Darker – Chapter 14
Universal Pictures owns all rights of Fifty Shades of Grey and Pitch Perfect…I only own the idea of this twisted mash-up of an alternate universe love story.
Warning! Chapters may include graphic sexual situations (BDSM) which may not be suitable for everyone. Reviews and comments are always welcome. Thank you for reading.
Last time on Darker…
"Very well." Sighing deeply Gail took a sip of her Cognac then returned her drink to the counter then admitted to something I never expected to hear from her. "I'm being blackmailed."
And now…
And that was the night that I, Rebeca Mitchell lost it.
Spewing out Hennessey from a sip I just took, I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my barstool. Never in my life had I imagined what it felt like for hard liquor to pass through my nasal passages but there I was with burning sinuses and a boyfriend with his jaw dropped and eyes widened at the spectacle before him.
"Sorry...I didn't mean to..." Wiping my mouth, I tried to apologize for my outburst but my giggles wouldn't stop while the guest of honor stared at me in horror.
After being hit on by my slimy boss, then accosted and almost shot by one of Jesse's ex-subs to having a quickie in the elevator and then discovering the bitch from hell was being blackmailed; today turned out to be a pretty good day. I was a firm believer that Karma eventually caught up to you so this shit couldn't have happened to a better person for the atrocities committed. She deserved exactly what was coming to her and I couldn't be more pleased. As I continued to guffaw I caught Jesse trying to conceal his own amusement at Gail's expense while she seethed.
Wiping moisture from my eyes I finally pulled myself together and apologized again for my inappropriate behavior.
"So...who's got the goods on you?" I asked, trying to maintain my composure while she threw virtual daggers my way. "Been hanging out at the local YMCA again?"
This time Jesse lost it. As the two of us fell over ourselves, Gail huffed in contempt and began to gather her belongings. "This was a mistake. I'll just let myself out."
"No...wait!" Jesse stood up. "I'm sorry, please let's talk about this. Have a seat and tell us what's going on." Turning to me Jesse narrowed his eyes and mouthed, "behave yourself."
"Fine." I pouted, giving my best resting bitch face while taking another sip of my drink. "I'll be good..."
After a few minutes, all traces of laughter disappeared and the three of us were as serious as a heart attack. Sighing for dramatic effect, Gail tossed her blonde locks and told us who the culprit was.
"It's Adam."
"Seriously?" Jesse asked.
"Excuse me." Interrupting, I held up an index finger. "Who?"
"Her current sub."
"Ahh...gotcha."
"Does Hammond know?" Jesse inquired.
Gail shook her head. "He knows nothing." The bitch answered. "If he ever found out..."
"I'm sorry but, who's Hammond?" I interrupted again, trying to keep up.
"Gail's husband."
"Of course he is." With sarcasm replacing my wit, my eyes rolled at the child predator as I felt bile creeping up my esophagus. Did somebody finally find out about the old lady's obsession with beating and fucking young boys? Chugging down the rest of my drink I'd heard just about enough of this crap. "Um...I think you two should discuss this without me."
"Are you sure?" Jesse asked, extending his hand to me.
"Oh yeah. I'm fine. I'm just really tired. I'll be in the bedroom."
"Okay baby. I won't be long." Leaning towards me Jesse kissed my cheek.
"Good night, Rebeca." The wench didn't waste any time dismissing me.
Bitch!
"Gail." I managed to say her name without vomiting and left them alone. As soon as I was out of sight they continue their conversation.
Rounding the corner I heard the child predator elaborate more about the blackmail and dollar amount being demanded. The youngster wanted something like five thousand to keep quiet about their BDSM arrangement so it wasn't a big deal. It was a drop in the bucket for the cheating whore but she wanted Jesse's advice more than anything. He offered to have his guys do a background check on the dude who was probably barely out of diapers. I was disappointed that it wasn't something more extreme, then thought about my own predicament with Kayla. The psycho had footage of Jesse and I in the thralls of passion and could go public at any time. The damage could be devastating to Jesse's reputation and credibility as a businessman and for me being taken seriously as an artist trying to make a name for myself in the music industry. The worst of course would be to our families and friends; how could we face them?
As I was about to shut the bedroom door I heard my name mentioned which naturally sparked my curiosity. I knew I shouldn't have listened in but I just had to hear what was being said about me. Feeling like a peeping Tom I stood in the hallway and eavesdropped. Gail was the first to speak.
"You look happy."
"That's because I am."
"That's wonderful darling. You deserve it."
"Thanks...but I wish that were true."
"Does she know how negative you are?"
"Beca knows me better than anyone." (pause) "Even more than you."
"Ouch!"
"It's the truth, Gail. I don't have to play games with her. She's the real deal."
Damn straight!
"So what's her problem then? I've tried to apologize for what happened at the party and even invited her to lunch a couple of times."
"Her problem is with you." After a brief pause, he continued. "Beca knows about our prior arrangement. She doesn't understand how we could still be friends."
"Then make her understand."
"No. It's in the past where it's going to stay." After a beat he continued. "She's innocent and sweet...why would I want to expose her to that? She's the most amazing woman I've ever met, and by some miracle...she loves me."
"I'm not surprised one bit. You're quite the catch, Jesse. I've told you this many times...she's lucky to have you."
"Actually I'm the one who's lucky."
"She is a lovely girl and quite headstrong." Letting out a snickering laugh, she probably thought back to the slap I gave her at the Swanson's mansion. "What were you thinking when you took her as your sub? She doesn't have a submissive bone in her body."
That's right bitch, I don't...
"I know, she challenges me. That's one of qualities I love about her. I guess I was looking for something more and didn't realize it at the time."
"Well...it looks like your instincts paid off. I hate to admit it but she's good for you and appears to be someone who can stand up to you and your self deprecating ways...but, don't you miss it?"
"What...the playroom?"
"Yes."
My heart sunk at her question. Where was she going with this?
"That's none of your damn business!" He snapped.
Whoa!
"I guess not." She countered defensively. "So, what is it about her?"
"Everything. What we have goes beyond that lifestyle."
"I see...but what about your needs?" There she goes again with the questions. "You can't tell me that little Miss Vanilla Sunshine satisfies your impulses."
Little Miss what..?
"First of all, she gives me everything I could possibly need or want in a woman; and second...our relationship doesn't concern you." (pause) "I think it's time for you to leave."
"Jesse...I'm sorry. I just don't want to lose you."
"That's funny, because I was never yours to lose in the first place." I was loving Jesse's words but wasn't prepared for what was coming. "Listen to me very carefully. You and I share a past and have a business relationship, nothing more. Beca is my future, and I won't jeopardize it in any way. For the first time in my life I'm in a loving relationship and found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."
Oh, my God! Did he really just admit that?
"So...no more subs for you?"
"That's right. I'm done with that."
She sighed loudly. "I never thought in a million years you'd end up falling in love, but it's true." (pause) "It's very gratifying to see you like this, but I couldn't bear it if she hurt you again."
"I'll take my chances."
"Best of luck to you, darling. I'll always be here for you."
With her chair scraping the marble floors I could only assume she was leaving.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." Hearing multiple footsteps he was obviously escorting her to the foyer. "I'll let you know what my guys find out about Adam. In the meantime I want you to leave her alone and call next time before you come over."
Letting out another loud sigh she conceded. "Very well."
"I'll be in touch."
"Goodbye Jesse."
"Goodnight Gail."
They really did sound like old friends. With Jesse confessing his true feelings about me and the nature of our relationship I no longer found myself jealous of their past history or friendship. Scampering to the bedroom I launched myself on the bed and pretended to be reading from my iPad mini.
"She's gone." He announced, entering our room.
"Good riddance." My sarcasm made him sigh as I accessed my Twitter account.
"You really don't care for her, do you?"
"Jesse…" I sat up and set my iPad down on the bed. "How can I put this in a way you'll understand." Taking a deep breath, I continued. "I can't stomach the bitch for what she did to you, and apparently is still doing."
"She's still my friend."
"I know that, and I can tell she cares for you."
"Yes she does and I care about her."
I gave the situation some thought then decided to ask the one question I dared to ask. "Do you love her?"
"No, of course not." He seemed offended by my inquiry but I just had to know. "But I thought I did at one time."
His answer surprised me. "Why didn't you tell me this back in Sedona?"
"Would it have made a difference?"
"Probably not, but I deserve to be told the truth."
He sighed. "Yes you do." Lying down beside me he elaborated on his decision to keep quiet. "I didn't say anything because I was already in love with somebody else."
Smiling to myself Jesse scooted closer and rubbed my arm. "How long have you felt that way?" I prodded further.
"Since the night I robbed you of your virtue."
Flushing at the memory I bit my lower lip. "I think it was me who willingly gave it up."
"You were so brave that night. For a virgin you took everything I threw at you, and then wanted more! I was in complete awe of you."
"You weren't exactly gentle with me."
"No." He smirked. "I know women and that wasn't what you wanted."
"What do you mean?"
"For someone as beautiful as you are, you could've had anyone at anytime. You were waiting for someone like me."
Resigned to the fact that he could be right I exhaled deeply. "Guess I'm not so vanilla after all." Using his term Jesse smiled and placed a soft kiss to my lips.
"Do you ever regret it?"
I smiled again and shook my head. "Not for one second."
"Me neither. I'm honored to be your one and only."
"Me too. I couldn't imagine being with anyone else." He nodded at my comment. At that very moment I decided to come clean and tell him what I had done. "Um...I don't know how to tell you this, but I overheard your conversation with Gail."
"And?" He asked with annoyance.
"And...I want to know more."
He sighed with frustration. "We've already been over this. What exactly do you want to know?"
"Everything."
Running his fingers through his hair Jesse was becoming agitated. "It's been over between us for years. Why do you keep dredging up the past? Why won't you just let it go?"
"I'm just trying to understand."
"Understand what?" His irritation was brewing as he sat up. "That she beat the living shit out of me on a regular basis and that I fucked her in ways you could never imagine! Is that what you want to hear?"
Closing my eyes I couldn't believe what Jesse was saying. I was becoming nauseated imagining the two of them together. "No...of course not." With my curiosity pushing him too far I needed to reel him back in but the damage had been done. "Jesse...I'm sor-"
Grabbing my wrists he held them together and had a wild look about him that I'd never seen before. He was furious.
"You have no idea what it was like all those years or what I'm still going through. Gail was there for me at a time when I was out of control. The arrangement we had was brutal, but it focused me." He paused to take a deep breath. "I never thought my past and present would collide like this, but they have. Honestly Beca, I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"What are you saying?"
"I've done terrible things that haunt me everyday. The fifteen subs I've had did nothing for me, I had no feelings for any of them. It was just meaningless fucking until you came along. You're the exception to my fucked up existence because you make me forget about who I used to be. But I can't forget. I'll always be that monster. My transgressions will always be a part of me and will never go away!"
Becoming more desperate I was losing the battle and needed to do something but didn't know what to do. "Jesse...you're not a monster. Please tell me what you've done?"
"NO!" He shouted. Seeing my anguish Jesse leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. "I can't." With his softened tone he released my hands. Rising to his feet Jesse ran his fingers through his hair and stormed out of our bedroom, leaving me in complete despair.
Damn you Swanson!
Sometime later…
Lying awake I wondered if he could ever really trust me and divulge the truths of his past. At the same time I considered if I should pursue this relationship of ours any further. Would it make a difference if I knew everything about him? Being so distraught about the things he'd done was beginning to concern me and doubt a future with the only man I'd ever loved. He'd come a long way since we first met but was he so broken and beyond repair? Thinking back to the punishment I endured I'd referred to him as a monster, did he take my words to heart or was it really true? Perhaps Gail could shed some light on this but would that be going behind his back? Feeling desperate for information I grabbed my cell phone and searched for her name under my list of 'contacts'. As I was about to select her number to call, my phone unexpectedly rang. When I saw who was calling I rolled my eyes and accepted the call.
"Hey mom."
"Hi sweetie. How was your first day?"
Talk about a loaded question...
"Um...busy, but good. My boss is a real ball buster but my colleagues are cool. How are you and my step dad doing? How's the patient?"
"Rob is getting stronger and more stubborn everyday." She chuckled. "The man is a mule but I'm just glad he's still with us."
"Me too." I smiled in agreement. "So tell me, are all men stubborn?"
"Only the ones we care about."
"Swell." I responded quickly. "Does it get any easier?"
"Are you alright? I'm sensing trouble in paradise." Nothing gets past that woman. "How are you two getting along?" When I didn't respond right away she inquired further. "What's happened?"
Trying to hold back my sadness I couldn't disguise the hurt in my voice. "We're just going through a rough patch."
"You sound upset. Do you want to talk about it?"
Thinking about what I was about to do before the call, I decided my mother was the lesser of two evils. She'd been there for me when I visited her and gave me sound advice then. I listened to her and followed my heart which did win me Jesse's love. But this was different, I was in jeopardy of losing him to his demons and didn't know what else to do. Without giving away too much, I told her just enough.
"Okay, so...Jesse has a past he's not proud of and won't open up to me. He's afraid I'll leave him." Pausing to take a deep breath. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Sweetie...if you truly love someone it shouldn't matter what they've done, unless it's illegal." After a beat she continued. "Do you still love him?"
"Yes!" I replied without hesitation. "We had an argument tonight, and he walked out. I think I pushed him too far." Unable to hold back my emotions I started sniffing. "I fucked up and don't know how to fix it."
"Oh honey, relationships are wonderful but you have to work at them. You didn't screw up." She took a breather, then continued. "You and Jesse will always have your ups and downs, this is how you get to know each other."
"Okay...I get that, but what do I do?"
"You give it some time and give him the space he needs. Even as a little girl you were impatient and always looking for answers." She was right, I was the pushiest thing, and apparently I still was.
"You drove your father and I crazy during the holidays, demanding to know what Santa brought you days before Christmas Day." Flashing back to my childhood I remember sitting around our twinkling tree shaking packages, wondering what was inside; I couldn't wait to rip into them.
"You've never been the patient type or allowed yourself to trust very easily, but if he's the one, you need to have some faith in him. He wouldn't have come to Sedona for you and then asked you to move in if he didn't love you." She sighed. "Don't worry sweetie, he'll come around and then the two of you will have the most amazing, mind blowing make-up sex...ever."
"MOTHER!"
I couldn't believe she said that...
She laughed at my embarrassment. "Rebeca...you're an adult now, so when the time is right, go to him and show that boyfriend of yours how much he's loved regardless of his wrong doings."
Letting out a deep breath I thought about what she was saying. She was right, everyone deserved a second chance, I needed to let it go and love Jesse for who he was today. The woman must have been psychic. Just as I was about to call the child molester for answers, she saved me from making one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
Changing the subject we spoke about Worlds coming up and how she and my stepdad would be watching us live via online streaming. With all that's gone on recently I couldn't believe that in just a few days I would be meeting Stacie at JFK in New York, then flying to Copenhagen to be reunited with the rest of the Bella's. After we said our goodbyes I cleaned up, changed into one of Jesse's t-shirts and climbed into bed. With the craziness of the day, fatigue set in and pulled me into sleep.
In the middle of the night I was woken up by the sound of piano playing. Just like our first night together the melancholy tune told a story of a young man tormented by his past. Turning on a side light I noticed a handwritten apology note, a box of long stemmed red roses and a white full length satin nightgown with lace cups laid out on Jesse's side of the bed; he must have gone out after I fell asleep. Understanding its meaning I changed into the lingerie and headed for the living room. I'd never worn anything so delicate as it clung to my curves and left very little to the imagination. I felt sexy and knew what I needed to do. Rounding the corner a single candle pillar on the piano illuminated the corner of the room while Jesse's eyes remained closed as his fingers effortlessly flew over the black and white keys. He was clad in pajama bottoms with bare feet and slowly rocked to an original tune he created, immersing himself in its sadness. Approaching slowly I stood beside him as he continued to play and noticed wetness on his cheeks.
"Jesse." Whispering his name got his attention as he ceased playing, dropped his arms to his sides and stared at keys. "Please let me in."
Sighing to himself he said nothing, turned to face me and held out his arms. Positioning myself in front of him he wrapped his arms around my waist, and like a protective mother would her child, I pulled Jesse into my bosom and embraced him as he sobbed quietly.
"Shh..." Seeing him so emotionally compromised affected me to the point I was struggling to keep my own eyes dry. "I'm sorry." My voice cracked as a stray tear fell down my cheek. Stroking his hair I kissed the top of his head and closed my eyes.
We stayed this way for sometime until I felt a shift in Jesse's stance. Looking up at me he smiled warmly and gave a quick nod of appreciation. It was times like this we didn't need words to communicate but I knew what I still needed to do to bring him back from that dark place.
"Babe." I broke our silence and spoke softly. "The person you were, the things you did, makes no difference to me. I love you and that's all that matters." Without anymore words I straddled his lap, held his face between my hands and brought my lips to his. Snaking my arms around his neck he reciprocated my actions. "I'll always love you." My whisper against his lips set off his desire as he pulled me flush to him and buried his face in my nape of neck.
I sighed in relief and held him closer. After a while our eyes locked and there was only one thing left to do. "Let's go to bed." And blew out the candle.
This night signified trust and unconditional love between us. While Jesse lowered his guard and let me in, I realized it didn't matter who he was before me, what did matter was that we accepted each other for who we were at that very moment.
Bringing Jesse to his feet I took his hand and led him to our bedroom. Without breaking eye contact I gently pushed him onto our bed so he was laying on his back while I positioned myself over him. Losing ourselves in our kisses and caresses, we held each other and declared our undying love for one another. We didn't have sex, however the closeness we shared was far more intimate as we let our actions speak for themselves. I knew the war wasn't over but winning one battle at a time was a step in the right direction. As we fell asleep in each other's arms, we never felt closer.
The following morning I dreamt of warmth between my thighs and tingled all over. In my dream state I was moaning loudly and arching my back; I was obviously having a sex dream and was quite into it. With pressure building from within I soon realized it wasn't a dream, Jesse was under the covers giving me oral gratification and I'd become very aroused. Fully aware of my surroundings, I felt his hands squeezing my breasts under the thin material of the nightdress while his mouth did wonderful things down below. I kept my eyes shut while my body shuddered in anticipation as he nibbled and sucked in all the right places. Locating my g-spot he pumped me with his deft fingers and that's all it took. Sucking in my breath I erupted like a volcano and cried out while I clutched the sheets with both hands and bucked wildly as he consumed my release. With added suction from his mouth, my eyes rolled back as explotives tumbled carelessly from my lips as he prolonged my climax.
After the tremors subsided I was on fire and out of breath when I threw off the comforter to find Jesse with the most sheepish look on his face. Still nestled between my legs he kissed my inner thighs, climbed up my body and pressed his lips to mine.
"Good morning." He said affectionately, his face glistened with my essence but I didn't care. Tasting myself on Jesse only made my lust for him that much more. After giving me the most amazing wake up call I wanted to reciprocate, but he wouldn't have it. With one hand disappearing under the mattress he produced my favorite burgundy tie. Knowing what he had in mind I smirked and let him bind my wrists together and then tie me to the headboard.
"Remember this?" He asked.
I nodded with a smile.
Raising the delicate lingerie, my body was completely exposed to him while my eyes were covered by the silky material. Hearing the distinct sound of a foil packet being ripped open, it didn't take long before he was buried balls deep inside.
Yeah...mom was right again. Make-up sex with Jesse was mind-blowing. If every morning could start out this way, I would never leave home...or his bed.
A couple hours later we showered, got ready for work then finished breakfast prepared by Ms. Clark. We couldn't stop grinning at each other and had that freshly fucked glow, acting like a couple of stargazed teenagers in love.
When we were left alone I took advantage of the opportunity and climbed into Jesse's lap, cupped the side of his face and kissed him passionately. "Thank you for this morning." I murmured against his lips. Feeling his smile he kissed me back. "We should fight more often, Mr. Swanson."
"Mmm...I couldn't agree more, Miss Mitchell." Kissing my neck I felt my desire peak again. "Living with you definitely has its perks."
"Oh yeah?"
He pulled away to face me. "For starters, I get to have you whenever I want." Rolling my eyes at his remark made him laugh. "But the best part is, seeing your beautiful face before falling asleep and then waking up with you in my arms." The look of adoration he gave nearly brought me to tears. "I can seriously get used to this."
Stroking the side of his face I felt my heart swell. "Me too." And pressed my lips to his.
As our kiss deepened I felt myself falling more for Jesse and would do anything for him as long as he continued to love me in this manner. After a few more minutes our make-out session was interrupted by Benji clearing his throat, politely letting us know it was time to leave. With Ms. Clark handing me a prepared lunch we were off to our perspective work.
Sitting in the backseat of the SUV Jesse held my hands and couldn't keep his eyes off me. Our relationship was evolving at a world record pace but neither of us seemed to mind.
"You promise not to go anywhere alone?"
"Yes Sir." I pulled my hand back and mock saluted him. "You have my word."
"That's my girl." He said, smiling. The dude really was in the best mood; we both were. "I love you."
"I know." I replied, grinning back. "Have a good day at the office, dear."
With Benji and I being dropped off we headed into the Capitol Tower and into the elevator. With all that transpired this morning I still couldn't keep the smile off my face. As we stopped at the tenth floor Benji bid me farewell to start his patrol.
Entering the suite I pushed open the glass door and stopped at reception to say hi to Barb. After a quick chat about how hot my boyfriend was I proceeded to my work space and freed myself of my leather jacket and stashed my purse in its drawer. Plopping myself down onto my mesh chair, I docked my cell phone in its charging stand, switched on my desktop computer and logged in with my credentials that were assigned to me. Before I had a chance to read any of my emails my desk phone rang, it was Keegan and he wanted me to come to his office immediately.
Grabbing a legal pad and pen I stood up and headed down the hall to his office in the corner. Knocking on his glass door he waved me in and motioned for me to close the door behind me while he continued his phone conversation.
"That's the worst idea I've ever heard! Snoop is coming tomorrow and the best you have is barking dogs and kalimba? My sister, your mother paid through her ass to get you an education at UCLA, so I expect more out of you. You guys have until tomorrow to wow me or heads are going to roll." Slamming his phone startled me, but what happened afterwards made me feel even more uncomfortable.
Eyeing me from top to bottom Keegan had a predatory look about him. This morning I opted to wear a form fitting beige skirt and low cut white blouse which apparently wasn't the best decision. The personal shopper hired by Jesse was still in the process of replacing my wardrobe destroyed by that psycho, so all I had were short skirts and tight dresses hanging in the closet. Jesse approved of my new sophisticated look but wouldn't like the way my slimy boss was undressing me with his eyes.
"You look nice." Keegan praised, motioning for me to come closer. "Let me take a look at you...turn around." I felt objectified while the scumbag checked me out. "It's refreshing to see a woman who actually dresses like a woman and isn't afraid to show off her curves, and you my dear have them."
Somebody call H. R. quick!
"You left right after hor'dourves last night, did you at least have a good time?"
"Um...yeah." Was all I can say, trying to ignore his advances. "It was such a crazy day yesterday, I was tired."
"So your boyfriend is quite possessive of you. Do you like that sort of thing?"
"He's not normally like that." I lied, Jesse was one thousand percent worse and had amazing stalker abilities. "He was just in a mood."
"I see." He gave a wicked smile and licked his lips. "So...you like your boyfriend?"
What kind of a question was that?
"I love him." I replied quickly. Not liking the direction of the conversation I changed the topic. "Your call sounded urgent. Did you want something?"
"Yeah...but apparently it's already taken." His suggestive tone made my blood boil. "What does he do?"
"Um...he's an entrepreneur; he owns his own business."
"Oh yeah...what kind of business?"
Nosey bastard!
"You know...all sorts of things. Mainly mergers and acquisitions."
"That doesn't sound very exciting. What's his full name?"
Getting tired of the questions, I exhaled deeply. "Jesse Swanson."
"The billionaire!?" His eyes nearly came out of their sockets. "One of the richest men in America is your boyfriend?"
Yes you asshole, and if you keep it up he'll own your ass...
"The one and only."
Looking like someone kicked him in the teeth Keegan shook his head in disbelief.
"Shit! I knew he looked familiar." He mumbled to himself then sighed. "Alright, I need you to order lunch for today's unscheduled meeting with upper management. It seems 'Residual Heat' may have been sold." Just about choking at the news I did my best to conceal the fact that I already knew about the sale. Handing me a restaurant menu, several items were already pre selected. "They don't deliver so you'll have to call in the order and pick it up; the deli is just up the street. Meeting is at 12:30 so have everything in place by then."
Swell...now I have to tell Jesse.
"Is that it?"
"For now."
"Okay, I'll be at my desk if you need anything else."
After an hour or so I hadn't heard from Jesse and decided to email him.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FROM: Beca
TO: Jesse
SUBJECT: Sex or Cheesecake
Dear Sex God,
I hope you're having a decent day. Thanks to a certain somebody rudely waking me up this morning I've been distracted all day.
If every day could start out like this morning I would gladly give up everything (including cheesecake) and never leave your bed. I've had the stupidest grin on my face and might as well hold up a sign saying, I've been sufficiently fucked.
ILY...
Rebeca Mitchell
Satiated Girlfriend & Production Assistant - Residual Heat Studios
That should get him going. Clicking on send...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FROM: Jesse
TO: Beca
SUBJECT: Rude Awakenings
Dear Sex Goddess,
I too haven't stopped smiling and would give up everything if I could make love to you 24 hours per day. Everyone here keeps asking if I'm feeling alright. Must be all the sex. Jeez woman! Will you please let a man sleep!
XOXO...
Jesse Swanson
Oversexed & Sleep Deprived CEO, JS Enterprises
Laughing out loud I hit reply...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FROM: Beca
TO: Jesse
SUBJECT: Senior Moments
What's wrong old man? Can't keep up with your much younger girlfriend? I have needs…
ILY...
Rebeca Mitchell
Sex Crazed Girlfriend & Production Assistant - Residual Heat Studios
Snickering at what I typed, I hit send...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FROM: Jesse
TO: Beca
SUBJECT: No rest for the weary...
Old man? I'm still 27 for a couple more weeks. Hope you're up to the challenge little girl because no tiny blue pills are needed for this thoroughbred. Hope you're taking your vitamins because you're going to need your strength tonight. Ready for round two?
XOXO...
Jesse Swanson
Always Ready For Action Stud & CEO, JS Enterprises
Oh really? Clicking reply...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FROM: Beca
TO: Jesse
SUBJECT: Bring It On
Challenge accepted. Better up your dose of Geritol...old man.
Sorry to change the subject but since I'm the newbie here, I've been tasked with the responsibility of feeding my boss and a bunch of bigwigs so I'll need to leave the building at noon. There's an unscheduled meeting today with upper management about some hostile takeover. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you? "Wink! Wink!" BTW...you were right about Keegan.
ILY...
Rebeca Mitchell
Loving Girlfriend, Errand Gal & Production Assistant - Residual Heat Studios
Wondering how he'll respond I clicked on send...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FROM: Jesse
TO: Beca
SUBJECT: I'm calling you
Pick up your cell phone and delete your emails now!
Jesse Swanson
CEO, JS Enterprises
Jeez! So bossy.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Hey!" I answered, clicking my mouse to save changes to the latest version of my mix. "What's up?"
"Did that fucker touch you?" He whispered.
"No...he just made some stupid comments. It's nothing I can't handle."
"Hold on a sec." I could tell that Jesse put his hand over his phone and was having another conversation. "Send them the proposal and tell them we're on board."
"Are you in a meeting?"
"Um...yeah. Actually, there's a dozen suits staring at me wondering who the fuck I'm talking to."
"Dude! We can discuss this later."
"Hang on." Hearing other voices on the other end I tried to make out what they were saying. "It's my girlfriend!" He announced proudly, no longer bothering to cover the mic. "Yes it's the same girl from Atlanta."
"Now you've done it." I joked lightheartedly. "They probably thought you were gay." My snark sent him into a fit of laughter.
"You know that's not true, especially after this morning." He whispered. "Remember?"
"Mmm…" Forgetting where I was, I flushed and groaned a little too loudly which got the attention of some of my colleagues. Trying to shake off thoughts of this morning's escapades, I quickly changed the subject. "So...about today. The deli is just up the street but I promised somebody I wouldn't take any chances AND will make sure Dirty Harry accompanies me. Will that satisfy your requirement?"
"Yes, that'll do. I'll call Benji/Harry and let him know we spoke." He joked along which made me chuckle. "I've got to get back to my meeting before there's a mutiny and I'm kicked off my own board. Laters, baby."
A couple of hours later Benji met me in reception then we headed downstairs and out. Looking both ways on the busy street I was on the look-out for ghost girl, but to my relief there was no sight of her. After we picked up the sandwiches from the deli we returned to my work without any incident.
The executive's meeting went on for a couple of hours which worried me because I wasn't sure if today would be the day that JS Enterprises would be announced as the new owner. As Keegan stormed past my desk he looked straight ahead and left the building in a hurry. Whatever transpired during the meeting didn't look good for him.
Getting back to our latest project I lost myself in my music and was getting closer to finalizing a mix created for the rapper's holiday album, but something was missing. Tapping me on the shoulder I turned around to find Dax, Dean and Destiny behind me, who were having just as much difficulty as I was. Removing my headphones they invited me into a sound room where we decided to collaborate on the Snoop Dogg project. They loved my ideas and let me take the lead. With my vocals added and their tweaking with his song, we came up with something we were proud of.
At a little passed five Benji and I left the building just as the SUV pulled up. Clambering into the back seat Jesse pulled me into his arms and pressed his lips to mine. His mood from this morning hadn't changed and I could tell the challenge we emailed about earlier was still on.
"I couldn't stop thinking about you all day." Jesse gushed.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah." He answered. "Let's go home."
That night we enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Ms. Clark and talked about the highlights of our day. He admitted that the purchase of 'Residual Heat' had gone through earlier than expected but the official press release wouldn't go out until the following week. In regards to Keegan's sour disposition he had no idea what his problem was.
After dinner Jesse received email notification from his geek-squad that the report on Adam was complete. Excusing himself to his study, Jesse had a few calls to make. In the meantime I decided to fine tune the Snoop Dogg project in the multipurpose room across the hall from Jesse.
After an hour or so I was satisfied with the finished product and found myself fixated on the pool table at the far end of the room. As a troubled teen going through my parents divorce my friends not only introduced me to tattoos, they taught me how to play. I wasn't a pool shark in any way, however I could hold my own and decided this could be a fun challenge between Jesse and I. Walking over to the cue rack I plucked a shorter stick and rolled it on the green felt surface. Satisfied that it wasn't warped I located a set of billiard balls and triangle then arranged them on the table. It had been a while since I played but still knew the mechanics and physics of the game. After a few successful shots Jesse stood in the doorway with his arms crossed looking as intrigued as ever.
"You play?"
"Yup." I responded, sinking a striped ball in the side pocket. "Do you?" I asked repositioning myself for the next shot.
Coming closer Jesse took a seat on a barstool and observed my form. "I wouldn't have a table if I didn't."
Sinking in another ball I stood the cue up and gripped it with both hands. "Care to make a wager?"
Crossing his arms again he couldn't hold back his amusement. "I'm listening."
Giving it some thought I came up with something Jesse couldn't resist.
"If I win, we go to the playroom." As expected, he was stunned at what I had proposed.
"And if you lose?"
"Your choice."
My inner goddess was so delighted she did pirouettes around the room while my subconscious burst into flames.
"Really?" With his eyebrows raised to his hairline, I'd surprised him once again. "A...Anything?" He stammered.
"You heard me." Smirking at his reaction I placed the cue stick on the table, eased my way over to him and brought my lips within inches of his quivering mouth. "No more limits...remember?"
Letting out a loud gulp, Jesse raked his fingers through his hair. "You're that confident?" He asked, pulling himself together. "Are you hustling me, Miss Mitchell?"
Letting out a snort I was thoroughly enjoying myself. "What's wrong, Mr. Swanson? Afraid of a little friendly competition from your petite girlfriend?"
Bunching my hair in back Jesse yanked it down so I was facing up at him. I was no longer laughing as he leaned down and kissed me hard. With the force of his lips on mine, I nearly fell backwards. Gazing into his dark eyes I could tell he wanted this.
"Eight-Ball...call the pockets!" He blurted out, accepting the challenge and arranged the rack of balls in a perfectly tight triangle. "Your break, M'lady!"
Smirking at my competitor, I slowly stepped away to the opposite end of the table and pulled my blouse out of my skirt. With my chalked cue in hand I positioned the white ball off center and looked up at Jesse who was mesmerized. Lining up my shot I leaned over the table, making sure my challenger had a clear view of my cleavage while sliding the wooden rod back and forth between my thumb and index finger. With my lead arm, I pulled the stick back and thrust forward with all my might, sending the cue ball crashing into the colored object balls; scattering them in all directions.
Looking up from the table, Jesse let out a gasp while I nervously bit my lip and heard a ball drop into a pocket.
A/N: Nothing like a little cliffhanger...eh?
Responses to Beca's reaction to Gail's news were a mixed bag, however the few who said she would laugh her ass off were absolutely correct.
Any predictions on who will win the game?