Rose of Betrayal (23 page)

           
On
his way out, Brad mumbled to himself, maybe for you, but for me it was the
worst thing that could have happened.
 
Combing his hand through his wet hair prompted a lecture, “Great going,
you jackass.
 
Now you not only know what
it's like to hold Sam, touch her, the smell of her, but what pleasure's lay
hidden beneath her clothes.
    

CHAPTER 20

 
         
Heads popping up revealed eyes mirroring disbelief dancing
in multi directions as Ted strolled into the office.
 
No one remembered the last time he arrived by
eight A.M.
 

Strolling over to Connie, displaying a cocky attitude, Ted pecked her on
the cheek and although knowing his efforts would be futile said, “You're as
beautiful as ever.”
     

All too familiar with Ted's innuendo's, swearing she
would never fall into the trap like so many others, she typically replied, “You
say that to everyone.”

Both chuckled.
 
       

From across the expanse of the room, Stacy scrutinized Ted heading toward
her with his typical mischievous “I'm in the mood look “that she knew well and
missed terribly.
 
It had been a long time
since they had sex.
 
Her heart began
thumping in anticipation.
  

           
Quite experienced in the
art of sex, she labeled Ted her most adapt lover, which meant if he were in one
of his amorous mood’s nothing else mattered.
 
Apprised she was not the only secretary he had screwed, at least she
felt gratified in knowing she had endured the longest.
 
Periodically insanity obsessed her whenever
she imagined one day winning him.
 
Logically she knew no woman could hold on to Ted for very long.

Wearing a big grin, Ted gave Stacy a come-hither look.
 
Waiting, what she believed to be an
appropriate length of time, she waltzed into his office.

           
 
Snickering among the employee's ended abruptly
when Maggie tapped her pencil on her pad, flinging them a sour glance look of
supremacy prompted
 
them to revert
quickly back to their labor.
 
Eyebrow
curled, Maggie shook her head hoping one day Ted would pay dearly for his shenanigans.
Secretly, she could not wait.

           
Tossing his jacket on
the sofa, Ted positioned himself in his chair, his eyes riveted on the door as
Stacy entered and secured the lock.
 
Wearing a scorching smile, he cooed, “Come here, beautiful.
 
I have missed you.”

Torturing and teasing her playmates was a game Stacy skillfully enjoyed.
Wasting little time, she slithered into position stopping purposely a few feet
away.
 

His lusty appetite ravenous, Ted’s eyes were already clouded with
desire.
 
“Take your sweater off, baby.”

           
Fingers splayed, Stacy slowly
inched red fingertips upward over the soft angora to full breasts, pressing,
pushing, and kneading them before slipping down her sides coming to a rest at
the bottom of a snug, pink sweater.
 
Bit-by-bit she raised the fluff unveiling a tiny waist, firm, flawless
skin, a black, lace, half-bra hoisting ample bosom ringed by dark nipples.
 
Consciously wiggling her upper torso, she
pulled the sweater over her head hurling it haphazardly in the air.

           
Like a reptile, a tongue
slipping between her lips traced a full, red mouth leaving a trail of
glittering moisture.
 
Palms returning to
breasts pushed them together while pointer fingers titillated the areolas until
fully erect.
 
Masterfully undulating hips
moved to the age-old mating dance until deciding the time was right for
releasing the black barrier.

Pleasure came in gasps as Ted's hand groped and stroked the large bulge
raising the cloth of his pants.
 
The
other unbuckled his belt and lowered the zipper.

           
 
Indeed satisfied with her talents, Stacy turned
slowly releasing her form fitting mini skirt, her hips writhing from side to
side until the material fell to her ankles.
 
Beneath was a lace garter belt, hose and sheer, bikini panties, all
midnight black.
  
Smiling seductively,
peaking over her shoulder, she arched her back massaging her buttocks with
purpose, added enticement prompting Ted to release his smoldering rod.

           
Ripping off his tie, he
flung it onto the desk and adeptly popped the buttons of his shirt, beneath a
wooly chest heaving in expectation.
 
Perspiration beaded his forehead while a hand returned to his penis
attempting to ease its pain.

“God, baby, you're the best.
 
Don't
stop . . . more, more.”

           
Placing her hands on the
top of one thigh Stacy released a garter gliding the stocking to her ankles a
process bending her over sufficiently to touch her toes, a position that ripped
from Ted's throat, “Enough! I can't take any more.
 
Turn around my seductress look at what you’ve
done.
 
It’s time you finished what you
started.”

           
Willingly Stacy obliged,
bending over positioning her soft lips upon Ted's, their tongues delved in and
out and around.
 
His, hands greedily
cupped the breasts pressed against his chest, fingers and thumbs teasing the
already erected nipples causing moans to catch within the cavern of their
mouths.
 
Lifting his lips from hers just
long enough to catch a breath, Ted cried out in desperation.
 
Fingers locked in her hair directed her mouth
to one of his nipples, then inched it down to his flat hairy stomach and lastly
upon his penis.
 

Expertly Stacy brought forth sharp jolts of finality while his eyes
sealed tightly and he held his breath to trap screams of ecstasy deep within
leaving him dazed and depleted.

During their delirium, they were oblivious to the intercom flashing
brightly with calls beckoning their attention, all of them from Howard
Sommer’s.

CHAPTER 21

          
Chair legs scrapping across the
scarred plank floor drew everyone's concern to the murky corner.
 
Irritated to a screaming point, a woman's
shrill voice broke through the clamorous, crowded bar, halting the muddled
conversation and laughter.

 
You are out of your mind, crazy, dumber than I
thought.
 
Don't touch me you big shit.”

 
Brad's hand grabbed Bernice's wrist ceasing her
escape. Trying to maintain composure, through gritted teeth he pleaded, “Calm
down, and listen, Bernie.
 
Please, sit.”

Still angry with him
from the evening they shared, she sputtered, “Nothing you say is going to
change my mind.
 
Just stay away and leave
me alone.
 
Do you hear me?” Twisting her
wrist tightened Brad's grip.
  
Straining
to ignore the wounded expression on his face, his onyx eyes outlined with long
dark lashes hypnotized her.

“Please, Bernie,” he begged.
 
Lifting her hand to his warm lips, he brushed
it with a sizzling kiss.

“Jesus, man, what did you do that
for,” she bellowed, quickly wiping the moisture on her uniform, unfortunately
not before a warm, tingling sensation penetrated her soul.

Motioning
to a server, Brad uttered, “Could we have more beer over here, please?”

 
“I don't want another beer.”

”Well, I do,” he shouted, yanking her down on the
chair with a thud-causing patron's to gawk in disbelief.

           
With a look of indignation, Bernie
screeched, “You, despicable bully.
 
Why
should I do anything for you?
 
You're
taking advantage of me because you know damn well I'm crazy about you . . . you
big over-grown, hairy louse.”

           
“Believe me, Bernie, I wish I were
in love with you, my life sure as hell would be simpler.
 
We would leave for Wyoming tonight and kiss
this city good-bye forever.
 
You wouldn't
want me to lie to you, would you?’

Confused and hurt by his simple honesty, tear stung eyes glanced away.
“Yes . . . no . . . Well, maybe a little,” she whined like a wounded puppy.

           
Releasing his hold, cupping Bernie's
chin forced her to focus on him.
 
“A
relationship between us wouldn't work and you know it.
 
That is why I never got involved with you.
 
You deserve more. You are wonderful kind, and
loving, someone who does not need a man that would deceive and betray you.
 
I have never appreciated the manner in which
Ted treats you.
 
I value your friendship
and don not want to defile it.
 
I'm at my
ropes end.
 
I came to you that night
because I trusted you and knew you would understand me.
 
You possess qualities difficult to find in a
woman today.
 
You are special.
 
I'm asking you strictly as a friend.
 
Help
      
me.”

Bernie pulled a hideous face at him. “You’re full of bull shit up to
your black eyes, Brad Johnson.”

                       
Propping his elbows on the
table, Brad cradled his head in his hands desperate to find another way.
 
His request was far from a fair one, but
there was no one else who could help him out of this mess.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................................................…………………………………….........................

           
Leaving the pool Brad returned to
the penthouse to quickly change and jot a note to Sam explaining his departure
was due to unexpected business.
  
For the
first time in his life, a woman frightened him enough that he could not be
trusted alone with her.
 
Intuition
screamed it would fuel disaster.
  
Determined not to come between Ted and Sam, he would do whatever
necessary, but how was he going to protect her unless he was with her?
 

Searching for an answer, Bernie was the only one he could turn to.
 
She could watch over Sam when he had other
things to do.
 
All he had to do now was
convince her.
  

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................................................................……………………………………….......................

           
Bernie's
brow furrowed in perplexity.
 
“I can't
believe you want me to be a friend to that cowboy, take her places, and watch
out for her.
 
Pretend I'm your girl.
 
God, it takes balls after she stole Ted from
me and now, now.
 
.
 
. Dammit.”

           
A
slight spasm of irritation over powering Brad's guilty feelings induced a sharp
rebuttal.
 
“You're wrong, Bernie.
  
Sam did not take Ted from you.
 
You never had him to begin with and you know
it, they belong together, they are in love.
 
He wants to marry her.”

           
Brad's
sharp jolting words made Bernie wheel and slice him a glance.
 
As her breasts heaved, “Since when is Ted capable
of love?
 
You and I both know him for the
louse he is.
 
Maybe he just thinks he
wants to marry her.
 
He has a reputation
of doing things just for the hell of it, ruining people’s lives.
 
You can't let him do that.
 
If you're in love with Sam, tell her.
 
Give her a choice.
 
Go after her with all you have.
 
God knows you have more to offer than Ted,
convince her he isn't what he appears before it is too late.”
 

           
 
Shit, Bernie thought privately, you just gave
the most convincing speech of your life, you idiot.
 
Suddenly she wished she could recapture the
words that were like moths fluttering from her mouth.