One. Two. One. Two. Three. My fists meet the punching bag in quick succession. Sweat trickles down my forehead to the front of my tank top. I go again, hitting the bag I pretend is Jei’s face until I tire myself out. Hugging the sagging bag, I scream but the sound is muffled by the music playing in the background. I snatch the bottle water lying in the corner, take a long, satisfying gulp and stare at my angry reflection.
Heated cheeks. Muscled arms I flex to release the tension. Short drenched in sweat. Tank top glued to my sweaty chest. The lights reflect on my forehead, I swat the hair sticking to my face and groan. The late night workout didn’t help. Fuck. Walking out of the gym with my head cast down, I jog to the room.
It is hard to stay focused since I haven’t heard from him. Sure, there are other investors, a lot of people would be honoured to work with me. Only little problem is, they don’t have the money nor patience Jei does. Expanding in new countries is risky, a risk I am willing to take. I don’t have to deliver immediately and he’s fine with that. He has all the time in the world. But the fucker still won’t call me back. How hard is it to pick up your phone and hit the dial button? After I get the brat’s response in writing, signed and the contract sitting in my inbox, I won’t mind beating the shit out of him for keeping me waiting.
I toss my damp clothes in the laundry basket with a mental note for Lydia to get mine and the kids. I haven’t had time to do anything domestic, I barely have time for myself. Waiting is cruel. I hate waiting.
Water jets down my body, I don’t bother turning on the heater, I want the cold water to seep into my skin, keep me awake tonight. I get out of the shower and dry myself, wet hair shooting in all directions.
Donned in a light cotton sweatshirt and baggy shorts, I stroll to the connecting door of my office. I flick the light switch, the bulb flickers and sputters to life. I step forward. In the corner of the office is a mini fridge with a microwave beside it. In the past, I used to lock myself in here for days to meet deadlines. With these lifesavers, it was easy. In front of the coffee machine, I fix myself a quick cup of sweet coffee, grab the first thing I see in the fridge. A chocolate wafer biscuit I have no idea where it came from.
My laptop comes awake after I insert the password, I slide into my swivel chair and bring up the tab on Jei’s calendar. I went the back route to get it, a bit of bribery might have been involved. Bad decision. It’s useless, the big baby never sticks to it. Today, he was supposed to be at the tech convention. He showed up ten minutes to closing time like the rest of us don’t have important things to do with our lives.
Fucking prick.
I could get the money. Millions of it. If I tap into the Stark’s stash or make the foolish decision of using the family’s company for a collateral to take out another loan, I wouldn’t need him or anybody to continue with the expansion. But I am determined to continue my legacy without my family’s input—direct or indirectly. Project El is all mine: hard work, idea, blood and sweat, I want it to stay that way.
Another screen comes up. For some reason, I am bringing up the video coverage at the house. El’s room. She deserves her privacy but fuck if I care right now. I need to see her for a few minutes, then I will get back to work. I stare morosely at the pile on the table. It never ends. When you are the boss, everyone expects the work to be easier. False. It doubles. If you’re anything like me who has trust issues, it triples.
A shudder skitters down my spine, I don’t look forward to another sleepless night but seeing her might help. I bend the screen to get the best view of her, she’s on the phone, grinning from ear to ear. My eyes flicker to the lower part of the laptop. 10:47 pm. I remind myself it is none of my business, I am not her husband anymore, she can call whoever she wants to, whenever she feels like. It is no concern of mine.
Who am I kidding? I don’t want her to be on the phone with a man. I turn up the volume, she barks out a throaty laughter as she moves to the front of the mirror and my lips twitch. Her laughter is contagious.
“No. Girl, stop saying that. It’s not true,” El says. Her head bobs, her fingers trail the collar of her white robe. She sinks her teeth into her luscious lips, I grunt and adjust my shorts. “Yeah.” A giggle escapes her, she sets her phone on the counter with a nod to rummage through the drawer. “I’ll try it out.”
I strain my eyes to get a look at the caller, instant relief floods my tense being when I see the identity. Clarissa. I nod to myself, she can speak to her all night and morning. A lump collects in my throat at the object she brings out of the drawer, I yank the last drawer of my table open, bring out the tube of lube.
“Are you sure?” She wedges the phone between her ear and shoulder to examine the lavender dildo.
A squeal tumbles out of her lips when she flicks the button on it and I harden. If she wants a dick, I am here. She doesn’t need an artificial penis when she can have the real deal at no charges. A dick and a body to cuddle after sex. I free my throbbing cock from its confine and squirt the lube onto my palm, massaging the warm liquid into my pulsing member as El sashays to the bedroom. She stops in front of the wall covered with our portraits, I gulp when she traces the outline of my face in one photograph.
It must have been taken in Paris, I still owe her a trip to Eiffel tower. I owe her a lot.
On a wistful sigh, she moves to a picture of only me, I chuckle at her smile. My arms are stretched on the bridge with my legs crossed at the ankles and the biggest smile on my face. She threatened me to get that picture, claiming I didn’t have any picture of me alone. Pictures aren’t my thing but seeing her delicately unhook that portrait makes me wish I listened more to her and took enough of them to keep her company in my absence. This house is so empty, bereft of memories except new ones with the girls.
Setting the picture beside the dildo, she unhooks her robe, letting it pool at her feet before climbing into the bed. Christ. Her breasts bounce, those succulent mounds seem to rejoice at their freedom. I do too, pleased at their sight. She kneads her beady nipples, I almost cum from staring at them. I should be in that room with her. It should be my hands on every inch of her body, seeking solace between her legs.
My cock twitches furiously, I bang my fist on the table when her legs part to reveal her moistness. Jesus. She holds the picture of me in one hand, uses the other to slide the dildo into her warmth and a sheepish grin spreads to my lips. I might not be there but I am the one she thinks about when touching herself.
That counts. That’s all that matters.
El’s movements are shaky like it is her first time with a dildo, I won’t be surprised if it is. She was pure in every sense of the word until me. She pulls it out to stare at it with a pout, I chuckle, she is too cute. I want to pull her to my laps and show her what the tiny buttons scattered at the bottom does. She can make it go faster or slower, however she wants, it is hers to do as she wants and I want to be the one who teaches her to use it. I groan when she pecks the picture of me and sets it gently on the drawer.
Her back connects with the bed, her head sinks into the pillow, I run my tongue over my lips. She bends her legs at the knees, one hand fumbling with her breasts, finger on the button as she pushes it deeper into her femininity. A gasp echoes in the room, I grip my cock too tight, blood rushes to the tip. Her fingers sink into the sheet, she grabs a fistful and shoves the dildo inside her. I run my hand up and down my thick member, pretending it’s her palms caressing me and her wetness surrounding my shaft.
Another moan slips from me, I hurry my movements to meet her pace as she hits the second button. Her legs tremble, she is barely able to keep them up so they collapse to the bed. Her teeth cut through her lip, a thin line of blood trickles down her jaw. She closes her eyes, shutting them so tight her face contorts into a beautiful grimace. The vibrations are more intense, she squirms on the bed, her essence drips down her inner thighs, coating the inanimate object bringing her pleasure. Sinful moans escape her, she is almost there, another second more. I can feel her orgasm coming, I want to reach it with her.
A knot tightens in my belly, pressure builds in my groin and I pump myself harder and faster, eyes fluttering until a guttural groan escapes me to signify my release. I open my eyes and locate El's on the screen to confirm what I already know. A dazed look washes over her, she blinks sleepily, pulling the duvet over her perfect body without bothering to clean up. I smile, I have to be there for the next one.