The Question (10 page)

“But you looked so cute. I didn’t want to intrude on your conversation with yourself. It would have been rude.” He reached out and took a green pepper, dancing out of the way when she tried to slap his hand.

“Very funny. Har, har, har. Are you done going over your files? I thought you’d still be at it.”

“I’m done for now. I’m tired of working and ready to play. Want to play with me? We can play doctor. You get to be the patient. Take off your clothes and let me examine you,” he said with a leer.

“I’ll pass, thanks.” Judging the grease hot enough, she threw the meat into the wok, waving away the blanket of steam that arose. Once she deemed the meat done enough, she added the veggies.

“You did that like a pro. I’m impressed.” Gail glanced over to find Greg watching her, an intent look on his face. “You like to cook?”

“Love to, but it’s not much fun cooking for one,” she confessed.

“You can cook for me anytime.”

“How do you know that I’m a good cook? You haven’t even tasted this.” She turned off the burner and moved the wok. “Hand me those plates, please.”

He passed her the plates she indicated and she scooped up food for both of them. Greg took the plate and fork she handed him, and immediately took a bite of food.

“This is good.” He nudged her out from in front of the stove and added more food to his plate.

“Help yourself,” she said dryly. “Please, feel right at home.”

He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I’m going to ignore the sarcasm, because I know inside that feminist heart of yours there’s a southern belle that’s tickled pink that I like your food enough to get more,” he smirked.

She laughed, knowing he was right. The complaint was for show.

“Would you think I was a heathen if I suggested eating in front of the TV while we watch the movie?”

“No, I would have suggested it myself but I didn’t want you think I was trying to rush you out of here.” Gail grabbed her food and got a drink from the fridge, motioned for Greg to do the same, and headed for the living room.

Greg cleared the papers off the table and set his food down. Then he went and set up the movie and started it playing. They ate through the previews and by time the feature started, they were almost done eating.

The movie was one of those action packed thrillers that captured her attention from the very beginning and held it. She barely noticed Greg clearing the plates from the table and taking them into the kitchen. 

He returned with bottles of water for both of them. She murmured a complaint when he repositioned both of their bodies so that he reclined on his back on one of the couch pillows and she lay between his legs, her head and chest supported by his back.

She was totally engrossed in the movie, so much so that she couldn’t tell at what point she drifted off to sleep. Her body was being stroked from shoulder to hips, and she arched into the caress like a cat. “Jason,” she sighed sleepily and the stroking stopped.

When she murmured a complaint and rubbed against the erection pressing against her stomach, it continued. Gail slowly surfaced from sleep to realize her head pillowed on Greg’s chest. At some time during the movie, she had rolled over and one of her legs was thrown casually across his. A glance at the TV showed the movie was over.

Embarrassed, she planted a hand on either side of his chest and tried to lift off him. “I am so sorry I fell asleep on you. I must have been more tired than I realized.”

Greg locked his hands together at the small of her back, keeping her from moving. “Don’t be,” he said huskily, right before he flipped her onto her side between him and the back of the couch.

He captured her mouth in a kiss that gave no quarter. It demanded and got a response. He ate at her mouth, displaying his considerable skill as a lover. While her sleepy mind tried to catch up with the onslaught, his hand delved under her top and released the clasp on her bra. Once free of the encumbrance, his hand quickly claimed its prize. He caressed, stroked, and plucked her nipples until her whole body was shuddering with need.

When she was arching and rubbing against him, frantic to put out the fire he’d created in her body, Greg pulled away. “My name is Greg, not Jason. Maybe this will help you remember whose arms you’re lying in, hmm?”

Gail gazed blankly at him, her passion fogged mind not up to the task of deciphering what he was saying. Greg got up and gathered his coat and tie. “Bring the movie with you to work tomorrow, or I can just pick it up the next time I’m over. Don’t bother seeing me out.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. “See you tomorrow. Get some rest.”  He grabbed his briefcase and walked out of the door. She heard the click of the lock engaging behind him.

Gail lay on the couch, stunned and bewildered. She wanted to be mad that he’d deliberately aroused her when her guard was down and left her hanging, but something he said kept playing through her mind. Why had he mentioned Jason?

She could understand him being upset because she fell asleep. That was rude of her, but what did that last crack mean? She rose from the couch and straightened her clothes, then the rest of the place, her mind going over the events of the evening.

Finally, it came to her when she was lying in bed, half asleep. She thought she’d been dreaming, but maybe she hadn’t. Had she really called him Jason? Oh boy, no wonder he was ticked. No man liked being called by another man’s name, for any reason.

What he’d done was cruel, but effective. Her body knew his touch now. It wouldn’t automatically assume the hands touching her belonged to her dead husband. Well, at least that was one question answered. She could definitely say it was Greg she was attracted to, and not just the idea of having a man in her life and the personal attention he provided.

* * * *

The next morning, around ten, she called Mandy, Greg’s secretary, to see if he was available or busy with a client.

“No, he’s free right now if you hurry. He has to leave in about twenty minutes for court.”

“Thanks, Mandy. I’ll be right up.” Gail got up quickly, stopping only to let a co-worker know she’d be away from her desk for a few minutes.

When she entered Greg’s office, Mandy told her to go right in and winked at her, leaving her to wonder if she knew about the recent change in her and Greg’s relationship. She tapped on the door and walked in before he could grant her entrance. 

Greg looked up, the phone attached to his ear, with an expression that showed he was irritated at the interruption. When he saw it was her, he said to whomever was on the phone, “Listen, let me call you back later. Someone just came into the office…um-hmm…alright, goodbye.”

Gail rounded the desk and moved his paperwork to the side. Once it was clear, she sat on the edge of it, between his legs. “You know, I should be seriously pissed with you for getting me all stirred up then leaving,” she scolded, her legs kicking back and forth between them.

“Really?” He sat back in his chair and stretched his legs out on either side of hers.  “Then why aren’t you?”

“Because I have this vague memory of calling you Jason. Although I feel allowances should be made for the fact that I was half asleep at the time and didn’t know what I was saying, I can understand you’re being a bit miffed at the time.”

“Is that so?” He captured her by the ankles, lifted and separated her legs, and tugged. She slid off of the desk and into the chair with him, straddling his lap, her skirt indecently high upon her thighs.

He slid his hands up the back of her thighs, under her skirt. “Thigh highs. I like,” he murmured approvingly.

She settled more securely on his lap and braced her arms on his chest. “Glad you approve.” Gail lifted her chin and tilted her head, giving him easier access to the neck he was nuzzling.

He removed his hands from beneath her skirt and held her by the waist. “I told you I’d be your friend until you were ready for more, but I’ve been treating you more like we’re already lovers. If you’re feeling pressured, if I’m moving too fast for you, let me know.”

She leaned forward and kissed him, the first one she’d initiated. “I’m not ready to get naked with you, but I’m enjoying the attention and the affection you’re giving. I’ll let you know if I begin to feel uncomfortable.” In a way, she was glad he’d taken the initiative and forced her to accustom herself to his touch.

“Good, because the next time I have you in that position, I won’t stop until we’re both satisfied. Consider yourself warned.” He pulled her closer until she was nestled against his erection. With one hand cupping her head, he kissed her long and deep. “I have to be in court soon,” he said between kisses. “If I don’t leave in the next few minutes, Mandy will buzz me to see what the holdup is.” He possessed her mouth in another passionate kiss as his hands slid to cup her bottom and rub her gently against him.

Finally, Gail gathered her scattered wits and pushed him away. “I need to get back to my desk before they send out a search party.”  She climbed off his lap and stood, straightening her clothes.

Greg rose from his seat, crowding her against the desk. “It’s going to be hell walking into court with this massive boner I’m sporting.”

“You’ve no one but yourself to blame.” She tried to ease around him.

He caught her by the waist and brought her close for one final kiss. “There’s no telling how long I’ll be at court, and I’ll have to come back to the office to finalize some things. I won’t be able to see you tonight, or tomorrow night either. Why don’t I take you out Friday? We can catch a movie or something?”

“Sounds good to me.” She waited and watched while he slipped on his suit jacket and straightened his tie. She brushed his hair back off of his forehead. “Perfect,” she proclaimed.

He picked up his briefcase with one hand and put the other at the small of her back. When they reached the door, he opened it and pulled it shut behind them. “Mandy, take messages. I’m not sure when I’ll be back. Put anything that can’t wait until tomorrow on my desk.”

“Yes, sir.” Mandy’s gaze bounced between the two of them. Gail resisted the urge to look down and see if her clothes mussed. She wished she had a mirror. This was one time she was glad she wasn’t a makeup wearer. At least she didn’t have to worry about smudged lipstick.

Greg kept his hand on her back as he escorted her out of the office and into the elevator. More than a courtesy, it felt like he was staking claim. When the elevator stopped at her floor, he said as she was getting off, “If I get the opportunity, I’ll call you tonight.”

Gail nodded to acknowledge that she’d heard him as the doors slid shut and went back to her desk. Miraculously, nobody seemed to have missed her or inquired as to her whereabouts. She got back to work, happily anticipating the weekend to come.

Chapter Seven

It was another week before Crystal and Rashid returned from their vacation. Gail was home when she received the call.

“We’re back,” Crystal announce flatly.

“That must have been some trip. Four days that turned into two weeks? That’s not a mini-vacation. It’s a second honeymoon,” Gail teased.

“Yeah, I guess you could call it that.”

“What’s wrong? You just spent two weeks relaxing with your man. Why do you sound so depressed?  Didn’t you have fun?” After a vacation like that, Crystal should have been so mellow it oozed out of her voice.

“Oh, the trip was great. He took me to Paradise Island and it was beautiful. Anything I wanted to do, and any place I wanted to go, we did. You should see the stuff I bought. Oh, and I got you a souvenir.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s Rashid. He’s making me crazy. You’re right, the trip was a second honeymoon.  Everything would have been perfect if it weren’t for those damned condoms,” Crystal complained.

“Did you say condoms?” Gail wasn’t certain she’d heard correctly.

“Yes, condoms,” Crystal confirmed bitterly. “I hate those things. Rashid knows this but he refuses to make love without one, like I’m going to give him a disease of something.”

“Well, have you discussed this with him? If you haven’t, you should talk to him about how you feel.” Gail was really uncomfortable with this discussion.  A couples’ sex life was their private business. She didn’t want to know what went on in her friend’s bedroom. 

“I’ve told him I don’t like the damned things and we don’t need them. He insists. Says he won’t chance me getting pregnant again. It doesn’t matter that I’m on the Pill.”

“Other than that, you enjoyed your vacation, right?” Gail tried to redirect the conversation. “I hope you got plenty of rest, because I’m sure your work was piling up while you were gone.”

“I have assistants but some of my projects still got behind schedule. I’m going to have to work some long hours to catch up. That’s another reason I called. I may not make it to your next doctor’s appointment. Will you be okay by yourself?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. It’s probably going to be routine, and hopefully very short. You won’t be missing anything,” Gail assured her.

“I just wanted to make sure. I know we’re supposed to be doing this together and I promised to be there with you at all of the appointments.”