Gloria's Revenge (8 page)

Although there was sincerity in her voice, her comment sent a shiver up my spine. I gave myself a mental kick. I was just being over-sensitive, maybe borderline paranoid about the tenacity of my job.

I simply said, “Thanks. Any important new e-mails or phone calls come in?”

Vivien leaned into her computer screen and shook her head. She gazed up at me. “Gloria, by the way, I forgot to tell you. I have to leave early today right after lunch. I have a doctor’s appointment. It’s all the way out in the Valley so it’s unlikely I’ll be coming back. I hope you’re okay with that.” Her eyes stayed locked on mine as she awaited my response.

“Not a problem. I hope everything’s all right.”

A sweet smile accompanied a flutter of her fake lashes. “Oh, yes, everything’s just fine.”

I couldn’t help furrowing my brows. She was probably going to one of her “beauty” doctors —for dermabrasion, Botox, or lip filler. Now that I knew she was older than the twenty-nine years she claimed to be, perhaps she had a genuine need for these treatments. I forced myself not to say another word. She was being supportive, and I needed Daddy’s little girl on my side. Besides, at two o’clock, Jaime Zander was scheduled to meet with me. In light of their tumultuous, borderline incestuous past and her recent come-ons, I was glad she wouldn’t be here.

Once inside my office, I bounded to my desk and immediately started responding to the e-mails I’d received directly. Already several hundred more were sitting in my inbox pursuant to my speech. One by one, I painstakingly went though them. Virtually all of them were supportive, bringing much needed joy to my heart. I typed away feverishly, intermittently checking the price of Gloria’s Secret stock. Damn it! It had tumbled another five points. Maybe my speech had cheered up employees, but it did nothing to shake off investor anxiety. I took a break from the e-mails and slumped down in my chair. I was in no mood to meet with Jaime Zander—nor did I have the time. I had no choice; though it was already 1:45, I needed to cancel our meeting. I whipped out my cell phone and texted him.

ME: Must cancel meeting

JZ: Don’t. That’s rude.

ME: I have a crisis.

JZ: I know. Hang in there.

ME: It’s intense.

JZ: You’ll get thru it.

ME: You have no clue.

JZ: I do. Trust me.

Again, those unnerving two words “trust me.” I steeled myself as I responded.

ME: PLZ don’t come.

JZ: Too late.

ME: Huh?

JZ: I’m here

Shit! My intercom buzzed. Sure enough, it was Claudia announcing Jaime Zander’s arrival. My heart raced
at the mention of his name. I mentally kicked myself for letting him have this effect on me, but there was nothing I could do about it. I told Claudia that I would meet him in reception myself. Composing myself, I rose from my desk and, in slow motion, trod over to the large ornate standing mirror in the corner of my office. I studied myself. My reflection frightened me. I looked dissipated. My complexion was wan, and dark shadows circled my two-toned eyes. I adjusted my chaste suit and quickly re-braided my hair, letting it fall around my shoulder. I had to confess: I wanted to look my best for Jaime Zander. Before heading out the door, I reapplied some red lipstick. I frowned. No matter how hard I tried, Gloria Long, the powerful leader, looked more like a wounded soldier.

When I dragged myself to reception, I found Jaime seated on one of the white leather couches, making small talk with Claudia. He was wearing loose, low-waisted drawstring pants that exposed his toned thighs beneath the lightweight linen fabric, and a white V-neck tee that flaunted his tanned biceps and taut chest. On his feet were casual red topsiders that he wore sockless. His collar-length, windblown hair was parted in the middle, and he had shaved. But there was still fine layer of stubble outlining his strong, dimpled jaw and circling his kissable lips. My heart fluttered. Mr. Sexy Laidback looked swoon-worthy, something that was not lost on Claudia. Or on me. I so wanted to run my hand over his face and then through his tousled hair. Bantering with him, goo-goo eyed Claudia twirled her flaming red curls around her fingers. Her flirtatious behavior elicited a small pang of jealousy that made me uncomfortable. Confession: I’d never been jealous of other women until I met this magnetic man.

“Hello, Mr. Zander.” I forced my voice to sound very businesslike.

Jaime’s denim blues twinkled when he saw me. He jumped up from the couch and met me halfway. I had the burning urge to fall into his taut, sculpted chest, but refrained. He tipped up my chin. From the corner of my eye, I could see Claudia gawk.

“You look stressed, Ms. Long.”

“I am. I’m under a lot of pressure.”

“I know. The stock sell off has been all over the Internet and news.”

“I don’t know how to stop it.”

A tear leaked out of one eye. Jaime gently brushed it away. The mere touch of him was making me weak with desire.

“I hope you understand I don’t have a lot of time right now or energy. I can give you a quick tour.” I immediately regretted my offer, as the size of the Gloria’s Secret complex with its manufacturing plant and design showroom was daunting.

He affectionately tugged at my braid. “Why don’t we start in your office?”

Suddenly, I felt lightheaded. I don’t know if was the stress, the scent of him, or the very sight of him. Or his touch. My knees buckled.

“Angel!” he cried out as he caught me and scooped me up in his strong arms. I swear Claudia practically swooned herself when I looped my limp arms around his neck. The edges of his silky hair and brought me back to the moment.

“Thanks,” I murmured.

“Gloria, you need to chill. Tell me the way.”

I released a sigh and sunk into him. I might as well enjoy the ride, drained as I was. As I led the gorgeous, sexy as sin god back to my office, I couldn’t help noticing every female eye on him. His magnetism was a force to be reckoned with. I knew from first-hand experience. I flushed with embarrassment.

“Do you know that every woman we pass has her eyes on you?”

“Yeah. But I have my eyes on only one. You.”

My breath hitched. At the door to my office, he smashed his lips onto mine. I was too worn out to resist. I only wished that Vivien could be here to witness his kiss. On second thought, I was glad she wasn’t.

He crossed the threshold of my office, slamming the door behind him and locking it.

Once inside, Jaime sat down with me on his lap on a pink velvet love chair, never losing contact with my lips. Damn it. I was losing myself in him again. I couldn’t let this happen. I had too many other fires to quell. With difficulty, I broke away and caught my breath.

“Mr. Zander, this was not an appointment to fuck me.”

“Who said I was going to fuck you, Ms. Long?” he responded as his eyes took in my hot pink and white boudoir-like office. They lingered on my desk.

“Is that what I think it is on your desk?”

Though slightly embarrassed, I nodded with pride. “My Secret Vibrator. It’s the prototype for our new product line.”

“So you’re doing a line of sex toys. That’s brilliant, Gloria.”

Lifting me off his lap onto the petite couch, he strode over to my desk and then returned with the sex toy in his hand. He loomed in front of me. I was melting under the gaze of this sexy beast.

He studied the vibrator, gliding his other hand up and down it. “It’s an erotic work of art.”

“Thanks. We put a lot of research into the design. We wanted it to be curvy and seductive with a bit of whim like the rest of our brand.” I admired the hot pink vibrator with its sleek white handle and signature pink heart switch.

“Have you tested it yet?”

“We’re doing some focus groups later this month.”

A diabolical smirk whipped across his face. “Gloria, I meant have
you
tested it?”

A sudden pool of wetness gathered between my thighs, and my insides jolted. I was too taken back by his question to say a word. I nervously shook my head, getting a sense as to where this meeting was going.

His eyes bore into me, heating me further. “I agree that consumer research is very important, but I think you need to test it first so you can better evaluate your focus group results.”

I stiffened. “Are you asking me to play with this vibrator?”

“No, Gloria, I’m ordering you. Lift up your skirt.”

“I don’t have time for this.”

“Yes, you do. It’s important. And you know it.”

With quivering fingers, I did as he asked, scrunching the tight pencil skirt up as far as it would go. To my surprise, it went all the way to my hips.

He flicked the switch on. The buzzing rang in my ears. “Hold this.” He thrust the buzzing toy into my hand, and in one smooth move, yanked down my garter, panties, and stockings to my ankles. Pulling off my heels, he tore all the garments off me and tossed them to the floor. “Now, bend your knees and spread your legs.”

I did as I was told. My heart was hammering.

“Perfect, Gloria. I have a beautiful view of that glorious pussy of yours.”

My core muscles twitched and my breathing hitched.

“Now, we’re going to do some one-on-one research. It’s just like a focus group… only more intimate. Just you and me. I’m going to ask you some questions, and you’ll do your best to respond to them honestly. Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I said breathlessly. I hadn’t even put the toy to my glistening folds, and my nerve endings were already sparking with tingles.

“Good. Now put the vibrator to your pussy and just experiment with it.”

Hesitantly, I put the vibrator to my sex. I gasped. It was like nothing I’d ever felt before— the buzzing sensation so different from Jaime’s nimble fingers. I bravely ran the head up and down my slick folds and then lingered on my clit, circling the warm tip around the hypersensitive button. A gasp escaped my throat as my stimulated clit lit up. It felt amazing!

“Do you like the way it feels, Gloria?”

“Yes!”

“Can you describe the sensations?”

Oh, God. How could I put what I was feeling into words? It reminded me a little of being on the back of Kevin’s second-hand Honda scooter, our means of transportation when we first came to LA. “They’re like relentless buzzing tickles,” I spluttered as the toy zapped my clit, making it pulse with pleasure. “The kind that you crave and can’t stand at the same time.”

He fired another question at me. “How does it make you feel?”

This time, my loud moans were my answer. The tremors intensified to the point of unbearable. My pulse raced. Was this beautiful torture or tortuous pleasure?
Semantics
. I couldn’t sit still. Writhing, I squeezed my eyes shut.
BUZZZZZ!
Oh my God. As the insane, intense pressure built, I didn’t know what I’d do first—faint or come.

“Gloria, be more specific. Does it make you want to fall apart?”

“Yes!” I panted. I didn’t know much longer I could hold on before passing out.

“Are you on the verge of an orgasm?”

“YES!”

“What does it feel like?”

Duh!
“Like I’m going to come!” All hell broke loose between my legs. I shrieked with relief as my desperate release took hold of me. The flutters between my legs spiraled upward like a buzzing swarm of bees. I had buzzed my way to pure, utter ecstasy.

“How do you feel now, Gloria?”

“Fuck!” I muttered as the buzzing inside me persevered. No other words sprung to my parched mouth. I fluttered my eyes open. Still looming above me, Jaime Zander eyed me rapturously. He had taken off his linen drawstring pants. Between his mighty thighs, his divine cock jutted in its full erect glory. I salivated at the sight of it. My throbbing sex was wet with want.

A cocky grin flickered on his gorgeous face. “We’re not done with our little research session, Gloria. I want to know—did using the vibrator increase your libido?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice a raspy whisper. I was desperate for him, drenched with desire and despair.

“Do you want me to fuck you, Gloria?”

“Yes!” I begged. “Please!”

A satisfied smile spread across his face. His lustful eyes circled around my office. “Where would you like to be fucked—over your desk or we could do it right here?”

“Here!” I mouthed. I couldn’t wait. I so bloody needed him inside me.

“Perfect.” In one swift smooth move, he yanked up my legs and leveraged the heels of my feet on his shoulders. He leaned into me, anchoring one hand on the back of the love chair for support and using the other to drive his rock-hard cock into my ready entrance. Because I was so wet, he penetrated me quickly and easily. My back arched at the fullness of his exquisite invasion. I let out a moan.

“Oh, Gloria, you feel so fucking good,” he groaned as he began to grind his cock inside me. I was awed by how deep he could go in this position. I shrieked with pleasure each time he hit my G-for-Gloria spot and thrust my hips to meet his touch. Raw, guttural grunts accompanied his truculent plundering. The sounds of our moaning and groaning, combined with our pounding hearts and ragged pants, drowned out the sound of the humming vibrator. I almost forgot about it until I felt Jaime slide it out of my hand.

I met his gaze. His beautiful face was glazed with sweat. I brushed away the damp strands of hair that’d fallen forward into his hooded blue eyes. He breathed into me. “We’re now going to find out if this little toy of yours makes sex more pleasurable for the women
and
her partner.”

How much better could it get? His relentless deep strokes were taking the air out of my lungs—and his—and blowing my brain apart.

“We’re also going to take it up a couple of notches.” I heard two clicks of the vibrator control. Fuck. I’d forgotten this contraption had three levels of stimulation— mild, moderate, and intense. Our research had shown that not all women are the same. I’d had it set on the first level and that was almost unbearable. Jaime had adjusted it to the extreme.

Insane pressure was building readily inside me, my climax just a heartbeat away. When the loud, amped up vibrator, once again touched down on my clit, I could no longer hold back. My slick bundle of nerves gave way as wave after fierce wave of ecstasy like I’d never known before ripped through me. My whole body shook.