Crystal's Dilemma (6 page)

Tommy groaned, digging his fingers into her scalp, jerking as he came. His cock pulsed on her tongue, his flavor warm and spicy. She flicked the underside of his dick with her tongue, loving the smooth feel of his flesh. He jerked again and pulled back. “Stop, baby, you’ve got to stop,” he said, his voice tight. He pulled out of her mouth, and she drew in a large gulp of breath, her cheeks flaming with heat.

Tommy moved off of her chest, giving her room to breathe, and settled on the bed beside her head. Tommy stroked her hair as Justice gave her his final thrusts with his head thrown back in ecstasy. Then Justice dropped his head, his breathing sharp and fast, before pulling out of her cunt and collapsing on his side beside her supine body.

Crystal vibrated with pleasure, her throat tight and her body snapping with electricity. “Wow,” she whispered, closing her eyes and letting herself float back down from her pleasure ride.

“Wow is right,” Tommy said, scooting down to lie beside her and planting a kiss on her cheek. “I’m never going to be able to get enough of you.”

Justice stroked the length of her thigh. “Thank you, Crystal. That was awesome. Surprising, but awesome.” He sat up on the bed and raked his fingers through his hair. “Now that I’ve had my way with my partner, I think I’ll go get a bite to eat. I have a feeling this weekend I’m going to need all the energy I can manage.” He rose from the bed and Crystal could see his shadowy movements as he slipped on his pants. “Would you two like something to eat? I can have it ready for you.”

Tommy kissed her forehead. “Hungry?”

Crystal finally got her breathing under control. “Mm, yes. I could use some energy, too.” She let her arms go limp in the restraints, beginning to feel the stretch of having her arms above her head for a time. “Can you untie me? I really need to move.”

“Sure.” Tommy sat up on the bed and began untying her wrists. “If you don’t mind, Justice, could you have someone make us up a full breakfast? Eggs, bacon, potatoes and all that?” He glanced down at Crystal. “I’m going to wear you out this weekend, my dear. You’d better eat right.”

Crystal smiled up at him. “I’ll take that as a challenge.”

Crystal wrapped her robe around her and wriggled her fingers through her damp hair.

Padding into her bedroom from the steamy bathroom, she found Tommy sitting on the foot of her bed, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, his hair also damp. She walked directly to stand in front of him and placed her hands on his cheeks. Leaning down, she kissed him deeply, the smoothness of the skin on his chin letting her know he’d just shaved. When she straightened, she smiled. “Thank you for that most wonderful wake-up call.”

He placed his hands on her hips. “You’re very welcome.”

“Just let me throw something on and then we’ll go get some breakfast.” She moved to her closet and opened the doors, looking for comfortable clothes that were easy to strip off. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to stay dressed for long. Whipping a long, T-shirt-type dress off a hanger, she brought it to the bed and laid it on the coverlet.

“You were unbelievable this morning,” Tommy said, shifting on the bed to face her while she slipped off her robe and picked up the dress. “This bonding camp is really how your firm cements relationships between associates?”

Crystal pulled the dress down over her head, not bothering with underthings. She wasn’t going to need them today, she knew. “Yes, it gives us insight to our deepest emotions. Once we learn what we all desire and need, we have a better understanding of each other. It also helps relieve the stress related with what we do.”

He nodded, looking like he was turning the thought over in his mind. “I’m surprised more firms don’t employ bonding camps.”

“Oh they do,” she replied, running her fingers through her hair to fluff it a bit. “But no bonding camp is like ours. We delve very deep into personalities, as I’m sure you can see.” She grinned at him and grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s go eat.” She pulled him up from the bed and led him to the door.

As they walked to the dining room, Crystal had the distinct feeling that her relationship with Tommy was going to go much deeper than just being associates and having him as her assistant. He seemed to know exactly what she liked and wasn’t shy about approaching her and taking control. No one had ever done that before, and she was finding it quite refreshing to not have to be the instigator when it came to intimacy.

After they were seated at the dining room table and Rachel, their cook and housekeeper, had served them with a full breakfast, Crystal and Tommy ate and talked.

Tommy sipped his water and dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. “Why did you agree to take me on as your assistant? I mean, the real reason.”

“What do you mean?” Crystal looked across the table at him. “I need an assistant and you presented yourself well.”

He shook his head, smiling. “I don’t think that’s all there is to it.” He leaned forward, pinning her with a look. “You do perfectly well in the courtroom without any help from anyone. Did you have an assistant before? I think you mentioned someone.”

She nodded. “Yes, and she recently resigned to get married. That’s why I need someone to replace her. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes at the firm you don’t know about yet, but you’ll soon find out.” She picked up her coffee cup and sipped at the warm brew.

“I guess I’m wondering why you hadn’t already replaced your assistant and instead, decided to take me on when I introduced myself to you.”

Crystal swallowed the coffee and gazed into his eyes. What was he searching for? “If you’re asking if I was attracted to you, I’ll admit I was and still am.”

“And you wanted me to attend bonding camp almost immediately. Was that because you wanted to get to know me more intimately?” He raised one eyebrow.

Crystal laughed. “Of course! What woman in her right mind would not want to get you naked, Tommy?” She placed her hands on the table, moving her half-eaten breakfast away from her. “But that’s not why I hired you. I’ve seen you in the courtroom, remember? Even though you may not have known it, I did notice the way you paid very close attention to each case and the intelligence in your eyes called to me. You looked like a smart, young lawyer just waiting to be formed into a formidable opponent in the courtroom. Rather than have to oppose you at trial, I’d rather have you on my side.”

His face held the expression of a man who had just had his ego stroked perfectly. “That is the best compliment anyone has paid me since I was in high school. I’m glad you see me as a business associate as well as what is turning into a close lover. I can’t believe someone hasn’t taken you off the market yet, though.”

“Taken me off the market?” She sat back. “You mean married me and shackled me to the kitchen in bare feet or something?”

He shook his head and waved his hands at her, palms up in supplication. “No, don’t get me wrong, Crystal. But a woman like you, successful and beautiful, not to mention a very sensual lover, usually doesn’t stay single for long.”

Her thoughts turned to the feelings she had been having lately. “To tell you the truth, Tommy, I have been thinking maybe it’s time to settle down a bit.” She picked up her coffee cup and sipped before continuing. Once she replaced it back on the table, she rested her hands in her lap. “I’m thirty-seven and most everyone I know either is married or on their way to being married. I’m beginning to feel like maybe I’m missing something.”

Tommy pushed back from the table and rose from his chair. He came around to the other side and slid into the chair to Crystal’s left. Taking her hand in his, he rubbed the backs of her fingers with a light touch. “You’re nowhere near the period of your life when you should worry about your biological clock ticking away. Thirty-seven is still young. What would make you feel like that?”

She shrugged. “I guess it’s because there’s too many nights when I’m home alone, wondering what it would be like to have someone there with me to spend my life with. Do you know what I mean?”

He nodded, his eyes warm and understanding. “I may be younger than you, but I’ve felt the same thing. I’m just starting my life, but I’d like to start it with someone beside me. I think there’s a strong possibility I may have found just the right person for that position.”

“Are you referring to me?” she asked, her stomach quivering with nervousness all of a sudden.

“Actually, yes I am.” He reached over and turned her toward him fully. “Crystal, you’re smart and capable, a wonderful example of a woman. Having you in my life would be an exciting experience. Is there a chance I could be someone more than an assistant to you?” He tilted his head and cupped her cheek with his hand.

She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, placing her hand on top of his. It gave her a feeling of belonging, and that was something she hadn’t experienced so deeply as right now. Was it possible she had found someone to be her soul mate and that someone was a young man? Opening her eyes, she smiled at him. “There are some things you should know about me before we take this any farther.”

He dropped his hand from her cheek and took both of her hands in his. “Tell me. I’m listening.”

The sun streamed through the windows, dappling the table with light. Crystal took a breath and realized this would be the first time she ever confessed her feelings of late to anyone, bringing them into the light of day. She was nervous and worried Tommy would think differently about her once she revealed parts of her past. Letting out her breath. It was now or never.

“For most of my life,” she began in a soft voice, “I’ve felt an attraction to mostly women. Sure, I like men, don’t get me wrong, but it always seemed I needed a woman’s touch to make me feel…wanted. I’ve been questioning my decision to be bisexual lately, wondering why I felt so lonely, even when I had someone in my arms. Since I met you, that feeling is a lot stronger.” She squeezed his hands tightly. “Tommy, there is something about you, and I’m not sure what it is but it feels like I’m home when I’m near you. I don’t know if it’s the confidence you show in yourself or the way you are able to take control of me, but you make me feel totally woman and very much wanted.” She swallowed, a lump in her throat forming with tears burning her eyes. “I guess what I’m trying to say is I think I, too, may have found someone I want to spend more time with than just here at bonding camp or in the office. I want to see you outside of the workings of the firm. I want to know if it’s possible to have a deeper relationship with a man, you, and I hope you feel the same way.” She let out a shaky laugh. “Otherwise, I’m going to be in for a huge letdown.”

He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. When he moved back, he ran his thumb beneath her eyes, wiping away the tears that had spilled onto her cheeks. “Don’t cry, please,” he said. “I’m pretty damn sure you and I have some connection that’s above both of our understanding. I want to delve into it, immerse myself in it, and I think you do, too. Let’s spend this weekend getting as close as we can and go from there. What do you say?”

She smiled, her lips quivering just a bit. Straightening her back, she nodded. “I’m such a putz. Tommy, I’m not usually like this, all girly and stuff. I’m the one who can keep her cool under the most extreme circumstances. But you make me feel all feminine and fragile. Don’t break me, okay?”

“Aw, Crystal, I won’t, don’t you worry.” His gaze grew warmer and his smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Okay,” she said, settling herself with a deep breath again. “I want to know more about you. You participated in our ménage this morning pretty willingly. I’m assuming that wasn’t the first time you’ve done something like that.” She had to know more about this intriguing young man. He was younger than she, but he seemed to be worldly also, even though he was from somewhere in Indiana where she assumed things like ménages weren’t the norm.

He stood and reached for his coffee cup, snatching it from the other side of the table before sitting down again. He took a sip and placed his cup beside hers on the table. “Okay, in my college days, I did a lot of experimenting with sexual situations. It’s pretty easy to join in a ménage on campus, and I’ve tried just about everything. I’ve never been attached to anyone, though, at least not until now. I do sense a strong connection with you, Crystal. I’ve never felt this way before and it’s amazing to me. You make me feel very alive, and I can’t deny it.”

“But, I’m sure you had lovers who you felt drawn to before,” she said, picking up her coffee cup and holding it in both her hands, letting the warmth seep into her.

He sat back in his chair and crossed one ankle over the opposing knee. “Yes, but it was more of a sexual thing, not like what I feel with you. When I’m with you, it feels basic and primal, like you’re who I’m meant to be with. I know this is a lot for you to absorb, just getting to know me and all, but I hope you don’t discount my feelings toward you.”

Crystal chuckled. “This is the strangest conversation I’ve ever had with a new associate. I know exactly what you’re talking about, though, feeling primal. Sex with you is almost animalistic, and my primal urges kick in, giving full control over to you, the male in the situation. Does that mean we are destined to be a couple, do you think?”

“I hope so, but I’m sure we’ll find out quickly. This weekend holds a lot of promise, Crystal. Not only do I want to start my new career, I want to start my life and I’m hoping it includes you.”