Awakened Desires (4 page)

As soon as the door closed behind Gunther, Carly laid back down on the couch, relishing the scent that he had left on her skin. She couldn’t believe she had actually gone through with it. Every other time, she stopped just before getting to the actual sex part. She smiled, thinking how amazing Gunther made her feel after they worked through the little hitch. But she was truly disconcerted about his reaction to her status.

Carly decided to get up and shower before she headed to bed. She had to work in the morning. As quickly as she stood, she sat back down, hissing in pain. There was a fire between her thighs. The pain was searing and she felt swollen from his roughness.

She found the courage to stand again and tears pricked her eyes. She left the blanket bunched up on the couch. With slow and steady steps, she walked back to her master bedroom shower.

The steam from the shower made her tired, but the hot water running over her achy, tired muscles felt so good. She washed with her favorite citrus soap, rinsed, and shut off the shower. Wrapping the plush green towel around her body, she chuckled a little when she realized it was the same green as Gunther’s eyes. She decided to forego the pajamas and just get into bed with the towel wrapped around her.

Carly drifted off, dreaming of a forever life with Gunther.

The entire way to the elevator and down to the ground level from Carly’s flat, I cursed under my breath. As the door slid open, I looked up as I attempted to step out…and stopped dead. Guess who was on the phone, waiting to get into the same elevator that I was occupying? We locked our chemical-laden eyes. A sly smile spread across my face.

“Elaina, I’ve got to go, love… All right. I will call when I’m on the way back… Yes, everything is fine… Love you, too. ’Bye, my love.” Yeah, I was pretty sure I would be seeing twenty-something again.

“Boo.” I smirked.

“You going to move so I can get in, asshole?” Apparently, he wasn’t going to play my game.

Damn, time for a new strategy.
“Shall we ride together?” I stepped aside and waved him in. Before Cock-up stepped in, he called out to the doorman.
Really, arsehole? Such a pussy, as always.
I rolled my eyes.

“Charles, can you see this
gentleman
out? He seems to be lost. I don’t believe he’s a resident in this building. And, more than likely, an uninvited guest. If he doesn’t leave quietly, please call the police.” He had perfected the American accent. He gave me his hideous, toothy grin, which I wanted to punch right off of his blasted face. Game on, motherfucker. I would win in the end. I would always win.

Cock-up…one. Me…zero. Yes, I was keeping score.

“I will be back,” I growled as I jammed my finger into his chest to secure it in his mind. “You can fucking count on that.”

“Looking forward to it.”

I walked out of the building with confidence. I saw Cock-up’s company-issued Tahoe sitting outside.
Bloody hell
, I thought,
the mission is going to be easier than I expected
.

Henry stepped into the elevator and the door eased shut. He banged his head back on the elevator wall a couple times. “Fuck!” he yelled. “Motherfucker!”

The door slid open when he reached his floor, and his neighbor was ready to board. “Was that you yelling?” She had a nervous, but concerned look on her face.

“Ahh, yeah. I apologize.” Henry bent over and rubbed his calf. “Leg cramp. I must have overdone it at the gym today.”

“Eat more potassium.”

“Thanks for the tip.”

Henry rushed off to his apartment with a slight fake limp. He grabbed his keys out of his pocket, his hands shaking as he tried to unlock the door. He was afraid of what he would find…or not find. Once he got into his apartment and saw it looked exactly as he left it, he grabbed his bottle of Walker out of the cabinet and took a long pull from it.

“Son of a bitch!” he growled. He wasn’t sure why he was going to bother to open the door of the refrigerator, but he yanked it open anyway. The injection was still there, which left him confused.
Why hadn’t Gunther taken it?
He scrubbed his face with his free hand, then jammed it through his hair.

The neurotic pacing with bottle in hand started. From the kitchen to the dining room. From the dining room to the living room. Back to the dining room through the kitchen. Henry opened the refrigerator door every time he passed it, just to be sure the injection was still in its proper place. This went on for several minutes before he finished a third of the bottle.

He debated whether or not he should take the injection with him back to Elaina’s. Then he thought maybe he should put it in his fridge at work. He finally decided he would just leave it where it was for the time being, until he figured the whole situation out.

“Fuck me!” Henry kicked he cabinet door shut when he saw that he left it open. One thing he did know was that he would start carrying his Sig with him at all times. He already had one at his office, but he was going to wear one from that point forward. He wasn’t sure how he would explain that to Elaina, but he felt like he didn’t have a choice. He had to protect her, no matter what.

I woke up the next morning, feeling well-rested. The few drinks and some mind-blowing sex worked their magic on my body. I stretched out, feeling my joints crack. I was going to need to get a fix soon.

Lying in bed, I thought about how I was going to work the situation with Captain Cock-up. I could very easily stroll up to the building, take out the doorman, go up to his place, pick the lock, and
boom
. The injection would be mine. It just seemed all too easy and not much fun at all. I wanted some fun on the trip, and fun was what I was going to have.

Then I grinned. I decided I was going to continue Cock-up’s training and make him tweak the fuck out. Oh, yeah. I knew it would be glorious and it would leave him completely gutted. The effort to humiliate him was worth every moment. I let out a sordid chuckle.
So brill
.

Before all of the fun was to begin, I needed to call down to the front desk and see if twenty-something was in yet. Knowing that Cock-up lived in the same building, I needed to find an excuse to get back to her flat at some point. I grabbed the phone and called the front desk.

“Good morning, Mr. Erikkson. How can we help you this morning?”

It was obvious that it was some tosser kid. “With whom am I speaking?”

“Kevin, sir. What can I do for you?”

“Kevin, is Carly Reede in?”

“Not yet. She won’t be in until nine. Is there anything I can help you with?” Checking my watch, I saw it was only eight. I needed to think of something.

“I just had an issue that I wanted to speak to her about.” Not impressive. I scrubbed my face as I rolled over and snuggled up in the white down comforter.

“I would be more than glad to help with whatever it is you need, sir.”

“I understand, but…since I have already dealt with her, I’d rather speak with her.”

“Understood. I will inform her that you called, and she will call you back when she arrives.”

“No need. I’ll come down. Thank you, Kevin.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. Erikkson.”

Just as I hung up, my stomach growled. I decided to take a quick shower, head down to the café, then I would hunt down twenty-something’s fit arse. I assumed they were serving breakfast and not just pastry. I hoped it was something good because I had worked up quite an appetite the night before. Plus, I was in dire need of a few cups of coffee.

Jessica came out of the locker room as Carly turned into the hallway, heading toward her office. She rushed to Carly’s side. “Girl…I
need
the deets. All of them.
Leave…nothing…out.
”

“It was nice. We had fun.” She smirked and unlocked her office door.

Jessica walked in behind her. “Oh no, you don’t! Give it up, missy!” She grabbed Carly’s arm and spun her around.

“It hurt like a bitch. And I’m still hurting this morning. Is that what you wanted to know?”

“Well, everyone’s first time hurts.” Jessica crossed her arms. “You didn’t expect it to be all Hollywood, did you? ‘Oh, ah…I feel so full. Orgasm, orgasm, orgasm’.” Jessica added an eye roll, just for good measure.

Carly laughed. “No, it was bad. He’s
huge
. For real. All the make-out sessions that I’ve had, never have I seen one like that. But once he realized I was hurting, he was so sweet and tender. As soon as I was ready to continue—oh, my god. He rocked me hardcore. I can’t even make myself come that hard. It was unreal.”

“Dang! Lucky girl! Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself once you got through the first part. Are you going to see him again?”

“Uh…I don’t know. I have a feeling I was a one-night thing for him, but whatever. I’m glad it’s done and over.” She tried to brush it off, but Carly wanted more. Jessica eyed her skeptically, arms crossed in front of her chest. Carly wasn’t fooling anyone, not even herself. Gunther made her melt and, after the dreams she had the night before about them being a couple, she ached for him. “Well, enough girl talk. We need to get to work.”

“It’s still early,” Jessica protested.

“Hmm…maybe I’ll get a bite and relax for a few minutes then. I’m starved.”

“I bet.” Jessica winked at her. “Have fun. I’m going to go suck on a cancer stick or two until my shift starts. See ya,” she said, leaving the office.

Carly headed to the café, and grabbed a carafe of coffee and a mug. Just as she was going to pour herself a cup, she noticed Gunther sitting alone in the corner, typing furiously on a laptop. He was completely engrossed with whatever it was he was working on. She noted how stellar he looked in a simple black t-shirt, which was taut across his broad shoulders and chest. She remembered running her hands all over his wickedly sexy naked body.

I sat down in the corner of the café so I could see all angles of the room. I admit. I had mild paranoia issues. Couldn’t imagine why. I flipped open my laptop and began composing an email to Drew, one of my bosses back at the facility, while I waited for the waiter or waitress to make their appearance. I wished they would hurry the fuck up. I needed coffee to relieve myself from the zombie-like state I was in.

“Good morning, sir. Can I start you with a cup of coffee?”

I looked up and was stunned. “Carly?” She smiled. “What are you doing?” I was legitimately confused as to why she was serving coffee. It wasn’t a position I would expect the owner’s daughter to handle.

“I’m trying to serve you coffee, Mr. Erikkson.” She was flirting.

I smiled as I spoke, “Does Daddy make you waitress, as well?”

“Nope. I was getting myself some coffee and I saw you over here. I figured I would come by and say hello. I hope you don’t mind me interrupting your consulting work.” I couldn’t help but smile. I shouldn’t have, and I had no idea why I did.

“Well, hullo then. And of course I don’t mind.” Yes, I did. What the fuck was wrong with me? Okay, maybe I didn’t mind.

“Coffee?”

“Ah…yeah, thanks. That would be brill of you.”

“Cream or sugar?”

“Nope. I like it boring.” She laughed and poured me a cup. “Want to join me, beautiful?”
Stupid! Stupid! What the fuck am I doing? Tosser.
I wanted to beat my forehead on the table. Then maybe cut out my own tongue for good measure.

“Actually, I’m not on the clock yet, so I would love to. If you don’t mind, of course.” Bloody hell, of course I didn’t mind being accompanied by a beautiful woman.

“Not at all. You won’t get into trouble with Daddy, will you?” I half-smirked at her.