Into The Woods (Dark Fairy tales), page 34
Sutton ran her hands over her bare arms. “A tropical island would be nice right about now.”
Jeremiah turned up the heat in the car and gave Sutton a smile. “What’s your favorite tropical island?”
“I don’t have one. Only time I’ve ever been out of the country was about a year ago, when I went to London on a class trip. The whole trip was cold and rainy, not my idea of a vacation. What’s yours?”
“St. Lucia. I’ve been there several times, and every time I fall more and more in love. I think that you would like St. Lucia. Warm weather, beautiful beaches, fruity drinks. It’s something everyone should experience once in their lives.”
“It sounds magical.”
“So, what about you? What are you doing for the holidays? Spending it with family?”
Sutton frowned at the question. “No,” she answered curtly.
“I’m sorry. I thought you said something about having family in Atlanta.”
“I do. It’s just that we don’t talk. Well, we don’t talk anymore. It’s complicated.”
Jeremiah gave Sutton an encouraging smile. “Aren’t all families?”
“Yeah,” Sutton mumbled under her breath, as she turned back to the window.
“So, how did you end up at Conrad’s party?”
“That was Conrad Fuller’s house? ‘Head of public relations’ Conrad?” Sutton said in disbelief. Conrad was the nicest man she’d met at Maverick Industries, and was her second idol next to Tavia. After a lecture in one of her business and public relations classes she knew just what she wanted to do with her career. It was just a little shocking that someone she looked up to was having dirty sex parties. Maybe she was still judging books by their covers after all, Sutton thought laughingly.
“That would be the very one. I think he immediately went upstairs with your friend Charlotte.”
“Well, I didn’t know what kind of party it was. If I had, I surely wouldn’t have gone.”
“Why are you pretending to be a prude? You can’t be prudish if you’ve shown your pussy to half the power players at The Woods.”
“Didn’t we agree that you would not keep bringing that up?” Sutton grumbled.
Jeremiah let out a chuckle. “Sorry.”
“So, this is really your thing, huh?”
“What’s that?”
“Sex. Sex parties. Things of that nature.”
“Isn’t it your thing? Do you not enjoy sex?”
“I love sex, but I wouldn’t say it’s my hobby. You, on the other hand, are in The Woods and at crazy sex parties. It’s hard not to put the two together and wonder if it’s your thing.”
“If I’m not mistaken, you are usually at the same places that I am, so I could make the very same assumption about you.”
Sutton laughed at her boss’s rebuttal. “This is very true.”
“You’re not into sex?”
“I didn’t say that. I told you I love sex”
“You like to pretend to be a prude about it, though. I think the freakiest ones are the ones who pretend they don’t want it. They seem to have more to hide,” Jeremiah countered, responding to Sutton’s silence. “Would you like to hear my philosophy on sex and The Woods?”
Sutton smiled as she rolled her eyes, “Please, enlighten me.”
“Men go to The Woods because they want something hot and dirty, and some woman can’t handle the idea of fucking outside of the box. That’s what you saw tonight: men doing what they want and not being made to feel ashamed of something that’s natural. And not that I owe you any explanations, but I was at that party because Conrad talked me into coming, not because I’m addicted to sex.”
“You want me to believe that you didn’t go there with the same intentions as all the other men who were there?”
A smile hooked the corner of Jeremiah’s lips. “Okay, I may have had the intention of hooking up, but that was only after…well, never mind.”
“No, tell me. You just gave me a whole lecture about being a prude and you want to pretend to be shy. I want to hear it. Only after what?”
Jeremiah flashed a piercing gaze at Sutton. “That was only after I saw you walk into the study. I had no intention of trying to get laid until I saw you in that sexy little black dress,” Jeremiah glanced over to Sutton, giving her a sly smile
Sutton was floored at Jeremiah’s confession. “So, we didn’t just bump into each other. You knew I was there?”
“No, I saw you walk into the study looking uncomfortable, so I decided to check on you.”
Sutton turned her eyes back to the window. This was information she really wasn’t ready to hear. She could live with a little sexual tension between them, but the idea of her boss making plans to act on it was jarring. Sutton quickly glanced over at Jeremiah, and then back out her window.
“Are you going to say anything?” Jeremiah asked, breaking the silence between them.
“What’s to say? You came into the study with the intention of fucking me. I think that sums it up.”
“No,” Jeremiah said in an amused tone. “I came into the study to check on you. I can’t help it if you make me…well…horny. It’s a natural male response to a beautiful woman. It’s not the first time it’s happened, probably won’t be the last. Can you honestly tell me that you’ve never been turned on by someone standing in the same room?”
Sutton pulled her knees together tightly and fought the urge to tell Jeremiah that she knew that exact feeling. That on many occasions, one of which was happening now, she’d felt that very feeling for him. Yet she knew that in the end it was best to not act on it. This was something she wished she had done with Jarvis, but that damage was done.
“I understand,” Sutton replied in a low whisper.
“You must know I find you incredibly sexy. One of the sexiest women I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.”
“Why are you telling me this, Jeremiah?” Sutton asked, shyly keeping her focus on the passing streets.
“Why do you think?” Jeremiah retorted, gently placing his hand on Sutton’s thigh. “I think we both feel the same, but aren’t willing to say it. So I’ll break the ice.”
“You’re my boss,” Sutton replied, as she pushed his hand away.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Sutton turned and glowered at Jeremiah. “I don’t know what kind of woman you think I am, but I’m not her. I’m not trying to sleep my way to the top. I cannot have a relationship with my boss.”
“Good thing I want to sleep with you, not date you. This has nothing to do with work, just two consenting adults making the decision to sleep with each other. If it’s not something you want, just say no.”
“Let me guess: if I say no, then I’m fired,” Sutton spat crossly.
“You sure took this into left field,” Jeremiah mumbled under his breath.
“No, I just know an indecent proposal when I see one.” Sutton found herself growing angry. She loved her job, but it wasn’t worth having sex to get ahead.
“Fucking me isn’t going to get you out of Tavia’s slave labor,” Jeremiah joked. “I only thought that…well, I’m pretty good at reading body language. I could have sworn that you…I guess I was wrong, I’m sorry.”
Sutton let a few seconds of uncomfortable silence hang over them before letting her curiosity get the best of her. “You could have sworn what?”
Jeremiah glanced over to Sutton and smiled. “That when you were at my apartment and we were talking and drinking wine, that your nipples were hard.”
Sutton burst into laughter. “You propositioned me because my nipples were hard? Did you ever think maybe it was cold in your apartment, or that I was wearing thin material? You really think highly of yourself.”
Jeremiah laughed. “So, I don’t turn you on? This whole exchange has just been me and my big ego?”
“Frankly, Mr. Wolfe, yes,” Sutton lied, as she dismissed the whole conversation.
“Then why is it when I walk into a room, you tense up? Or when my hand brushes yours, your breath hitches in your throat. Then there’s the fact that you study me when you think I’m not looking. Let’s not forget the way you pinch your knees together as if you’re trying to hold in the feelings you have for me.” Jeremiah turned to a silent Sutton and smiled. “Like I said, I have a sixth sense when it comes to you, Sutton. You feel something more. You want this. You need this. I make you hot. I can feel the heat coming off of your skin. Please, don’t confuse outright not wanting me with not letting yourself want me.”
Sutton was stunned. She couldn’t believe her body was giving away what was silently running through her mind. She didn’t care what Jeremiah said, there were no words that were going to make her cross that line. Sutton took a deep breath. “That’s…that’s not true, Jeremiah. I’m not confused. I don’t want you,” Sutton stated unconvincingly.
Jeremiah shot her a heart-stopping glance before flashing a sly smile. “Are you sure about that, Sutton?”
Sutton swallowed the lump in her throat and let out a breathy whisper. “Yes, I’m sure.”
Jeremiah pulled into the parking garage and then into his assigned spot. He turned off the engine and stared straight ahead into the dark empty space. “Open your legs,” he instructed in a soft but forceful bass.
Sutton looked at him in complete disbelief. “Excuse me?”
Jeremiah turned his fiery blue eyes to Sutton’s. He placed his hand on her knee and gently nudged her legs apart. “I don’t like to repeat myself.”
Sutton was shocked, but couldn’t deny being turned on at the same time. She looked at Jeremiah’s insisting eyes before opening her legs a bit wider. “What…what are you going to do to me?” Sutton asked nervously.
Jeremiah ran a soft hand down the side of Sutton’s cheek. He smiled sweetly, “Nothing you don’t want me to.”
Gently, Jeremiah began to rub the insides of Sutton’s thighs, motivating her to spread them wider. Sutton took the silent cue and opened as wide as she could. Jeremiah’s soft touch outlined her sex through her panties. Her head filled with lustful thoughts as Jeremiah’s hand slipped under the delicate wet fabric. His fingers played with the folds of Sutton’s wet sex, sending sizzling sensations of passion through her body. A soft moan escaped her lips, as Jeremiah’s finger play picked up speed.
“I don’t know, Sutton. You seem pretty turned on to me,” Jeremiah said, before removing his fingers.
“What! Why did you stop?” Sutton jerked out of her orgasmic fantasy.
“You said it yourself, I don’t turn you on.” Jeremiah flashed her fiendish smile, as he climbed out the car.
Sutton quickly hopped out the car catching Jeremiah as he entered the elevator. “That was dirty don’t you think?”
“Whatever do you mean?” Jeremiah asked, feigning innocence. “You said that I don’t turn you on, and I just wanted to prove a point.” Jeremiah and Sutton climbed into the elevator car.
“What point was that?” Sutton questioned irately.
Jeremiah looked at an angry Sutton, and laughed, “That you were full of shit.”
“Oh, you think you’re so funny.”
“Why are you so angry? You said that you weren’t turned on by me.”
“You don’t just get a girl all worked up and then leave her hanging.”
Jeremiah flashed Sutton sly smile. “So, I do turn you on?”
Sutton rolled her eyes at her cocky boss as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Slightly.”
“Slightly, huh?” Jeremiah pulled Sutton into his arms, planting his lips on hers. “I think I turn you on more than slightly, baby,” Jeremiah whispered, as he placed kisses on her neck.
Sutton fell into the moment, letting her body weaken under his touch. “Okay, you turn me on a lot,” Sutton confessed, as the elevator opened to her floor.
Jeremiah gave Sutton one final kiss. “The first step is admitting it. Have a great night.”
Sutton looked at Jeremiah with complete confusion as she walked off the elevator. “I thought… I thought we were going to…”
Jeremiah held the door. “We are Sutton, but when we do, I want it to be of your own accord. I want you to come to me because you want this, not because I turned you on and you figured ‘why not?’ If you want this, Sutton, demand it.” Jeremiah removed his hand from the door. “Until then…good night.” Jeremiah gave Sutton one last smile as the elevator doors closed.
Chapter Twenty-five
The grand hall was decorated elegantly, as the elite of Atlanta danced and mingled. Sutton was glad to see that her silent auction idea was not only included in the night festivities, but was a great success. Sutton sashayed around the ballroom in her long black strapless gown, making sure that everything was running smoothly, as Tavia walked around accepting the kudos for Sutton’s hard work. Sutton didn’t really care, as long as the party was a success and the scholarship fund raised lots of money. Sutton was finishing her last-minute checks when she heard a chilling but familiar voice in her ear.
“Don’t you look beautiful?”
Sutton’s body went cold. She knew who it was, but feared turning around. It was as if not turning around would make him disappear, and she then would not be forced to see her ex. Slowly, Sutton turned, to find a very dapper Maddox standing behind her. “When did you come back?” Sutton asked, in a breathy whisper.
“Yesterday.” Maddox gave Sutton a long scrutinizing once over. “I must say you look very…different,” Maddox said, as he continued to study Sutton. “Are you different?”
“What are you doing here, Maddox? Tavia is the last person I thought you would ever support.”
“The only noble thing that woman does is help students go to college. My firm has been a supporter for years.” Maddox ran a finger over Sutton’s bare shoulders “Besides, how else would I be able to see you?”
“You don’t need to see me, Maddox. You made it very clear that you didn’t give a damn about me,” Sutton snapped, letting her built-up anger from the past few months rush to the surface. “There is nothing that you need to see that involves you and I.”
“I see you’re still as stubborn and fiery as ever,” Maddox moved in close to Sutton’s ear. “Surprisingly, that still turns me on.”
Sutton pushed him away, pure disgust on her face. “Fuck you, Maddox.” She was surprised at her own reaction. Over the past few months she’d wondered what she would do, what she would feel once she saw Maddox again. She looked at the man who had once made her melt, and felt nothing but disgust. There was no love or compassion left for Maddox. That part of her was dead. “It’s no longer my job to keep you turned on, Maddox, so if you’ll excuse me…” Sutton turned to walk away, but was stopped by Maddox’s strong grip on her arm.
“You never answered my question, baby.”
“What was your question?” Sutton asked, as she snatched her arm away.
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Different? I’ve heard about your little adventures since I’ve been gone. I was even filled in on the little adventures that you had when we were still together. I must say, I never thought you had it in you. I really misjudged you.”
“Misjudged me? The same can be said about you, Maddox,” Sutton spat.
“I told you all my secrets. All the secrets that were before you, and to be honest, that didn’t have a damn thing to do with you. Yet, I feel as if I was…duped. After all there were Hayden, Clint, Helix, Jarvis, and who knows who else has been put on that list of yours? So, yes, I can say I misjudged you. I thought you were the sweet girl just looking for excitement. I guess you were just the slutty girl looking for dick. So, darling, I wonder, after everything you’ve done, are you different?”
“Very,” Sutton replied shortly.
“How so, baby?” Maddox asked, as he placed a hand on Sutton’s arm.
Sutton jerked away from his touch, “I’m different because I can see now. When I met you I was blind to the truths of this world. I thought that it was all about adventure and then I met you. When I met you it became about love. Now it’s about me. I no longer live to pleasure you, or anyone else. Fiona was right; I was never a hooker, whore, or a call girl. I was never those things at all.”
“What are you, baby?” Maddox asked contemptuously.
“Smart,” Sutton quipped. “I’m smart. A hooker lies there and takes it. She does it to feed a drug habit or to survive. Do you know why I did it, Maddox?”
Maddox looked at Sutton with confusion filling his face. “I don’t know. That’s the one and only thing that’s been running through my mind for months.”
