Keep Me Going : An Office Romance Read online

  I wondered how hard it would be to have her with a kid. She had to sleep sometimes. I glanced at Lindsay and realized that sex wasn’t the priority with Soledad, not anymore. I wanted the entire package.

  We headed back to the apartment when Lindsay started looking tired. Soledad told me that she didn’t always take naps but got up especially early today. I walked inside, looking around the familiar room as Soledad walked Lindsay back to her room. She told me to make myself comfortable as she smiled back at me, and I sat on the couch. She’d added her own touch over the last few weeks, with family pictures scattered about and what looked to be things from vacations. It gave the already clean room personality and added some color. They looked happy here.

  “She’s probably out for a couple of hours. I don’t know how I’ll feel about that later tonight, but she’s worn out.” Soledad smiled as she entered the room. “Would you like something to drink? The fridge is full, thanks to Rosie.”

  “Water sounds great. Where is she today?” I asked as she carried two bottles of water to the couch, taking a seat.

  “With friends. She watched Lindsay for me all week. I need to give her some time off.” Soledad smiled as she tucked her legs underneath her. I’d been admiring them in her skinny jeans all day, wanting to grab that ass and pull her on me. I kept my adult thoughts to myself when we were around Lindsay but now I let them flood my mind.

  “All night?” I asked as Soledad gave me a long look.

  “Actually, yes. They live a few towns over and came to get her this morning.” Pink washed over her cheeks as I smiled approvingly at her.

  “How hard does Lindsay sleep?” I queried as I leaned closer to her, needing to feel her lips on mine. I’d been wanting to kiss her all day but held back with our company.

  “Today? Probably hard.” Soledad pressed her mouth to mine, letting out a slow groan as I tilted my head to deepen it. We kissed for a few moments before she pulled away with a soft laugh. “I’ve never done this before.”

  “You haven’t been with anyone since she was born?” I asked, stroking her cheek with my thumb.

  “No. I was busy trying to be a good mom. I forgot about it.” She admitted as I wondered how many men wanted her over the years. “I’ve been reminded lately.” I kissed her again and within a few minutes we were hurrying to her room. Lindsay’s door was closed, and I closed Soledad’s as well before pulling her against me.

  I kissed her hard, pressing her against the wall as I gripped her ass. Soledad groaned and wrapped her legs around me as I felt my cock press into the line of her jeans. I swept her mouth with my tongue as she clung to me, needing to have her naked and wrapped around me. I turned and brought her back to the bed, dropping her down as I told her to take her shirt off. Soledad nibbled her lip and glanced at the locked door before lifting her flowing burgundy shirt over her head and slipping it to the floor. Her bra was black cotton and enhanced her full cups well. I leaned down and reached for the front closure, opening the bra to reveal her hard nipples. “Jesus, Soledad. You make me crazy.” I unbuttoned her jeans as she shuddered below me, sliding them down her legs and tossing them by her shirt.

  She watched hungrily as I stripped and dropped a condom down on the mattress. I saw the hesitation in her eyes as she gazed past me at the door and spread her thighs open. “We’ll take this slow. If you want to stop, just tell me.” I crawled over her and lowered my mouth to her damp folds as Soledad hissed. She was soaked for me and I licked her slowly, loving the way she arched her back against me, I moved slowly, listening as she panted through the strokes of my tongue. Soledad was coming on a few moments and I pulled back, staring up at her as she managed to control her voice.

  “I should make you stop but I need you inside of me,” she whispered as I looked down at my swollen cock. I reached for the condom, listening carefully before I ripped it open. I sheathed myself and told her to get on her knees softly, watching as she complied. This was easily one of my favorite positions with her since I could get so deep. I also preferred it in this case, so I could shove her face into the pillow and keep her quiet.

  I rocked into her slow and hard, feeling her grip my cock. I held onto her hips and pushed harder as I heard her voice against the thick pillow, knowing that she was becoming the complete package for me. I enjoyed fucking her in every way but today had been a different sort of fun for me. Her daughter was sweet and funny, clear about her feelings for people. I wondered how her father could live with not having her in his life. I sure as fuck couldn’t sleep at night with that reality. I let the image of her pregnant again flash through my mind as she tightened around me, coming hard as she moaned into her pillow. I followed, jerking forward as I filled the condom. “Fuck, Soledad. You feel good,” I told her softly as I pulled out and took a deep breath.

  While it hadn’t been long, we still cleaned up and dressed. Soledad opened her window to let some fresh air in as I smirked at her, smacking my ass as we made our way to the living room. I knew that being with a woman with a child would strip me of my control and spontaneity with sex, but it didn’t bother me. There was something deliciously taboo about our earlier sex and knew that those stolen moments would be meaningful.

  We sipped water as she snuggled against me, watching TV, and kissing intermittently. I enjoyed relaxing and not having to be somewhere, settling into the quiet as I stroked her hair. We both heard the door opening and Soledad looked up to see a small figure approaching us. We moved apart a bit and I watched as Lindsay crawled into her mom’s lap and curled up against her. Soledad smiled at me as she stroked Lindsay’s back, talking softly to her as the girl slowly woke up.

  I mentioned seeing a movie once she was fully awake, Soledad smiled at me at the offer and Lindsay’s eyes lit up. We’d eaten lunch, but I asked if some movie snacks would be okay and Soledad nodded with a soft smile as Lindsay ran to her room to put on some clean clothes. According to her mom, Lindsay did this a lot and Soledad loved having a job that could help her support the habit, I learned on the way to the theater that Lindsay loved the Jurassic Park movies and we settled on the newest one. I grabbed popcorn, drinks, and some candy at the snack bar before we found seats in the middle. I grinned at Soledad when Lindsay planted herself between us, surrounded by treats.

  We still managed to hold hands behind the seat once the lights dimmed, moving only when Lindsay got too excited about what was happening on the screen. Soledad quieted her down and she’d reach for me again as my heart gave way to my feelings for her.

  That was the first night I stayed at her apartment. Lindsay made it clear that she wanted us to be together and Soledad cuddled with me on the couch once we were alone. She asked me if I wanted all of this because she came with a lot of luggage. She wasn’t willing to sacrifice Lindsay for any relationship and her daughter came first. She told me if that wasn’t what I wanted, then I could leave. I answered that by kissing her and we ended up in her bedroom, making love before falling asleep in clothes that we put on in case Lindsay woke up before we did.

  Chapter Nine

  Soledad

  A few weeks later, Alex and I were going strong. We saw each other regularly and mainly kept it hidden while we were at work. People talked but I chose not to listen, only becoming friends with my team that I could trust. Lindsay loved when he spent the night on the weekends and made us breakfast and I appreciated the nights that Rosie urged me to stay with Alex at his place.

  I was sitting at my desk setting up some lunch appointments when my phone rang. I picked it up, offering the standard greeting. There was silence on the other end and I frowned before hanging up. That was one of several over the last few weeks, but I assumed it was someone that had the wrong number. That or someone that didn’t like Alex and wanted to be annoying. I got back to work and spent the next few hours getting Alex situated with clients before I went to lunch with Millie.

  We discussed the new project with the cosmetic company that was rising in popularity over sandwiche
s. She knew the most about Alex, but I made her promise to keep it to herself. I had a habit of hiding my life as a result of Keith. I didn’t want him to find me here and get near Lindsay.

  “Is everything still good?” Millie asked as we cleaned up and took our tray to the trash.

  “With Alex? Yeah. He’s so cute with Lind,” I told her as I led the way to the door. I noticed a bright red car parked across the street. The model was unusual, and I frowned as I heard an engine and watched it pull away. I blinked and laughed to myself.

  “I saw that same car parked at the office. I wonder if they’re lost.” Millie mused aloud as I glanced at her. I went to work with them for the afternoon and we came up with a solid idea for the campaign before finishing for the night. I glanced towards Alex’s office to see him closing his door, smiling as I paused. I heard the phone at my desk ring and started to step forward as Alex went to answer it. He frowned and stared at the receiver for a second before glancing up at me.

  “Have you been getting a lot of those calls?” He asked as I moved beside him. I knew that we were being watched as we moved along with the group.

  “The hang ups?” I asked as he pulled me away from the crowd and into a corner.

  “That wasn’t a hang up when I answered. They asked where the bitch that worked at the desk was, Soledad. Is there something going on?” He asked me as I frowned.

  “I don’t think so. I’ve only gotten hang ups.” I thought about the calls and the familiar car as we went down to the parking lot and he drove me home. Brent and Alex had plans so he told me to lock up and stay safe. Alex planned to come back over later, and I promised to let him in before I gave him a soft kiss. I headed to my door and unlocked it, walking in to see Rosie in the kitchen and Lindsay playing with some dolls on the floor. “Hey, ladies.”

  “Where’s Alex?” Lindsay asked as disappointment crossed her face.

  “He has plans with Brent, Lind. He’ll make breakfast in the morning.” I smiled and set my purse down on the hall table as I went to help her with dinner. We finished the grilled cheese sandwiches and soup, sitting down at the table to eat together. I heard my phone ring from my purse and looked over, debating on whether to get it or not. “It might be Alex.” I told them before going to retrieve it from the open pocket. I glanced at the screen to see an unavailable number and answered it on the way back to the table.

  “Bitch. I found you,” A low voice told me as I paused, listening as the call ended. I took a slow breath and kept going to the table to eat, not wanting to scare Lindsay. I wondered if Keith was here and why. She was not even born when he walked away from us. He didn’t want a family. I played it off through the meal and Lindsay’s bath before tucking her in and sitting in my room.

  I played the situation with Keith down. He had left us but that was after a year of physically abuse and emotionally tearing me down. He left because he finally cheated on someone that he left me for after countless affairs. I was young and stupid and returned to my mom’s house to have the baby and raise her on my own. Once she was a toddler, my friend Michael invited me to Mendocino to help with his company since I’d finished college online during the time I was home. I worked hard to make a life for myself and Lindsay and looked forward to living in the small, coastal town.

  I felt safe there. I felt loved there. I noticed Keith around town talking to old friends of mine that lived in the area or visited and made every effort to avoid him. I made the sitter keep Lindsay in the small house that I was renting until I learned that Keith was planning to move there. I told Michael that I needed to leave and packed us up, driving in my car to Seattle.

  It was a bigger city and I’d get a job there. We’d blend in. I told everyone in Mendocino not to say anything about my new location and breathed easier when I found out that Keith was moving to LA through a friend. I could heal now and move on.

  I woke up to the sound of my phone. I reached out for it and answered, hearing Alex tell me that he was almost at the apartment. I rose and brushed my teeth groggily, going to let him in after making sure everyone was sleeping. Alex kissed me softly before closing the door and locking it. “Are you okay?” He asked as I nodded.

  “I fell asleep. Long week,” I told him as we walked to my bedroom. Alex got ready for bed and I lost myself in the way he made love to me, pushing away the idea that Keith was here.

  I didn’t notice the broken window in the bathroom until he was gone the following day. I peered through the hole in the glass to see that there was a balcony to another unit a few feet away and fear sent ice through my veins. I left the room and told Rosie that I’d be back after closing the door, hoping they would use their own bathrooms. I went to the office and told the manager about the window. She said she’d have it fixed as soon as they could get someone out and I thanked her before returning home.

  I remembered calling the police before. At the time, they hadn’t been helpful about how he’d stalk me after a breakup. There was no real proof that it was him or that I was in any danger. What was the point of telling them anything now? So much time had passed, and I wasn’t even sure that I wasn’t going crazy.

  I went back to the apartment and told Lindsay I’d take her to the park. I was nervous about it but couldn’t live my life paranoid. I knew that Alex was taking care of something with Brent and would be gone through the night, so we went alone. I watched as Lindsay ran forward to play with a little girl she recognized, taking a seat to watch her. I breathed in slowly to calm down, my eyes fixed on Lindsay as she played.

  The way that he treated me when we were still together was dark and scary. I knew that I didn’t remember a lot of it but the fear that I’d lived in after we broke up would always be prominent in my mind. I tried not to live paranoid, but Lindsay was still small enough that I could keep her by my side without looking like a crazy mom.

  I heard my name and looked up to see Alex walking towards me. I smiled and waved before looking back at my daughter, smiling as she moved down the slide. “Hi there. Rosie said that you were here.” He sat down beside me and kissed my cheek as he searched the park for Lindsay.

  “You’re home early. Is everything okay?” I asked as he slipped an arm around me. Despite the fact that we’d been involved for a few weeks and slept together regularly, he still gave me butterflies when I saw him.

  “Brent bought the truck right away, so we came back. He’s off planning his first road trip, so I came back to the apartment. How’s your day?” Alex asked as he smiled down at me.

  “It’s good.” I replied as I considered telling him about the window. He was there a lot and would hear something about the repair. “I went into the hallway bathroom today and the window was broken. Just a small break. I reported it to the manager and they’re fixing it soon.”

  “Broken? Did someone throw a rock through it?” He asked in a cool voice as I glanced at him.

  “Not that I could see.” I replied as he reached down and squeezed my hand.

  “You’re getting the calls at work and now this? I don’t think you should be here alone with Lindsay. I’m worried for you.” Alex sounded angry and I blinked slowly. I’d played Keith down when I spoke about him. I was used to pretending that it wasn’t that bad and that he wasn’t the monster that he was. I gazed across the park to see a red car parked at the curb and then stared at Lindsay. “Is there a chance that he’s back, Soledad? Would he look for you?”

  “Lind!” I called out as she looked over with a frown on her face. I knew that she wouldn’t want to leave but when she saw Alex, Lindsay smiled and ran over. “Let’s go home, okay?”

  Alex took one look at the window and walked back out into the living room. “Pack a bag. We’re going to my place.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked as I looked at him from the couch.

  “Rosie is already gone. We need to get you out of here now until that’s fixed, and I tell Carly she’s getting an alarm put in here.” I looked down the hall where I knew Li
ndsay was playing with a frown.

  “Alex, don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit?” I demanded in a hiss as he stared at me.

  “I don’t think you are responding to this like you need to be. Come to my apartment for the weekend and we’ll figure it out from there. Please.” He wasn’t asking, and I stood to tell Lindsay that we were going to Alex’s house for a couple of nights. I made it sound like an adventure. I headed into my room and packed a small bag with some clothes and toiletries after she was done but my heart was racing.

  Lindsay asked me if everything was okay as I worked, and I assured her that it was. We hadn’t been to Alex’s loft together yet and I knew she’d love it. I just wished it was under better circumstances. When we were done, I took Lindsay to the living room to see Alex on his phone. He was hunched over, and something ached inside of me as I watched him before glancing down at Lindsay. I cleared my throat and he glanced up at us.

  Alex ended the call and carried Lindsay to the car where we agreed that I’d ride with him. He wanted Rosie to have the car since I told her that we were leaving as well. I had to tell her about the window and the calls, scaring her. I’d never told her about Keith in detail like everyone else in my life. It was coming to a head now and I felt my head throbbing as we walked into the loft.

  Under any other circumstances, I’d be excited to take Lindsay here. I’d know that it was a step towards our future that had been so bright until now. Lindsay tore across the open living room to the windows that offered their beautiful view as I smiled, and Alexander followed with our bags. I looked at him and noted the way his jaw was set with determination, arousing me with his protective nature. “What do you think?” He asked Lindsay as she turned away from the glass to run over to him to throw herself into his arms.