A Twist of Fate (3 page)

“What can I
say? I evoke strong responses in people” I spat that out more
curtly than I intended; I was annoyed that the crazy bitch was
still on the payroll after all the shit she had pulled in recent
months.

“A truer word
never spoken” I heard it from over my shoulder… that voice! I
didn’t need to turn around as I could see from Anna’s wide-eyed
expression and open jaw that Matt was standing directly behind me.
Mmmmm I’d love for him to take me from behind, feel his strong arms
reaching around and pulling me close to his strong athletic frame.
“Mind if I join you ladies?” he continued, oblivious to my
hardening nipples beneath my jacket.

“Sure!” Anna
sang out, almost a little too enthusiastically “Lexi, are you going
to introduce me to your friend?” she asked with a knowing
smile.

“Matt, this is
Anna - Anna, Matt....he’s ‘on loan’ to us for 6 months and just got
in from Texas this morning.” I explained. I could see Anna mentally
undressing him as she took his hand and shook it politely. He then
sat down and flagged a waitress down for another menu.

“I thought you
would have crashed by now, it’s a long flight - aren’t you jet
lagged?” I inquired of Matt.

“Yeah, I am but
I find if I push through and sync with my new time zone I can
usually beat it. I got bored in the room, I thought I’d take a walk
around, maybe get something to eat. I hate room service.” He
retorted.

“And yet of all
the restaurants in this fine city of ours, you find yourself
here... in the very one I’m at. Are you stalking me?” I purred.

A smile crept
across his beautiful unshaven face. “Actually, I called the office
when I realised I didn’t have your cell number and they told me
where I might find you. But if you prefer the stalking idea, we can
go with that.” I was slightly unnerved by his loaded retort... it
had been a while since I had been challenged by man. This was going
to be fun.

“Are you guys
ready to order?” the impatient waitress tapped her foot.

“Sure, we’ll
have the fajitas, the chicken soft tacos and two pineapple
Margaritas.” Our order was always the same; I didn’t even have to
ask Anna. “Matt would you like a beer? There’s plenty of food to
share.” I glanced over my menu at his clear blue eyes. Oh yes, I
have played this game before Cowboy, anything you’ve got – I can do
one better. Men were one thing I understood, I could play them like
a well-strung guitar and when I tired of them, I discarded them and
went on to the new flavour of the month. I was not a whore,
although I had been accused of being that so many times. So many
people, men and women alike were threatened by a woman who is in
touch with her sexuality and desire; it’s just not socially
acceptable for a woman to want a no-strings relationship. For me it
was the ultimate, I had no time for relationships, not real ones.
I’d tried those earlier on before I worked out that I wasn’t ready
to play that game because all it got me was disappointment and a
broken heart. I vowed that no man would ever control me like that
again. NO, I would hold the power - it would be about what I
wanted, what I needed.

“Corona please,
with lime.” His silky voice didn’t show any hint of annoyance. Our
drinks arrived quickly and the conversation flowed as easily as it
had earlier that morning. I could tell by the way Anna was looking
at him that she would rather be devouring him than her lunch but
she wasn’t as brazen as I was, so would bide her time. I cringed
knowing the barrage of questions and requests that would surely
follow.

“So Lexi, are
we still on for dinner?” Matt asked after he ate his first round of
tacos. I watched Anna visibly deflate in the knowledge that we
would spending the evening together. Anna was beautiful and smart
but she knew she couldn’t compete with me when it came to men; she
was too “nice”. I generally backed off when I knew one of my
friends was interested in a guy, after all this was just sport to
me and to them an opportunity for happiness. I wasn’t completely
callous and unscrupulous. Matt was different though, I couldn’t
place what it was, but I felt compelled to play this out. Sorry
Anna - I can’t yield, not this time.

“Yes, of
course! I was actually wondering if you would like a home-cooked
meal. I figured it would be easier to discuss business in a more
comfortable setting and will give me time to fully brief you for
tomorrow’s staff meeting.” More like fully de-brief you and get
down to business, I silently corrected in my head.

“Home cooked
meal sounds wonderful, it’s been a while.” The smile creeping
across his face lit up his features.

“Great, I’ll
pick you up at 8.” Home field advantage, this was going to be a
cake walk.

“Well ladies,
thank you for lunch. I’m afraid the jetlag is kicking my ass right
now though, so I think it’s best I head off and try and get some
shut eye.”

“Well it was so
nice to meet you Matt, hopefully I will see you again soon?” There
was still hope hanging in Anna’s voice.

Matt smiled as
he met her eyes, “I look forward to it.” He turned his gaze to mine
“See you tonight, at 8” he picked up my iPhone on the table and
programmed his number “Just in case something comes up” and made
his exit.

Anna glowered
at me, I knew how the rest of this conversation was going to go. I
took a deep breath, readying myself for Anna’s verbal assault when
the waitress brought us the bill. PAID IN FULL was scrawled across
the receipt. We stared at each other silently... that sneaky
bastard!

The rest of the
day had passed fairly uneventfully. Anna was annoyed and had given
me the silent treatment on our way back to the office. This was
nothing new to me. Hostility, anger, rage, sometimes it was neither
warranted nor justified, yet it rarely bothered me. She would have
to take a number.

I decided to go
home first and change before heading back to collect Matt from his
hotel. I took the opportunity to shower as well, allowing the water
to wash away the day, both literally and figuratively. I pressed my
back to the cold shower tiles as the warm water snaked its way from
my shoulders, down my breasts and across my belly. My hands glided
over my body as the water twisted and turned in different
directions. I breathed deeply and moved my hand further down my
stomach, slowly allowing my fingers to touch the slickness between
my legs. I moved my fingers slowly across my clit and then slid a
finger inside of myself. I imagined it was Matt’s hands all over
me; his mouth and pulsing tongue exploring me. His hard cock
resting against my warm body, teasing me... Ahhhhh... My heartbeat
quickened, the anticipation growing inside of me was like a fire
radiating from the inside out. Every inch of my skin burned, the
stream of water felt like tiny pins and needles biting my sensitive
flesh. I closed my eyes, picturing his searing gaze, his hard body
pressed up against me, as desperate for me as I was for him. I felt
myself tip over the edge. My body twitched and pulsated with
pleasure as I slid down the wall into a hot mess on the shower
floor.

It took me a
few minutes to steady myself before turning off the shower and
wrapping myself into a large, fluffy towel. My wet hair was pasted
against my back as I reached for another towel to wrap my tangled
mane in. I was unsteady as I walked into my bedroom, taking a seat
on the edge of my bed, still feeling the after effects of my
explosive orgasm. I lazily glanced over at my alarm clock - FUCK,
I’m running late. I grabbed my favourite Sass and Bide jeans from
my wardrobe and raced around my room gathering a clean set of bra
and panties. I was intending on displaying them later so I picked
up a sexy black lace push up with miniature red bows on the straps
and matching underwear. I slid on my jeans, towel drying my hair
while pausing momentarily to pull on a pair of boots.

I quickly
applied some light make up and raked a comb through my long locks.
I had no time to dry it so I smoothed on some anti-frizz serum and
threw on a blue cotton t-shirt. I grabbed my keys and headed out
the door.

~~~~~~

He was already
waiting in the lobby by the time I reached the hotel. He was
standing with his back to me but there was no mistaking that ass
anywhere. He was chatting animatedly to the concierge, so didn’t
notice me enter through the double glass doors. He had changed too;
his jeans hung low on his hips, a white t-shirt clinging to every
curve on his back, the fabric rippling when he moved his arms.

“Sorry, I’m a
little late, I hope you haven’t been waiting too long” I
apologized.

“Not at all, I
was just chatting to Mark.” he gestured with the tilt of his head.
Mark gave me a knowing glance and I smiled back. I think both Mark
and I had similar ideas about how tonight was going to end. As if
reading my mind he quickly turned to shake Matt’s hand and bid us
“Good evening” as we wandered out of the ornate lobby. He handed me
a small white gilt box filled with Macaroons. “I got dessert. It’s
only fair since you’re cooking dinner.” Clearly his Momma had
raised him right.

“Thank you,” I
flirted “that’s lovely but unnecessary; it’s a pleasure to have
you.” Or at least I’d hoped it would be. I had planned a different
kind of dessert.

We walked to my
car in silence; the crisp air blew through my hair that was still
damp. It sent a chill down my back. Matt eyed me cautiously,
“Cold?”

“No, I’m
fine... My hair is a little damp” I answered as I slid into the
driver’s seat. He effortlessly moved into the seat beside me. The
hum of my engine broke the awkward silence.

“I really
appreciate this Lexi,” he said, watching the road as I negotiated
through the traffic “I don’t know anyone here yet, so it’s nice to
get out of the hotel and have some people contact.”

“No problem
Matt, we’re going to be working together so this is a good
opportunity to get to know each other.” We made small talk on the
short drive back to my apartment. The obligatory, getting to know
you chatter; siblings, travel histories, working resume etcetera
etcetera... I pulled my Civic into its usual spot in the
underground parking.

I loved my
apartment, it was a rental but it was everything I had wanted in a
home. It had two bedrooms and a large balcony that overlooked the
amazing metropolis of Melbourne. I had travelled to so many
different countries, yet my heart remained firmly tethered to this
city. My city, my home. I guided Matt up the stairwell into the
hallway that led to my door. I wrestled with my keys, finding the
right one and then slowly opening the door.

“Wow, this is a
great place!” His eyes travelled over the interior. “You live here
alone?” I walked ahead of him toward the kitchen. Dropping my keys
and handbag on the coffee table on my way through the lounge
room.

“Yeah, sure
do... I’m not a great roommate. I am obsessive compulsive about
certain things and it’s just easier than dealing with other
people’s issues.” I realised how nervous I was because I was
volunteering a little too much information.

He followed me
through the apartment to the kitchen. “Anything I can do to
help?”

“Nope, all
good. Take a seat.” I gestured toward the bar stool pushed up
against the breakfast bar. “Would you like a drink?”

“Sure,” he
nodded. I pulled a bottle of Absolut from my freezer and poured it
over ice in waiting tumblers on the bench. I added some freshly cut
lime and handed him a glass. I watched him take a slow, steady sip
before I followed suit and raised the cold glass to my lips.

I busied myself
with dinner preparations, Matt’s eyes following me as I moved
around my kitchen. I quickly got some chicken breasts seasoned and
in the oven to bake. While they were cooking, I pulled out a deep
saucepan and placed it on top of the stove. “What are you making?”
he asked.

“It’s kind of
my own creation. A chicken pesto fettuccini. It’s pretty quick but
really tasty.”

“Sounds
delicious”. His smile lit up his face. He continued to study me as
I went through each of the steps, asking me about the ingredients I
was using and whether I enjoyed cooking. He drained his glass as I
reached up to get some plates from my kitchen cabinet.

“Another?” I
tilted the vodka bottle toward him.

“You trying to
get me liquored up?”

“Actually the
freshness of the Vodka and lime goes really well with the dish, but
if you prefer the liquored up idea we can go with that” I smirked,
repeating the words he had taunted me with earlier in the day.

A smile slowly
spread across his face. “Touché, Ms Reed.”

He took the
fettuccini filled plates from me and carried them to my round
kitchen table while I mixed our drinks. I seated myself across from
him and watched as he waited until I was settled before eagerly
raise his fork loaded with fettuccini to his mouth.

“Wow, this is
amazing... so good.” He took another bite.

“Glad you like
it, it’s just one of my many talents” I teased.

“I’ve heard
about your talents Lexi. Your reputation precedes you.” he teased
back.

Instantly my
back stiffened. “What have you heard?” I questioned cautiously.

“Relax Lexi...
it’s all good. My boss Jerry, had the pleasure of working with you
in New York last month; he told me how impressed he’d been with
your work.” Matt gave me relaxed smile.

“Yeah New York
was fun. It was great working with Jerry.” I eased back into my
chair and took a small bite of my pasta.

“You know we
have a really good team in Houston. Jerry is thinking of expanding
and possibly allowing me to head up the department when I get
back.” His eyes flirted as he slowly sipped his drink.