“I hear you’re going to be coming in to work with us,” Martin said as he took an appetizer from a server. Grant tried not to look so hungry.
“I’ll go through the hiring process, obviously,” Grant said. “I don’t want any handouts or special privileges.”
“Naturally,” Martin said, wiping his hands. “We can use someone like you. A big part of sales is confidence, which you seem to have plenty of.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
“This guy!” Martin said with a laugh, shaking Grant’s hand again and smiling for the photographer.
“And this is Randal.”
A surly-looking young man with slicked-back hair shook Grant’s hand.
“You’d be the same level,” Martin remarked. “Junior sales associate.”
Grant gave a slight nod.
“So the military, huh?” Randal said and sipped his drink. “I was thinking about joining, but then I went to Harvard instead.”
Randal reminded him of the surly younger Marines he had been tasked to keep track of. If he did end up working with him, Grant foresaw problems arising.
He didn’t want to worry about it now. There wasn’t anything he could do about it. He alternated between staring out the window at the view of the city lights and shaking hands with various important people that paraded through the penthouse.
When the last of the guests had trickled out, Grant leaned back against the nearest wall. Kate hurried up to him with a plate.
“You haven’t eaten anything all day!” she exclaimed, thrusting the food at him.
“I can’t. The uniform.”
“You can’t eat in uniform?” She sounded skeptical.
“I can’t eat and walk,” Grant explained.
“Then sit and eat.”
“I don’t want to spill on it.”
Kate huffed. “Then go change.”
“I’m tired.”
“Clearly,” she said and pushed him toward the stairs.
He went upstairs to the master bedroom and laboriously took off his uniform. Kate set the food down for him and helped him out of the layers of clothing. She ran her hands over his back and chest while he wolfed down the food. When he was done, he pulled her down beside him on the bed and kissed her softly. She seemed sad.
“Why can’t we be like this always?” he asked her, brushing the hair out of her face.
“I can’t, Grant.” She looked as if she was about to cry.
He kissed her and undid her dress.
“Stop,” Kate said softly, pushing him away.
“Do you really want me to stop?” he asked her.
She looked at him. He leaned over and kissed her again and unwrapped her from her dress. He felt himself grow hard at the slight noises she made, the hitch of her breath. He tried to be gentle. He wanted her to know how much he needed her and wanted her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him as he took his pleasure in her. He reveled in the tight heat of her. Being inside of Kate felt decadent. Everything about her was perfect, and he kissed her hard as he came.
Kate smiled up at him then kissed him tenderly. Grant rolled off of her and pulled her to his chest.
