Riding the Corporate Ladder (Indigo) (31 page)

Boogie was showing definite interest by then, but Deena held fast.

“Go eat your Kibbles.”

He rolled his eyes and sauntered off like a spurned lover.

Deena put the steak on a wire rack and placed it in the oven to slow roast for two hours. The hard part over, she went back to the skillet and got started on the sauce. She kept a little of the meat juice and heated it with mushrooms until she had a nice broth. She then mixed in the wine and Dijon mustard. Three minutes later her dipping sauce was of gourmet quality. She thought she might add a little cornstarch later when she reheated it.

She didn’t have to put the potatoes in for another hour, and that gave her plenty of time to set the table and take a long, hot shower. When she got out of the tub, the house was filled with mouth-watering aromas, and Boogie was bouncing off the walls again. She went to the bedroom and put on lace panties with a skimpy push-up bra that exaggerated her deficient cleavage. She straightened her hair and threw on a robe before checking on their dinner.

Everything looked heavenly.

She wrapped the potatoes in foil and threw them in the oven at exactly five-thirty. At six she slipped into her evening gown and put on the new Gucci sandals. She didn’t prefer a lot of makeup, but she used eyeliner and lipstick that night. Her necklace was a solitaire pendant with a princess-cut diamond. Her fragrance was Dolce and Gabbana.

At six-thirty she warmed the dipping sauce and retrieved the baked potatoes. The doorbell rang one minute later. Deena went to answer it with her oven mitts still on.

“You’re late,” she told her date for the evening.

“You look stunning,” David said, and there was no doubt that he meant it.

“All right,” she said. “I’ll let you slide this time.”

He stepped in and sniffed the air charmingly. “Something smells really good. What is it?”

“Come see.” She took his hand and led him into the kitchen so she could unveil the masterpiece before his very eyes. David’s mouth fell open when she took the rack out of the oven. His nostrils flared. He blinked quickly as if it was a mirage.

“Oh, man. Is that—”

“Boneless garlic and rosemary rubbed prime rib,” Deena said with all the flair of Martha Stewart, “with red wine mushroom sauce.” She used a barbecue fork to get the meat onto her cutting board. David watched her in wide-eyed amazement, and he shuddered a little when she sliced into it.

“Did your cook just leave?” he asked. Tonight he had on black slacks with a white button-down. He wore a gray V-neck sweater over the collared shirt. His blazer was double-breasted and charcoal-colored. His shoes were square-toed and snakeskin.

“I don’t make enough to hire a cook,” Deena said. “And if you insult me again, you’re not getting anything.” She was referencing her sex mostly, and David seemed to get the hint. He looked her up and down openly and clearly liked what he saw.

“I slaved over this hot stove for you,” Deena said, “for hours and hours…” Her smile was a bit vindictive; David’s was a bit dopey. She cut off a nice-sized piece of beef for him. It was tender and mouth-wateringly moist.

“It’s juicy, huh?”

David nodded.

She dipped the morsel in the mushroom sauce and held a hand under the fork as she led it to his mouth.

“Be careful. It’s hot.”

He smiled and let her feed him like a baby. He closed his eyes and chewed slowly, and she saw the ecstasy roll over him.

“Oh, my God,” he mumbled.

“I blew your mind, right?” Deena asked. He nodded, but she shook her head.

“No, I haven’t. But I will, baby. Trust me.”

* * *

The meal turned out much better than Deena expected, and David showed his appreciation by stuffing his face and not speaking much for the next twenty minutes. Deena watched him eat with a smug sense of pride and satisfaction. She felt like an evil witch offering a shiny, red apple. When he finally put his fork down, she knew he was beyond pleased, but it didn’t hurt to hear it anyway.

“Woman, you put your foot in this for real. I can’t remember the last time I had good home-cooking like that.”

“Really?” Deena said. She’d never seen him so jubilant. Every man has a weak spot, and she was happy to find his. She stood and took their plates to the kitchen. She returned with two slices of plain cheesecake. Mr. Markham watched her and shook his head lazily. He leaned back in his chair and patted his belly.

“Deena, I don’t think I can eat anymore. You should’ve told me you had sweets. I would have saved room.”

She placed his saucer on the table and rubbed his shoulder affectionately.

“You’re a big boy. You can handle it.” She went back to her seat, and noticed him eyeing her curiously. “What’s up?”

He grinned and got started on the dessert. “What’s up with you?” he asked.

“Why, whatever do you mean?” she asked coyly.

“I told you why I’m single,” he said. “You never told me your story.”

Deena had a few well-rehearsed responses for that popular question, but when she opened her mouth, the damndest thing happened: The truth came out.

“I don’t need a man.”

He looked up at her with one eyebrow cocked. “Oh?”

“I like living by myself,” she clarified. “I take care of my own business, and I don’t need to worry about some man doing what he said he would. I don’t worry about someone letting me down. I have my own dreams, and I know what I want to do in life. I’m not willing to sacrifice my goals for anyone. Plus I don’t want to pick up any dirty drawers but my own.”

“Sacrificing your goals?” David said. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve seen it happen,” Deena said. “The husband gets laid off or relocated to another state, and the wife packs up the family so they can follow his dreams, his career. I already know I’m not going to do that, so why put myself in that situation?”

“But you’re a lawyer. You could work in any state. You’d have to take the bar exam again, but that wouldn’t be hard for someone like you.”

“I know,” Deena said. “But if I have to do that, I’ll do it on my terms. I’m selfish sometimes, I can admit it. I don’t want to jump when a man says jump, and I don’t want to carry one, either.”

“Have you carried a man lately?” David asked with a grin.

Deena shook her head. “I’d have to be pretty sprung to do that, and I’ve never been that sprung.”

He chuckled. “When was the last time you were head over heels?”

“High school, maybe,” Deena said, still not sure why she was sharing so much.

David’s eyes widened “You haven’t been in love since high school?”

Deena shook her head. “Your heart is the most precious gift you could ever give,” she explained. “And you never know what’s going to happen to it once you give it away. The last time, it didn’t work out so good for me.”

“That’s no reason to give up on love…”

His eyes were piercing. She had to look away. “I disagree.”

He reached across the table to hold her hand. “Your heart’s really been locked up that long?”

Deena nodded, wondering if the truth was going to cost her his affections or the promotion or both.

But he didn’t reject her. He squeezed her hand and smiled. “I hope you can let go of those hang-ups and start anew with me, Deena. I’d hate to think you’ll never fall in love with me.”

“Why? Do you think you could one day fall in love with me?” Her eyes were wide and hopeful, and it wasn’t all acting.

“Make me one more dinner like that and I’m all yours,” he said.

“I’ll cook you a whole meatloaf next Saturday—and cornbread.”

“Deal.”

* * *

With all of the talk about love, and falling in love, and lack of love, Deena thought she might have spoiled the mood for love-making, but she hadn’t, not by a long shot. In fact, the depth and honesty of their conversation had David feeling more amorous than on any of their previous dates. Or maybe it was the dinner that snagged him. Either way, Deena never felt so connected to the handsome director, and their passion was definitely on a higher plateau.

They sat on the couch kissing like teenagers. David had his jacket off, but Deena still thought he was overdressed. She laid her head on his chest and traced a finger down his stomach. He had a nice-sized bulge growing next to his thigh. She reached to grab it, but he put his hand over hers before she made contact. She took her tongue out of his mouth long enough to whisper, “Don’t do that.”

He didn’t respond, but when she moved her hand again he didn’t stop her. She touched timidly at first, with just the tips of her fingers. He was rock hard, and still growing. She palmed his swollen member and he inhaled deeply. She caressed him gently, hoping he’d loosen up.

“Let’s go to the bedroom,” she cooed.

“I…we should wait.”

She kissed his neck and sucked his earlobe. “Are you a born-again Christian?”

He shook his head and chuckled awkwardly. “No.”

“Do you want me?” she asked. She tightened her grip on his penis and it jumped under her hand. “Do you need me?” she breathed.

Mr. Markham nodded. “I do.”

She ran her hand the full length of his shaft. Without looking, she knew he was at least eight inches. The feel of it made her heart feel light in her chest. A sliver of lightening skated down her stomach and crashed between her legs. She kissed his ear again. “What’s the problem?”

“Well, um, I can’t get up, now.”

“Why? You don’t want me to see your boner?” She was kidding, but not far from the truth of it.

“I’m a little embarrassed,” he admitted. “I still think about the firm. I don’t want to be improper.”

“Don’t worry,” Deena said. “Everything’s cool.” She reached with two hands to undo his zipper. When he didn’t stop her, she slipped one hand inside and reached under his boxers. Things were very hot under there. Things were also very big. She knew Mr. Markham would satisfy her with both length and width. She wrapped her fingers around the fat head and almost fainted with enthusiasm.

She freed his pipe gently and stared down at it lovingly. He was already on the verge of an explosion. His penis was throbbing with thick veins that converged like an interstate. Deena wrapped her hand around it, and it jumped in her palm.

She ducked her head quickly and tried to fully devour him. Halfway down, he was already hitting her tonsils. She relaxed her throat and took him in another inch. He moaned and his legs stiffened. She eased back and sucked just the head. She used her saliva as a lubricant and stroked the shaft with her hand while she sucked. He swelled in her mouth, and she tasted his pre-cum. It was exotic and delicious to her. She swallowed it and backed away slowly, until only her lips were still latched on.

She looked up at him. He definitely wanted her to keep going, so she let go. It was hard not to laugh at his expression. He was shocked, confused, dumbfounded, and anxious, all at the same time.

“Now you don’t have anything to be embarrassed about,” Deena said. “And I don’t think that was improper, do you?” She still had a hand wrapped around his dick like it was a microphone. David watched her closely. He shook his head but didn’t look like he understood the question.

“Do you want to go to the bedroom?” she asked again.

He nodded this time, and when she stood and headed for the back, he was right on her tail. She couldn’t have got rid of him if she wanted to.

* * *

Their intimacy that night featured no extraordinary moves or extraordinary techniques, but it was extraordinary just the same. Deena was usually very outgoing and outspoken about her lovemaking, but she let David take the wheel, and things couldn’t have gone better.

And to her surprise, he pleased her with what she thought was the most boring position in the history of sex. Before David, Deena saw missionary as some heavy guy laying on top of you, breathing heavy in your face. She thought kissing during sex was lame. And who wants to look in their partner eyes the whole time?

But missionary was the only position David offered that evening. And he worked it out so well, Deena didn’t think there was anything better.

She liked how he watched her eyes during penetration; how he eased in slowly to make sure he wasn’t hurting her. She liked how he filled her up completely, like the missing puzzle piece. She marveled at how smooth and firm his chest was. She loved how the muscles on his arms and stomach rippled when he pushed harder and faster. She liked how he held her legs in the crook of his arms when he wanted to go deeper and how he held them over his shoulders when he wanted to go deepest.

She loved all of his sensual movements and touches. She loved how he pushed up and watched her intently; she felt like he was gazing into her very soul. And when it was really good to him, he lowered his body onto hers, and she didn’t feel smothered at all. She cherished the feel of her breasts and stomach against his.

She screamed.

She told him not to stop, and the speed of their hips increased.

He reached down and gripped her ass tightly when he came, and Deena felt him deep, so deep inside her. She felt him in her stomach, in her heart. She felt him in her mind.