Charmed by the CEO

CHAPTER 2-2

“Oh my god, I am so sorry Mr. O’Connell.” Erin went to comfort him but stepped back. She already had enough disasters today to last a lifetime. If she tried anything else, she might kill the poor guy. Were they on Lillian’s floor yet?

“There is nothing to forgive, Miss. Andrews.” Jason said smoothly. His toes were throbbing, but he would never admit it. Erin was an enigma to him, and he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to know about her yet or not. “No harm was done.” Jason turned to look at Lillian. “Is she staying with you?”

The elevator pinged, and the doors opened. Erin rushed out of it as quick as her legs would carry her. Lillian was a little slower. After all, she had nothing to be embarrassed about.

Lillian looked at Erin then back at Jason. “As a matter of fact, she is,” Lillian stated proudly.

“I hope your home is accident proof.” Jason’s words cut Erin. She didn’t mean to drop her bag on his foot. The condescending ass.

“On the contrary, Mr. O’Connell,” Lillian’s voice dripped acid. “Erin is one of the safest people I know, and I am lucky she calls me friend. I apologize she hurt your precious Stemar’s.” Referring to his shoes. He owned a penthouse; she wasn’t surprised everything he owned had a designer tag.

“Lil, please let’s just go,” Erin whispered feeling deflated. Figured the first guy she found attractive in this town was rude.

“Jerk,” Lillian muttered as she followed Erin to her apartment.

“Well, Miss. Guthrie, I wish you all the luck in the world with that one.” He called to Lillian. She didn’t have to guess who she, he was referring to. “I wish you, even more, luck to your Christian Louboutin’s your wearing.” Lillian looked down at her almost $1000 shoes. Was it excessive? Absolutely. But she wouldn’t give them up for anything. Shoes could be a lot more loyal than men. And they didn’t talk back. It was probably why she owned so many pairs.

Lillian marched back over to Jason showing off her shoes in question. They were the comfiest shoes she had ever worn. The clicking sound of the heels on the marble was music to her ears. Screw him if he couldn’t appreciate a good woman like Erin. She didn’t stop until they were only inches apart. The six-inch heels helped place the top of her head at chin level, so she didn’t have to look up very far.

“Oh, Christian and I don’t need luck. Not only will be we happy with Erin, but we’ll be begging for more.” With that, Lillian spun on her heels and strutted away dragging Erin with her.

“Was that necessary?” Erin whispered in horror of what just happened. She was beyond embarrassed. Not only had she just made an i***t of himself, but it was in front of the hottest guy she had ever seen in her life. To make matters worse, she dropped her wet bag on his really expensive looking shoes. She might as well go to bed and never emerge.

“No, but I feel better. That prick needs to know he can’t treat people that way.” Lillian was irate. No one talked about her best friend that way. Yes, Erin was accident prone and the first day they had met Erin had tripped her because her lace had come undone, and in gym class, Erin had decked her in the head with a kickball. They had a good laugh about it afterward, and Lillian had been standing up for Erin about the accidents since.

“I am accident prone, Lil.” Erin defended, but the words sounded hollow. She was tired of people talking about her because she had accidents. It wasn’t like she went out of her way to do them. They just happened. It’s been happening to her for so long and she’d always been around the same group of people everyone just laughed it off and called it an ‘Erin Moment.’ Erin never liked them calling it that, but it was what it was.

“That’s not your fault, sweetie. He’s just too much of a jerk to realize that.” Lillian said absently as she unlocked her door. When she opened it she turned and looked at Erin. “He’s not worth it, Erin. No one is ever worth the hurt they can cause you.” Lillian tried reassuring her. Never in the few times had she seen Jason O’Connell had she seen him rude to someone. Yeah, Erin had always been accident prone, but that wasn’t her fault. Lillian had just learned to live with it. “Let’s get you settled in and have a drink before bed. Lord knows I could use one.”

“You don’t have to baby me, Lil.”

Lillian walked ahead of Erin and led her to the guest room which was about the size of two of her own apartments. “I’m not. I call it being a friend. Hang your stuff up in the bathroom here, so it has a chance to dry out,” she pointed at the adjoining bathroom that Erin had only ever seen its likeness in magazines.

Erin did as Lillian suggested and realized her few meager belongings were all soaked. So much for thinking it was only a little water in her bag. It explained why it left a puddle on the lobby floor and in the elevator. She had nothing wear to bed little lone to work in the morning. All of the dramas of the day finally caught up with her. Erin dropped to her knees on the marble floor in the bathroom and cried. She couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. She cried over what Brad did to her, she cried over uprooting her life, she cried over her horrible day, and also because of Jason O’Connell. She wished she had never laid eyes on him. Lillian, bless her, just held her until she couldn’t cry anymore. Neither said a word. They didn’t need to. When her eyes dried, Lillian picked her up off the floor and took her to the kitchen and poured her a tall glass of wine then took her to her closet. Lillian really had way to much house for just her. Her closet was every girl’s fantasy. Floor to ceiling with wall to wall clothes for any and all occasions and shoes as all heights and colors. All Erin could do was gape.

“Lil, this is extreme for even you.” Lillian had come from nothing what did she need all this for?

Lillian just shrugged. After buying the condo, she started buying shoes and clothes. Most she required for PR functions the rest was just her indulgence. Her screw you to her previous life in Portland.

“Take whatever you want.” When Erin started to protest Lillian held up a hand. “Listen, I wasn’t going to tell you this until tomorrow but before you called one of the companies I represent called me. A client got in trouble, and I need to do damage control. I’m going to be out of town for a couple days to a week. Take whatever you need or want.”

Erin wanted to argue. Taking charity went against everything she stood for, but she really didn’t have an option. It would only be for a day or two until she got get clothes dried out. “Thanks, Lil” Erin hugged her. “You really are the best.”

“And don’t you forget it. Now go finish your wine, take that soak you wanted to and go to bed.” The idea of wine and a soak had little appeal anymore. Neither wanted to be alone right now.

“How about instead we watch the Alien series instead?” Erin suggested instead. Nothing beat watching Ellen Ripley kicking alien butt. Lillian’s eyes lit up. “You get the popcorn I’ll start it up the blue ray.” Lillian raced out of the closet and left a vapor trail behind her. Lillian sure did love her movies.

A warm hand stroked Erin’s back in lazy circles. She couldn’t hold in the moan and pushed herself into the hand working magic on her skin. Lips caressed her shoulder to her neck. She could feel her gooseflesh rise and her n*****s pucker. Who knew she was so sensitive? Erin reached a hand back and felt the warm male behind her. She reached up and gripped his short hair. Her soon to be lover reached her front and massaged her breast and plucked her n****e. Liquid heat pooled between her legs. She needed friction. Erin rubbed her legs together, but it did nothing to alleviate her discomfort. It had been far too long since her last o****m. Even longer since a man had touched her like this. She felt as if she was going to burst apart any moment. “What do you need, Erin?” Her lover asked licking the shell of her ear. Her body quivered. His voice was so hypnotic. She would know that voice anywhere. Jason O’Connell. She was about to ask him what he was doing in her bed when he reached the juncture of her legs. Erin opened her mouth to protest. He was a jerk. His hand opened her nether lips and gently rubbed circles over her clit. Her protest died on her tongue, and her legs received a message they were open for business. Jason lifted her leg over his and reached between them to continue rubbing her. Erin felt along Jason’s side until she could grab his erection in her hand. He was so big she couldn’t even wrap her hand around him entirely. Would he fit? She was not the most worldly woman with only having slept with one man in her life. Brad wasn’t as big as Jason, but she wouldn’t call him small either. Brad definitely didn’t have this kind of girth. “Stop thinking,” Jason commanded against her skin. “And just feel.” He slipped two fingers deep inside her. Erin arched into him and began rocking herself on his fingers. “That a girl.” He smiled against her back. Erin couldn’t help but smile back. This was turning into the best morning ever. Maybe this was a sign that her accidental proneness was on a decline. Jason reached under Erin’s side and massaged a breast as he picked up his thrusts. Erin found herself riding his hand harder and pumping his d**k in matched rhythm. Both hurtling towards their end. Just as Erin felt herself about to burst apart at the seams a rather annoying and insistent beeping next to her head had her turning over.

Erin snapped her eyes open to yell at whatever was interrupting her. It was her alarm. Erin looked around her room and could see the early lights of the sunrise coming through her blinds, and she was completely alone.

Erin flopped onto her back and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. After two bottles of wine and four Alien movies, Erin had crashed hard. She couldn’t recall ever having a s*x dream before. Especially with a jackass like Jason O’ Connell. After a quick shower and ogling all of Lillian’s clothes, Erin settled for a gray pencil skirt and a red blouse. She had vowed to herself after yesterday she would never wear white to work again. She was trying to pick out a pair of shoes, but her eyes kept straying to the pair of Christian Louboutin’s Lillian was wearing last night. She knew she shouldn’t. They were almost a $1000 pair of shoes. What if she ruined them? What if she broke them? Erin shook her head at herself. She appreciated Lillian’s generosity, but she was not about to wear a very expensive pair of shoes. Erin instead grabbed a different pair of heels. She couldn’t even pronounce the name on the bottom. What was with Lillian and all these expensive shoes. For a woman who came from nothing, she more than well made up for it.

Erin slipped the shoes on and went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. She stopped short when she saw a note on the kitchen island.

Erin,

Sorry, I couldn’t stay to say goodbye. I know you’ll be okay for a few days without me. Take anything you want from the closet. And I do mean anything. I know you eyeballed my Christian Louboutin’s at least four times this morning and settled for something else. Don’t bother trying to deny it. Your accidental proneness is not going to hurt them. Rock ‘em out, girl! You deserve it. Don’t let Jason’s words from last night get to you. Call if you need anything. See you in a few day.

Hugs,

Lil

Erin couldn’t help but smile at the end of the note. Lillian did know her too well. She looked up at the clock and swore. She so could not afford to be late again. Bless Lillian; she had already made Erin a travel mug of coffee.