Unsuitable Obsession - Part One (21 page)

“Yah, about...um, how many copies do you think we
need Eduardo?” Carson asked, reaching over and grabbing the
deposition out of Amber’s hands.

Eduardo continued to be seated next to Cynthia. He
made no effort to move. “Make around thirty for now.”

“Twenty Eduardo,” Cynthia spoke up not making any
effort to look up from her work either.

Eduardo looked up from his brief, “Twenty, you sure?
We need to serve the defendants tomorrow, Cynthia; right there we
have ten companies.”

“Thirty,” Carson repeated handing the deposition
back to Amber.

But she knew that; idiot, Eduardo was within hearing
distance. “Thirty,” she repeated under her breath. Amber marched
down the foyer towards the copy room. Normally the firm would send
out depositions to be copied, but on that night, they doubled up on
meeting deadlines and there was no time to wait.

The copy room was once an office which basically
looked more like a closet now with the expensive contraption, cases
of copy paper, three fax machines and dozens upon dozens of office
supplies located on shelves just above the copier. She opened up
the face of the printer and began the long process of copying page
by page. First page...her mind began to wander. Thoughts
immediately drew to Eduardo.
What are Leticia and Eduardo doing
this weekend? Would they go over and visit The Family?
Second
page...
Good Lord, don’t forget Victor called and asked you to
bring home a package of diapers for Valentina.
Third
page...
I wonder when this project will end? I wonder how much
time I’ll have alone with Eduardo each night.
Fourth
page...
I wonder how much money I’ll be making out of
this
—Eduardo was there, in the copier room, she could smell his
aftershave. Amber turned around thrilled then curious, “What’re you
doing?”

Eduardo just stood there—frozen—and looked at her in
an undeniable way. “I’m trying to find a way around your body,”
Eduardo confessed, pointing up at the second shelf. “We need
correction tape and I offered to get it.”

Amber’s mouth closed. Good Lord, she wanted to kiss
him so severely. She took a step to her right and paved a way for
him to reach over and grab the tape and their shoulders brushed
against one another. A blaze of sexual tension erupted and her body
stiffened. Good Lord, if he didn’t make her feel indiscreet! She
wanted to grab his collar, feel his velvety lips on hers once more,
tear open his shirt; kiss his bare chest, trail her mouth down and
around his skin towards his crotch.

“Don’t do that.”

Amber had no way in realizing how her eyes being
closed and her body so inviting caused Eduardo’s self-control to
topple over. Amber opened up her eyes. “Don’t do what?” She
whispered back.

“Bite down on your lower lip like that,” Eduardo
expressed in a husky voice he
never
allowed her to listen to
until now. “Close your eyes. Thrust your—” Eduardo stopped and
practically ran out of that small space. Walking hurriedly towards
the conference room, he cocked his head to one side and
straightened out his tie trying to calm his arousal down.
Damn
her! Damn this situation! Damn it all!
He was beginning to
wonder about her working there. Before she started, he could build
up the anticipation of seeing her and walk around aimlessly like a
lovesick puppy. Now all she did was distract him all day long! Her
hair, those lips, her body, her aroma, the way she smiled, the
beautiful array of sunshine surrounding her face
every...fricken’...time...she entered a room! Amber was beginning
to affect him in ways
no woman
was ever to infiltrate and
that feat was an exalted hurdle to jump over.

It was business as usual two nights later. Eduardo
and Amber kept it strictly production: typing, research, dictation,
and modification, the third night was a different story. Eduardo
was nervous around her—she was sheepish around him and their
professionalism turned into noticeable awkwardness. The threesome
finished their research early that day and went home leaving
Eduardo and Amber alone in the conference room. Uninterrupted in
the 20,000 square foot office suite, it was nearing seven
o’clock.

“Almost done?” Eduardo asked as he shuffled paper
neatly inside a binder.

“One more paragraph.”

Eduardo cleared his throat. “Amber...before you
leave, do you have a moment to talk?”

Amber closed her eyes. She knew
precisely
what was on his mind; she just preferred not to hop through that
hoop. “About what?”

“About us,” Eduardo blurted out, tense and nervous
once again.

Amber stopped her typing.
The kiss...it was about
the kiss.
“What about us?”

“Will you look at me?”

Amber started typing again. Good Lord, no! His
hypnotic gaze always took over her concentration. “Eduardo,” she
swallowed, staring straight at her monitor quickly trying to erase
the grin on her lips. “What happened between us...has to remain
forgotten like it never happened.”

“What if I told you I’m unable to?”

That got her to turn around. “What?” She asked in
disbelief.

Eduardo leaned forward in his chair, ran his hands
down the front of his pant legs. “Am I imagining this…the chemistry
that we share?”

He felt it too? “No,” Amber confessed quietly, “But
you hold chemistry with everyone.”

“Not every woman,” he expressed lightly.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Amber...” Eduardo hesitated, trying to find a way
to be straightforward without being so direct. “...I can’t stop
thinking about you. Can’t stop thinking about pleasuring you more
than just kissing.”

Amber’s heart sunk.
Good Lord!
Talk about
rascals! “Eduardo stop it—don’t say anything else. Oh my God, this
is
so
bad, this is so wrong! Just shut up.”

“You’re in denial.”

“I am?”

Eduardo laughed, she was so cute. “I am. I’m sure
you can see my carefulness when we talk sometimes.”

“I notice...something,” Amber voiced, her smile
dwindling to a solemn gaze.

“Look at you,” Eduardo determined, “Look at me, our
borders are going to destroy us both.”

Amber’s heart was racing but couldn’t help but beam.
She took his severe inquiring and turned it into silliness. “Are
you trying to seduce me?”

Eduardo was deadly serious initially. Now, he
couldn’t help but joke along with her. “I was—is it just
cause?”

Amber was enthralled by Eduardo’s erotic degree.
“Honestly?”

“Indeed.”

Amber gathered her documents together and walked
over to Eduardo’s side and placed them on his workspace. She
purposely caught his eyes and confirmed, “I concur counselor.”

She was flirting with him now and Eduardo was no
longer apprehensive and couldn’t stop his mission if he wanted to.
Amber began to walk away when Eduardo grabbed her waist from
behind. “Can I ask you something else?”

His hands on her body sent chills up her spine.
Amber rolled her eyes, “Sure.”

Eduardo tediously turned her around and bore up into
her stare. He was still seated but his hands remained on her waist.
“You feel comfortable with me right?”

Amber looked intently down at him; she knew she
shouldn’t but just couldn’t help herself. His green eyes were
piercing, entrancing and instantly thinned her posture. “If I
didn’t, your hands wouldn’t be resting on my hips.”

Eduardo chortled, circled his eyes around her face.
“We’ve been friends for quite awhile haven’t we?”

“Yes we have,” she agreed, her eyes not venturing
off from his measured seduction.

“And every time I look at you, tell me what you
feel.”

Amber’s throat closed up. She was already in love
with the man, why shouldn’t she know the rest?

He noted her tension, “Be honest.”

“The truth?”

“And nothing but.”

Amber held still for a moment and ran through all
the holidays when she was not able to see him. All those long
lonely days unable to visit the man she now loved. “Restraint.”

Eduardo closed his eyes.
That
blew his mind
away. All these years he’d been longing to touch her like this,
yearning to kiss her lips, feel her quiver beneath him in contact,
she had been feeling the very same thing? But somehow, he knew that
she felt similar deep down in his soul and knew they’d come full
circle and make love one day. He was so goddamn sure of it; it was
the insight that had been so upsetting all these years. She was
his
, born to be his mate.

“I know you’re afraid of what you feel,” he said in
a hushed voice, “But I sit before you already a conquered man,”
Eduardo conceded, his fingers digging into her torso. “I’ve had to
restrain myself as well and I can’t fight it anymore, I want to
surrender to this moderation. I’m staggered by your beauty, drunk
from your aroma, silenced by your mere presence in a room... Help
me Amber …help us to let go.”

His confession had such a weakening effect on her.
Her emotions were in an uproar.
Is this a fantasy? Good Lord, I
really need to wake the hell up.
“Eduardo,” she professed,
trying to find the words. “We’re both married; kissing each other
once should be as far as we
ever
go.”

“Amber that kiss the other day, was me desiring to
know what it felt like to finally taste you,” he reasoned, removing
his hands from her waist. “But that kiss didn’t quite settle my
greed Amber; I request to know all of you.”

“Eduardo,” Amber softly expressed, trying ever so
hard to believe every word that he said. “What the hell are you
telling me?”

Eduardo grabbed her hands now; Amber was still
inches apart from him and hadn’t left his side. Eduardo closed his
eyes and began caressing her hands within his. His heart was
pounding uncontrollably; he’s never wanted someone so much, never
had to
beg
his entire life! “I want to be with you.”

“I’m here now, you
are
with me.”

He smiled, “No, not like that, I want to make love
to you.”

Amber now backed away and released her hands from
his. “Stop it Eduardo, this isn’t cute anymore.”

“You think I’m feeding you a line?” He asked,
unbelieving.

“I don’t know what you’re doing, but it isn’t
funny…and it’s downright cruel if you ask me.”

Eduardo rolled his eyes, shook his head. “I’ve never
wanted a woman more than I’ve wanted you. What you’re hearing is
the truth and what you assume and what you’ve heard from others is
all speculation. I’m very selective Amber and I don’t apportion
myself with just everyone.”

Apportion? Is that a fancy word for share?
Amber stared at his position.
Of course not,
she
realized
.
And doesn’t he look confident as he leans back
against the conference room table, crossing his arms over his chest
observing me taking in a deep, deep breath of paranoia.
But
then she noticed him suffering his own gulp of air.
He wants
me
…
I’m his selective choice.
Should I allow myself to
feel this special? I hold the power now with my decision. I do…ME,
and I can either succumb to this desire or continue to keep
him...and myself…in bondage.

He waited on her progression until her mind finished
contemplating her next move. “Why is it so hard to believe that I
want to be with you?” He said, holding his ground. There was still
uncertainty in her eyes. If it were his decision to make he
wouldn’t have inquired, his commanding prurient nature would have
taken over in seconds and her nails would be digging into his back.
No, he was going to leave it up to her to make the decision for
them. If she felt the same desire—she just admitted that she
did—then she would make the first move. But if she wanted to
continue restricting herself—Good God his emotions tortured his
heart just thinking about it—then he would never be able to be
around her again.

Good Lord, what should she do? Where was that
etiquette book? The one that tells you how to act when your
brother-in-law tells you he wants to make love to you?
Amber
couldn’t say anything else her breathing was so sporadic.
One
time, no one would know and we’re alone in the office; it’s the
perfect opportunity, a secret to bury deep for all eternity.
Oh hell! Why am I still trying to be proper when all that drains
me is being improper with him?
“I wanna be with you too,” Amber
at last declared.

No longer at her mercy, Eduardo abruptly returned to
his sexual prowess and slowly emerged her, like a wolf stalking its
prey. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

Eduardo grabbed her hand again and led her out of
the conference room.

How funny,
Amber thought for a second,
to
be holding hands with him.
It didn’t even feel odd or out of
place, it felt natural, at ease, and that scared the hell out of
her! Eduardo led them down the hallway and towards the entrance of
the suite. “Where we going?” Amber halted, pulling him
backwards.

Eduardo slowly turned around, “If we’re going to do
this right, then we’re headed to a hotel.”

“When is an affair ever right?”

Eduardo agreed with her smiling, “Amber, if this is
my one night with you…then I want it to be a night you’ll
remember.”

An Affair Of The Heart

All expanse of time evaporated as Amber reopened her
eyes to find herself alone with Eduardo inside an unrecognizable
hotel room. Where the heck were they? And when did she first
realize she was there? The more she surveyed the space, the further
she realized that it must have been one expensive hotel. A
fireplace in a sitting area, two sofas and a love seat, antique
armoires with hi-tech electronics, even a small kitchen,
no
rather
, a grand kitchen, with a bar and a 26 cu. Ft.
side-by-side platinum Kenmore. A separate bedroom that housed a big
bed—no, a somewhat massive mattress with four mammoth posts on
either side made of impressive carved mahogany. The walls were even
papered with some kind of silky padded fabric and there were
bouquets and sprays of flowers everywhere! Fresh flowers of pink
and red roses, orange gerberas, yellow lilies, and white daisies!
The room was very beautiful and oh so romantic; she couldn’t stop
being so incredulous over it.