The sun woke me up the next morning. I was alone in my bed, naked, and if I didn't feel the perfect soreness that reminded me of the night before I would have assumed I had dreamt it.
Rolling over, looking up at the ceiling, I tried very hard to not feel bereft that Billy hadn't stayed until I woke up. What happened was fucking madness, and it wouldn't be able to happen again. We both knew that, no doubt, and him especially since he was no doubt still mourning the loss of his wife. Shit. I rolled out of bed, forcing away the surge of delicious memory that caused my hips and thighs to be stiff and tender, and headed for my bathroom. A hot shower, and I'd be good as new.
As I was pulling panties from my drawer, a scent hit me that didn't make sense. Was that-
"You're awake," Billy offered, standing in my bedroom doorway holding a tray laden with breakfast. He was wearing just his boxers, and I realized with a glance at my floor that his clothes were still tangled with mine. "I wanted to surprise you with-" his eyes flicked to the tray and I felt my smile wanting to come out. "Hungry?"
"I could eat," climbing back in the bed, forgetting that I was still completely bare until I heard him groan behind me, I looked over my shoulder. A twist of need hit me, and it had nothing to do with the food on the tray. "Are you joining me?" I asked, propping up the pillows on the headboard so we'd be comfortable.
He set the tray over my lap and got in beside me. "Only if you want me to, Ronnie." A shake of my head had me picking up my fork and cutting off a piece of the pancake he'd drizzled with syrup. Instead of biting it, I held it out for him. "'Fraid I'd poison you?" I rolled my eyes and watched him chomp down on the bite with exaggerated viciousness, then he was moaning dramatically at the taste.
"You're such a-" his lips met mine, the sweetness of the syrup and the underlying flavor of him hitting me like a freight train. I don't know how I managed to keep hold of the fork, but when he pulled away, flicking gently against my lower lip I still had it in my hand. I licked my lips, still a hint of syrup left from his mouth, and our eyes met. "Not bad, Butcher." He was smirking as I took my first bite, and had to agree that he wasn't half bad at pancake making.
We shared, bite for bite, and got distracted a time or two for the taste of something a little different. Like when a string of syrup trailed down his beard, and it seemed like a shame to waste, and I had to be sure it hadn't dribbled further down. As I licked his neck, I was happy to see that he was enjoying my thoroughness. Or when I was clumsy and missed my mouth, a bite of pancake fell on my chest, and Billy got to it before I could grab it with my fingers. It was only fair that he used his mouth to make sure I wasn't overly sticky, right?
Breakfast was finished, the tray set on the floor, and then Billy made sure that I hadn't been butterfingered enough to have dropped anything lower. Taking his time to check every single inch of my body for stray sugar or crumbs. It seemed only proper to do the same for him, and I copied his careful inspection that he'd done on my body on his. Watching as he studied my complete devotion to making certain he was in pristine and satisfied condition before I was finished.
After a shower, together if you can believe it, and then a very slow redressing, Billy left. He looked like he was conflicted, and I was afraid to ask why. If he finally started to regret this, then I didn't want to know yet, since I hadn't. One final kiss, long and lingering, and then he was gone.
Monday came too soon. Yes, I know the days of the week, but seriously, ONE fucking day to process what happened between Billy and me, and it wasn't even a WHOLE day.
I got ready and had to stop repeatedly to steady my pounding heartbeat, my pulse was ragged, and I swore that I'd end up taking some type of mood stabilizer if I didn't calm my shit down. Slipping into my heels, checking the mirror a final time, I shook myself out of it. I was going to WORK. I would be professional and distant and a fucking calm presence in the building. That was my JOB.
I pulled into the parking lot, grabbed my bag, and entered the building with an absent greeting to Anthony. Standing outside my office, when I made my way down the hallway, wasn't Billy Butcher. Instead, standing there looking as comfortable to be there as I was at seeing them, was Kimiko and Frenchie.
"Morning?" I was squinting, trying to understand the change, but with a flash my eyes closed. Distance. Billy was finally regretting it. And this was his answer. "I guess you guys are here to help me with the files?"
A nod from Frenchie and a shrug from Kimiko was my answer. Great, this should be fun.
Frenchie wasn't as bad at the task as I thought he might be, and Kimiko was teachable, in her own way. We sat on the floor, in the same position that Billy and I had taken as our routine, but with the door shut. Kimiko was leaps and bounds past her fast triggered violence, but I'd rather Joseph not freak out more than necessary.
We were scribbling away when my phone rang, not my office line, but my cell phone. Checking the screen, I sighed. "Hello, Mother," I answered, standing up and moving toward the window so my conversation wouldn't bother my worker bees.
"Honestly, Veronica," she started right in on how disappointing my performance had been during the charity event where I was sold like chattel. "I have to tell you, I feared that John would ask for a refund, you were so abrupt and rude." Damn it, he hadn't? "That would have been so embarrassing for our family, Veronica, you do understand that don't you?" I rolled my eyes and let her roll on. Honor of the family, blah blah blah, a complete disappointment as a daughter, blah blah blah, luckily she and my father had managed to smooth his ruffled feathers, blah blah blah. "He'll be calling you this afternoon." Wait, what? "I expect you to answer, no excuses."
"I'm working, Mother," I glared out the window at the alley it overlooked. "And while you and Father can't seem to fathom it, my work is actually important. Not only to me," I closed that potential loophole before she could attempt it. "I'll answer his call if it comes in at a convenient time, for me." I told her goodbye before she could start in again, reminding her once again that I was working.
"You seem rather," Frenchie offered as I sat back down to get back to work with a sigh. "Upset." That was one word for it. "The weekend wasn't pleasant?"
Some parts were amazing, I thought, others not so much. "Any time I have to deal with my parents is trying, Frenchie," offering this as I picked up the file I had been working on I went back to it. Hoping that the rest of my day wouldn't slide further downhill.
I gave Frenchie and Kimiko free reign for their lunch while I ordered in, telling them to have their pick call me so I could cover the cost. Taking the more comfortable visitor chair, I was still working on a few files when a knock came to the door that I assumed signified lunch had arrived. Finishing the few notes I'd been making, I finally answered, and glared up at the man himself. Billy fucking Butcher. Damn it.
"Ronnie," he said, my body blocking him from entering my office. "Gonna move a bit so I can-"
"Nope," I said with a tilt of my head. "Frenchie and Kimiko are my workers today and they're at lunch, you've been replaced." His eyes narrowed and I felt a tad victorious. Serves him right, I thought, shifting our routine to others without so much as a heads up to me.
"Replaced? I've been replaced?" He stepped forward, pushing himself into my personal space. "I think you and I both know, Doc, that there's no replacing me." His eyes trapped mine and I wanted to- I don't know what I wanted to do. Slap him? Kiss him? Both? "Let me in."
"Fine," I bit out, stepping back and his eyes landed on my toes.
I'd changed the polish after he'd left, and depending on where the light struck them, the colors changed. His gaze roamed from my newly painted nails up my body to back to my face. And then his hands were around my waist and he was shutting my door behind us as he pushed me further into my office. I opened my mouth to tell him that the barbarian tactic wasn't going to work when he lifted me onto my desk and his mouth captured mine. The burn of his beard, the flick of his tongue, and I forgot why I was so pissed at him. At least for a moment.
"I had a few things to take care of this morning," he breathed when he took a pause to take a breath. "I thought having Frenchie and Kimiko help out would keep us on track with the files." His fingers were sliding along my bare arms peeking out from my short sleeved blouse. Then they found the buttons along the front and started flicking them open as his mouth took a trip down my neck. "I think you got the wrong idea, Ronnie."
His mouth was tempting the skin he was baring slowly to his view, and I fought against the urge to close my eyes and fall into the feelings. Half the fun with Billy was watching. "I wouldn't have," my voice half moan half whisper, "if you'd fucking told me."
He nipped the curve of my breast and chuckled as I lurched into his touch. "Not used to answering to someone about my whereabouts, Veronica, I'll have to-" and then his tongue flicked against my nipple through the lace of my bra and I gasped loud enough to fear Anthony heard it at his desk. "Fuck, too long," and then his mouth met mine again and we almost got back to the swing of things, so to speak, but a knock came to my door and Anthony was saying he had my lunch. Fuck. Billy growled into my mouth, but when my stomach answered him he pulled away, eyes twinkling. "Hungry, Ronnie?"
I was no doubt a fucking mess on the desk. Blouse hanging open, I had no doubt that his beard and mouth had left traces of how he'd been reminding me of his overnight at my house, and I knew my lipstick was gone since I could see hints of it on his lips. I wasn't sure I could stand, I was so overcome with want, need, and fucking hunger.
"I'll grab it for you, but you might want to-" he gestured at the state of my clothing and I rolled my eyes. "Turn away from the door, he'll never know." I did, and was fixing my shirt when I looked up and saw the reflection of me in the full wall of windows. Shit, I closed my eyes, praying that Billy's bulk would keep Anthony from seeing his boss completely undone.