. Sasha accepted my proposal.""Does that mean you're in
Later that night, Norman was waiting for Sasha to finish in the shower. He would join her, but he had plans with her, and he intended to carry them out. After he'd escorted her to the human resources department for the two of them to change their marital status, and also her name, his building was humming with gossip.Martha and Lottie took the time to stop by her desk to ask about the details of what was going on. When she had looked toward him, he'd gone to help her, letting them know that they couldn't stop love.Norman stared at his reflection in one of the mirrors, and then stared down at his wedding band.Love.He'd never felt it before in his life. The people in his world didn't deserve love, and he didn't really believe in it either. At least, he hadn't.No, he didn't love Sasha.Love was just an element of control that people used.He believed in sex.Sasha came out of the bathroom dressed in a towel."Why did you take my nightshirt?""Why would I want you dressed?" He ran hi
"Please tell me he's a meat eater?" her mother, Emma, asked."Yes, Norman likes meat."Sasha sat outside of the office building, eating a sandwich. Norman was on a very important conference call. She made sure he had some lunch and decided to eat hers outside on one of the walls, watching the hustle and bustle of the city life go by."Good, good. I have no problem with people being vegetarian, or whatever they want to call it. Just not for me. A meal is not a meal without some meat.""There are a lot of people who will disagree. I like vegetarian food. You should make the lasagna. Amazing."She heard her mother's scoff. "Can you imagine me feeding Harold a vegetarian lasagna?""Nope. Dad wouldn't talk to you for weeks.""Now that you say that, I may just make it for him."Sasha started laughing. Her mother and father loved each other very much. "How much does he know of... my arrangement?""He knows everything, sweetie. You know I don't keep things like that from your father."Sasha g
One glorious week had passed. Norman stared out of his office window, and couldn't keep the smile from his face. He was married, and slowly, he was moving Sasha into his place. Their wedding hadn't been a big deal.No white dress, no flowers, no guests. Like Sasha wanted, they'd gone down to the courtrooms during a break, and simply gotten married, signed the paperwork, sealed it all up, and he'd placed a ring on her finger. It had to be one of the coldest moments of his life. Then he recalled Sasha's smile, and nothing had been cold about that day. They all had to make sacrifices, and she was giving up her life to be with him.There had been a few minor setbacks. She didn't want anyone to know that he was married in the office, so the ring he wore was around his neck attached to a necklace. Sasha wouldn't wear her ring either, which pissed him the fuck off.She belonged to him. They were in the process of making a baby together, and they were husband and wife. It would only be a matt