Hell in a Handbasket - The Journey (8 page)

Ryder pushed the
button to call an elevator car. He started rubbing small circles on the small
of my back and I felt my knees start to go soft on me. I heard the ding that
said a car was available and my heart rate increased along with my breathing.
We stepped aside in case there were people getting off the elevator. The doors
opened and people started pouring out. My hands started twitching as I tried to
wait patiently.

Finally, the
elevator was empty all but one little old man. "Going up?" he called
out.

Ryder reached
inside the doors and hit the close doors button. "We'll catch the next
one."

"Certainly."
The little old
man grinned.

"Ryder, I
can't be late for this meeting." My voice was shaking as I felt almost
every fiber under my skin start to ignite and burn.

"Trust me.
You won't be late." Ryder's voice was soothing and I felt myself relax
just a tiny bit.

The next elevator
dinged and the doors opened. It was empty so we entered.

I glanced up at Ryder.
"Remember you said we wouldn't have sex in the elevator."

"No, what I
said was I wouldn't fuck you in the elevator and I won't…this time." His
eyes closed to half slits and his lopsided grin was the kind songs are written
about.

I had just
started to calm down some when he pushed me gently into the elevator and I
gasped. He merely smirked. I felt my heart rate and breathing increase and I
felt that panic of not having enough air.

Ryder pushed the
button for the floor I was supposed to have my meeting on. I opened my mouth
and started to ask him how he knew which floor I was supposed to be on. Before
I could get a sound out, he smiled down at me and said, "Because I know
this building and I know which floor the publishing company is on."
Waggling eyebrows.

"Oh…" I
sounded as if I had been sucking on a helium balloon.

Ryder looked up
at the ceiling. He looked closer at one particular corner near the doors and
escorted me into that corner.

I inhaled
sharply. "Ryder, what are you doing?"

"Shhhh,
Maeve, I'm making up for the car ride."

"Ryder…"

"Maeve…"
Ryder leaned across the door and pushed a button. Suddenly the elevator
stopped. We had gone up about four floors.

"They'll
send someone to get us out."

"I'm sure
they will."

"You won't
have time…plus you promised I wouldn't be wet for my meeting."

"And I told
you I would see what I could do about making sure you weren't wet for that
meeting…I just want you wet for this one."

He pushed me
farther into the corner and lifted me up so that part of my butt actually
rested on the handrail. Then he dropped to his knees and crawled under my
skirt. With his hands he placed my legs over his shoulders and then spread my
thighs farther apart. I wheezed and gulped. He began stroking my outer lips and
I trembled. I was holding onto the handrail as if my life depended on it. My
grasp was so tight, my knuckles were losing color. He inserted one finger into
me. I groaned and then lost my air as he rotated his finger. My groan turned
into
a mewl
once my air deserted me.

"Oh God,
you're so wet already." I heard Ryder's voice muffled from under my skirt.

"Thhaannnhhhh."
I tried to
answer him and tell him it was his fault but words were no longer at my
disposal.

He inserted a
second finger. My eyes slammed shut and I saw the blue screen of death as my
brain went completely off line.
"Ohhhhhhh."
I moaned with such force. I shook my head trying to get my brain functioning
again but Ryder started rubbing my clit with his thumb. My body started to
violently quake and I just knew I was going to fall off the handrail. I tried
to tighten my grip but my hands wouldn't work anymore.

"Come for me
Maeve. I want you to come for me in this very public elevator."

I heard Ryder's
voice from some far off place. It took a moment for his words to sink in and
when they did, they tripped a trigger, sending my body convulsing and falling
over the edge.

"That's it
baby, come harder."

"Oooohhhhh."
I rasped and
felt my juices dripping down my thighs. Then I felt Ryder's mouth and tongue
licking them up off my inner thighs. I squealed as he moved to my outer lips.
When he entered his tongue into me my world shattered. He began licking me up
and down and when he hit my clit, I saw stars and heard a weird crackling
noise. Oh God I was having a stroke.

Then I heard a
voice over the intercom. "We received a warning bell. The elevator seems
to have stopped between floors. Is everyone okay there?"

Ryder pulled his
head out from underneath my skirt. "We're fine here. I think it may have
been just a glitch. Before you call for the Fire Department, let me hit the
button and see if we can't get this thing rolling again."

"Sure buddy
if you think it'll work, give it a shot."

Ryder stood up
and pushed a button and sure enough, the elevator lurched and we were moving
again.

The scratchy
intercom voice exclaimed, "Well I'll be damned. It worked. Thanks man.
That was a real life saving move there."

"I'm just
glad it worked." Ryder grinned up at me as he lifted me off the handrail
and adjusted my skirt. "Care for a kiss?"

"As much as
I want to say yes, if I kiss you now I'm only going to get wetter. And I don't
think being aroused and smelling of sex is going to be a benefit in my
meeting."

"Oh, you'd
be surprised what your sweet musky scent could do for you in any meeting."
His eyes were
sparkling,
his face was glistening from
my juices. His mouth was slightly curved at the edges, giving him a devilishly
sweet boyish look. He took my panties out of his pocket and wiped his face off
with them. I looked at him with horror written all over my face.

"How are
those supposed to protect me now?"

"Protect
you?"

"Yes, good
girls wear them as bit of protection.
Helps to hide behind.
You know…helps to hold back some of the wetness and aroma…but they're useless
for the purpose now."
Indignation dripping with every
word.

He chuckled.
"Oh Maeve, you do make me smile."

The elevator
dinged and the doors opened. I looked up at Ryder, unsure of what I should do
next.

"Go to your
meeting Maeve, I'll be around. We have a lot more writing to do…remember?"

I could feel a
severe blush run up my neck and into my face. Ryder laughed a deep laugh, which
got me trembling again. Ryder grinned and pushed me out of the elevator doors.
"I'll be waiting Maeve…knock 'em dead!"

* * * *

I stumbled down
the hallway, looking for the place I was expected to be. I awkwardly made my
way into the office. It was a large office, and I got a sense of calm when I
walked through the doors. The walls were a soft pale sea-foam green. The
carpeting was a deep forest green. It had a bluish color threaded through it,
creating an intricate design. The furniture was solid hand-carved mahogany with
a deep rich finish. The seats were upholstered in
a beautiful
burgundy leather.
The furniture looked awfully familiar but where had I seen
it before?
There were live plants everywhere and book shelves lined the
walls with books, which I'm guessing were of their most popular published
writers.

There was a very
pretty blonde girl sitting behind an overly large desk. There was a plaque on
the desk with the name, Taryn Parrish. I'm guessing that was her name. She was
young and very pretty. She had long blonde hair which hung past her shoulders
in sensual waves. Her hair was so blonde I wondered if it was real or if it
came from her hairdresser. She was blessed with the biggest blue eyes I had
ever seen. They were a startling baby blue. She had a tiny button nose and a
full pouty mouth she had painted a soft baby pink. She had large perky breasts,
a perky smile, even her attitude was perky, and everything I'm not.

"May I help
you?" Her perky voice chirped at me.

"Yes, I'm
not sure where I should be. I'm Maeve Bendis. I was supposed to be having a
meeting today. I hope I'm not too late, my plane was grounded." I was
rambling…a bad sign.

Miss Perky suddenly
became Miss Snotty. "Oh yes. We were informed that your plane had been
grounded. Your meeting is right through
that
door." She pointed to
a set of frosted double doors behind her. She leaned up and whispered,
"You're not the first you know and you won't be the last."

"Um…ok…thanks…"
Wow, I wonder if she has multiple personality disorder.

I fumbled with my
clothes as I made my way to the doors. I glanced back at Miss Perky-Snot. She
was glaring at me with her head cocked to one side, her eyes were mere slits
and her tongue over her teeth looking as if she could spit nails into my
coffin, trapping me in there. She looked me up and down, snorted and then
turned back around.
Wow! Who pissed in her corn flakes?

I tentatively
opened the frosted glass door on the right. I entered the room and no one was
in there. I turned back to Miss Perky-Snot…"Excuse me, there's no one in
here."

"Of
course not.
You didn't expect them to wait for you all day did you? They do
have other work that has to be completed. You are not the center of their
universe. I will be paging each person to let them know you are finally waiting
for them."

"Oh, of
course, thank you." I felt flustered and I felt a blush begin its
expedition up my neck in its migration to consume my face. I turned back around
and continued into the room. Huge was an understatement. To the left of the
room was a large mahogany table surrounded by plush leather chairs, with
seating for twelve. Behind the table filling up one wall was a magnificent
window displaying a wondrous view of the city. Off to my right stood a bulky
buffet sideboard loaded with food and drinks. I wondered if any had spoiled
because I was late. I walked over to investigate and heard a noise behind me. I
turned to see Miss Perky-Snot still glaring at me. She was wearing a white silk
blouse which barely contained her generous breasts. A black pencil skirt hugged
her curvy hips with such force I was sure the thread was some kind of thin
metal cable. Her heels were four-inch stilettos.
Damn she was hot!
Again,
everything I’m not.

"The food
was recently put out. We got word when your plane landed and made adjustments
accordingly. The others will be in momentarily, so help
yourself
."

"Thank
you." I smiled meekly.

She huffed and
began placing notepads and pens in front of each chair. I was intently watching
her while I stood in front of the buffet. She glanced up at me, snorted, and
left the room. Seriously, someone needed to help that girl keep a better watch
over her cornflakes or medication!

* * * *

I hadn't had a
chance to get anything to eat or drink when people started streaming into the
room and taking seats. All of the seats filled up but two, one at the head of
the table facing the window and one next to it facing the buffet sideboard and
me, with its back to the wall. I stayed right where I was waiting to see who
would fill them up.

"Ahem…"
A short plump elderly man with gray hair was sitting in the other chair beside
the empty head chair. His chair was facing the wall, and he had to turn in order
to see me. "Miss Bendis?"

"Yes…"
That came out sounding more like a question as confidence eluded me.

The plump
gentleman motioned to the empty seat across from his, on the other side of the
head seat. "Please take a seat. We have much to discuss. There will be
plenty of time for refreshments when we are done." Man, he and Miss
Perky-Snot must share the same corn flakes or mental health doctor.

"Yes, of
course." Embarrassment ran through me and I felt my skin burn as a blush
scaled up my neck and devoured my face.

I took my seat
and looked nervously at the people surrounding the table. No one seemed
interested in returning my glances. A middle-aged woman with auburn hair and
dark eyes looked at the plump gentleman "Are we going…"

The plump
gentleman held up his hand. "We will be conducting most of the meeting
ourselves right now."

"Now, Miss
Bendis, we have asked you here because your sales have been steadily waning.
We've been waiting to see if the situation would right itself, but it has not.
Normally we wouldn't have gone to the trouble of bringing you here. We simply
would have waited out your contract and dismissed you as a writer. However, we
were recently bought out and the new owner asked us to conduct a meeting
instead. He wanted to see if there was something that could be done to help you
with your writing and thus your sales."