I had every intention of getting in the shower, but thinking about Tamsin on the way home I had also relived the feeling of him touching my shoulder, telling me what a good job I was doing for him. Remembering it gave me more than just comfort. Just thinking about that small bit of praise had made my cock swell.
I flopped back on my narrow bed, propping my upper body against the pillows as I ran my hand over my stomach to my semi-hard shaft. I closed my eyes as I let my fingers encircle my hardening flesh. Behind my closed lids I pictured the blue, blue eyes of my boss, his squared cleft chin, and the faintest shadow of beard, already visible at midday.
He liked the work I was doing.
I stroked the length of my erection, rubbing my thumb over the liquid gathered at the tip. Hearing him praise me was just like this, just like getting myself off. God, I would be the best intern Tamsin had ever had. I would do anything. I had a sudden vision of his hand fisting my hair holding me in place while he fucked my mouth.
My breathing ramped up along with my heartbeat. It had been so long since I’d felt this horny, so long since anyone had made me feel good about myself, good enough to come. I grabbed several tissues in my free hand as I stroked, covering the swollen head of my dick. My balls tightened, my body shook, and I exploded with a loud grunt of pleasure.
6
Tamsin
Monday morning and we were just finishing up the staff meeting. Jones sat at one end of the table while I occupied the seat at the opposite end. Between us at the conference table were all the attorneys currently working for the firm.
We had already been through the review of everyone’s caseload and were going over schedules for the week. Gabby sat at my right hand, taking notes on her laptop. Good thing because I was having a difficult time keeping my mind on my work.
Finn sat in a chair along the wall next to Matt. The two looked young and eager, but it was to Finn that my eyes kept gravitating. I hadn’t had a chance to ask him how his father was doing, but it must be better. Finn looked intent on what we were doing rather than worried about anything else.
Halfway through, Jones broke in before calling on the next attorney. “Finn, would you bring some more coffee and bottled water?”
“Absolutely, sir.” Finn walked around the table to the conference room door.
Jones turned back to me. “What’s the status on Midwest?”
“I am meeting Mary Henderson and the Midwest executives at their offices this afternoon, so I should have an update by the end of the day.”
Jones moved on to one of the attorneys we were considering to replace him. The woman was sharp, with an accounting background that had served her well in corporate law. As I listened to her, my gaze followed Finn’s return with a loaded tray.
No accidents this time around, I noticed, as he moved to the sideboard at the end of the room, placing everything there so people could serve themselves. He moved back to his seat next to Matt, exchanging a grin with him as he handed him a cup of coffee.
Seeing he was back on an even keel, I let my thoughts wander, while I listened to what was going on. Even if I missed something, Gabby was an excellent back-up.
I returned to studying Finn. He was achingly beautiful. That mouth of his. Every time I looked at it I imagined wrapping my fingers in that messy hair of his and kissing him. Would he be as eager and obedient as he seemed to be in doing his job as an intern? I hadn’t missed the way he seemed to shiver with pleasure whenever I offered up any praise. How would he respond to instruction, guidance, discipline? I imagined tracing my finger along the sweet curve of his upper lip, wrapping him securely in my arms, and taking care of him...
Gabby tapped my arm as though she knew I had my mind anywhere but on the recitation from one of our junior attorneys of his schedule. I let Jones take on the role of questioner because it was just too hard to concentrate with my body in sensory overload.
Finn was just the type of lover I appreciated. Beautiful, responsive, eager to please, yet also someone who could appreciate my need to take care of someone. He would enjoy it, soak it up like a sponge, and not feel stifled by it. I saw that clearly Friday from the way he responded to the small bit of praise I had meted out to him.
What else might he be willing to do in return for that kind of praise? I doubted seriously that he would ever throw my need to care for him back in my face, that he would leave me feeling as empty and alone as...Steve. I ground my teeth, my gaze settling on Finn again.
Lord, he tugged at my heartstrings, a son moved to tears because his father was at the hospital. It filled me with the need to protect and shelter him. The question was how. Despite his eagerness to please, he appeared to be prickly when it came to accepting what he might consider to be charity. With so many people looking for handouts, it was refreshing, but frustrating to find Finn was so reluctant to accept help.
I was still not willing to cross any professional lines, so that further tied my hands. The kid worked for me. Sure he was legal, but just barely. No way was I opening myself up to a potential sexual-harassment lawsuit. Maybe Walter and Arlo were right. Maybe I did need to try the Club, get a Consort lined up and find some relief. Mentally, I shook my head. There was still the issue of my lack of time. That hadn’t changed.
At long last, the meeting ended. I remained seated while everyone else filed out the door. Jones stood, looking fit and distinguished with his tailored suit and close-cropped gray hair.
“Six months, Tamsin,” he said, tapping the planner in front of him. “I want to retire before the holidays. Think we can find someone to bring in as partner before then?”
“I don’t know. Leah Bishop is the only one who trips my trigger, but I’m not convinced yet that she has the experience to carry the load.” I ran a hand through my hair as I thought of everyone who had been gathered around the table and grimaced.
“We can always search outside the firm,” he suggested.
I shook my head. “That would be an employee-morale nightmare.”
Jones sighed, tapping his pen on his planner. At a time where almost everyone had switched over to using phones and digital calendars to schedule, he still had it in black and white right in front of him.
“Let’s meet at the end of the week. I think Frank Bennett is worth consideration. Let’s funnel some more work their way and see if we can’t come to an agreement on who we should begin to groom.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I stood, buttoning my suitcoat and smoothing my hair back into place.
Gabby stuck her head back inside the door. “Mary Henderson is on line one, Tamsin.”
I grimaced again. Why did it always have to be her? Why couldn’t her mellower alter ego be the one to call? Perfectly bad timing, as usual. “I’ll take it in my office.”
As soon as I walked inside the spacious room, I shut the door behind me. Mary was difficult enough to deal with without adding interruptions to the mix. I sat in the leather chair behind my desk, picked up my Rubik’s cube, and punched speaker on the phone. Maybe if I kept something occupying part of my mind, I could tamp down my negative reactions to her.
“Good morning, Mary,” I greeted her, injecting as much enthusiasm into my voice as I could. “How are you doing today?”
“It’s a Monday, but things are definitely looking up now that I have you on the phone.” Her tone was ever so slightly flirtatious.