Worth the fight

Chapter 30

Elle

I haven’t seen or heard from William since the night at the bar when Nico decided to out us as a couple by kissing me purposefully right in front of him. Now I’m going to sit next to him in an all afternoon deposition with Nico’s scent on me and my underwear still damp from our mid day romp. I should really be pissed off at Nico for being such a neanderthal, but I can’t help but smile when I think about him wanting to mark me as his. It’s archaic and adolescent and the man is turning me into a foe for the women’s liberation movement, but god damn it, the man may well be my kryptonite.

Our co-clients are here early, earlier than William, which is unusual. He is normally the first one to arrive for everything. I put our clients in one conference room and the opposition in another room and go back to my office to review my notes. Regina buzzes me from the desk to let me know that William has arrived and I go out to the lobby to greet him with a little trepidation.

Unlike last time, and every other time we’ve seen each other over the last few years, he doesn’t kiss me hello, not even a kiss on the cheek. He’s professional, but distant. Immediately I can tell that he doesn’t want to talk about anything but business. Even my attempt at cordial small talk when I greet him is met with resistance.

“How are you?” I ask, in an attempt to put a feeler out for how things are going to be between us.

“Fine. Are our clients here?” He’s not even going to reciprocate my polite banter to inquire how I am.

“Yes, they’re in the conference room. Do we need to put together a game plan before we start?” We work well together and it’s usually not necessary, but we always spend a few minutes talking before we meet with our clients. Go over strategy or pitfalls we want to review.

“No. Unless you’re not ready.”

So that’s how it’s going to be? I straighten my spine and stand tall. I can do impersonal with the best of them. “I’m ready.”

An hour into our deposition, the ice between William and I thaws. Twice, we both went to ask the same question at the same time. Then we both grabbed for the water pitcher at the center of the table at the same moment. Even opposing counsel got a kick out of how we can finish each other’s sentences. We really are good together. Or were, I should be thinking were.

We are almost ready to wrap up for the day and I watch William as he finishes up the last of his questions. He’s intelligent and well-spoken and undeniably handsome. Financially sound, stable, and dependable. I don’t know what was missing. William catches my stare as he turns to me to ask if I have any other questions to ask, and I become a little flustered at being caught admiring him.

We make our way to the reception area to see our clients out and Regina tells me she’s going to head out on time for a change. She has a hair appointment. I smile and lie when I tell her that I’m not that far behind her. Both of us know I’ll be here for hours more. William walks back to the conference room with me and we spend a few minutes talking about the case. There really weren’t any surprises, but I’m glad we have the chance to talk before he goes. He’s friendly and less guarded and we easily slip back into our usual banter for a while.

I excuse myself and head to the ladies’ room. When I get back to the conference room, William is almost done packing up both our files. I’d have to unpack it and reorganize my files if it was anyone else, but I’m sure that William packed it away just as I would have. We’re a lot alike, both methodical in our work habits. I still have to speak to him about Nico’s contract, but it feels almost awkward to bring him up.

“Umm. I have a fight contract for you to look at.”

William stops packing the case and looks up at me. He seems confused for a second and then recognizes what I’m referring to and nods.

I walk next door to my office to get the envelope where I’ve stashed it with some of the notes I jotted down while I was with Nico. I’m surprised when I look up and William is standing in the doorway of my office. I walk to him and hand him the envelope. He doesn’t move from the doorway.

“Is he why we stopped spending time together?” William’s voice is quiet when he speaks.

I’m not sure how to answer the question. The truth is, it is the reason why I stopped seeing William, but not for the reason he thinks, but it seems rude to say it for some reason.

I look up at him and without realizing it, I bite my lip.

William looks at me and nods as if he understands, but then reaches his hand out and tugs at my lip where I’m biting. He keeps his finger on my lip after I release it from between my teeth and he rubs at the spot where I’ve probably left an indent.

“That always did drive me crazy.” He says with a small smile and a low voice, his eyes still focused on my lips as he speaks.

“What?” I sound confused, because I am. I have no idea what he means.

“You bite your lip when you’re nervous. It’s your tell.” William smiles and glances quickly between my mouth and eyes before he continues. “Since you’re superwoman, I didn’t see it very often, but I always thought it was sexy when it came out.”

William is still standing in my doorframe and now, between his words and his lingering touch on my mouth, the moment feels intimate. I don’t know what to say, so instead I stand there like an idiot. He’s caught me off guard, he’s always been an easy read. His finger that traced my lip falls away, but his hand moves to my neck. It all happens in slow motion and yet I don’t have time to stop it as he lowers his face to mine and kisses me on the mouth.

I’m shocked. Not at the kiss itself, but because I never would have expected it from William. It takes me a second or two before I snap out of it and realize I haven’t pulled away. But then I do. I pull my head back and look up at William, who I expect to be offended, or pissed, or just something…anything, other than what I find. He’s smiling. Like a Cheshire cat, a big ole grin on his face and I have no idea what to make of it.

I’m still standing perfectly still with Nico’s envelope in my hand, when William takes the envelope and leans down to whisper in my ear. “We’re good together, I’ll be here if you change your mind.”

After a long day, I usually have a glass of wine to help unwind and relax. Sometimes I take a bath to help my tense muscles loosen. Tonight I’m on my second glass and I’m running a bath. Between Nico in the morning and William in the afternoon, I’m in need of a little liquid assistance to unfrazzle my brain.

I sit in the warm water and soak, my head barely sticking up out of the water. It’s so warm and soothing and eventually, after a few minutes, I feel what amounts to a sigh roll through my body as it gives in to my deep breaths in my pursuit of calm. There’s serenity in the stillness of the water and my body absorbs it through my pours, desperate to find its peace.

When I’m sufficiently relaxed, I finally allow my brain to rehash my day. I replay William’s kiss in my head. It was sweet. Nice. Familiar. And oddly bold for William. But it was his smile and words afterward that were most surprising. He thinks Nico won’t work. That eventually I’ll come back to my senses and things will be back to normal. I should probably be annoyed with his assumption. But, honestly, how could I blame him? Even I thought Nico was wrong for me. I spent years convincing myself what I wanted, what’s good for me. I’ve done such a good job that William believes he knows better too.

I dismiss the thoughts of William quickly and spend the rest of my heavenly soak thinking about only one man. Nico Hunter. The way he touches me. Grips me so tight, like he has to, like there’s no other choice. I think back to his hands on me today. He doesn’t just run his hands down my body feeling my curves, his finger tips press into me as he feels me. Really feels me. In a way that I know he’s enjoying touching me almost as much as I’m enjoying being touched. Before Nico, I didn’t even know there was a difference in the way a man could rub his hand down my side. But there is, and the difference is mind-shattering. I’m a few seconds away from pleasuring myself to a vision of Nico in my head when my phone, sitting on the sink, rings and breaks me out of my fantasy. It startles me, and I end up splashing water all over the floor when I jump.

I do a poor job of drying off my hands and settle back into the tub as I answer. Speak of the devil. “Hey.” His voice is gravelly and low and the sound of it sends a shiver through my body even though I’m soaking in a warm bath. I feel like a teenager again. Excited to hear a boy’s voice on the other end of the phone.

“Hey. How was your day?”

“The middle part was great.”

I smile, even though he can’t see me. Yep, I’m a school girl with a crush so big, I’m smiling when he says hello on the phone.

“Mmmm…that was my favorite part of the day too.”

Nico chuckles. “Where are you? You sound like you’re in a tunnel or something.”

“In the bathtub.”

Nico lets out a loud rush of air and his voice turns low and gruff. “You’re naked right now?”

“Yep. And I was just thinking about you when the phone rang.”

“Oh yeah, what were you thinking about?”

“The way you touch me.”

Nico groans. “Were you touching yourself?”

My answer is honest and comes out before I can think better of offering the truth. “I think I might have if you hadn’t called.”

“Shit.” Then he’s quiet for a long minute and I wait for him to say more, but he doesn’t.

“What’s the matter?”

“You’re killing me, Elle. I feel like I’m fourteen with you. I’m walking around with a hard-on half the time from just thinking about you. I’m never going to be able to sleep tonight now.”

I smile, feeling satisfied somehow that I’m not the only one who feels like a hormonally crazed teen. “Maybe you should try a bath.”

Nico is quiet for a minute. I’m just about to ask if he’s still there when he finally speaks. His voice is low, “Touch yourself for me, Babe.” The words are strained and thick, they hang in the air surrounding me.

“I…I’ve never…” I want to tell him that I’ve never had phone sex or masturbated for a man before, but the words are stuck in my throat.

“You can.” Nico senses my hesitation and isn’t going to allow it.

“It’s not…”

“Are your nipples hard?” God I even love his voice.

I look down at my nipples, they’re barely covered by the water. They’re swollen and protruding and I think they have become even more engorged in just the last few minutes.

“Yes.” My answer comes out a whisper.

“Feel one. Rub your finger over the top of it for me.”

I push aside my hesitation and do what he asks. Slowly, I graze my finger over my hard nipple making a small circle. My already swollen nipples respond, and swell even more, enough so they are no longer below the surface of the water. Now the full tips are sticking out from the still water of the bath. No longer protected by the warm soak, the cool air meets the swells and it’s as if every nerve in my body is connected to the small protruding nubs peeking out. A jolt of electricity travels through my entire body. If I had closed my eyes, I would have sworn that Nico just blew on them. The sensation surprises me and I don’t even try to mask the gasp that comes out.

Nico groans. “Pinch it. Hard.”

I do. I grasp my swollen nipple between my fingers and firmly squeeze. Another wave of electricity travels through my nerve endings. Only this time all of the different paths traveled arrive at the same place, at the exact same moment…my clit. The swell of my nipples is now seemingly connected to the swell between my legs. A low moan escapes my lips.

“It feels good doesn’t it, Babe?”

“Yes.” I admit, my hesitation slowly melting away.

“You need to put your phone on speakerphone. Put it down close to you.”

I do as he asks.

“Close your eyes.”

Nico’s voice on the speaker of my phone makes what we’re doing feel even more intimate, as if he could really be standing near me telling me what to do. I close my eyes, ready to imagine he’s in the room with me.

“Take your other hand and touch your clit. I know it’s swollen for me already. Pretend I’m there with you, watching you. I’m sitting behind you, looking at you touch yourself. It makes me hard to watch you. You’re so damn sexy.”

I slip my hand down my body and let Nico’s deep, familiar voice fill my senses. I can almost forget it’s my own hand rubbing my aroused clit in small circles when I hear the need in his voice. It’s so carnal. Another small groan escapes and Nico responds with a growl, a sound echoing pure male pleasure. It makes me bold.

“Are you hard?” I finally find the courage down deep to do more than listen.

“Hard like stone. I want inside of you so bad. Deep inside of you. I need to fill up that tight little pussy, baby.”

Oh god. My body clenches at his words and I feel them, literally feel his words roll through my body.

“Is that what you want? You want my hard cock inside of you, don’t you?”

“Yes.” My voice is raspy and needy. I push myself back harder against the wall of the tub, my ass rubbing up against the cast iron. I pretend it’s Nico behind me. His hardness behind me as I sit between his legs and he watches me. Watches me touch myself.

“Take two fingers and slip them into that wet pussy. I need to be inside of you.”

I hesitate for only a second before I do as he commands, plunging two fingers inside of myself deeply. There’s an ache inside of me that I need to reach, but it’s just out of grasp. A sound escapes my throat that is a cross between a moan and a word and I’m not even sure what the word was supposed to be.

“That’s it, Babe. In and out. I’m inside of you. Harder.” Nico’s strained voice sounds as desperate for release as I feel. I picture him. His wide shoulders and straining muscular arms. His beautiful green eyes on me. Watching me. His hips thrusting down toward me. His long, thick cock. God, his cock.

“Oh God.” I moan as I feel the unmistakable pulse pound through me as my orgasm begins to take hold.

“Come for me.” Nico’s firm, commanding tone detonates my climax and it spreads over me. I feel the spasm surround my fingers as my body begins to pulsate uncontrollably.

I hear Nico’s name being called over and over, but it doesn’t register that the sound is coming from me. It takes over me. I’ve completely surrendered to my orgasm and I pump my fingers in and out of myself as I ride my release until I’m chasing the last wave with small tremors in the aftershock.

A few minutes later both our voices sound different. They’re hazy and loose and I wonder if we both may sleep better tonight. “Did you…” My voice trails off. I want to know if he finished. I’m not completely sure what I would do if he didn’t, but now that I’ve found my bliss, I suddenly realize I have no idea if he was touching himself.

Nico chuckles at my non-question. “Yeah, Babe. We’re both going to sleep good tonight.”