You Distract Me - S01 E29

Story 5 months ago

You Distract Me - S01 E29

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 29

Olivia

My lips were still tingling even as I shamelessly cried with my hands cupped over my face.

My bag had fallen from my hand somewhere between being held captive and my outburst. I must have looked a mess.

"Olivia." Shayne husked.

Her voice seemed to lessen my sobs, and in the next moment, I felt her pull my hands away from my face.

Tears still poured as I looked up into concerned hazel eyes. I probably looked terrible with my ruined makeup, but Shayne didn't look bothered. She held both of my cheeks and tilted my head to advantage her height.

"I'm getting the impression there's something you're not telling me. What happened? And who was it?"

The wild hunger I'd seen in her eyes was gone and replaced by deep concern; a hint of rage as well.

I had to tell someone, and the only person that had come to mind had been Shayne. I would never have had the courage to tell my mother. And though I've established new friendships, trust was still to be gained.

"Gideon Pierce." I bit my lip to stop my sobs. "H-he . . . he tried to—"

I didn't get a chance to finish when Shayne pulled away, briefly shutting her eyes while her jaw clenched.

She slowly turned and walked to her sleek mahogany desk. "When did this happen?"

"Yesterday." My sobbing stopped and I curiously watched her with her back facing me.

She unclasped her watch and carefully set it down.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

The calm and icy tone caused my skin to crawl with awareness. "I-I thought you didn't want to talk to me."

"Mmmm. Where did it happen?"

She undid the knot on her tie and slid it off her neck, setting it aside with the watch.

"In his office. He summoned me and I thought he wanted to discuss our next photoshoot," I quickly said, afraid she'd assume I'd initially wanted attention from Gideon Pierce.

"I see. How far did he go?"

I couldn't answer her question. It was too embarrassing to voice.

The silver signet ring on her left pinky was next to come off, followed by the silver dog tag chain around her neck.

"Olivia, answer the damn question." She was still frighteningly calm.

"He hadn't gotten the chance to actually do it, I managed to get out. That's all you need to know." He'd ripped my shirt and groped my bare breasts, but that was information I wasn't going to share, ever.

"So he simply looked at you, and you assumed his intentions were to force himself on you." The cufflinks came off.

My heart lurched at her accusation. "I'm many things, but I'm not a liar! And neither am I telepathic, Shayne. If I'd known what his plans were then I wouldn't be here like this. All you have to know is that he . . . he made me feel helpless." A sob escaped through my lips as I watched her turn and walk towards me.

"Don't worry, I'll ask him myself." Hazel eyes that were verging on murderous stared back at me. She rolled up the sleeves of her shirt and revealed her sinewy tattooed forearms.

I pressed my hand against her chest to stop her. "Shayne, where are you going?"

"To kill the bastard."

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She made sure to show me the honesty of her words through her eyes. And I was horrified that the thought had even crossed her mind.

"It's not a big deal. I can simply ask to be reassigned to a new photographer. And then we can forget about it. You can't tell anyone about this."

"I won't open my mouth, but please stop shitting me, Olivia. We both know the fool won't stop until he gets what he wants. Unfortunately for him, I'm never gonna let that happen. You're mine, baby girl."

Dear God.

She suddenly grabbed my neck and gently squeezed. Shame engulfed me when a low moan jumped out of my throat.

I expected her to try and kiss me again, and knowing I wouldn't stop her this time, I let my lashes fall as I waited. When I felt nothing on my lips, I opened my eyes just as she unwrapped her fingers from around my throat.

She looked remorseful. "I'm still going to kill him, but this is about you, Olivia. You came to me for comfort, and I disrespected you even further by letting my anger consume me. I'm sorry he did what he did, and I'll make sure it never happens again. You deserve so much better. So I won't force you into anything you're not sure of, because it doesn't make me any different from him."

My vision blurred with tears as the desire dissipated into hopelessness. "I was so scared," I suddenly confessed.

"I know."

I let her pull me into her arms, and the feeling was the safest I'd ever felt in such a long time. One of her hands ran up and down my back while the other pressed my head into her chest. I consumed her warmth and her amazing scent as I pressed my hands into her strong back.

Barely having the energy to cry out loud, my tears freely flowed. And she didn't seem to care that my makeup was ruining her crisp blue shirt.

A few minutes later, my eyes ran dry and we just stayed like that, none of us letting go.

"I can hear your heart beating," I said.

"I'd like to think that's how it works."

I giggled as we simultaneously pulled away from each other. She still held me while my hands moved to her chest. Her toothy grin exposed shallow dimples I hadn't noticed from afar.

Man she's beautiful, and here I am looking like a panda.

I bit my lip and looked down shyly.

Shayne chuckled. "You're adorable, you know that? Now listen . . . "

She gripped my chin and made me look at her. For a moment she only looked between my eyes and my lips.

She suddenly cleared her throat. "I want you to know that we will move at your own pace. There's no rush, but I'm not promising I'll be able to resist touching you. I'm only human and I can only survive so much torture."

I wanted to scream, 'Then devour my mouth already, you big baby!'

But instead I smiled and said, "Thank you for being understanding."

"No problem." A look of concern crossed her face. "When last did you see him?"

I sighed heavily and pulled away, feeling the moment had come to an end. "Last night, after I managed to escape him. I haven't seen him since and I don't think I want to. Can we not talk about it please?"

"Of course. I think I have a few more minutes. How does an early lunch sound?"

"I'm not hungry." I looked around for my bag and saw it lying a few feet away from me. But Shayne beat me to it and reached it in two strides.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

She handed me the black Marc Jacobs. "You have to eat. Your doctor informed me that food should be your first priority, resting comes second. Why aren't you in bed, Olivia?"

"I feel fine, trust me. But I've asked for a few days off." I looked away from those intense eyes. "Apart from the main reason I came to bother you at work. I also came to apologize for what I'd said. It was completely uncalled for and you didn't deserve it."

She grabbed my hand. "Hey, first of all, this wasn't a bother. You could land a plane in my office and I wouldn't be mad."

I laughed and looked up at her.

Her full beautifully curved lips formed a soft and dangerous smile. "Secondly, I understand where you're coming from, I'm a handful. But just so you know, that woman was simply business, nothing happened between us."

I felt I'd known that from the beginning, but my rational brain had fought and won against my heart. At the moment, it was hard to tell who was winning.

"Give me a trial ran, Olivia. And the moment you're ticked off, I'll walk away."

I didn't waste a breath. "Okay."

"Really?" Her excited grin made me laugh.

"Yes, Shayne. I'll trial run you."

"Good. You have no idea how happy you've made me." She kissed my hand, and though the action made me blush, hard, I wanted her to kiss my lips instead. But given the level of my temper, I'd been the one who pushed and slapped.

And yelled like a maniac.

Suddenly I was overwhelmed with humiliation and guilt. "I have to go. I promised my mom I'd get back home right after getting the okay to leave work for a few days."

"Let me drive you."

"It's not necessary." I pulled my hand away.

"I don't mind."

"Shayne, I don't want to mess up your schedule. Why don't we do that early lunch another time? I'm a little tired."

She narrowed her eyes. "Fine, whatever you say but I'd prefer something else to a simple early lunch."

"What?" I swallowed hard at the low tone of her voice.

"I want you to go on a date with me. I mean I'm asking if you could go on a date with me. Will you go on a date with me?"

Her sudden nervousness caught me off guard and I just watched her for a second or two.

"I understand if you don't want to. I just thought . . . I don't know."

She scratched the back of her head and I had the pleasure of watching her bicep flex under the sleeve of her shirt. Lord, she looked irresistible in formal clothes.

I tore my eyes away from the distraction. "Could I think about it?"

I'd wanted to scream yes! But something in me forced me to play it safe. To wait.

"Yes, sure," she said, a slight frown forming on her mouth.

I was pleased she'd looked a little taken aback by my answer. Olivia Ryans was no push over; most of the time.

"I could give you my number?"

Her brows shot up at my offer. "Yes, I'd like that very much. Here."

She pulled out her phone from her pocket and handed it to me to place my number in her contacts.

As soon as I handed it back to her, she gave me a quick grin. "So I'll call you?"

"Yeah." I started to turn, but she grabbed my arm.

"What is it?" I said, watching her eyes travel all over my face.

"You've got a little . . . "

When she pointed at her own face, it dawned on me that she was referring to my ruined makeup. I'd completely forgotten about it!

"Oh my god! I could have walked out of here looking like a baby panda," I said, rummaging through my bag for some baby wipes.

"Raccoon might be more accurate."

I gasped and looked up at Shayne's humored expression; my hand pausing it's vigorous movement on my face.

"I'm kidding . . . I'm kidding. Damn, girls and their makeup. Here, let me help you."

She ignored my glare and simply chuckled, getting the wipe from my hand as she held the back of my head.

I couldn't help staring up at her face as she worked on mine. I'd hoped she hadn't noticed the deep blush on my cheeks.

"I did my best, but at least you no longer look like a zoo animal," she said, tossing the wipe in a nearby trash can as I discreetly rolled my eyes. "I'll see you later, Ms. Ryans."

Her head swooped down and when I expected a kiss on my lips, she gave me a quick almost-not-there peck on my cheek.

Big baby!

I made sure to maintain eye contact and make my voice extra sultry. "We'll see."

And I sashayed my way out of her office.

Two can play that game, Shayne West. Two can play that game.

My phone suddenly started buzzing in my bag as I entered an elevator.

"Hello?"

My mother's voice was shaking. "Olivia, you have to come home right now."

"What's wrong?" I said, my heart picking up its pace.

"Something's happened to your dad."