After working for several weeks with Adam, I had to agree with Peggy that he was an intense boss. But aside from that, he was really a great guy to work for. Yes, he was a lot more demanding than Ryan ever was. But I enjoyed the workload and tasks he assigned to me.

The first time that he requested I stay late to finish working on a draft for a project with him, I kept my guard up. I wasn't sure if this was his way of baiting me. Then my guard lowered as I saw that he really was interested in finishing the task. He didn't flirt with me or try to touch me in any way. In fact, working with him made me feel more comfortable than I had when I initially started working for Ryan.

Even though I didn't work with Ryan anymore, we still found time to squeeze in a quickie here and there. It was also surprising that it was easier than I expected to go between Eric and Ryan. While Ryan and I would hook up during work most of the time, we also found ways to meet up on some weekends. I would usually tell Eric that Adam had me go in to work on a project, or that I was going to the gym, or anything that would give me enough time to be away from home without cause for concern from Eric.

Eric's trial had finally ended the week of Valentine's Day. He suggested that we celebrate him winning the case and enjoying the holiday by taking a short weekend trip to Naples. He wanted to visit my family, plus enjoy some sun and warmer weather. I couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

Even though the trip was a last-minute decision, Adam approved my request to take Friday off. I was excited but knew I had to work extra hard on closing things out on Thursday. I realized I wouldn't get everything done before five, so I decided to stay late. As Adam was leaving his office, he thanked me for all my hard work. He added that he really appreciated my dedication to my job. Then, of course, he insisted I enjoy my trip and not think of work.

I was finally done by seven. I shut down my computer and threw my coat on. My stomach started growling, and I knew I needed to get something to eat before the growling turned into pain. Before heading to the elevator, I stopped in the break room to buy some peanuts from the vending machine.

I thought I was the only one left on the executive floor, so when I heard a loud crashing sound, I practically jumped out of my skin. I grabbed the peanuts from the door of the vending machine and walked out cautiously. I didn't see anyone or any lights on in any of the surrounding offices. Then I heard a thud. I turned around to see the fluorescent lights shining out of the mail/copy room.

I don't know why my curiosity got the best of me. Instead of leaving and running in the other direction to the elevator, I went to investigate. I discreetly approached and peered around the corner of the archway. I don't know why, but I was shocked when I saw that it was Ryan. His pants were bunched at his feet while he was sitting on top of the mail sorting counter. And Peggy was bent over, giving him a blowjob. I noticed that the crashing sound must have come from the packs of printer papers strewn around Peggy's feet.

The feeling in my stomach sank at the sight. I didn't know why, but I wasn't moving or trying to leave before Ryan opened his eyes and spotted me staring. "Oh, fuck!"

His response made Peggy actually suck on his penis harder. I gathered she probably thought his reaction was one of pleasure as opposed to being caught. I made sure to show no emotion, and I certainly didn't say anything. I was finally able to move my legs and walk as fast as I could to the elevator. I kept pressing the call button as if that would help the elevator arrive sooner.

I cursed when it didn't, and Ryan came quickly up to me, still closing his belt and zipping up his pants. "Vicky, wait. Let me explain."

He went to grab for my hand, which I quickly snatched away. "There's no need to. I'm not your girlfriend, and you are certainly not my boyfriend. We don't owe each other any explanations."

I could feel Ryan's eyes locked on me, but I kept my focus fixated on the elevator doors that seemed to not be working. Where in the hell was the damn elevator when you needed it? "Are you sure?"

"Yup!"

"Well, can I see you tomorrow after work?" The nerve he had asking to see me after I just caught him with someone else. Wasn't I enough for him? Of course, I wasn't one to talk, since I couldn't choose between him or Eric. But this time, it wasn't about me. It was about Ryan.

I turned to look at him finally. Seeing Peggy popping out of the copy room behind Ryan and giving me a light wave. She still had no clue that something was going on between him and me, and I intended to keep it that way. I gave her a fake smile with a happy spirit-finger wave back. "I can't. I'm going out of town tomorrow."

The elevator finally arrived. I stepped into it and pressed the ground floor button.

He stepped into the elevator, leaving Peggy behind in the office, alone. "Where are you going?"

"It's not really any of your business." I didn't feel like I needed to share any information with him.

He looked almost annoyed at my response. He took a step towards me, closing the gap between us. I took a step back. He proceeded to step towards me once more. I realized I had nowhere else to go, as I was practically against the elevator wall. "You. Are. My business." He commanded and followed up by lowering his mouth on mine.

I really didn't want to kiss him at that moment. The images of Peggy and him were still fresh in my mind. I pushed him away from me, making him stumble slightly. "Seriously, Ryan? I just caught you getting a blowjob from Peggy, and you expect me to just forget about it and allow you to kiss me?"

Ryan ran his fingers over his gelled hair and looked at me with frustration. "I had to let her do something, Vic. She thought I was fucking gay, for not trying to make any moves on her since she started working for me."

"So maybe you should have let her think you were gay!" I rebutted. The elevator doors opened, and I made my way out through the lobby, with Ryan in stride next to me.

"Yeah, okay. That would really go over well with my brothers." He may have been frustrated, but he was still a gentleman and held the door to the outside for me.

"I thought you didn't care about your reputation?" I crossed my arms in front of my chest and stared at Ryan. He didn't bring his coat, due to his impromptu exit, and I could tell the chill was getting to him quick. I felt slightly satisfied seeing him freeze a little bit.

"I don't." He hung his head. I couldn't tell if it was from shame, or to block the wind that was blowing its way down the avenue. "I only care about you."

Hearing his last words and seeing him standing there, almost looking helpless, got the better of me. I stepped closer to him, checking our surroundings first, to make sure no one we knew was in sight. I placed the palm of my hand on his chilled cheek. His face turned up to meet my eyes. I smiled at him and proceeded to give him the lightest kiss. Just light enough, so that if someone saw us, it would resemble just a friendly peck.

"Come home with me tonight." He went to place his arms around my waist.

I stepped back, out of his grasp. "I can't. I have to get home and pack." He looked saddened by not taking him up on his request. "But I'll be back on Sunday afternoon. Maybe I could swing by your place that evening?"

My counter offer was accepted. He asked to kiss me once more, but I told him we couldn't do anything like that out in the middle of the street. Especially right outside of work where people we know could see. He ushered me, without much resistance, into the entrance of the alleyway by the edge of the building. He pinned me up against the wall and proceeded to kiss me with his shivering lips.

This time I didn't push him away.

***************

As Eric waited at the baggage claim for our suitcases to come down the carousel, I went to the closest bathroom to change out of my cold-weather clothing.

The heat of Naples was already affecting me. I went into the large bathroom stall and retrieved my Florida style clothes from my carry-on backpack. I stripped down to my underwear and slipped on a pair of jean shorts and a fitted, teal shirt. It had a white octopus graphic design that started in the middle of the front and wrapped around the side. I switched my sneakers for my tanned flip flops and finally felt at home again.

Though my look was simple, Eric whistled at the sight of me as I rejoined him. "I think we should consider moving to Naples. I would love to see you like this every day."

I blushed. "I don't think your northern blood would survive all the mosquitoes."

The baggage claim bell went off, and the conveyor belt started moving. We didn't wait long before our suitcases came down the shoot. Eric grabbed our bags, raised the handles, and rolled them over to the car rental area.

We got keys to a silver convertible, per Eric's special request. He figured if we were going to be visiting Naples and enjoying the warm weather, we should visit it in style. While he could drive, he preferred that I drove, since I knew where I was going.

It felt like I never left as I made my way out of the airport and down the Golden Gate Pkwy. I swung right at the light, and from there, it was a straight shot to my parent's gated community. The security guards at the gate were new, so they didn't recognize us, even though we had just been there for Thanksgiving. But it didn't phase me, as the turnaround for gate guards was pretty high. They buzzed my parents before giving us a weekend pass and raising the gates.

I think Eric was more excited than I was, as we pulled up the driveway and parked next to my dad's black pickup truck. He loved my family. He especially admired my dad. Since Eric's family was inherently wealthy and politically powerful, he didn't really know what it took to build a company from the ground up, until he met my dad.

My dad owned a marina. He started it in his young twenties with some friends around the time he met my mom. They worked hard to repair some of the docks and rent out the boat slips to the wealthy yacht owners. From there, it grew and grew, and now almost thirty years later, he developed the marina into a point of interest for all tourists. He still rented and sold boat slips, but he also included chartered boat tours. He even built a small lodge by the water with an on-the-beach restaurant that was almost always packed.

Even though this was the home I grew up in, it was really no longer my home. So it didn't feel right for me to just waltz right in. We walked up to the front door and rang the bell. I looked over at Eric while we waited for someone to answer. I could see the heat was already getting to him as pearls of sweat appeared around his hairline.

"You know you could have changed before we left the airport." I brushed my fingers across his face. He was still wearing his thick jeans and long-sleeved buttoned shirt. Even when he wasn't working, he always liked to maintain some form of a professional look.

"Make sure you force me to do that next time." He laughed and unclasped two of his buttons on his shirt, exposing glimpses of his smooth, solid chest.

The sight of it made me suddenly excited to get him alone.