This line of thinking is sadly familiar to me. My stress is at an all-time high, and I’m not managing it well. I’ve snapped at Jackson and even Leilani. She doubled down, brushed off my behavior, and made kalua pork, which made me feel worse. We just have a week or so until the poker tournament, and I’m trying to keep it together.
It’s been a day, but my second-to-last meeting before dinner is with her.
“We have fifty-two people coming in a little over a week,” I tell Leilani, looking over my list of action items. “I think we’ve got as much as we can under control.”
“Just know that the Menehunes are destined to cause problems,” she replies.
“What is a Menehune?” I ask.
“They’re mythological people who live in the forest. Hawaiians think of them as the ones who designed the beautiful waterfalls and rock formations, but they’re also troublemakers. They like to cause problems. We just expect it.” Leilani shrugs.
“Do you think they’re the ones behind the cut pool fence?”
“You never know.”
My cell phone pings.
Jackson: I’m on the ground. Meet me in the library, and I expect you naked.
Me: That will make my meeting difficult, and honestly embarrassing to the caterers.
Jackson: Get Leilani to cover for you and meet me there.
I take a deep breath. “Leilani, can you cover the meeting with the caterer? Mr. Graham has landed and apparently wants to meet with me.”
She smiles. “No problem. In fact, I know you’re stressed. We’ve gone through the menus, and we’re there. Let me take care of the food and entertainment for the party. I want you to enjoy your guests. You’ve done a lot.”
“Thank you, Leilani. You’ve done such a great job preparing for the party. I’m going to miss you. I wanted to let you know, I’m leaving Soleil Energy. I’m no longer going to work for Mr. Graham.” I have to start saying it out loud if I have any hope of making it real.
I see her eyes cloud with worry.
“All the bills are set up to be automatically paid. When you need extra funds for something, go to Mr. Graham the same way you’ve come to me. He’ll have another assistant shortly, and I know you’ll work great with her—or maybe this time it’ll be him.” I wink at her. “You’re a strong majordomo, and you don’t need my help.”
She dabs her eyes. “I hope you find your happiness.”
“Thank you. But you’re not rid of me yet.”
As I leave the kitchen, I hear Jackson arrive, and I follow the scent he’s left in his wake. I find him waiting for me in the library.
“I asked you to meet me in the library,” he says.
He’s upset about something. I haven’t seen this Jackson Graham in several months. I look him in the eyes. “I apologize. I was transitioning my meeting with the caterer to Leilani. We’ve agreed that she’ll be taking care of all the food and entertainment for the party.”
He shuts the door behind me and locks it. In two steps, he fogs the windows with a flip of a switch.
He’s been upset about things going sideways with the production of the solar film in the factory in Ohio, and I know he’s nervous that the sales are so high we aren’t producing fast enough. And, I think he’s also beginning to realize I’m serious about not coming back to work in the office or moving in with him.
I open my mouth to speak.
“No talking.”
I nod and wait for him.
“I asked you to be naked in this room when I arrived.”
He’s staring at my breasts. I reach to the back of my dress and unzip it. The fabric falls from my chest, exposing my aroused nipples. Under his watchful eyes, I wiggle my hips a little and the dress lands at my feet. I’m standing only in my thong, and his eyes are hooded with desire.
“Put your hands on the couch arm and spread your legs.”
I do as I’m told, and I feel him reach up and fondle my breast. Lust rushes through me. He plays with the nipple, pinching and pulling it. “I’m unhappy that you won’t move into my apartment.”
He pinches the nipple hard. I gasp, and shiver with excitement.
“You like that, don’t you?”
I nod.
He pulls my panties aside and slides his fingers into my slit. “You’re wet for me.” His thumb brushes over my clit, and I go from zero to sixty in a microsecond. “I’m going to fuck you. You can tell me to stop when you’ve had enough.”
He continues to rub at my clit, and I hear his belt buckle clink and the sound of the zipper just before his pants hit the ground. Then he grabs my hips with both hands, and I know I’ll be bruised tomorrow. In one movement, he’s buried deep inside me, and it takes a minute to adjust to his size. He ruts into me like a wild animal, spanking me and pulling my hair to bite at my neck.
The rocking has my nipples rubbing against the rough fabric of the couch, and every sensation is matched by Jackson’s fury. I climax quickly. And he keeps going harder and faster.
“You…can’t…leave…me…” He pumps into me. “I…can’t…live…with…out…you.”
My second orgasm is close. I reach down and strum my clit. Jackson groans his
