This had to be the worst idea ever, she thought as she tossed a folder on her desk.
She hadn’t even noticed that Kent had followed her until he was standing in her office and spoke. “Nice office,” he said admiring the spacious layout. He strolled over to the floor to ceiling windows that displayed the beautiful downtown Chicago skyline with a glimpse of Lake Michigan. He smiled, “Great view. Better than the view from my office up in Schaumburg.”
Tamara turned around so fast it’s a wonder she didn’t create a windstorm. “No, no, no! You can’t be here. You have to leave. Now!” she nearly screamed at him.
“Hey, I’m just as surprised as you are. I had no idea this was going down. I got a message, saying to meet at the downtown office, when I woke up this morning. I didn’t know they were going to merge departments like this, making us partners, co-partners, or whatever.” Kent said confused, himself. by the sudden shift of position.
“This is ridiculous. I put in a bid for the Chrysler campaign.”
“So did I.” Kent admitted, “Seems like they wanted their best minds together.” he joked.
Tamara rolled her eyes, “Oh god! How could they even think of such a thing?”
“Maybe they thought that we would work well together.”
“No, we won’t work well together.” Tamara said.
“Because we slept together?” he asked with a smirk.
“Yes! I mean, no, it’s not just because we slept together. We’re just too different. You do things your way and I do things the right way.” she pointed out.
“You didn’t seem to mind the way I did things the other night.” Kent grinned.
Tamara couldn’t control her blush before it erupted on her cheeks. “See! See, this is exactly what I mean. We can not work together.”
“But we could do that thing again, right. Or maybe something different. Maybe we can. . .” he leant forward and whispered in her ear the rest of his suggestion.
Tamara pushed him away. “That’s never going to happen!”
“What happened to us being adults, just having fun? Isn’t that what you said in Atlanta.” he said running his hand up her arm.
Tamara had to move behind her desk to put distance between them, before she could admit, “Okay, so I lost my good sense for a night. It was actually really good, but, it won’t ever happen again for several reasons.”
“You’re sober and we’re no longer strangers?”
“No,” Tamara said offended, “Because I don’t get involved with co-workers. It’s been a rule of mine, and I would like to stick to it.” She explained, “Look, I’m going to accept the Chrysler campaign and I don’t suppose it would be possible to convince you not to accept.”
“That we do agree on.” Kent said.
“So, we are going to be working together. Professionally only.” she added quickly.
“Until you decide you want more of this.” Kent grinned.
“Don’t hold your breath.” Tamara said giving him a warning look, but inside she was just barely holding it together. The way he looked at her, knowing he could make her orgasm like no man before him ever had, made her feel on edge. The line she never dared to crossed never seemed so whisper thin. To add width to that line, she went on. “Also, I’m in a relationship with someone.” she revealed.
“What do you mean? What kind of relationship?” Kent asked curious.
“I have a boyfriend. Craig. We live together. We’ve been together two years now.” Tamara said slowly regaining her resolve.
“So, you cheated on your boyfriend when we slept together. Well, we didn’t actually sleep, but you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I guess I did. Like I said, I had a lapse of judgment over the weekend. Maybe I had too much too drink. But it’s something that I’m confident will never happen again.” Tamara said crossing her arms across her chest.
When Kent walked out of Tamara’s office, Billie was standing next to the door, staring after him.
“Mm, who’s that tall drink of water? He’s tasty.” Billie grinned licking her lips.
“He’s trouble.” Tamara said.
“Trouble for some, an adventure for me.” Billie winked.
Tamara grabbed Billie’s arm, “Under any circumstances, you can not get involved with him. He’s off limits for you.”
“Ow, okay.” Billie agreed as Tamara let her arm go.
“I’m sorry, I just . . .” Tamara composed herself and apologized.
“Who is he anyway?” Billie asked even more curious.
“Kent James. The new Associate Marketing Director.”
Billie turned to her boss and frowned, “Wait? What? Where are you going?”
“Nowhere. Help me draft the Chrysler project outline and I’ll explain.” Tamara said as she got back to work.
=====
Over the next few days, Kent became the hot new subject around the office. All the single young ladies made a point of stopping by his new office to welcome him. Although Kent flirted back with every single one of them, he only had eyes for one person, Tamara. He didn’t understand his own single-minded focus on her. He had already fucked her, so what was this ongoing attraction to her. Maybe, it was the challenge of it, knowing that she was off limits and he found her rigid morality to be ironic and contradictory, especially after experiencing her unleashed in the bedroom. Maybe if the right situation presented itself, he could see her lose control again.
Later that week, during a meeting with Tamara and their marketing team members, Kent found it difficult to concentrate. His eyes stayed focused on Tamara as she stood before the group and presented the strategy for the Chrysler campaign. He had a very vivid memory of her body, her taste and smell, it was seared into him like a cattle brand. He had to resist the urge to slid his hand up her thigh, under her skirt, and make her remember how good he can make her feel.
After the meeting as Tamara is gathering her presentation, Kent stood by and just smiled at her.
“Well, that went great.” Tamara said, then added, “probably because you didn’t have much to say.”
“Because you did just well all by yourself. I really like your ideas.” Kent said.
Tamara turned to him with a surprised look, “Really?”
“Yes, Tamara. They are good ideas. You are not only beautiful and sexy as hell, but very smart and good at your job.”
Tamara took the compliment wearily, “Why are you being nice?”
Kent shrugged his shoulders and moved closer to her, “We don’t have to be enemies, we can be really, really good friends.” he said as he stood before her. Kent placed his hands on her waist, then slid them down to cupped her round ass. He held her close to him as he lowered his lips to hers.
Tamara’s breath caught in her throat as his lips brushed against hers, she also felt the unmistakably pressure of his cock pressed against her. She parted her lips and leant forward, his breath mingled with hers, but their kiss incomplete. Just then Billie opened the conference room door, “Hey Tamara, I need the. . .” Billie stopped short when she saw Tamara pull away from Kent quickly.
Kent cleared his throat and addressed Billie sharply, “What do you want?”
“Sorry. Am I interrupting something here?”
“No, nothing.” Tamara said and continued to gather her ipad. “I was just getting my things and leaving. I’ll meet you in my office.”
“Okay.” Billie said giving them both a suspicious look before leaving them.
“So, maybe later we can pick this up where we were unfortunately interrupted?” Kent asked.
“What? No, Kent, no. Nothing happened.” Tamara insisted as she walked away with damp panties and shaky legs.
Frustrated, Kent let out a heavy sigh and grabbed his own belongings, leaving the conference room for his office. Just for a moment, Tamara had let down her guards and if Billie hadn’t come in when she did, Kent had no doubt that they would have kissed, maybe more.
=====
Tamara was sitting at her desk going over a recent report when Billie stormed into the office, nearly slamming the door behind her.
“Oh, you little slut! You have been keeping a big secret from me.” Billie said.
“Um, excuse me?” Tamara asked confused. If Billie wasn’t such a good friend and a good worker, Tamara wouldn’t have thought twice about giving her walking papers for an entrance like that.
“You know what I’m talking about. I figured it out on my own because you couldn’t even tell your best friend the whole truth. It took me a while, but I put two and two together, and bam! I know who your Mr. Hot-lanta is!”
“Billie, come on. What are you talking about?”
“It was only after he told me that he attended the same conference in Atlanta, and then how he zipped up when I asked him about running into you. You little slut, you slept with Kent James.” Billie said with a smile.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tamara tried to deny it all, very poorly.
“Oh, c’mon. Admit it was him. You already told me how great it was, how hot he was, and now I have a name and a face to put with your hot sexy weekend.”
“It wasn’t the whole weekend. Just one night. That’s all.” Tamara said, knowing that she would regret it, “Then again in the morning.”
“Now I understand why you are so adamant against me flirting with Kent. You fucked Kent.” Billie said in a mocking sing-song tone.
“I had too much to drink.” Tamara tried to justify her choice, “He walked me back to the hotel. One thing lead to another and we kissed and things got heated. I was really missing Craig. It should have never happened.”
“So, when you two are in those closed door meetings, are you fucking him? Like the other day when I walked in on you two in the conference room. Kent actually looked like he would kill me for interrupting.” Billie asked curious.
“No, we are not fucking.” Tamara said in a low whisper.
“Why not? I’m not judging you. No, in fact, I would be proud of you.” Billie smiled. “I’ve always knew you had an inner sex vixen, once you let your hair down, you get down and dirty.”
“Billie! Nothing is going on between us. We can barely tolerate one another.” Tamara said.
“That’s even hotter. Hate sex.” Billie said excited.
“Stop it, Billie. I don’t hate him. We just clash when it comes to this job. I would rather not talk about Kent.” Tamara said, even though she couldn't stop thinking of him. “Craig will be back home in a few days, and I want to plan something special for him.”
“Whoa! Hold up. You fuck one of the hottest men alive and you still want to be with Craig?” Billie asked confused.
“Yes. We have a lot of history, and its not always about sex.” Tamara admitted.
“And did you think about all that history as Kent was giving you the ‘best oral you’ve had in your life’? Seriously, Tam, what’s wrong with you?”
Tamara shrugged, “I’m happy with Craig. We are doing really good and I really miss him.” she said, then added, “ And I’m never telling you anything, ever again.”
“I’m assuming that Craig is clueless about your little debauched weekend with Kent?”
“I don’t see any reason he should know. I made a stupid mistake, got carried away. Kent agrees. We both have a mutual understanding about what happened and why it will never happen again.”
Billie pouted, “Okay, so, if you both are over it, I guess I can be, too. It’s just, for a moment there, I thought I was rubbing off on you. Maybe you were learning to be carefree and easy.”
Tamara couldn’t resist a wicked grin, “I’m never easy. He had to work really hard to get this.”
“That’s more like it.” Billie smiled as she headed to the door.
“Oh, and Billie, you have to promise me this is not going to be the water cooler gossip.”
“You know me better than that.” Billie said feigning offense, “I promise it’ll be our little secret.”
As soon as Billie left Tamara’s office, she marched over to Kent’s office. She knocked once before entering.
“Hey, Billie, don’t be shy. Come on in.” he said sarcastically as she let herself into his office. He looked up from his work and smiled at her. “So, did Tamara send over the report?”
Billie just stood with her hands on her hips and tapping her foot as she looked him over.
“No, she’s still working in it.” she said.
“Um, so, did you want something else?” Kent asked.
“Maybe I would have if my best friend, and boss, hadn’t staked her claim.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about. What are you talking about, Billie?” he asked confused.
“You know, Tamara always confide in me. Not just work stuff, but personal, intimate matters, too.” Billie admitted.
“Okay, I see where this is going.” Kent stood and went to close his office door, then turned to Billie. “So, you know about Atlanta, huh?”
“Mmhm, every little raunchy detail.” Billie exaggerated. “I know all about how you ‘get down’.”
Kent laughed, “I didn’t figure Tamara as the kiss-and-tell type.”
“Did you know that she was absolutely glowing when she came in on Monday. She had a smile on her face, a pep in her step, she practically had rays of sunshine beaming out of her vagina. She was happy like I’ve never seen her before.”
“I usually have that effect.” Kent boasted, then leant in to Billie, “So, is that what you’re in here for? You want the Kent James effect?” he smiled at her.
Billie looked him up and down, “Baby, you wouldn’t be able to handle all this.” she grinned.
“I bet I can give it a good try.” Kent flashed his mega-watt smile and gave her a wink of his sparkling blue eyes..
Billie took a step back. “Well damn, you are fine. If only Tamara didn’t get her nails into you first. Not only will she fire me, she will kill me, if I dared laid one fingernail on you.”
“There’s nothing between us. She’s in a relationship, her boyfriend, Chris, Carl, something.”
“Craig.” Billie corrected him.
“Whoever. I like you Billie, you’re very straightforward and honest. I know what I’d be getting into with you.” Kent flirted.
“What if I told you that Tamara still thinks about you.” Billie said.
“I don’t care. I need someone more confident about what she wants, who’s not afraid of a powerful sex drive, her own or mine. I think you know what I mean.”
Billie had to keep her arms crossed or she would grab him and show him her powerful sex drive, “I really should have went to that conference, but as it is, Tamara still wants you. She haven’t admitted it to herself yet, but I know her. She protest too strongly, as if she is trying to convince herself.” Billie made her way to his door then stopped to add, “Craig is back in town next week. Make your move if you want her, again.”
After Billie left his office, her words stuck with him. For the rest of the day, all Kent could think about was the possibility of having Tamara again. He was still in his office after hours when he heard the unmistakably click of heels out in the hallway, going towards the elevators. With a practiced ear, he recognized the gait as Tamara’s. She had been avoiding him all week since their encounter in the conference room
Kent left his office and made a dash for the elevator, sliding his hand between the doors just as they were closing. The doors reopened and he stepped on. Tamara was standing in the middle of the elevator, alone. It was well after 6 o’clock, Tamara thought that she was the only one working late in the offices. She was surprised that Kent was still here. Tamara rolled her eyes when he stood next to her.
They both stood silent for a while before Kent smiled, “We have a thing with elevators, huh?”
Tamara stepped away from him and immediately regretted it. She didn’t want to show him that he still had an effect on her.
Kent just smiled, “By the way, I didn’t know that our little fling was up for sharing.” he said.
“What? What are you talking about?” Tamara asked confused.
“You didn’t leave out any details, too.