Have I mentioned that I have some amazing betas/readers/editors?!
Chapter 5
Della cleared the opening into the short hallway of her apartment and slowed, knowing that she really just needed a few minutes alone to consider everything that had happened.
Flattening her back against the wall, she raised her hands and ran them through her tangled curls, as her mind raced. Della wasn't completely without experience but since breaking her engagement and moving to California years ago she hadn't been intimate with any man. While her social calendar was always full, at least until she had gone to work for the busy Perry Mason, she hadn't met anyone she could get that serious about, and Della Street just wasn't a casual kind of girl.
But the man sitting in her living room drinking her whiskey was very close to changing that.
She wanted him… she craved him… with a desire so fierce that it actually scared her. If anyone had told her just an hour ago that her boss would kiss her so passionately and that she would respond with equal fervor, she would have laughed. No man had ever touched her as intimately as Perry had. No man had ever even seen her naked breast much less kissed and caressed it with such obvious delight. Her experiences with Michael Domenico had been limited to fumbling caresses and shifting clothing to the side in the backseat of his car in the dark. And now she was actually contemplating stripping off all of her clothing and welcoming an equally naked man into her bed… into her body… a man who was her employer… a man who she saw every day… worked with every day…
Questions she'd considered and resolved repeatedly over the last two years popped into her mind again. What if a personal relationship didn't work out? Could they continue? Or would she lose the job she loved and the best friend she had ever had?
'I wonder what he looks like…'
Although her experience was restricted, Della did enjoy romance novels and was blessed with a healthy imagination and several close girlfriends more than willing to share their experiences. She'd often had those types of thoughts about Perry, but knowing that she was so close to realizing them made her tremble anew.
'No, no, no… yes…' she scolded herself, pushing away the images of his hands on her skin, the memory of the feel of his lips, as she tried to decide if now was the time to initiate the intimate relationship that they had been dancing around for so long.
She took a few more steps into the dim hallway, beginning a short cycle of pacing as her brain raced through the things he'd said to her, stopping on 'church and vows'. Perry Mason did not need a wife, at least not right now, no matter what he thought. Della was just as sure of that as she was that he would propose this minute if he thought she would accept. But not needing a wife didn't mean that he didn't need someone… that he didn't need her. And what advantage would being his wife bring her anyway? Della had always valued her independence. She had made her own way in the world since she was eighteen years old and was proud of what she had accomplished. She had no desire to become a rich man's pampered wife… not if that meant staying home while Perry and a new secretary were out having all the adventures. That would never happen if she had anything to say about it.
Because, more than anything, Della did not want to be lonely. Life without Perry would be just that to her. She knew that marrying Perry would lead to them spending much less time together and that was unacceptable. But knowing that he loved her… having heard him speak the words out loud… She finally felt free to show her feelings in return.
'We could be spending much MORE time together…'
Della stumbled and caught herself then bent down and picked up the obstacle she'd tripped over from the floor, Perry's hat. She realized it must have fallen off earlier when she'd gotten the drink tray. Once again mesmerized by it, she stared at the black wool in her hands but her mind was picturing the fedora perched on Perry's dark hair, the brim screening deep blue eyes… his strong solid body covered by a perfectly tailored suit… a dark trench coat… He was the epitome of a man in charge of his work, his play, his destiny… his feelings? A man who knew what he wanted in life… and he wanted her.
i
Catching a glimmer of reflected light, Della realized she'd stopped in front of a mirror. Her gaze moved from the hat to her own reflection… curls still wild… lips still red and swollen, eyes still filled with desire.
'He loves me…'
The words would never have been voiced by him had they not been completely true. In that Della had complete trust.
'…and I love him…'
Della nodded to herself in the mirror. What did it matter if a new case was starting? A new case was always starting.
'…he wants me…'
The depth of passion that Perry had shown her earlier had shocked and thrilled her, her response to it even more. Nothing had ever felt so basic… so primordial… so absolutely right… And she wanted it… she wanted it all… with him… and now.
'… and I want him…'
Returning her gaze to the hat in her hands she slowly lifted it and placed it back on top of her own head, this symbol of his authority… the authority that he had given to her for this night.
'… and I… we are ready for this... It's time.'
'But how?' There was that question again. How would she go about seducing him? Della Street, smart, sassy, cool and efficient, wasn't exactly sure how to move forward. She knew that she could have seduced most men with little effort, but Perry Mason? He was definitely NOT most men. Her palms pressed against her hot cheeks then dropped slowly down her neck, fingers automatically seeking the top button of the fur coat, as she realized that Perry had already told her what he wanted and given her the power to do it… She knew exactly how to seduce him… how she wanted him…
Tonight she was the boss.
