Annihilate Me: Holiday Edition (2 page)

I
thought about it for a moment, but came up blank.
 
“I have everything I want.
 
The most important thing is you.
 
But I know that
’
s not going to be enough for you.
 
I know you want to get me a present,
just as I want to get you one.
 
I
’
ll come up with something, but only if you
do.
 
So, what would you like?”

“I
have to admit that I have given it some thought.”

“And?”

He
held me closer and pressed his lips against my ear, which sent tingles
throughout my body, as it always did.
 
I don’t think I’d ever get tired to that, and I didn’t want to.
 
In a low voice, he said, “Maybe setting
a date for our wedding?”

“But
that sounds like a gift to me.”

He
smiled at that.
 
“
Then let
’
s consider it a mutual gift.
 
How about It?”

I
snuggled closer to him and put my head on his chest.
 
He was wearing a heavy cashmere cardigan
sweater that was so soft to the touch, it felt wonderful against my cheek.
 
But everything beneath that
sweater?
 
That was just rock hard.
 

“I
think that would be a perfect gift to give each other.
 
So, how about this?
 
You give me a general idea of the
wedding date you’re thinking of, and I
’
ll
do the same.
 
Together, we
’
ll
join forces and agree to a date.
 
And then we’ll
surprise
everyone over Christmas with the news.
 
Does that work?”

“Provided
we can get them there.”

“I
think we can.
 
Tank is the only one
who might have plans that neither of us know about.
 
So, let
’
s see what happens.”

“You
know what I
’
d like to do right now?”

“Maybe
what I
’
d like to do?”

With
ease, he lifted each of us off the sofa and carried me into the bedroom.

“I
hope Santa isn
’
t so old
that he needs Viagra,” I teased him when he laid me down onto the bed.

“Don
’
t worry,
” he said as he removed his sweater and tossed
it onto the floor.
 
“Santa
’
s stocking is well stuffed.”

“Santa’s
gifted.”

With
the city
’
s lights glimmering behind
him, he pulled his T-shirt over his head and removed his jeans.
 
I looked at the formidable bulge in his
boxers, and took off my shirt and bra while he unbuttoned my pants and pulled
them off me.

“Me
first,” he said.
 
He tugged at my
red panties and tossed them across the room.

“Now,
it
’
s my turn.”
 
I released him from his boxers, which
always was a welcome if intimidating sight.
 
Once he
’
d stepped out of them, I flung them against
the windows.
 
“What a show we
’
re giving the neighbors,” I said.

He
crawled on top of me.
 
“Does that
turn you on?”

He
wasn’t joking—he was serious.
 
I
’
d never considered it
before.
 
Obviously, there could be
someone in one of the buildings across Fifth who might be able to see us when
we made love.
 
Hell, someone might
even have a telescope—it wasn
’
t
uncommon in the city.
 
Many had
telescopes.
 
Did the idea that
someone might be watching us turn me on?
 
I blinked at the thought.

When
he entered me, he asked me again.
 
“So?
 
Does it?”

I
put my arms around him, felt his velvety skin against mine, and
 
then I reached down to grasp his heavy
arousal when he withdrew.
 
I cupped
his balls in my hands, tugged lightly on them because I knew he liked that as
much as I did, and then I met his second thrust with my own as he pushed deep
inside of me.
 
It always took me a
moment to get accustomed to his length and girth, but when I was, I said,
“Maybe.”

“Just
maybe?”

“Maybe
a little more than maybe.”

His
lips met my mouth and then, in one fluid motion, he lifted me into his lap so I
was fully facing the windows.
 
I
rode him, aware that my face and my breasts were now bared to whomever might be
watching.
 
If
they were
watching.
 
That was the part that
unexpectedly excited me.
 
Who knew
if someone was watching?
 
The room
was dim.
 
If they were watching,
could they see anything?
 
I had no
idea.

When
he brought me to orgasm the first time, I decided I really didn
’
t care.
 
I just kept riding him, losing myself in him, running my fingers through
his hair and my fingernails over his chest while his tongue probed into my
mouth, and then flicked over my nipples.
 
As our lovemaking became rougher and more intense, I said almost
breathlessly, “You like it, too, don
’
t
you?”

“What
if I do?”

With
finesse, he turned me over so I was on my back and looking up at him.
 
He appraised me for a moment, I saw the
lust in his eyes, and then he turned sideways to the windows and gave one slice
of New York the potential of seeing Alexander Wenn fully naked and
aroused.
 

He
thrust out his hips, leaned back, reached for his cock, and stroked the length
of it.
 
Then he glanced
mischievously at me before he faced the windows completely.
 
When he turned his back to me, I could
see his arm moving in the dark.
 

“You
’
re amazing,
” I said.

“Come
over here to the window.
 
Put your
hands on either side of it.”

“You
can’t be serious.”

“If
anyone is watching, why stop now?”

I
got out of bed, pressed my palms against the window, and he entered me with one
thrust.
 
I gasped.
 
He reached for my hair, grabbed a
handful of it, and then he pulled my head back as he became unusually
aggressive with me.
  

At
one point, I almost wanted to laugh.
 
What was I doing?
 
With my
head jerking up and down, all the lights of New York blurred to the point that
it looked as if it was snowing.
 

He
reached around me and cupped my breasts while he continued to ram into me.
 
He pinched my nipples, and buried his
head against the back of my neck.
 
As usual, the stubble was all it took.
 
I didn’t know what it was about it, and
I didn’t care.
 
I bucked against
him, he slammed into me, and each of us climaxed at the same time.

We
fell back onto the bed and he kissed each of my breasts before he unexpectedly
entered me again.
 
How could he have
become erect so quickly?
 
I didn’t
care.
 
I was lost in him.
 

In
my ear, he said, “I love you, Jennifer.
 
You are the most perfect, beautiful woman I
’
ve ever seen in my life.
 
Thank God you’re here.
 
I’m so happy that we’re together.”

CHAPTER TWO

The
next morning at Wenn, I went straight to Blackwell
’
s office.
 
She was seated at her desk with a cup of
black coffee in one hand while she flipped through the
Times
with her
other hand.
 
I knocked on her door,
she looked up at me, and then she did a double-take.

“What
’
s wrong with you?”

“Why
would there be anything wrong with me?”

“You
look ten years older than you did yesterday.”

“
I do not.
”

“Don
’
t tell me what I
’
m looking at.
 
You look exhausted.
”

“I
didn
’
t exactly get much sleep
last night.”

“Why?
 
Everything
i
s behind us now.
 
You should be fine.”

“I
’
m perfectly fine,” I said, leaning into the
room and lowering my voice.
 
“Alex
had his way with me last night.
 
Turns out we might be exhibitionists—”

“Jennifer!”

“Well,
we might.
 
For a while there, my
boobs were bared to the world.
 
And
then there was Alex.
 
He stood in
front of the window at one point and—”

“Stop.
 
Too much information.
 
You know that none of that is good for
work.
 
Moderation is what you two
need, and STAT.
 
Do it on the
weekends, for God
’
s
sake.
 
Fridays and Saturdays.
 
Then you can sleep it off on
Sundays.
 
Certainly that should be
enough.
 
I can
’
t have you coming in to work looking like
the hot mess you are today.
 
You
have a reputation to hold up here.
 
You
’
re engaged to Alex.
 
Don
’
t think that people aren
’
t scrutinizing you even more because of
that.
 
Show some restraint, for
God’s sake, and have some self-respect.”

“Are
you finished?”

She
reached behind her for her purse.
 
“No.
 
Come here for a
moment.
 
At least let me fix your
face.”

“My
face is fine.”

“Not
with those dark circles under your eyes it isn
’
t.
 
Here.
 
Come here.
 
That
’
s right.
 
Bend down.
 
You need just a touch of concealer here
and here, a bit of powder all over there, some lipstick, and
then
you
’
ll be fine.”

I
let her have at me and then I stood when she was finished.
 
“Do I pass inspection now?”

“Not
quite.
 
Fix your skirt.
 
It
’
s crooked.
”

I
did.
 
“Are you like this with your
daughters?”

“Are
you joking?
 
They
’
d have none of it.”

“Then
why should I have to go through it?”

“Because
you’re obviously in desperate need of me.
 
After all these months, you still need me.”
 
She put her hand to her chest.
 
“And I
’
m here for you.
 
I really am.”

“You
know where I really need you?”
 

“The
city clinic?”

I
rolled my eyes and took the seat opposite her.
 
“I need you in Maine.”

“How
was that?”

“I
need you in Maine.”

“Come
again?”

“Maine.”

“Where
is that?”

“In
Maine.”

“I’ve
never heard of Maine.”

“The
hell you haven’t.”

“Oh,
please.
 
Who goes to Maine?”

“Hello.
 
Half of your friends have summer homes
there.
 
You
’
ve been to Maine dozens of times.
 
Alex told me.
 
You use to go with his mother during the
summers.”