Buns of Steel

Max

I scan his apartment as he laughs. Modern and sleek with grey furniture, bland, just like him.

“Erection, I didn’t think women had those.” He says, pulling my attention back to him.

“Well, now you know, and seeing your face killed it.” He gasps, but I know he is only pretending to be offended.

“If I had known all it took to keep you celibate was my face, I would post it all over the city.” He chuckles, his eyes dancing mischievously, as if he’s plotting.

“Don’t you dare. Plus, it’s not just your face. It’s the fact that you lived right below him.”

“If I screamed too loud, you could hear me.” He looks at me intensely, as if he is seeing me for the first time.

“I didn’t think you were shy.”

“I am not.” I am not shy, but knowing he was in the same building turned me off. He looks at me curiously.

“No, you aren’t shy. You were practically dry humping him in the elevator. What changed? What is it about my presence that unnerves you?”

He leans closer to me and I can feel my body getting hot, just like he did when he held me in the elevator. I’m not attracted to this asshole. I cannot be.

“Max” I look up. He’s leaning in so close that a shift would make our lips meet. I jump up, my heart pounding.

“Ahh, I have to get home. Sorry for imposing.” I grab my bag hurrying to the door.

“Max!” He shouts, causing me to freeze. I turn slowly to see he’s approaching me, eyes locked like a tiger to its prey. I step back with each step he takes until my back is against the door.

My heart beats rapidly as heat flushed through my body. He lifts his hands slowly and my vagina gets wet at the thought of his hands on my body, but his hand doesn’t descend and begin its much-anticipated exploration. Instead, it hangs mid-air. I look up at it.

“Your earring, don’t forget it.” I spot my earring in his hand. A mixture of relief and disappointment washes over me. I reach out to take it, but he jerks his hands away.

“I’ll do it.”

“I can,”

Before I can protest, he gently pushes my hair away from my ear. Then leans in close, too close. I can feel his breath on my neck, making my nipples hard. I can feel the wetness between my thighs.

He touches my ear, and my knees buckle. What is wrong with me? I’m Max Swallows. I don’t get weak at a man’s touch. I don’t get weak at all. I ease my head away and snatch the earring from his hand.

“Thank you, Mr. Abercrombie, but I have to leave.” He steps back with a smirk on his face, but I don’t have time to deal with him today. I need to escape from this apartment. I think he has released some hallucinogen, which is causing me to act like a high school girl with a crush. I pry open the door.

“Good night.”

I walk out of the apartment, not waiting for a response. I hurry down the hall. Only relaxing once the elevator door close. I don’t know what that was, but I need to stay as far as possible from Hunter Abercrombie.

****

I walk into the bar to meet my waiting friends. I drop my purse at the boot, eyeing them.

“Look,” Ezra, one of my best friends, says.

I lift my hand, signaling I needed a drink before I could converse like a normal human. I walk to the bar, ignoring the eyes on me, and ordered a glass of Scotch on the rocks. I take a swig before heading back to my friends.

“Okay, I can function.”

“What’s up with you, love?” Scott asks.

“Long week at work pacifying the board members I had to… manipulate because of that asshole Hunter Abercrombie.” I sighed, taking another swig.

“And by manipulation, you mean blackmail.” James, my friend who is also my attorney, says.

“Not blackmail, James. Gentle manipulation.”

“I’m your lawyer love, I need to know the facts in case the feds come knocking.”

“Facts are irrelevant for what I pay you,” I reply, signaling the bartender for a refill.

“So Hunter is making your life hard. What else is new?” Jada says.

“I haven’t had sex in 3 days.”

“Wow, 3 days. I think that’s a record.” Scott remarks, the sarcasm in his voice obvious. He’s on a celibacy kick and is currently trying to get all of us to join him.

“It is for me, annoyed, overworked, and horny does not make a fun boss.”

“True dat.” I glare at Jada, my longtime friend and now secretary.

“You must find the beauty in being alone, the joy in pleasuring yourself.” Scott spouts off, but I’m too sexually frustrated to listen to this.

“You can shut the f**k up with your ‘celibacy zen bullshit’ Scott. You’ve been celibate for three weeks.”

“And women weep, but it’s centered me. I have more time for myself.”

“Just what your narcissistic ass needs more mirror time.” Ezra retorts, earning a chuckle from the group.

“I’m a beautiful specimen.”

“A conceited ass is more accurate.” Ezra follows.

These two are always fighting. I think it’s sexual tension, but they both deny it.

“So, Max, why exactly has it been three days?” James asks.

“She has probably run out of men to have one-night stands with,” Ezra says with a cheeky smile.

“Shut up, Ezra. I’ve just been too busy to go out.”

“Well, we’re out tonight. How about you look around?” James says.

“Or she can try celibacy.”

“Or you can f**k off.” He laughs. I grew up with Scott and have been close since high school. We’ve always had a sibling relationship.

“I’m just saying.”

“Okay, I’ve heard enough. I’ll be back or not.”

I slip out of the booth, head to the bar, pull out a stool, and sit before ordering another drink. I scan to my left and right, looking for any prospects. The crowd was pretty small tonight, but there were several men I wouldn’t mind having a go with.

I look at the far end of the bar. A man well dressed in an Armani suit, a Rolex, and fine Italian shoes stared at me from across the room. I take one look and cross him off the list. His need to show his wealth meant he was probably cocky and very needy. Needy men didn’t make excellent lovers, especially one-night stands.

I turn my attention back to the bar. Stone, the bartender, puts another scotch before me.

“I didn’t order a refill.”

“A compliment from the gentleman at the table.” I look back at Mr. Italian loafers, who raises his glass to me. I nod at Stone.

“Thank you.” I take a sip of my free liquor. Though I could afford my own, the drinks other men bought always tasted better. I look around again, noticing a man in blue jeans and a t-shirt talking to his friends by the pool table. Rugged and fine, my exact type, I shift off my stool, ready to make my move when I feel someone tap my shoulder.

“Ms. Swallow.”

I look back and see it’s Mr. Italian loafers.

“Forgive have we met?” I ask, wondering why he knew my name. Although I shouldn’t since my face is plastered on every paper in Chicago because of my company and extracurricular activities.

“No, we have not, but who does not know, Max Swallows?” I smile politely as I watch my prey get approached by some blond chick. Sighing, I climb back on the stool and return to nursing my drink.

“How’s the scotch?”

“Dry,” He chuckles as he moves closer.

“I’m Kiev Reinbach.”

“Reinbach and Stein, the law firm?” I ask.

“Oh, you know our little firm?”

“Hmm, they have been trying to get my company as a client for the past two years.”

“So we have, but you’re loyal to that, Mr. Brooks' fellow.”

“Yes, that I am. James has been with me since the inception of my company. I wouldn’t think of using anyone else.”

“But your company has grown. You need a firm to handle all your… bigger deals.”

“You just called your firm little.”

“Forgive my modesty”

“Modesty gets you nowhere with me. I’m sticking with James.” I take the last sip, deciding to call it a night since my prey was now taken.

“Thanks for the drink, Mr. Reinbach. I think I’ll head out.”

“What are the chances of me coming with you?”

“Slim to none.”

I slip off the stool to head back over to my friend when he pulls me towards him. I jerk my head as my eyes go wide. Who does this asshole think he is? But I feel his erection against my thigh. It has been three long days. He’s hot, so what if he is a little flashy? By the size of his shaft, I would barely have to do anything to have a great time.

“Meet me at the Towers in thirty minutes. I’ll say goodbye to my friends.”

He smirks and nods, then releases me. Cocky asshole, but I needed to play tonight and that vibrator while powerful was no match for a strong, virile man with buns of steel. I slip over to my friend’s table.

“I’m calling it a night.”

“Okay, see you at the office,” Jada says.

“That wasn’t Kiev Reinbach? You’re not going home with him, are you? He’s been trying to poach you for years.” He glares at me.

“Relax, James, it’s all pleasure, not business. Do you believe I would leave you?”

“Well,”

“Even if he blows my mind, and let’s hope he does. My company will always be represented by you.”

“Trust me, James, you have nothing to worry about. She’s a love and leaves them to sort a chick.” Scott says.

I look at my watch. 5 minutes had passed and the drive to my place took twenty minutes.

“Okay, I’ll see you guys next week at the benefit. Love you.”

I blow air kisses before heading to my car. I settled in and put on some ‘I’m getting dick tonight’ music, enjoying the car ride home. I pull up to the garage and park, get out of my car, and look around for Kiev.

I didn’t see him. I wonder if I should have exchanged numbers. As I inch closer to the elevator, I see him laughing with a man.

I walk up to them, my mouth falls open.

“Hunter?!”