Chapter 7

      I close my laptop and sigh. I have thirty minutes to recollect myself before diving back into my work. I'm exhausted after tossing and turning for the remainder of the night. An ongoing sense of anxiety gnawing at me all morning. After nightmares like the one I'd had last night, I'm left emotionally and physically drained.

Only a few more hours to go, Kris. 

I tap my fingers against my desk before retrieving my phone from my bag. The screen lights up, indicating that I have a new text.  

E: I hope you're having a good day. 

I smile and reply to his message, softly gliding my thumbs across the screen. 

K: A bit stressful... But I'll survive. Yours? 

E: Busy, but I find myself to be a bit distracted this morning. 

K: Distracted? How so? 

E: Just thinking about a beautiful woman who was in my shower the other night... 

My heart skips a beat and I drag my tongue across my bottom lip. 

K: I'm sure she was a very lucky girl. 

E: Or I was just a lucky guy. 

I rub my neck for a moment before quickly pulling my hand away. I look down and see a streak of concealer on my fingers. I turn on my phone camera and examine my neck. The red marks are visible again. It's been two days and they have barely faded. 

Dammit. 

I pull my hair over my shoulder, braiding it and resting it against my bitten neck. 

K: Damn you. 

E: Why's that? 

K: Leaving hickies on me like a horny teenager... 

E: A fun reminder of our night though, is it not? 

K: I'll admit that it is. 

E: Good. I'd be disappointed if it wasn't. 

I bite my thumb nail and stare at the screen. I type a new message. 

Send it, Kris. Send it. I hear Kate's encouraging voice in my head. 

K: Anything you would like to check off your list? 

I suck in a sharp breath through my teeth and put my phone down onto my desk. I rest my elbows on the desktop, folding my hands together and circling my thumbs around each other, impatient for a response. A new message arrives. 

E: I could think of a few things... 

The muscles between my legs tighten, thinking about the different ways he could touch my body. 

K: I'm always open to suggestions. 

E: I'll let you get creative while I get back to working and I'll share more later. 

Damn. Not quite the response I was hoping for. 

E: But before I go... 

A picture follows his text. I examine it closely. It takes me a moment to process what I am seeing. I gasp and cover my mouth. The image appears to be taken underneath a desk. His erection is hard and clearly defined through his navy pants. 

Oh, fuck yes. 

I stand up and close my office door, allowing for some privacy. I ease myself back down onto my chair and open my camera. I unhook the top button of my blouse and trace my finger down my chest, pulling the fabric aside to ever so slightly expose my cleavage. I angle my phone and snap a picture, quickly re-buttoning my shirt. 

K: Two can play that game... 

I send the message and put my phone back into my purse. I bite my bottom lip and smile as I open my laptop. 

No more distractions, Kristine. Back to work. 

**** 

I fish the files out of my work bag and drop them down onto my kitchen table. I usually don't bring work home, but it was crunch time. The Harris case may be the death of me but if it'll help me advance in my career I'll do whatever it takes. I change out of my work clothes into something more comfortable: my favorite gray sweater that hangs loosely off of my shoulders and black leggings. I wash my makeup off, and put my hair up into a messy bun. 

Much better. I sigh. 

I grab a soda from the refrigerator and seat myself at the table, anxiously eyeing up the work laid out in front of me. I've been a case manager for years, working in a variety of positions, but only recently did I move into working on legal cases. More often than not I worked with investigators and law enforcement. This time around was different. To be paired with a lawyer sounded intimidating, but nonetheless, I was intrigued. 

I turn on my personal laptop and open up to my messages. I needed to work, but after that last text I had sent to E, I didn't want to miss his response. 

Another hour or so passes of hand writing additional notes onto each document. I set my personal computer and work laptop side by side to look at digital copies of the documents and forms, but also glancing up from time to time to peek at my screen, eager for E's response. It's nearly nine and there's still no reply from him. The words on the document in front of me become a blur after hours of reading. My eyes grow heavy and my head drops down lower and lower. I give in and allow my eyes to close, resting my chin on my left hand, my right still gripping onto my pen. 

Just for a second... 

My computer chimes and I jump, throwing my pen and hitting my knee against the edge of the table. 

Ow, Fuck! 

I reach down and rub my raw skin. I groan as I tap the computer mousepad, and bring the screen back to life. 

E: That picture was a delicious surprise. 

K: I hope I didn't cause any more work distractions... 

E: I nearly opened my messages on my computer. You're lucky I didn't. 

K: Anyone nearby who would have seen it? 

I laugh at the idea of someone else seeing my revealing workday picture. Though the image was meant for him, there was something amusing about my body being displayed. 

E: I may or may not have been at a conference table surrounded by coworkers. 

K: Definitely glad you didn't do that then. 

E: Mhm. How's your evening going? 

K: I can't seem to finish my workday... Ended up bringing it home with me. 

I look back at the piles of papers on my table. I sigh and close the folders. Now that E's replied there's no chance I'll be able to focus on anything but him. 

I think that's enough for tonight. 

E: I understand that, I've got a big project I'm working on right now. But I called it quits for the day. 

K: I'm about to do the same. 

I gather my files and put them back into my work bag, packing up both of my computers as well. I make my way into my living room, turning on the TV and laying down on the couch. I rub my eyes and let out a long yawn. I check the time on my phone. Is eight o'clock too early to go to sleep? I type out another message to E. 

K: Did you think of any other ideas for that list? 

E: I did have an interesting idea come to mind... 

I smile and lick my lips. 

K: Please share. 

I tuck my left arm under one of the throw pillows on my couch, supporting the weight of my head against it. I drape a blanket across my body, pulling my right arm out from underneath it to see my phone. I adjust the position of my body and settle in. 

E: I couldn't seem to focus during my meeting today. I got distracted at the idea of laying you out across the conference table and burying my face between your legs. 

My thighs press together at the image of that. 

Oh! 

K: Now that's an idea... 

E: A great one based on how it played out in my head. 

K: And would we be alone there after hours? 

E: Definitely not. That's part of the fun... Trying to get away with it while other people are in the surrounding offices. 

K: Risky! I love it. 

My heart pounds. What would it feel like, having him go down on me? My ex rarely did. He preferred to take, rather than to give. What a treat it was to be pleasured instead of doing the pleasuring. 

E: I would unbutton the rest of your shirt and pull your skirt up, exposing the bottom half of your body. 

K: And how do you know I'll be in a skirt? 

E: I just like imagining you in one... Plus it makes my access to you much easier. 

K: I'd lay back on the surface of the table, letting you do with my body what you please. 

E: Baby, there's a lot that I want to do with your body. 

I sit up on the couch and press my hand against my chest. I can feel my heart beating. My breathing is fast, causing my chest to rise and fall quickly. I trace my fingers up to the marks on my neck, remembering how his lips felt against my skin. It's impressive how his words have such an effect on me, painting images in my mind that I'd never considered before. 

K: If only this could be more than a fantasy, but I like your thinking. 

E: When can I see you again? 

Now, please. 

I groan and consider the rest of my week, realizing it may be a while until he touches me again. The next two days are packed full, planning to be in the office for longer hours, prepping the final touches for our case. Maybe a sexual release the evening before the meeting would put me in a better mood... 

K: Thursday night? My place? 

E: It's a date.