Merger (8 page)

I poured us another glass of wine and then we went upstairs so I could get ready
. I showered while she rummaged through my closet looking for an outfit she declared would knock Joshua on his ass. This should have scared me, but I was pleasantly surprised when she selected one of my favorite little black dresses with a miniature ruffle at the hem. It was simple, but sexy. She had laid out my shoes and the jewelry she wanted me to wear. All in all, I was impressed with her selection.

I decided at the last minute to just leave my hair down
. I applied an extra layer of mascara to give my blue eyes depth and brushed on a little blush. I also added a simple gloss to my lips, not wanting to appear too overdone and looked at myself over and over, assessing the final product.

The butterflies moved through my belly with no relief as the clock read
7:30. Joshua would be here soon, ready or not.

“Okay
. I’m out sister,” said Beth, excusing herself to leave. “Promise me you’ll call me later.”

“Sure
,” I replied.

She
stood waiting on the elevator, then turned back to me. “Enjoy yourself tonight. You deserve this. Let this guy in. If he’s got you this excited, he’s already done something right.”

“Okay
,” I said. “Oh wait!” I ran back to the counter scooped up the flowers and ran them back to Beth at the last second. I thrust them into her arms, clumsily spilling a small amount of water down her shirt and stepping back as the doors were about to close. “Oops, sorry. Call you tomorrow.”

The doors on the elevator closed and I heard my phone ring
. I turned and ran back to the counter to get my phone, which was now on its second or third ring.

“Hello,” I
answered, winded.

“Kasey, its Joshua
. You ready?”

“I couldn’t be readier
,” I replied with confidence. “What’s the plan?”

“I’m on my way up
. All the way to the top, I’m told.”

“Is there any place else?” I
asked.

“No, there’s not
. See you in two.”

I ran to the mirror for one last primping session
. I didn’t know where to be. Standing, sitting,
spread eagle on the couch.
I gave a small chuckle at the idea and at my ridiculousness over this whole date. I was truly nervous, but didn’t have time to ponder it when I heard the elevator doors part and there he was, looking incredible. I was once again mesmerized by the sight of him.

He had on dark denim jeans, a white button down shirt
, and a navy blazer. His clothes were perfectly tailored to fit his muscular physique. He looked just as appealing clean and shaved as he did sweaty and disheveled. His short brown hair was thick and styled easily on his head. His skin was flawless and sun-kissed and his eyes were the most captivating blue. His smile was deadly and I could see his gleaming white teeth as he stepped off the elevator.

He advanced me without breaking stride
. I stood glued, unmoving, and hyperaware of his every step. My stomach flipped as he came within inches of me.

“Wow
. You’re absolutely are the most beautiful thing I think I have ever laid eyes on. I can’t tell you how the thought of you has been driving me crazy. First when I saw you at the gym. Then on the elevator, I had to fight my instincts not to crush my mouth to yours and take you right there. Then you mistakenly got in my car and I thought I was going to lose my mind. I’m glad you came home early. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“I’m counting on it
.” I grinned foolishly, like a teenager who’d just discovered the cutest boy in school liked her.

He moved closer and I could feel his intensity radiating off me
. My throat felt dry and the tremble in my legs caused me to take a step back. I found the wall behind me and realized that there was nowhere else to go. He put his hands up against the wall straddling my head and just stared at me.

The smell of him was intoxicating
; clean and sweet, like spice and vanilla. His blue eyes up close were even bluer than I had remembered on the few occasions I was able to look at face. His jaw was chiseled, his features distinct. He was a tall, masculine specimen of manhood and I could picture him donning the cover of any magazine. I could see the pulse of his heart in his neck and I didn’t know whether to kiss him or run from him. He was like nothing I had ever encountered. The word
confident
didn’t even come close to capturing his aggressiveness.
Please kiss me…please, please, please.

The warmth between my legs rose up my chest to my face and I was suddenly desperate for his touch
. We stood staring into each other’s eyes, waiting for someone to make a move.

“May I kiss you
, Kasey?” he finally asked. “I don’t want to scare you away, but I’m not accustomed to feeling like this and I really want to kiss you.”

I didn’t reply
; I just leaned in and licked his bottom lip. His lips parted and our tongues rolled smoothly over each other’s. Suddenly his hand was around the nape of my warm neck, pulling me deeper into his kiss. His arm slid around my waist and I was encased in him completely. I could feel the warmth of his body against mine and the thickened bulge of his cock against my stomach. It was clear I had the same effect on him as he had on me. I could almost feel the blood pumping through my veins. My pulse quickened as the seconds ticked by and I was already lost in him. He released my mouth but didn’t release his hold on me. He looked into my eyes but didn’t say a word
. Longing? Isn’t that what he said? Hell, I wasn’t longing, I was starving and wet with lust.

“That was incredible. I’m so glad you came home.” He grabbed both my hands and wrapped them around his tight muscular waist
. I had to fight the urge to pull his shirt out from his pants so I could run my hands up his back, but let him control me with his hands and eyes.

“Me too
.” I pulled my lip between my teeth.

“God
, you’re hot. We need to go, or else I am going to take you up those stairs right now and do things so naughty to you that all
you’ll remember about me is my name.”

“Well, I may be attracted to you and your dirty mouth, but I don’t sleep with anyone on the first date.”

It was a lie, but a drunken encounter in college didn’t really count.

He led me towards the elevator, but sidestepped it for the adjacent door
. It was the door to the roof, and while all the tenants of the building could access the roof, I was the only one that had personal access from my unit. Being at the top did have its perks. I followed him up the stairs, my curiosity piquing with every step. I wanted to inquire why we were headed to the roof, but suddenly reached the top stair and everything came into view.

Strings of lights hung from one end of the roof to the other then crossed back and forth
, brightly contrasting the dark sky. There before us was a small table with full white linens, crystal, and sterling silver utensils. Music was playing in the background, but I wasn’t fully aware of where the sound was coming from. It was soft and jazzy, mellow and sexy.

An older gentleman in a tuxedo advanced us and I didn’t move from Joshua’s hand, though I was sure my palm was sweaty
. My body was still hot from his kiss. I looked at him stunned and amazed. My smile broadened and I squeezed his hand tighter.

“You did all this
? For me?” I asked, staring into his eyes and seeing them now filled with self-appreciation. He could see from my honest surprise and delight that he’d done good.

“Of course
. I wanted our first date to be special and I knew I didn’t want to share you with anyone. I hope you’re not disappointed that we didn’t go out?”

“Are you kidding
? I am rarely impressed, but I must say, this is lovely.” I reached over and cupped my hand against his cheek. He leaned into my palm and kissed it.

“I hope you like Silver Oak?”

“I do. Now I’m really impressed.” I replied. “As if the scene alone wasn’t enough, but Silver Oak…you have really pulled out all the stops.”

“I told you that I’d make coming home worth your while.”

“Yes, you did.”

He poured two glasses of wine and he tipped his glass to mine in a silent toast
. No words were said, but the body language and sexual tension between us was feral. I absolutely wanted him.

It was mid-spring in New York
; the weather was beautiful, but still cool in the evenings. The sky was full of stars this evening, making the night appear a bit more magical than normal. I grabbed Joshua’s hand and walked him over to the exterior wall. It was tall enough not frighten those afraid of heights, but low enough to offer the rest of us a bird’s eye view of downtown Manhattan. I placed my glass to my lips and savored the exquisite wine. Smokey with a hint of tobacco and raspberry, it was full-bodied and amazing. I could feel the warmth of Joshua’s body next to me as I sipped the wine. I leaned closer, wanting more than anything to melt into him as he wrapped his arm around me.

“Your arm is cold. Do you want my jacket?” He asked.

“No, really I’m fine. I can go get a sweater if I need one, but I’m good.”

“Here.” He removed his blazer and placed it around my shoulders.

“Thank you, that’s sweet, but really I’m fine. I swear.”

“Yes,
you are fine,” he said, “but I don’t want you cold.”

I pulled the jacket closer around my arms and took a long drink from my wine as I became encased in the wonderful smell of him
. If he wasn’t staring at me, I could picture myself nose deep in his jacket, inhaling his scent like a cheesy commercial for fabric softener.
Thank God I still had some self-respect.

“So tell me about Kasey Blakely,
” he said, leaning into me. “I know you’re stunningly beautiful, your kisses are magical, you like to work out, and I understand you’re quite a force of nature in business, but that’s all Google crap. I want to know the real you.”

“You
Googled me?” I looked at him amazed. “Surely, there couldn’t have been much? There’s really not all that much to know. I assure you that whatever you read was mere blips of my life and probably mostly about my Dad’s corporation.”

“You, Ms. Blakely, need to give yourself more credit
. Magna Cum Laude at Yale, MBA in business. Next in line at one of the largest corporations in the country. I’d say there’s a lot to know about you.” He leaned into my ear. “I want to know everything. Why’s a beautiful and talented girl like you single?”

“Ah…the age old question.” I smirked
. “I guess I’ll give you the ago old answer…haven’t met the right guy.”

“Well, I’m here to change all that
, Ms. Blakely.” He turned my face to his and kissed me, capturing my breath. By the time he released me, I felt lightheaded and airy.

“
Oh, really?” I questioned.

“That’s the plan,” h
e answered. “Let’s eat.”

I wasn’t the kind of girl who pushed her food around on a plate in front of a man because I was afraid to let him see me eat, but I was so anxious and excited that my appetite was waning.

It was about 9:45 when the caterer and staff left. A trail of tuxedos one by one exited the roof. I was glad we were alone. We had finished off the first bottle of wine and were about two glasses into the second. The wine had me flush, but the real heat emanating from me was deep between my legs. I lingered on every word and watched his every move. The way his lips moved as he spoke. How animated his gestures were when he was truly passionate about what he was saying. The way he never took his eyes from mine. How he was constantly touching me and just how much I loved every touch.

“May I see you again tomorrow?”
he asked.

“Wow
. Is dinner over?” I said jokingly.

“No, but I’m not letting you off this rooftop without indulging in another night of your wonderful company.” He s
tood and walked around the table. He put his hand out and I laid my hand in his gently. I stood up and his magnetic force drew me in. I looked up to meet his heavy gaze and suddenly felt nervous. “So what’s it to be? All night on this roof or a date tomorrow?”

Before I could speak, his lips were on mine
. One hand was on my back, pulling me closer to him and the other tugging slightly at my hair so he had better access to my mouth. I ran my hands down his arms and then around his waist. I pulled him closer needing to have his warmth all over me. He moaned in my mouth and I knew we were both coming undone. My sex was throbbing and my panties were saturated with desire. I was powerless as he slid his hand under my dress and over my panties.

“You
’re wet, baby,” he said, and the flush of embarrassment made me cast my eyes away. “Don’t look away from me, Kasey. I always want to see your beautiful eyes.”

He pulled my chin back, to meet his eyes and all was lost
. I wanted this man to take me, fuck me, lick me, and suck me…whatever he wanted, I’d gladly give. The need was like nothing I had ever felt. I reached up to touch his face as he pushed my panties aside and slid his warm fingers into my wet core. I moaned as his mouth covered mine and I was helpless to keep my hips from moving with the rhythm of his fingers as they slid smoothly in and out of me. His other finger now moving slowly around my swollen bud. “Oh Joshua,” I said, panting and moaning with every stroke. “That feels so good.”