VERSUS (Second Chances 2)

No one would suspect that she just had an orgasm unless they noticed the thin sheen of sweat that dots the skin above her top lip or the pink hue of her cheeks.

“I didn’t come here for that.” She points out. “I came to talk about business.”

“I don’t know of a better way to start a business meeting.”

She shakes her head. “How many business meetings have you started that way?”

Her expression shifts. The playfulness that was in her eyes is replaced with concern.

“Do you really want me to answer that?” I ask.

Her eyes flit over my face. “Actually, yes. I’m curious.”

I slip my suit jacket back on. I tossed it onto my desk when I crawled between her legs.

“Today was the first time,” I answer honestly.

I had a brief fling with one of our former receptionists months ago. I recognized it as a mistake right away. It was the first and only time I mixed business with pleasure until now.

“You haven’t slept with other attorneys?” she scoffs. “I find that hard to believe.”

I close my eyes briefly, wondering how the fuck this came up right after the encounter we just had.

“You didn’t ask me about other attorneys. You asked me whether I had fucked anyone I was working with.”

Realization drops her gaze to the floor.

New York is a big town, but my time is limited. If I’m not at a club looking for a wo

man to spend the night with, I fall back on women I’ve already slept with.

It’s rare, but it does happen.

Two of the women I met in law school kept in touch. I fucked one for a month years ago. We mutually agreed it wasn’t working. I haven’t heard from her since.

The other woman stepped back into my life three years after we both passed the bar. She was looking for a job. I was out for a good time.

I got what I wanted. She did too, but not in terms of employment.

That lasted all of two weeks before she ran back to her ex.

“Do you still see them?” Hesitation edges her words. “It’s not that it matters. I’m just curious.”

She’s not innocent. She mentioned in passing that she slept with a colleague.

“I don’t.” I round my desk. “You told me that you’ve mixed business with pleasure. That was with someone you work with? A lawyer?”

She nods in silence.

“I take it that’s over now?”

Confirmation never hurt anyone, especially someone who is in love with the person he’s questioning.

“Over?”

I search her face, trying to determine if she’s serious. “O.V.E.R. Over. It’s a straightforward word. Is your relationship with your colleague over?”

“Our sexual relationship is over for now.”