CH. 4

Here is what I wrote for the month of September and October. Please note that none of this has been edited. I just let the words flow from my fingertips onto the page and this is what they wrote. Enjoy.

NADIA

The weekend flew by and Monday crept up on me without any warning. I still had no idea how to talk or even deal with my feelings about Derrick. I tried to talk to Faisa about this but I didn’t feel the advice was helpful. 

“Girl, date him. Stop tripping and let that man wife you up,” she practically screamed in my ear on the phone. 

“But he’s my boss. It’s unethical.” 

“You weren’t worried about that when you were making out in a public diner.” 

“Well, I’ve had time to think about it and I realize we shouldn’t have kissed and we need to end things now before they go too far,” I stated. 

“Is that what you want?”

In one word, no. I liked being with Derrick. Not just because of all the kissing. He was kind and patient and understanding, willing to listen and give me time and space, such small things that none of my exes seemed to know how to do. Although Derrick was nearly ten years older than me. Maybe that’s what I needed all along, an older man who was mature enough to be in a relationship. Should I give that up simply because he was my boss? 

“Hello, earth to Nadia?” 

“Huh? Oh sorry. What were you saying?”

“Look girl, he’s just a man and you’re just a woman. You making this more complicated than it has to be. Just find something to wear and head on to work. I have to get these kids ready for school.” 

“Okay. Yeah, you’re right. Well, have a nice day.”

“You too girl.” And she hung up. 

I could be real dense sometimes. Faisa had bigger and more important things to worry about than my love life. I should have been more sensitive to her instead of worrying about my stuff. Derrick was just a man and I, a woman. It wasn’t that serious. 

So, I pulled out a black blazer, a plain yellow button down and some black slacks. I put on my clothes, ignored the inkling to change because I looked like a bumble bee and headed to work. 

My piece-of-shit car decided not to start so I had to walk to the bus stop and wait. Which was fine because it gave me time to plan my approach with Derrick today. Obviously don’t kiss him or even touch him for that matter. We were professionals and needed to act like it while at work. 

I took out my phone and opened my Notes app, jotting down ‘No Kissing’ and ‘No Touching’ at the top of my Rules for Work List. It wasn’t a great title but the message was clear, ‘Don’t Be Inappropriate with your Boss!’ 

By the time I got to work I had at least thirteen rules on my list. It was a rough draft but it was something. I could finish the rest once I got inside my office. 

As soon as I walked in, I was immediately met with strong muscles and firm hands gripping my shoulders whilst smoky . . . No earthy . . . No musky cinnamon and cloves and warm spices wafted through my senses. I braced myself for those piercing blue eyes to be staring back at me, for the flip in my stomach and the hitch of my breath. I clearly did not brace enough. 

When I looked up at Derrick, he was wearing dark blue frames around his beautiful face that only enhanced his gorgeous features. His eyes were bluer than I remembered, his jaw more chiseled and his hair somehow quaffed. Was it always this luscious and silky? Last time I had my hands in his hair, it felt clean and smooth and soft but I didn’t remember it looking so sexy. 

“Good morning,” Derrick broke through the fog first. 

“Oh, good morning.” I released myself from his grip and took a step back, putting some much needed space between us. “How was your weekend?” 

I tried to keep things casual but the electric current that was swimming through my veins could not be denied. 

“My weekend was good,” I finally answered him. “How was yours?”

He paused for a moment, looking intently at me as he chewed his bottom lip, as though he were considering his words. He looked unsure for a moment, eyebrows knitted together in uncertainty before he set them firm, drawing in a deep breath as he squared his shoulders. 

“We should talk about what happened Friday.” 

I was surprised for a moment but then I squared my shoulders, and took in a deep breath, nodding my head in agreement. “You’re right. We do need to talk. I did manage to draft some rules—“

I reached into my bag, rummaging around for the notes I wrote while on the bus but somehow I got tangled in my purse strap and fell forward, right into Derrick’s strong, firm, muscular chest. 

“Mmm,” i moaned aloud. Then realized what I had done and flung myself backwards and flat on my ass. 

“Are you alright?” 

He reached for me and I tried my hardest to scoot away from him. 

“I’m fine.”

“Nadia.”

What the hell was goin on with me? I was on the fucking floor scrambling away like some lovesick high school girl in an anime  or some shit. I needed to get my shit together, get off this damn floor, and set some heavy boundaries between me and my boss. 

I quickly leaped off the floor and wiped the dust off my ass. Calmly I tried again. “I’m fine. I really should be getting to work.” 

I knelt down to pick up all my papers (as well as my dignity) off the floor, trying my damnest not to look at him. I needed to get to my office and regroup. I didn’t want to seem like a lovesick fool over this man. I mean, the glasses did do something for me but he wasn’t that fine. Plus he was my boss. I shouldn’t be ogling after him. 

“Nadia.” His firm hand gripped mine and slowly pulled me up so that I was face to face with him. 

Maybe I shouldn’t have come in today. Maybe I should quit this job and start over again. Although it had only been a week, I couldn’t function properly around this man, how was I going to do my job. 

“Nadia, look at me,” he broke through my reverie.

I should have looked away. I should have freed myself from his grip. I should have run away and never looked back but the soft, gentle way he said my name compelled me to do otherwise. I lifted my chin slowly, eyes rooming over the deep, navy blue button down he was wearing. It appeared to be waving like the ocean at night, subtle but still moving. 

That’s when I realized it was his chest heaving up and down because of his breathing. It seemed rather labored and I immediately looked up at him, considering that something was wrong, but when I stared into those gorgeous cerulean, oceanic eyes of his, I saw a fierce burning desire for me in those eyes. All time stood still. The cold, black marble floor floated from beneath us as the slated, gray walls and hum of computers faded away until there was just me and him standing in the void together.

DERRICK

Our lips collided as hands roamed over every surface fingertips could reach. A low moan reverberated in her throat as my tongue entered her mouth, tasting the essence of her. My hands gripped her backside lifting her slightly off the ground as my legs carried us into my office before my foot slammed the door shut behind us.

I pressed her up against the door, wrapping her legs around my waist, my hands sliding down her back and gripping her ass. My mouth left hers, trailing down her chin to the beautiful swell of her neck, nipping and sucking gently, so as not to leave any marks. 

“Derrick,” she breathed, squeezing me tighter in between her thick thighs, thrusting her hips back and forth. 

“Would you like me to take care of that?” I pulled back from her, locking my gaze onto hers. 

“What?” She sobered up for a minute. 

“You heard me.” I pressed my hard, erect penis into her warm, wet core. 

Her breath hitched, her breasts melding into the fabric of my shirt, sending shivers through my spine, down to my groin. 

“We shouldn’t,” her lips spoke but her eyes roamed into the back of her head, her hips rolling against my hard on. 

No one was in the office. It was just me and Nadia. If I were quick, I could give her what she needed before anyone came in. But Nadia deserved more than a quickie at work. No, she deserved to be treasured and savored, allowing her orgasm to climb to the highest high without fear of someone catching her. 

With every fiber of my being, I peeled myself away, rubbing my hands through my hair to clear my thoughts. Nadia reached for me, begging me to come back to her embrace, and I desperately wanted to, but soon her eyes fluttered open and reality set back in. 

“Mm hm,” Nadia cleared her throat and straightened herself up. Her slender fingers combed through her buoyant curls, fixing the unfurl strands before she squared her shoulders and turned to leave my office. 

“We should behave professionally from this point forward,” she said. Her back turned to me. “I wrote down a list of rules on my way here to work. I’ll finalize and send it to you straight away.” 

I nodded, although she couldn’t see me nodding. I ran a hand down my face, trying to scrub the sexy thoughts from my mind and take in what she was saying. 

“Sounds good,” I told her. And just as she was about to leave, I added, “Make sure to send it to my personal email. That way no one from the office will get wind of this.” 

“Understood.” Then she was gone, leaving me to thoughts and wondering what these rules were. 

Derrick sat in his office contemplating these rules Nadia had written for them. What sort of things did she not want him to do? Would he be willing to agree to them? 

Off the bat he knew he would agree to anything she wanted. He was completely taken with her and didn’t want to do anything to rock the boat, lest she decided this was a mistake. 

Maybe he should come up with some rules of his own, to show that he was in support of her rules. Although, if he were being honest, he thought the idea of prohibitions between them unnecessary. They were consenting, professional adults, surely they could handle themselves in the workplace. 

Then a flash of her eyes rolling into the back of her head as moans escaped her lips flooded his brain and he quickly realized she was right. They did need rules because if he were to ever be left alone with her again, he just might devour her. No doubt everyone in the office would mar her as a corporate climbing slut and him a power-abusing man-whore. And he didn’t want to ruin Nadia’s reputation. 

Since hiring her, things in the office had run exponentially better and much more efficiently than his last assistant, the witch named Whitney. 

A moment later, there was a soft knock on the door. Derrick could feel Nadia’s nervousness on the other side of the door but he resisted the urge to get up and greet her. He was her boss and needed to treat her as he would anyone else. 

“Come in,” he called out. 

Slowly, the door creaked open and Nadia’s fro tentatively popped in before the rest of her followed suit. 

“Yes?” he prompted. 

“Um, is it okay if I come in Mr. Holden?” 

He felt saddened. He knew they needed more professionalism between them but she seemed absolutely terrified. Had he come on too strong? Was she now regretting what had transpired between them and wanted to end things before they’ve barely begun? 

“Nadia.” He stood up and came around to the front of his desk, meeting her halfway and enveloping her in a hug. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” she said as she placed her hands on my chest, trying to push me away but I grabbed her hands in mine and held her close. 

“Are you having second thoughts?” 

“What?!” She looked up at me. “No. Are you?”

“Of course not. Listen Nadia,” I began, pulling her near my desk and sitting her down in the seat in front of it. “I meant what I said. I want a relationship with you but not at your expense. If i’ve said or done anything to make you uncomfortable, please, tell me. I don’t want there to be any confusion or angst between us.” 

“Derrick, you did nothing wrong but I am worried. How are we going to make this work, I can’t even walk into your office without worrying whether or not you’re going to kiss me, touch me or  . . . you know  . . . fuck me,” she whispered the last part. “And I want you to do all those things to me, just not at work. Understand?”

He nodded, reading her loud and clear. She wanted to continue things, she just didn’t need to complicate things whilst at work. Which he figured but Nadia needed reassurance. And if he wanted to keep Nadia, he had to do what was best for her. 

“Okay,” he lamented, distancing himself from her, putting his hands up in the air. “I’ll look over your recommendations, as well as make a few of my own and get back to you. When would like this sent back to you?” 

She blinked a few times before shaking whatever thoughts were swimming in that beautiful head of hers. “A solid 48? Think you’ll be done by then?”

I could do 24 hours but this wasn’t the time to show off. From what little i knew about Nadia, she didn’t seem like the type of woman to appreciate machismo attitude. It wasn’t a race. I really should take my time and consider her words and what I want to say as well. 

“48 hours will be just fine. Anything else?”

She nodded her head back and forth then slipped out of my office to leave me alone with my thoughts.