Sin and Desire (33 page)

*

The next morning Emma got busy with the drawings. I told her what size each should be. I suggested five be 9" wide by 36" tall that could be used side by side and that two should be 8" x 8" and one 4" x 12". I had all kinds of paper to draw on, tracing paper too and pencils and erasures galore.
I showed her an example of how to draw a bas-relief pattern.
I showed her how to work the scanner/photocopier/printer unit.
She set herself up in the little office at the drafting table. I didn't bug her or check in on her. I could see her working away through the window. Sometimes the pencil would be set in her lips. Sometimes she was referencing something on the internet. She seemed to be really enjoying herself.
It warmed my heart.
By the end of the day she didn't have eight drawings. She had twenty four. Each drawing came in three versions. Sparsely carved, luxuriantly carved and an intermediate between the two. The most astonishing element was that with the five large drawings, she had managed to pattern the work such that every panel perfectly aligned with every other panel creating a continuous carving of lilies in abundance. The five could be mix and matched in any number of possibilities. Each one became a unique pattern of lilies.
I was stunned.
"Do you like it?" she asked with trepidation in her face.
"I can't believe what I'm looking at Emma, this is 
amazing
! Do I like it? It's unbelievable. You're unbelievable."
She was beaming.
I put the drawings down, "Come here give me a kiss," I said.
"Unh unh unh, not in the shop," she said wagging a finger at me but still smiling.
"Step outside then lady." She skipped to the door. I followed.
We hugged and kissed. "You absolutely amaze me," I told her as we embraced. She hugged me tightly. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "You really are beautiful you know." More tears flowed.
"I was afraid you weren't going to like them."
That inner insecurity was still there. "I love them," I said. I wondered if I loved her too. It was sure getting to feel that way.
"Any chance you can stay the night?" I asked, still hugging her.
"Sorry I can't tonight," she frown up at me, "it's my dad's birthday."
How disappointing. Right then and there I realized just how hard I'd fallen for Emma.
 

*

It took me pretty well all of Wednesday to price up what Emma had drawn and to prepare the proposal. They could buy only a little carving work or a lot, depending on their tastes and budget. I let her read the final draft. She marked it all up in red pencil 
greatly 
improving it all.
While I was preparing the proposal, Emma had carved a sample of one of the 9" x 36" panels.
She went home that night, much to my dismay.
 

*

Thursday we delivered the proposal and sample to Frank Proulx. He flipped through the proposal, looked at the drawings, examined the sample and flipped through the proposal again. He looked at me, at Emma, then said, "Next time, I'm just going to Emma. This is amazing. The client is going to love it. Your proposal and design is perfect. It gives them any number of options to choose."
Emma squeezed my hand under the table.
We talked about money for the project. Frank said he was a little baffled, the client hadn't given him an overall budget. He would simply go to the client, offer them several options and they would pick one and the working budget was adjusted accordingly. Or they would send him away in search of another solution.
He explained that he was going nuts trying to find landscape lighting that would satisfy the client. The client was adamant that the fixtures be shaped like a Day Lily. It's something he had promised his wife.
On our drive back, Emma asked me why we couldn't make a light fixtures that are shaped like a lily.
"It's a light fixture. It's made of metal, it's got glass, something that the light bulb has to plug into and wire." I said.
"So?"
"Emma, we have a wood shop, not a metal shop."
"So, we design it and we sub it out."
"Emma, what do you know about designing a light fixture?"
"Nothing, Sam. What I do know is that Frank has a problem which is essentially a design and manufacturing problem and we design and do effectively small manufacturing." She glared at me with that 'duh' look.
She was absolutely correct. "I do know a couple of metal shops," I said, then added, "and a custom glass blowing place. You're brilliant, you know that."
She smiled and grabbed my hand squeezing it.
"Let me call Frank," I said. I called him from the pick-up truck as we drove along. He picked up.
"Frank, it's Sam. I've got Emma beside me, we're on speakerphone."
"Yes?"
"Emma's got an idea for your lighting problem."
"Okay?"
"What if we put a drawing together of what the light fixture should look like...," I said.
"Fixtures."
"Okay fixtures. We'll design them so they more or less follow the same pattern as the wood carvings and we'll have a metal shop make them up. I know a glass guy."
"Emma?" Frank asked, "Can you really do that?"
"Yeah, why not?" she said.
"Sounds great," he said, "can you do it in stainless steel?"
"Yes," I answered. "Anything can be done for a price. But never mind the money right now. How many different types of fixtures are required and how many of each?"
"A downlight pendant, an uplight spot, wall scones and lights for the steps, but those I've got figured out. So, three types. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me right now but call it two hundred pendants, fifty spots and fifty wall scones. And you know what? I know a guy who can actually make the fixtures, you know, do the wiring and all that, but he can't make the decorative part."
"That's perfect Frank," Catlin said leaning into the cell phone, "when do you meet with the client?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
She said, "We'll have drawings for you by then, concept drawings anyway. Can you send us something that shows us what you're looking for functionally? Like some catalogue cuts?"
"I can email you what I've proposed so far and the lighting plans. I can do that right now."
"Great." We both said.
"Emma, you're brilliant. Sam, do you have any idea how lucky you are to have Emma?"
"Every day is a new surprise Frank," I smiled at her, she was beaming back, "and I count my blessings every day."
We ended the call. Emma was almost bouncing in her seat. I was so happy for her.
"Thanks Sam," she said smiling and squeezing my hand.
"Emma, I didn't do anything. This is all coming from your brain."
She couldn't stop grinning as she looked out the window. On top of everything else she had good business acumen too. Just how lucky could I get?
"I need to work a little late tonight. Do you mind if I stay at your place?" she asked with mock innocence in her face.
I was getting to know that mock innocent look.
"You expect me to cook?" I asked.
"No," she laughed and then added, "take-out."
"Deal." She hugged my bicep as we drove.
When we got back to the shop Emma ensconced herself in the little office again. I did some shop work and then cleaned up, leaving her working in the office.
After showering, I took off to pick-up Chinese food. They don't deliver where I am. As I pulled in with the food I noticed the shop light was off. Emma was up in the shower. On the dining room table were six drawings. Three were free-form sketches, one of each lily fixture type. The other three were drawings that showed each fixture in front, side and top views complete with dimensions, just like a professional draughtsman would make.

Again, I was stunned.
I carefully put the drawings away and set the table.
"What do you think," she said as she came down the stairs in t-shirt and sweats.
"I think you're lovely," I said, "and I love your nipples too."
"Not that, of the drawings silly."
"Ah, no shop talk," I said as she gave me a kiss.
"Okay, but what do you think?" she pressed.
"Emma, seriously. You don't cease to amaze me." I kissed down onto her smiling lips.
Chinese food was the standard fare. Beef fried rice, egg foo young, chicken balls with sticky red sauce, eggs rolls and fortune cookies.
Emma watched as I unpacked the food. I could see that she was being very polite, forcing a smile on her face.
"I'm sure it will be lovely," she said as I spilled the little packets of soy sauce onto the counter.
"Have you ever thought about getting tied-up and then having sex?" she asked as we sat down to eat.
Where did that come from?
"What, do you mean bondage?" I asked I'm sure with a little surprise in my voice.
"Kinda. I guess," she replied as she scooped up some rice.
"Well no," I said, "the idea of receiving, or inflicting pain seems ridiculous. Why, is there a dark side to you that I don't know about? Is this a Goth thing? I thought that was just fashion."
"It is just fashion," she answered and then reflected for a moment before continuing, "well for me anyway. No and it's not about pain. I'm just curious about, oh, I don't know..." She ate a mouthful of rice.
"Tying someone up and then forcing yourself on them?" She was being coy all of a sudden.
"No, no," she answered with a mouthful.
"Having someone tie 
you 
up," I said.
She looked up at me with a bit of a leer on her face. So that was it. She wants to be tied up. "And have what done to you?" I asked studying her reaction.
She swallowed, thought for a second or two then answered, "I guess that's the point isn't it? You don't have any choice." Her leer widened into a smirk.
So she was asking me to tie her up and do what? Fuck her? Feed her my cum? She already does that. She did say it's not about pain. I couldn't see myself whipping her.
"Is this about forced orgasms?" I asked.
Mock innocent look, "Maybe."
Okay. This could get interesting. "Let me get this right," I said, "you want me to tie you up, restrain you somehow, and then force you to have multiple orgasms. Is that it?"
"Maybe," she answered her eyes on the ceiling above.
So that's a yes, I realized.
I sat contemplating what she had just asked. Did she want to submit herself fully and completely to my innermost depredations? If I did that would I lose an employee out of the deal and would the country squire scare her off too? I'm male and by definition a sick fuck, like all other guys. Does she have any idea of what she's asking?
But then she's fucked up too. Nipple rings and pussy rings. Gee. And her cum eating fetish. What the hell else is there about this girl?
I needed to find out.
And I knew she wasn't going to just tell me.
Okay. One step at a time.
"Only if it does not involve anyone else," I said, "it's just you and me."
With a very calm voice and a sincere expression she said, "I'm cool with that. I wouldn't want it any other way. Just you and me. No third parties."
Did I just agree?
"You'll have to give me a day or two to sort myself out."
She was beaming.
After dinner we cleaned up, watched some TV then we went to bed. I fucked her silly again and of course she needed a little dessert afterwards.
"Emma, can I ask you something?" I asked as we lay in bed afterwards.
"What?"
"Something serious."
"What?"
"Am I taking advantage of you?"
She pulled on my soft cock.
"Yes you are."
Fuck. Is she serious when she said that? Seriously, am I? She's a fantastic employee, a fantastic cook and housekeeper, and a sex maniac. The reality is...I don't deserve this girl.
"I don't mean to be taking ..."
"Sam, you duffus," she gave my cock a really tight squeeze, "if anything, I'm the one taking advantage of you!"
I winced in pain a little, "How so?"
"You're the eligible bachelor, you're the good looking guy, you've got the steady income," she squeezed my balls, then gently rolled them in her fingers, "you're the one with the big heart, you're the sweet kind gentleman, which I'm working on," she switched back to my cock, "and you're the one with the big stiff cock."
Only it wasn't stiff.
"Happy cock," I said.
"It certainly makes me happy!"
I kissed her. Her tongue practically gouged me.
We sat for a moment contemplating the ceiling.
"Sam?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think I'm taking advantage of you?" Her voice was very timid.
"Of course you are," I said, joking.
Wrong thing to say. She started sobbing.
"I'm joking!" How could anyone's emotions turn on a dime like that?
"No you aren't."
"Of course I am Cate, you're crazy. Actually that's not true. I'm crazy. About you!"
She let go of my cock and balls and gave me a big hug.
"I'm crazy about you too," she said.
I wiped the tears from her face with my fingers.
"Cate, you drive me nuts. My biggest fear is of losing you."
She squeezed me again and started crying again. After a few minutes of licking her tears from her cheeks, cuddling her and kissing her softly I slipped my hand onto the nipple ring of her right tit.
"Emma, what do you want in life?"
"I don't know, what about you?"
"I don't know. I just want to be happy."
"Are you happy now?" she asked.
"With you, yes," I answered, "very happy."
"I'm more than just happy ," she said as she adjusted her position on the bed to give me a big, solid kiss. "I...I...lo..."
I kissed her suppressing the words she was trying to stammer out. I knew I loved her. I couldn't let her say the word. It was too early. I couldn't let her back herself into a corner, just to regret it later. If she said she loved me, I know how I would have reacted. I would have smothered her with affection. She was my employee. And my fuck-buddy. Had I heard her say, "I love you,' to me in a meaningful way, I would have broken apart. I would have been on my knees kissing her feet and asking her to marry me. To have my bambinos.
That would have surely scared her away.
I bit my tongue. Or rather I bit hers.
"Emma, I am taking advantage of you. And I'm enjoying every minute of it."
She broke out into a huge grin and squeezed me tightly.
"And I'm taking advantage of you, and loving every minute of it too."
"You're so sweet," I said, "now turn off the lights and let's go to sleep."
She did. And in no time we were snoring.