Rebound (14 page)

 “Speaking of Ian,” Katrine continued, “I need to find a way to tell him that I’m not ready to see anyone in a way that doesn’t sound like I am blowing him off. I really want to give him a chance, when I’m ready.”

“Just say that. Be honest, he will understand. He is a great guy. And I think he is half way in love with you already!” Maddie added.

“Oh, don’t say that. That puts extra pressure on me... Ok, then I’ll call him later when I get home.”

“Damn Trine, what a weekend! Never mind about mine. It was a coma fest compared to yours…Well, do you want to go to lunch today?”

“Can we go tomorrow? I’m still full from breakfast. I picked up tacos this morning for Xander. I ate three!!”

“Uh oh...you’re falling for this guy!”

“Maddie, don’t be ridiculous, it’s just breakfast.”

“Mmmhmm. Whatever you say.” She did not sound convinced.

“Okay sis, I have to get back to work. We’ll do lunch tomorrow. Thank you for calling. I really needed to talk to someone about all of this!”

“See you then, and Katrine...please be careful. I just have a bad feeling about this.”

“I will, don’t worry. It isn’t that big of a deal. It’s just a little rebound fling. I will be fine. I do like him, but I won’t let it get serious, okay? Bye Mads.” 

She tried to sound confident about the not a big deal part. She hoped she was right. She hoped she could pull it off without getting hurt. Only one way to find out.

Later that afternoon, Katrine had a talk with Xander. She suggested that it stay strictly professional in the office, that they needed boundaries. He gave her a dubious look, but then he said he would try his best to keep his hands off of her. 

“You might need to start wearing huge sweatshirts and baggy sweatpants to work… But then I would just imagine what was under all of it. Never mind. Carry on with current wardrobe.” He waved his hand playfully like he was making a royal decree, and went back to his office.

Not the ringing endorsement she was hoping for...but it was probably the best she was going to get.

She was working away when her phone rang again and she figured it was Maddie again so she answered.

“Hey!”

“Hello. Katrine?” 

“Sorry. Hi Ian. I thought you were my sister.”

“Well I hope you don’t kiss your sister like that, although that would be hot. Maddie is sexy,” he laughed.

“Gross, Ian. Don’t even joke about that.”

“I have been thinking about you all week. When can I see you again?”

“I’m not sure, I have been pretty busy with my new job.” There was an awkward pause, what did she say to him?

“Did I catch you at a bad time.” He seemed a little hurt by her dismissive answer.

“Sorry, I’m just at work, so I can’t really talk.”

“Oh, okay. Well, let me do the talking then. I want to see you again, really badly. I know you said you weren’t ready to see anyone yet, but I just wanted you to know that I can’t wait until you are, so please hurry! No pressure, or anything.”

He was so amazing, she wished she could see him too, but she wasn’t ready for that. Plus, she didn’t think she was suave enough to handle two guys at once. She already have her hands full with this whole dalliance with her boss.

“Well, you will be the first to know, Ian. And hey, there is nothing that says we can’t talk. I’ll be pretty busy with work this summer but after that my schedule will be wide open for a while, ok?”

Right after I have tons of sex with my boss, I am all yours, thanks! 

She felt a little guilty. But Ian did not have any claim on her, so she was free to do whatever she wanted with whomever she wanted. She was almost convinced.

“That’s great. God, fall can’t get here fast enough,” he teased. 

That made her smile and she laughed.

“Okay Katrine, I will talk to you soon. I’ll be thinking about you.”

“Me too, thanks for calling Ian. Bye” 

 She sighed and put away her phone. He
was
dreamy. Confusion set again.

I am knee deep in hotties. I guess there are worse problems to have...

“So, should I add him to the list of things that make you smile?” 

 She turned to see Xander leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He did not look happy and he seemed to be waiting for some explanation. The thing was, she didn’t really owe him one.

“I am an only child, Katrine. I do not share well. Just so we are clear.”

His tone was the same one he had used those first few weeks, and it grated on her nerves.

“First of all, I’m not sure what you even mean by that, and second, it really isn’t any of your business.”

“Oh, it isn’t? Well, my blue balls beg to differ.” 

“I am sorry about your blue balls and all, but I fail to see how that makes my social life your concern.” She knew it kind of was, but she wasn’t going to tell him that! He was being a dick.

He walked over to her desk and pulled her up towards him, putting his hands on her lower back. His mouth was right by her ear.“If we are going to do this, I am not going to share you with anyone else. I want you all to myself. I want to monopolize all of your spare time. I want to be the only one here.” He whispered that last part as he reached down and lightly touched the front of her pants. Now her pants
were
going to melt right off of her body. All of the fight left her at that moment. She knew what he meant and she felt the same way.

“Well as long as we are marking our territory, then I want to be the only one with access to this.” She slowly ran her hand up the front of his zipper. A sound came from deep in his throat, it was something between a growl and a moan. 

Ha, two can play at that game buddy. I have something you want too...

“So now that we understand each other. No more of this Ian guy while I’m here, right?” 

It wasn’t exactly a threat,  but she had a feeling it wasn’t up for negotiation.

“Ok, no Ian. And none of your NYC hussies either.”

“Hussies?” he chuckled. “Anything you want, Katrine.” 

The tone of his voice said he would giver her all of that, and more.

“Okay, okay. We’re in the office so head back to your corner there, champ,” she teased.

He stepped in closer so she could feel his breath on her face, “You just wait until I get you alone, Katrine.” That
was
a threat, the naughty kind. And she would make sure he backed it up.

She slowly took his bottom lip into her mouth and then looked him in the eye when she released it. She could make threats of her own, but she didn’t need words. 

Deal with those blue balls, buddy...

 She gave him a wicked smile and sat back down at her desk. She begrudgingly turned her attention back to her work. Katrine had no idea this sexually aggressive woman had been hibernating this whole time.

Where did that come from? 

Vixen table for one…I have been an old married lady way too long! 

He went back into his office, probably to sit on an ice pack. 

Chapter 18

“What’s on the playlist today?” 

It was the end of the day when he came up and leaned against the wall behind her desk. She guessed he was going to make this a regular thing, and she thought it was cute. She liked to see him leaning there, asking her about music. Then he would tell her if he liked it or not. 

“What kind of music do you listen to?” She was almost afraid to ask. What did an upper class, ivy league guy listen to? There was no telling.

Please don’t say a band I hate, please don’t say a band I hate….

The universe must have heard her plea, because she didn’t have to worry after all. His likes were eclectic and masculine, from The Who to the Foo Fighters. She was pleasantly surprised. They had a lot of music in common. That was a good start in her opinion. 

He went back to his office and came back out with his bag over his shoulder. He was obviously on his way out.

“I have a dinner meeting with Hal tonight, so unfortunately I won’t have the pleasure of your company, but if I might have a rain check, please?”

Ok I guess guys do ask for sex rain checks, who knew?

She was disappointed to hear that, but a little relieved too. Maybe the vixen was more bravado than reality after all. No. She wanted this to happen, she was just nervous. It had been a long time and no one besides David had seen her naked in over a decade.

“Ok, what are you thinking about? All these different emotions cross your face when you are having your ‘inter-cranial conversations’ as you call it. I wish I could read minds when I’m with you.”

“Rain check for sure. How about Friday?” she said, redirecting the subject.

“Friday? Well I was hoping for tomorrow night, but the weekend would probably be better. You can come to my place and I’ll cook you dinner.”

“You can cook? I thought privileged guys such as yourself had personal chefs.”

“Yes, I can cook, smart-ass.” He smiled.

“Just so you know, I think a man who can cook is just about the hottest thing in the world. I would love to eat a meal you made for me. I can’t wait.” She put all her feeling into her smile and he returned it with equal brilliance.

“Well, it’s a date then. Can I walk you down to your car at least?”

“Why yes you can, thank you.” She grabbed her things and locked up the office.

Why did elevators always up the sexual tension? It must be the confined space and all of the elevator sex scenes in movies. Katrine’s whole body was humming, she wanted to jump out of her skin, or her clothes, which ever came first. He was telling her how much he liked to go out to eat, and named some of the places that were his favorites in Manhattan. She was trying to focus, but she was having a very hard time. All she could think about was the fire brewing in her drawers. Finally the doors opened to the garage and she was grateful. It was late, so most of the spaces were already empty. 

“But I won’t eat there again. Once you get food poisoning from a place it gets black listed, no question. I don’t care how popular the chef  is.”

Okay, I totally missed that whole conversation.

Xander walked with her to her car. She turned and looked into his amazing green eyes. He took her purse off of her shoulder and he let it drop to the ground. Slowly, he closed the space between them and cupped one of Katrine’s cheeks. He put his other hand around her waist and pulled her close. Xander tilted his head and closed his eyes. Katrine’s movements mirrored his. She grabbed his hips and pulled his lower half to meet hers and the kiss deepened. She kept her hands there and was not aware how tightly her grip had become until her fingers became numb. But no one was complaining. 

He moved her backwards and pinned her to the side of her car. She raised her legs and he gripped them so that they were wrapped around his waist. The whole parking garage could have crumbled around them and she would not have noticed, nor cared. Little whimpers escaped her throat. This was the most erotic kiss she had ever had in her life, no contest. Xander was pulling her into him, softly rubbing against her. She could feel every inch of him under the thin material of his slacks. She wanted to rip her clothes off and his too, but... Katrine finally became aware that they were in fact in a public place, where they worked, more importantly. Common sense won and she pulled back and broke the kiss, very reluctantly.

“Could Friday get here any slower?” she joked, trying to lighten the mood and placed her feet back on the ground. 

Score one for wearing pants today.
 

He chuckled and pulled away. 

“Sorry, I seem to loose myself when I’m around you. But I did warn you.”

“The feeling is obviously mutual,” Katrine said softly.“You’re going to be late for your dinner.”

He was torn, that was apparent. She could tell he wanted to stay. So she kissed him on the lips and got into her car. 

“Good night, Xander.”

“Soon you will be saying that naked in my bed.”

“I look forward to it.” Katrine said and shut her car door. 

Thursday, he kept up with his routine. He came by her desk and asked her what she was listening to. 

“Oh you know, a little of this a little of that.”

He laughed because it was always something different and frequently a group he’d never heard of.

“I can tell who some of your favorites are. You get this look on your face when you talk about certain artists. It is so cute. When I get onto your favorites list, I’ll be sure to put that look on your face.” He smiled. He had the best dimple ever. She didn’t know whether she wanted to nibble at it or lose her tongue in its shallow depths. 

“What makes you think you will ever make my favorites list? That is very presumptuous of you, Mr. Abbot.” 

“Katrine, there isn’t a doubt in my mind.”

“Oh, there’s the arrogant guy I first met.”

“Confidence, pure and simple.”

She laughed, he was so easy to talk to, she sometimes forgot she worked for him. She had to remind herself of that fact at least ten times a day. There was no way she was going to tell him that he was very close to making her favorites list.

That all depends on how good he is in the sack...

Friday morning came and Katrine was really nervous. Churning stomach, testy bladder nervous. She decided she would pack a bag because she knew there was a possibility that she might stay at his place tonight. Well, she really wasn’t sure about the staying over, but better to be prepared. There was no point in playing coy or fighting the inevitable…Tonight she was going to have sex, with her boss. 

She took extra time in the shower making sure she was well groomed. She picked out a sexy bra and panty set, for once she made sure they matched. Usually she didn’t give a rat’s ass. 

Maddie had already sent her a good luck text. She knew what tonight was and after meeting Xander at lunch the day before, had given her stamp of approval. He had insisted on coming and she didn’t see the harm in it. Katrine had met an endless string of Maddie’s random guys. Xander had really impressed Maddie. He was charming, funny, and interesting without it seeming forced. He exuded the ease of someone who just was all of those things without trying.