Work Hard, Play Hard

It made six months and five days that Emily had been working for her strict, critical, exhausting boss. It had all started with a temporary week-long gig that had somehow landed her working underneath the woman behind the appearances of some of the most powerful of the city. The young woman took the challenging job as a way to continue living in New York City. What was supposed to be an easy paycheck ended up almost running her out of the city. She barely lasted three days with how demanding it was. Each day of her first week, she ended up in tears at her cramped apartment she shared with a variety of roommates. When her final day came to an end, she was so shocked that her boss offered her a full-time position, that she said yes before she had time to realize the words coming out of her mouth.

Emily gripped the coffee cup in her hand tighter as she mentally steeled herself, entering the office building. After consulting security, Emily hustled towards the elevator. She laughed internally to herself. She always arrived excessively early always in fear of the wrath of being tardy.

Settling into New York hadn’t been easy, Emily had been through too many temporary jobs and eating away at her savings before finally securing this job. This job that allowed her to buy a decent wardrobe, finally be able to tell her parents that she was saving money and afford a night out with friends once or twice a week. She didn’t live a lavish lifestyle. Her parents still complained that she wasn’t close enough to them, but it got them off her back. At least for a little while. Until they had started in on meeting someone.

Emily placated them by telling them yes, she was going on dates. I’m focusing on my career. No single people in that backwards town we’re from. Anything except the real reason why. They did not need to know why.

Emily had settled into a good groove. Her work was demanding, but she lived by a strict mantra of work hard, play hard. The fulfillment of her work gave her pride. She worked at a well-respected business for an extremely well-respected person. She worked an extended 8am to 7pm, usually stretching well into the 8pm or 9pm range on the regular. Her boss required 24/7 attention with Emily getting regular texts and phone calls into the evening.

The first two months were entirely text messages with orders regarding what was expected in the morning. The first time she received one of these late night phone calls, she nearly had a heart attack, recognizing the silky smooth voice immediately.

The phone call had lasted about a half-minute. 0:36 seconds if you were to check her cellphone log. Then, it morphed into a mixture of phone calls and text messages. Phone calls meant her boss was pleased with how the day went. Text messages were usually a signal that her boss needed space. Four months in, the phone calls got progressively longer. One night her boss had asked her opinion, resulting in the record-breaking thirty-minute phone call before her boss had realized the time.

“Oh my god- it’s nearly 9:15pm, Emily. I’ve kept you on the phone far too long. See you in the morning, darling.”

“Oh, it’s fine-“

Click.

Emily, completely flabbergasted, didn’t realize until nearly an hour later that her boss had called her darling.

However, the culture of the office continued a strict; no work after 5pm on Fridays that even her boss stuck to. No text messages or phone calls. Five PM on a Friday meant coworker drinks, meeting up with her outside of workplace friends, or being set-up on a date that she inevitably never called back. These one-time dates weren’t because of a myriad of terrible people. It also related to why she never gave her parents a straight answer.

She was completely in love with her boss.

After stepping off the elevator and making her way to her desk, she sat comfortably down.

Emily watched as her boss strode confidently into the office and past the rows of desks.

The boss had always admired her young assistant, her work ethic, her professionalism, but there had always been a certain amount of tension between them that was becoming increasingly harder to ignore. Lingering glances, small touches, nothing outside the realm of professional. Her boss had taken to sitting directly next to her in meetings. Knees touching, elbows brushing. The younger woman had earned her utmost confidence in the most professional of ways. Her feelings were… developing from their small interactions. She had even contemplated crashing one of the weekend employee get-togethers just to see the young woman outside of work. Her fear of pressuring the woman won out every time. However, in the workplace, she made it known that Emily had her utmost confidence in any work capability.

Employees now knew to come to Emily directly to pass along sensitive information. From what she had gathered from other employees during a happy hour, no other assistant had been given such exclusive confidentiality about clients. They merely managed schedules, passed along non-confidential information, took meeting notes, and ran errands. Emily took the added perk very seriously, even not revealing the information to other employees who were working on separate cases.

The vibrant force of her boss washed over Emily. Danielle’s entire persona captured her attention. Eyes met for the briefest of moments. The consuming gaze of the older woman met the inquisitive younger ones. Emily tried not to let the vivid and profound second falter her. She was the first to look away from the intense stare.

Sadly, Emily’s attempt to divert her eyes elsewhere proved problematic. Her eyes trailed slowly downwards over Danielle’s outfit. A red silk blouse carefully unbuttoned, her eyes narrowing in on the gold buttons, to reveal just a small amount of cleavage. A tight black pencil skirt hugged Danielle’s curves. She didn’t even hear the little morning pleasantry spoken as she got lost in the calves prominently on display supported by a pair of black heels.

“Stephen, are those files on the Emsworth case ready yet?” Danielle asked a man who was still figuring out his tie. Emily handed her the daily article clippings found about her clients, her eyes trained on the deep shade of red lipstick on that day.

“Uh - they are - uhm - quite almost,” Stephen stammered from his desk.

“See that they are on Emily’s desk in ten minutes,” Danielle ordered, flipping through the series of articles Emily had handed her. The notable ones being handed over to Emily as a single - to be dealt with immediately - the Harlow’s Son DUI from last night, the Middleton receipts from the affair found, and lastly, the Davenport personal financial crisis from the father’s gambling addiction. Leaning in, so her face was inches away, she looked at Emily through her long eyelashes and quietly muttered, “We’re surrounded by idiots.”

A small smile quirked on Emily’s pink lips. Sometimes Danielle would let her in on the inside, a little consolation that she was doing her job correctly, even if it was at the expense of sacrificing her free time.

“Emily- schedule,” Danielle called as she strode forward into her office. The instructions were clear. Follow. Not a question. Emily followed rightfully behind.

The office brought a strange sense of calm in a chaotic office.

“You have your regular calls to update the 5 VIP clients from 9 to 10, Fitzgerald has already called 5 times wanting to speak with you at 10-“

“Put him off, I need my regular 10 o’clock hour today,” Danielle said, waving her hand dismissively, “Schedule him for tomorrow.”

“11 to 12:15 is the board meeting, will you need me to sit in?” Emily asked carefully, already predicting the answer.

“Yes,” Danielle said immediately, purposefully ignoring the idea that she was having Emily sit on meetings more than she would for a regular assistant. She purposefully ignored the nagging feeling that she merely wanted the comfort of the young woman’s presence.

“12:15 is your half hour, at 12:45 you have a meeting with the new banking client. Theresa’s group is already set to go. They will be setting up the conference room all morning. You just need to show up.”

“Perfect,” Danielle said, sipping her coffee. Now, without the pressuring eyes of the rest of her employees, allowing herself the indulgence of really gazing at her assistant.

“The rest of the afternoon is brainstorm time and contacting clients for the daily articles,” Emily continued, trying to divert her eyes from staring back at her boss, “How do you want me to direct the new stories?”

“The top three send over to Claire,” Danielle instructed, eyes darting back towards work. She continued to sort through the rest, “Send the rest of the affairs over to Tom, jailing to Stephen, and has there been any new foolish statements from Project Idiot?”

Project Idiot was a VIP client. VIP only in the sense that he paid the company an extreme amount of money to handle the crass and vile statements that extruded from his mouth.

“A new Instagram post with a new girlfriend on his arm, and the kicker was the caption insulted his children,” Emily said, hanging over the screenshot she had taken this morning. Danielle gingerly took the paper as if it had personally offended her. After quickly looking it over, she rolled her eyes and handed it back over to Emily, “Send this straight to Kelsey and set up a meeting for tomorrow in the office. Do we have the photos from-”

“-the Archer case? Yes, they’re in your inbox,” Emily said, scratching the remaining notes into her small black notebook.

Danielle stopped momentarily, taking a long look at Emily. A rare small smile graced her face while muttering “at least there is one good thing this morning.”

“What’s that?” Emily asked. She quirked her head to the side, curious, thinking she had missed something. As if snapped back to reality, Danielle squinted her eyes and shook her head. Danielle mentally cursed at the girl’s ability to pick up every little thing, “Nothing, get back to work.”

Quickly turning around, Emily hid her smile. She tried to forget the butterflies currently swarming in her stomach. She strode out of the office to her desk. Emily could have sworn Danielle just complimented her. She sighed before re-adjusting her brain and getting back into work mode. If she focused on trying to decipher what her boss’ words meant, she wouldn’t be able to work.

The first hurdle of the day occurred during the board meeting. Unsurprisingly, Danielle sat Emily directly next to her. It felt like an odd sense of responsibility. Other assistants usually sat behind their board members or company officials, but Emily took it in stride thinking, she’s the head of the company.

The notes that Danielle instructed Emily to take turned into garbage the second a wink had been thrown her way. However, not from the source, she would hope. The Company Treasurer, a middle-to-late man in his fifties, named Wyatt, continuously stared at her for the first fifteen minutes of the meeting. It became increasingly apparent that the man was distracted. Danielle coughed nearly five times in an attempt to get his attention politely.

“Excuse me, Wyatt, is there something of a distraction in this office or shall we reconvene at a time where you can focus?”

“Apologies, Danielle. I’m here and at attention,” and with that swift line, had thrown a gross wink in Emily’s direction. Emily could viscerally feel Danielle tense beside her. She knew the second it happened that her boss was not happy. Emily had worked around her enough to know the small signs of her boss’ body going rigid in anger before the wrath of hell being brought down. Unsure of what to do, Emily had diverted her eyes downward and pretended to take notes, writing this guy is a scumbag.

Emily heard a brief exhale and a quick snort. She looked up at her boss, who was staring directly at her legal pad. She gulped, terrified at the thought of being yelled at in front of the whole board. Instead, eyes of rage turned toward Wyatt, who suddenly seemed very interested in his pen.

“Great,” Danielle had said with the underlying threat of war in her voice, “Let’s get back to the scheduled items.”

As soon as Danielle finished speaking, Emily felt soft fingers on her knee. Without even seeing the culprit’s hand, Emily knew it was her boss. It was an oddly protective and possessive gesture. Emily’s eyes darted around the room to make sure no one noticed. Everyone’s eyes trained towards the project screen. She felt patterns tracing on her knee that made the butterflies that she forced down flutter back up at full force. When Emily looked over at her boss, she sat relaxed. Observing the rest of the meeting, Danielle calmly answered questions thrown her way.

After the meeting, Emily leaned forward to ask her boss about it.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Danielle said, with evident confusion on her face, before looking down. Realizing quickly, her hand was indeed on her assistant’s knee, she recoiled her hand immediately. Muttering, “I’m terribly sorry,” she stood up abruptly.

Emily presumed that Danielle would storm out of the conference room. A tense silence filled the room as the final people ushered themselves out. Emily knew Danielle was refusing to look at her. Once the room emptied, Danielle turned her head, whispering, “Say the word, and I’ll have him fired for that.”

Danielle moved quickly out of the room and didn’t emerge from her office unless absolutely necessary.

The second stumbling block occurred half way through her day. The meeting with the bank executives had not gone well. It was no secret that Danielle was not pleased when she heard the high heels clicking aggressively across the floor.

“… I don’t care what you do, just deal with it! This was your responsibility. I gave this case to you because I thought you could handle it. Are you saying you can’t?”

“No, Danielle. I just need to-“

“I don’t want to hear your excuses, fix this!”

In a whirlwind, Danielle rounded the corner towards her office where Emily sat dutifully outside of. The visible rage dripped off the older woman in spades.

“Emily, my office,” Danielle commanded, heading straight through the door, “now.”

Emily scrambled up, offering a confused look to the employees who had been following her as if to say “what the fuck happened in there?” before making her way into the boss’ office.

No sooner had she stepped through the threshold that she felt the tug around her waist and heard the door shut that she was pressed against it. She felt arms wrap around her waist and her boss’ face plunged underneath her jaw. Emily stood frozen for a minute, unsure of what to. She felt eyelashes against her neck flutter closed. Deep breaths hit her neck at a sensitive spot, which made it difficult to think.

Her boss wasn’t moving. Danielle was just… holding her.

Emily’s arms, which were just held out mid-air in suspense, not knowing how to act, slowly lowered. Emily was sure they were already crossing a professional barrier, so she began to rub circles on Danielle’s back. Shoulders began to relax. She felt the puffs of air against her neck begin to slow down.

It clicked for Emily, Danielle needed tension relief. And for some reason, chosen her.

Emily drew circles trailing up and down Danielle’s back. Emily tried to ignore the feeling of bra straps underneath the silk blouse. Danielle was leaning quite far into her. Emily could feel the curves of her body against her own, like a soft weight against the door. Arms that had encircled her waist moved so that palms held the small of Emily’s back.

She slowly coaxed the older woman out of whatever rage she had needed comfort from.

Hands from the small of her back moved to grasp her hips, and that’s when Emily gasped.

The gasp seemed to register with Danielle finally. Lips that had just nearly been grazing her pulse point were suddenly an arm’s length distance away.

“Uh, uhm,” Danielle stuttered, slowly moving back as if remembering where she was, “I’m sorry. That’s never… I’ve never… I-“

Emily waved her hands, “We can pretend like it never happened.”

Brushing it off as a momentary lapse in professional judgment and needing a friend, Emily left the office slightly disappointed. She shouldn’t be. Everyone needed comfort once in a while, but she couldn’t help but feel like there was something more to it. When she sat back at her desk a coworker, passing by, asked, “You survive, kid?”

Emily looked up, nodding, “Yeah. Bad meeting. She needed someone to yell at, you know?”

“You’re a hero, kid,” he said, giving a salute and walking off. When he walked around the corner, she looked back at the office door where her boss was standing. She was leaning against the doorframe, looking at Emily with a peculiar expression on her face. Anne merely smiled back, hoping to convey whatever Danielle needed from her.

Finally, the long day stretched into the evening. Each day, Emily tried to make it to the end without thinking something sexual about her boss. Yet again, like with each day, she failed. During the meeting alone, Emily had blanked out at several moments and been caught staring at her boss. She sat at her desk, thinking about how she would go home for a few hours, momentarily forget about her, and then get a text at 8pm with instructions for the next morning or the last request, and it would start all over again.

She looked up from her desk and realized that everyone had migrated out of the office for the day. She rubbed her forehead to relieve the small headache that had formed there. Part exhausted, part stress, part undying want of her boss. She attempted to organize the series of post-it notes scattered around her desk. One fell off the front of her desk, in an attempt to catch it, it still slipped through her fingers.

Sighing, she pushed back from her desk and went to retrieve the escapee post-it. Leaning down, she took a glance through the door of her boss’s slightly open office door. Danielle was sitting with her head in her hands. Her fingers being combed through her hair, in what is clearly meant to be stress relief, but all Emily can think about is those fingers pulling on her hair and - stop it, Emily!

Gathering every ounce of courage in her body, Emily moved forwards towards the office door. Intruding on her boss stepped out of character for her. She knocked softly on the door, asking, “Danielle, is there anything I can assist you with?”

The reaction she got was unexpected. A small laugh bubbled out of the brunette, surprising the blonde. She wasn’t sure she had ever heard her boss… laugh before. It wasn’t a usual laugh, it was a deep-throated laugh as if she wasn’t in on the joke. Believing she had merely walked in at a wrong moment, she turned to walk back out when -

“Wait, come here,” Danielle drawled, lifting her head up. The look on Emily’s face must have given away her apprehension. She continued, “I’m sorry, it’s just been a long day.”

Deciding the look on Danielle’s face was sincere, Emily gave a soft smile continuing further into the office to her practiced spot to the right-hand side of the desk. She was glad to be met with an apologetic smile from her boss. She enjoyed the usually relaxed nature of the office when the other employees left for the day. Typically, it meant that Emily could share a few normal minutes with her boss. The side others didn’t see. She liked to imagine it was saved and shared just for her. However, over recent weeks, the relaxed nature had turned tense. Danielle sometimes snapping at her or pretending to leave sick to escape early.

“Everything is organized for tomorrow?” Her boss asked, haphazardly throwing a file on top of a series of other ones.

Emily nodded before launching into her prepared speech…

“Of course it is, you are one of the only competent people here,” Danielle muttered, running fingers through her hair again. The normally perfect hair almost a complete mess by this point, “It’s about time you leave, yes?”

Emily moved forward, she was basically rounded the desk by this point, “Yes, but if you want…”

It was as if her sudden close contact shifted her boss’ demeanor.

“If I want - what?” Danielle growled out, snapping at her younger assistant. She flinched at herself at her harsh words. The nice complimented morphed into a quick defense in a matter of milliseconds.

“Nothing,” Emily murmured. Suddenly feeling very hot and fidgety at the outburst. She took a deep breath, understanding that her boss’ outbursts were usually a part of her job. They often never followed a compliment. Sensing she should give her boss some space, she placed three more folders on her desk, “Here are the folders for tomorrow…”

Emily had every intention of merely walking out of the office as usual. However, the most unexpected thing happened. It was reactionary. Emily felt Danielle’s hand wrap around her wrist. She felt the cold fingers slide quickly across her skin. Her breath immediately caught in her throat. It went dry. Emily could hear her heartbeat in her ears. She turned toward her boss, pleading with her body not to shake underneath the touch of the woman. Emily’s eyes cast downward to see that her boss wasn’t even looking up at her. She felt the other woman re-grip. The motion of Danielle’s skin move against hers, even the smallest movement, was utterly intoxicating.

“Please stay,” the whisper barely there, but Emily caught it. The voice was soft. It was almost… pleading. Her feet felt heavy, rooted in place. They stayed like that for a moment before Emily steeled her nerves, gathering the courage to make her next move. She slowly twisted her arm, causing Danielle to loosen her grip. Before Danielle could drop her arm, Emily caught her hand, brushing the side with her thumb.

This motion caused Danielle to look up, her eyes studying Emily carefully. Emily felt her body heat as Danielle’s eyes moved up and down. Unsure of whether Danielle was about to pounce on her or fire her, but Emily realized this had always been the line, always whether she was about to get fucked or get fired. All those little moments in the office. The comments that rarely escaped her boss’ mouth. The looks that were sent her way. Always professional, but just daring on a hint of more. Danielle’s stone cold demeanor turned upward into a smirk, her red lips curving in a way that made Emily’s heart flutter, “Could I offer you a drink, Emily?”

The question bordered on ominous. If fear of her boss truly fueled Emily, a quick no and scurrying off would suffice. Fear didn’t rule her. Fear of her feelings towards this formidable woman did. Fear what she would think she was only a silly girl. Fear that what she felt would be brushed off as a mere crush. Fear that Danielle would fire her. Nodding, scared to let her voice give away the current anxiety coursing through her veins, Emily felt the rush leave her body as Danielle let her hand drop. Her eyes trained on her boss as she walked over to the bar located in the far corner of the office. Normally reserved for special clients, the bar rarely served its purpose. Emily felt her throat go dry. She was about to consume alcohol in front of her boss, which couldn’t possibly end well. She had a tendency to be very blunt and forward and truthful when she drank.

“I hope you like whiskey,” came the drawl from her boss, “and could you please close the door, Emily?”

Emily moved quickly, having learned to never dawdle in Danielle’s presence. Trained ears listened carefully as she heard the clinking of glass by the bar. She slowly shut the door, the click of it closing suddenly sounding like thunder to her ears. She tried to think of any plausible reason Danielle would want the door closed to an empty office, but her imagination only could play one scenario on repeat. She took a deep breath. In. Out. Slowly, she turned around to find Danielle standing directly behind her, an offer of a tumbler of whiskey, and that devious smirk across her lips.

“Oh god,” Emily jumped, trying to calm down her breath again, “You scared me.”

How do you move that fast in heels?

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you, Emily,” the calming voice seemed to surround her all at once.

“I know,” the confidence flowing out of Emily’s lips.

“Do you?” Danielle’s eyebrow raised, pleasantly surprised. Most people moved through this office in fear of her. Emily intuitively understood the level of excellence she demanded without morphing into a shivering mess every time she came near. It gave her a sense of calm around the other woman.

Emily smirked, feeling a fluttering sensation, “Yes.”

“How do you know that exactly?”

It was like a challenge being dangled before her very eyes. Emily took a sip of the whiskey, trying to stifle the burn as it coursed its way down her throat, “I guess I just trust you.”

“Interesting,” Danielle articulated the word very slowly, moving back towards her desk, a faint smile playing at her lips. Taking a sip of whiskey, she motioned, “Come over here, dear.”

While Danielle took a seat in her chair, Emily made her way over and sat gingerly on the desk. The glass of whiskey dangling from her fingers. She looked over to her normally extremely uptight boss who sat comfortably relaxed in her chair. She looked positively regal. Emily watched as her eyelids fluttered closed, her bangs swept across her forehead that Emily desperately wanted to push back away from her face. She wanted to touch that skin again. The memory of those arms wrapped around her waist haunting her.

The two women stayed there like that for a moment. The sounds of breathing and quick sips of whiskey breaking the silence. When her boss opened her eyes, for once, Emily didn’t break the gaze.

Danielle’s eyes drove into Emily. For the first time, Emily didn’t feel nervous or feel the need to fidget under Danielle’s, normally heady, gaze. The silence that encircled the two women continued to linger. The assistant’s eyes traveled and studied the defined shapes of her boss’ face. Cocked her head to the side, Danielle broke the silence, “Emily…”

Emily’s ears perked, relaxed in knowing this wasn’t Dannielle’s “boss tone.”

Danielle continued, her voice slower than usual, “I just want to make sure you know you are now off the clock.”

Emily’s lips formed a gentle smile, holding up the glass in a toast, “I assumed with the whiskey.”

“So… you’re clear that this is now a personal conversation?” Danielle clarified, taking another sip.

“Yes,” Emily blushed, mirroring the sip, “I’m clear.”

The whiskey stung as it washed down her throat. The implication in the tone running shockwaves through her system.

“You look good sitting on this side of the desk,” Danielle commented, shifting the conversation, allowing her gaze to wander more than normal. Emily felt her face flush. Her heart was hammering, trying to memorize that tone, that compliment, to memory. Even if nothing came of this, Emily could replay it from her memory during late nights. Maybe also try and coax it out from the brunette again one day.

Quickly taking another sip to stall response time, Emily bit her lip before letting her voice drop slightly, “I think you own looking good on this side.”

Danielle lightly smiled, leaning forward, “Tell me… what do you do,” she paused, “…for fun?”

“I hang out with friends… I explore New York… but to be honest, I don’t have a whole lot of time,” Emily began, “…I have this pretty demanding boss.”

Danielle gave a soft sort of chuckle. Eyes darted down to the edge on Emily’s skirt. Danielle wanted to play with the hem where she could accidentally brush her fingers against soft knees. The simple conversation suddenly became too hard for her focus when her delectable assistant sat right in front of her.

“Do you like New York?” Danielle asked, standing up. She pretended to play with some files on her desk. A distraction if nothing else. Small talk to keep her in the room and engaged. Little did she know that the younger woman would have come up with any excuse to stay.

“I would like it more if my parents stopped trying to get me to move home,” Emily stated matter-of-factly. They had minimal conversations about her life pre-NYC. Danielle knew that she had moved for college from a small town.

“Is that what you want?” Danielle’s head snapped back towards Emily, clearly indicating that the young woman had her full attention, but there was a tone of curiosity to her voice. She suddenly felt extremely possessive that the woman might leave without- no, it’s okay. She’s not going anywhere.

“No, of course not,” Emily assured, hoping that the look she was giving was a clear indication. The sheer number of times her parents left angry voicemails left her slightly annoyed. Her parent’s assumption that they had any say in her life grained on Emily. Phone calls became numerous voicemails when Emily decided to answer every ring wasn’t good for her mental health. Cut the tie. Boundaries.

“What do you want?” Danielle slowly moved forward, eyes trained on Emily, moving so there were only a few inches between them.

“I…” Emily paused, breathing out, then lying, “…I’m not sure.”

The deep chuckle that response elicited sent her stomach into flip flops. Danielle stood so close, so within reach, and Emily felt like a fly caught in the spiderweb.

“I don’t buy that,” her breath ghosting across her lips. Danielle was practically standing between her legs, and it was making it harder to concentrate.

“I don’t know if I can have what I want,” Emily admitted, fingers gripping the edge of the desk.

“You should take what you want, Emily,” her boss said suggestively, setting the whiskey on the desk behind Emily. She trailed a finger across Emily’s jaw, down her throat, just barely scraping the top of Emily’s breasts.

Breath caught in her throat, Emily’s mouth went dry. Danielle smirked as she moved away. Now, with a distance between them, she sat back down in her chair. Her lips formed into the suggestive smile that was always saved for Emily, “You would get it.”

Bells went off in Emily’s head. It was the open invitation Emily had been waiting for. She could no longer hold herself back. Emily lunged forward, her hands reaching out. She placed herself on her boss’ lap, straddling across bother her legs. She felt her skirt hike up, but she didn’t bother pulling it down.

Gasping, Danielle’s hands immediately moved to grasp her employee’s thighs. Her fingers caught and dragged along the freshly exposed smooth skin. Danielle straightened her back to meet Emily’s lips with her own. Now sufficiently convinced Emily wasn’t doing this out of pressure, Danielle allowed herself to indulge in the feelings plaguing her for months. The first taste of lips swelled a fire in the brunette. Having begun daydreams about her assistant a month into her employment, the fantasies no longer did justice.

Emily grasped the collar of Danielle’s shirt, pulling at it slightly to create more pressure on the kiss. Those lips sucked her in, and she refused to let go. Danielle tasted of lingering coffee and the spice of whiskey still on her breath. The kiss kept them on edge, sinking deeper into each other.

Danielle’s hands trailed across the exposed thighs enjoying the little gasp escaping from Emily’s lips. One hand moved, snaking its way under Emily’s blazer, feeling the curves of her assistant for the first time. Danielle bit lightly on the younger woman’s bottom lip and then was met with a shiver and a return of opening her mouth slightly. An invitation again.

Emily felt a hand maneuver up her sides and gently graze the sides of her breast. She moved her hand to cover the one tracing her curves, enjoying the way Danielle touched her like she already knew her body. She whined with her lips were suddenly met with cold air, but a moan replaced it when hot kisses were pressed to the side of her throat.

Smudged red lips moved against her skin, “Are you prepared to cover up bruises tomorrow?”

Grinning like she just won the lottery, Emily responded with a very quick, “Yes. Please leave marks.”

The way those words sounded sent a tornado through the older woman. This woman… begging to be marked by her. It sent arousal coursing through her veins. One hand moved from Emily’s breast and landed on one side of her neck, holding it in place as Danielle bit down. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to hear a delicious moan escape the woman in her arms as she continued to pepper kisses along her jaw. Kissing here, biting there. Danielle reveled in the small whimpers escaping her assistant, taking in the delicious taste and exploration.

“Danielle,” Emily moaned breathily, “I-…”

The wetness between her thighs was becoming unbearable. The tensions that existed between them had her rocking against the lap of her boss. She needed Danielle to take her. She needed to know what her fingers felt like inside her. She needed to be consumed.

“Yes, darling?”

Fuck, that didn’t help as Danielle’s hand wound it’s way into her blonde curls, tugging slightly. Danielle refocused her attention, sitting up straighter, and using those curls to pull Emily’s ear closer and lavish her tongue on the skin and bite onto her earlobe.

“I-,” Emily tried to tell her how good it felt, but she couldn’t get the words out between the moans escaping her. The pressure of the hand in her hair suddenly making her lost for words. Between breaths, she released the only word, “fuck…”

A loud slap on her ass reverberated through the room. Emily responded with an uncontrollable moan. The hold on her hair was getting tighter as Danielle responded.

“Language,” her boss whispered directly into her ear, “Now tell me what you want.”

Emily suddenly went quiet, only deep breathing sounds coming from her mouth as she tried to clear her head from the attention she was receiving, “I, uhm, I- want…”

By this point, her skirt had ridden up to her waist, allowing her boss’ other hand to travel downwards and play with the hem on her underwear. Her fingers were dancing around the straps on her hip. They moved along her back, just barely underneath the small piece of fabric. She knew that it must be soaked by this point. The intense feelings were swirling through her brain like a maze disrupting her limited brain function to say words.

“Please,” Emily begged, still trying to get any amount of friction, “Fuck, Danielle.”

Danielle smirked, moving her mouth down the woman’s neck.

Another slap on her ass, another loud moan.

“I want to hear you say it,” Danielle commanded with the same authority as if she were giving Emily a regular work task. She wanted to hold power over this incredible young woman, but she wanted to provide her with the same power. She danced her fingers along the inner hemline of her black thong.

Emily stopped and looked Danielle directly in the eyes, curling a piece of brunette hair behind her ear, “Danielle, I want you to touch me. Everywhere.”

Danielle smirked and grabbed the back of Emily’s legs, hoisting them both up and out the chair and placing her down on the desk. Emily wrapped her legs around her boss out of pure instinct. Suddenly, Danielle was undoing the buttons on her blouse, tearing it off down her arms, and exposing Emily in only her bra.

“You’re beautiful,” Danielle whispered before moving back in and capturing Emily’s lips again. She pulled Emily closer, so she was sitting right on the edge of the desk, positioning herself, so one thigh was between Emily’s legs, “And it’s going to be so hot to hear you scream my name.”

Emily tried rocking against Danielle’s thigh, but Danielle pulled away, whispering, “A promise is a promise.”

Smirking at this confusion on Danielle hooked the inside of Emily’s thong and pulled it straight down her legs while Emily repositioned herself slightly to allow it to slide easily off. Danielle let her fingers slide down her stomach before touching her for the first time. Emily let out a deep gasp, spreading her legs and allowing Danielle to explore her fully. The feel of Danielle’s fingers teasing her while placing small kisses on her neck and ear drove Emily crazy. Every inch of her body felt like it was on fire. The heat ravaged her body to her fingertips.

“I’ve wanted you for so long,” Emily breathed, her fingers wrapping around Danielle’s neck and pulling her in for another passionate kiss.

“You have me now,” Danielle breathed back, enjoying the feeling of wetness gathering across her fingers as she ran her long fingers across Emily’s clit.

“Tell me, Emily,” Danielle whispered against her lips, the soft skin catching against her own, “Where do you want to be in five years?”

Emily giggled, caught off guard by the question, “Is this a job interview?”

Danielle swatted at her backside, causing Emily to give a sharp intake of breath. Danielle lifted her once more and deposited her back down onto the chair that Danielle occupied minutes ago, “Answer the question.”

Emily grinned as Danielle leaned forward to capture her lips before releasing them.

“I’m waiting,” came the teasing tone.

“Dream or realistic?” Emily asked, playing with the collar of her boss’ shirt, which still had yet to be removed. Emily was enjoying being able to grab and pull at it while also reach in and run her fingers across her boss’ chest.

Danielle quirked an eyebrow, placing both hands on the armchairs, “Both.”

Then, Danielle slid down to her knees. Oh fuck, Emily thought. She had fantasized many nights of what that would look like.

Danielle, on her knees, for her.

“Dream? I want to own something,” Emily began tentatively, continuing to bask in how her boss looked on her knees beneath her. It stirred something inside of her that she was unfamiliar with, but that thrilled her.

“Own what?” Danielle questioned, running her fingernails across the smooth skin of Emily’s exposed chest.

“Anything,” Emily answered honestly, “A car, a condo, a restaurant, a business…”

Emily let herself trail off as the patterns Danielle drew across her bare skin kept her breathless.

“And realistically?” Danielle asked, pausing momentarily. A threat. If Emily stopped talking, so would Danielle. Emily picked up on this signal quick.

“Realistically, I’m working as an artistic associate for a company,” Emily drew in a deep breath as perfectly manicured nails worked the sweet spot underneath her breasts, “saving up for might first purchase.”

Danielle leaned down to place kisses and bites across Emily’s toned stomach. Emily moaned, her hands whipping into the strands of hair uncoiled from Danielle’s normally perfect updo.

“Well, I want you to imagine something,” Danielle said, scooting her knees back and pulling the chair with her. The chair lurched forward.

Suddenly Emily found herself facing her boss’s desk, hands placed securely on the top while her boss sat nestled between her legs underneath. Danielle placed a hand on each knee, forcing them wide apart. She could hear a gasp from up above, a clear shock of the position. Sitting in the most powerful chair in the office, the boss underneath kneeling on to her.

“That’s right,” Danielle commanded, “I want you to sit here and imagine being in this powerful position. This could be you.”

Emily moaned, louder than she would have been proud of if Danielle weren’t placing expertly-timed kisses up her thighs, at the thought of being in such a position of power.

A nip, “Imagine,” another stroke of the tongue, “commanding these offices every day,” a moan, “dismissing incompetent workers, rewarding the strong ones,” Danielle whispered against her bare thigh, “creating your own workforce,” another gasp, “being in charge.”

Emily let own a deep moan, her hands finally finding Danielle’s hair and pulling it tight.

“Yes, that’s it, baby,” Danielle moaned as Emily lead her closer. She could smell how wet Emily was. She couldn’t wait to taste how delicious she knew her assistant was, but she also knew how to play these cards precisely right.

“Danielle,” Emily moaned, pulling her boss’ head closer. Danielle barely let her nose touch her clit to drive the woman above her crazy.

“Uh huh,” Danielle whispered, the ghost of a touch against her clit sending Emily into spirals, “This is all you. You are in charge. You tell me what to do.”

Emily opened her eyes to look down at her boss, currently kneeling in between her legs, her mouth so close to where she needed it most, her hand threaded through the hairs on the back of Danielle’s neck. Her hand was palming the desk. Her legs spread and open and waiting. Her head rushed. Her boss ready to be commanded.

“Taste me, now,” she ground out before she finally felt the wet tongue touch her, and her mind went blank. Danielle’s tongue curled around her clit and the moan she heard from her boss vibrated and send lighting bolts through Emily.

“God, Danielle,” Emily breathed out, feeling the rhythmic nature of that talented tongue that was used to scold employees put to the best use. She would no longer be able to hear her chew someone out without thinking of this moment, “You feel so good.”

“Oh, we’re just getting started,” Danielle whispered, her breath ghosting across her center. Emily drew in a deep gasp from above her head, the breath falling from those perfect lips. Danielle continued on, taking in and tasting her assistant. She wrapped her hands around those slender thighs and rolled the chair forward closer to her so Emily could barely see her under the desk.

“I’m here to please you, Emily,” Danielle murmured against her, running her nails up and down her legs, hooking one behind her neck, “I’m down here, at your mercy.”

Emily opened her eyes and imagined it, felt it. Power. Dominance. The control. When she had fantasized about this moment, this wasn’t it, but oh dear god, it was most welcome. She felt her eyes flutter as Danielle rolled her tongue over her most sensitive spots. Her fingers tugged at her boss’ hair, moving and guiding her, rocking and grinding her hips, “yes, like that, oh…”

Danielle enjoyed the way Emily’s nails were combing through her hair and across her skull. The noises she made every time she ran her tongue up and down and around her clit. She let out a little gasp every time Danielle would circle around and lightly graze her teeth across, the smallest of actions but enough to threaten her with tumbling over the edge.

“Do you have any idea how often I’ve imagined this?” Danielle asked, running her hands along Emily’s stomach. Emily could only answer in a moan, “Sometimes I just want to reward you with a quickie behind that office door.”

“Yes,” Emily whispered, that idea too being the scene of several of her late-night fantasies, “Those 8pm text messages? Sometimes I imagine one of your instructions is to get on my knees under your desk just like you are now.”

She was rewarded with a quick succession of movement the left her breathless. She felt like she was on fire as Danielle’s tongue explored her, devoured her. She drew up whatever breath and authority she could muster, “Danielle, go inside.”

Danielle grinned with a smug look plastered across her face, “Yes, my darling.”

Drawing up her fingers, she let them dance across shaking thighs before settling at the base of the moaning woman above her. The knowledge that Danielle would soon be inside her made Emily squirm in delight. She felt soft fingertips touch her gently, slowly lubricating before slipping-

“Two,” Emily stated, breathing heavily. She startled herself, she had never been this vocal or this demanding about what she had wanted. Danielle was giving that to her.

After a brief pause, she felt two fingers slip inside. They slowly moved in and out at first, causing beads of sweat to drop down the side of Emily’s face. Danielle moved them antagonizingly slow at first. It created a build up that Emily knew she would be begging them to move faster and harder. They hit a spot that made Emily moan and clench her walls together.

“You feel so incredible,” Danielle moaned, her tongue returning attention to Emily’s clit, moving slowly around it to draw out as many vocal sounds as she could get.

“You look… so… incredible…” Emily panted between gasps, Danielle focused her eyes up to Emily’s. Brown eyes bore into the blue ones. Her piercing eyes caused Emily’s legs to begin to shake.

“Faster,” Emily begged, consumed with the feeling of Danielle inside her. Danielle sped up her hand, rejoicing in the coat of wetness increasing on her fingers.

Emily could feel herself oh just right there. Her head was swirling, she looked down and felt an immense power. This woman, her incredibly powerful and charming boss, wanted to be pleasing her. A smile broke through the gasps as she continuously rocked herself with the rhythm of Danielle’s fingers. Fingers that were exploring every inch, twisting, soothing, hitting every spot.

“Stop, stop, wait,” she breathed, and Danielle halted immediately.

“What’s wrong?” Danielle asked, confusion and worry etched across her face. Emily warmly smiled at the older woman, confusing her even more. Knowing that Danielle genuinely cared and worried for her made this even more special. Emily pulled Danielle up by the collar and kissed her, tasting herself on the older woman’s lips sending arousal through her.

“Emily,” Danielle growled through kisses, “Let me…”

“I get it, your lesson. You’ve made me feel so powerful,” Emily whispered, “but what I really want you to do to is bend me over your desk, fuck me past the point of oblivion, and make me yours.”

The emphasis on 'yours' left no room for the imagination of Emily’s request. Danielle’s brain short-circuited, momentarily too stunned to speak. Her facial expression morphed as if she was saying, Are you sure? Emily bit her lip, the legs around Danielle’s waist pulling her closer. Yes.

“You want to be mine?” Danielle carefully asked.

Emily vigorously nodded.

“Are you absolutely sure?” Danielle continued, “I need a few rules from you.”

Emily nodded, waiting for the rules to be laid out.

“One, I don’t share. You are mine, and I will be yours. No more dates with anyone else. No sex with anyone else. You, of course, are your own person. I won’t try and control you outside of… this, more than you want me to. Are we clear on the first rule?” Danielle asked, the commanding hypnotizing nature locking Emily in that she couldn’t look away.

“Two, we explore an emotional relationship,” Danielle started.

“Like, dating?” Emily asked, hopefulness rising in her voice. While she wished for this to continue on, the idea of getting to know Danielle on a personal level was a dream as well.

“Yes, dating. Now shush,” Danielle said, placing her finger to Emily’s lips, “Open.”

Emily opened her lips and felt that same finger slip into her mouth. She moaned as she tasted herself on the finger that had just been inside her. Emily flushed at the display of dominance.

“Good girl,” Danielle whispered, “Three, this is a give and take. Although you’re mine, we will be equals. Do you understand?”

Danielle removed her finger, appreciating the scratch of teeth as she did so.

Emily nodded, “Even if you’re dominating me, we’re still equals. I have as much say as you do. I still have power. I’m still in control.”

Danielle smiled, proud of her darling, “Good girl,” she tapped her finger on Emily’s red lips again, and Emily obediently let the finger slip in.

“Four, we’re going to my lawyer tomorrow and create a contract in which we are both protected. Nod if you understand.”

Emily nodded, it made sense. Danielle was the owner and manager of one of the most successful PR-relations companies in the city, she would know how to handle it.

“Fifth,” she leaned in and brushed her mouth against Emily’s ear, “You will no longer wear underwear to work.”

Emily moaned as the finger was stolen from her mouth. Danielle looked at her, amused, “Do you agree to all of these rules?”

“From my understanding, we’re exploring an emotionally exclusive relationship that will be protected legally. I’m yours, but we’re equal,” Emily recited back, impressing Danielle with her understanding, a sense of pride blossoming in her chest, “and I will need to eliminate underwear from my wardrobe.”

Danielle nodded.

“Then, yes,” Emily declared, a wide grin spreading across her face, “I’m yours. Make me yours.”

“Very well then, dear,” Danielle’s voice dropped an octave, her eyes narrowing. Emily shuddered under the most intense stare that she had ever been on the receiving end of from her boss- from anyone, “I believe I made it extremely clear how I feel about your vulgar language- and you wanted me to- “fuck you”- as you put it?”

“Yes,” Emily breathed, remembering the few spanks across her ass that had been the cause of extreme wetness for her. Danielle grabbed her waist and spun her around.

A voice in her ear whispered, “We will discuss more boundaries over dinner tomorrow evening. If anything makes you uncomfortable tonight, simply say stop, and I will, do you understand?”

Emily nodded quickly, feeling the desperation to have Danielle’s fingers shoved inside her again. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her back, pressing her down into the desk. She felt the cold temperature of the wood against her hot bare skin.

“I like seeing your skirt bunched up like that,” Danielle said, smacking her ass again, “So open and ready for me.”

“I am, please,” Emily begged, turning slightly to look at Danielle.

“Uh uh,” Danielle said, pressing down on her back again, flattening her out against the desk. “Did I say you could move?”

“No,” Emily breathed.

“No is right, darling,” Danielle said, her mouth rounding out the word in a highly specific way that made Emily clench her muscles together, “and you still need to be punished for using that vulgar language,” Danielle used her hand to rub the young woman’s delicious ass, “Every time a naughty word falls from your lips, you’re going to be spanked. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” Emily confirmed, the breath barely falling out of her mouth.

“You know,” Danielle began, elongating her words in a way that drove Emily crazy. She was so on edge already, she needed Danielle inside of her, “The day I offered you a full-time job, I went out and got you something.”

Emily became confused, Danielle had never gotten her a gift, “I never gave it to you, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to give it to you,” Emily heard the shuffling of a set of keys, an opening of a drawer, it was driving her crazy. Her head was facing the opposite way on the desk that she couldn’t see what was happening. She didn’t dare turn her head in fear of disobeying orders again. The whole time, Danielle didn’t touch her. It was equal parts frustrating and equal parts turning her on, even more, to be disregarded, to be left there open and waiting, at the mercy of her boss.

“I’ve been saving it for you, darling,” Danielle breathed, “for when you proved to be a very good girl. Are you a good girl?”

“Yes,” Emily promised, the word spilling out of her faster than she ever thought it would from being degraded.

“And you’re going to be my good girl, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she breathed again, dying to find out what this present was.

“I’m going to use it to make you mine, darling,” Danielle promised, using this moment as the moment to touch Emily’s ass again. She knew the girl swore like a sailor, barely being able to cover it in a professional work setting. She knew that Emily wouldn’t be able to resist cussing once she made her entrance, and she was looking forward to marking that skin red again. If Danielle had her way, it might even be lightly bruised by morning.

Suddenly it clicked for Emily, and she moaned, “Yes, yes, please.”

“You’re going to find out that I very much like it when you beg,” she draped herself over the younger woman. That’s when she felt it, the toy that had been hiding in the top-secret drawer of her boss’ desk. The toy that had been waiting for her, and she hadn’t known of its existence. She moaned deeply, knowing that she was so wet and ready for it- for Danielle. Just knowing that Danielle was going to use it to make her owned, make her squirm. During the last minute, Danielle had strapped the toy into a harness that was now secure around her waist.

“J-Danielle?” Emily stuttered, her breathing uneven.

“Yes, darling, what is it?” Danielle’s voice etched with concern.

“Can I move to spread my legs for you?” Emily asked breathily, trying to keep her voice from being one long moan, trying not to move to try and create friction to give herself any sort of relief.

Danielle could have beamed with pride had she not been committed to the part she was playing. She was so proud of her good girl.

“Yes, you may, darling,” Danielle said, pushing herself back a little bit, helping Emily adjust her hips to allow the best access. For a moment, Danielle just stood there, admiring her toy. She looked down and saw the wetness dripping along the inside of Emily’s thighs, “Are you enjoying this, darling?”

“Yes,” Emily breathed.

“You like the idea of being mine?”

“Yes,” she groaned.

Danielle lightly ghosted the edge of the toy along the lips of Emily’s pussy, causing the other woman to shudder. For a moment, she just took in the first sight of what she- hoped- would be many, many, more times of Emily ready for her. Positioning the toy at the entrance of Emily, she lightly pushed forward.

“Fuckkkk,” Emily moaned before she realized…

Slap.

Emily moaned louder, the stinging pain causing her to clench harder around the toy and then relax, “Oh my…”

“What did I tell you?”

“Not to use vulgar language,” she recited, breathing deeply. Danielle smirked, watching the skin turn from a soft pink back to Emily’s natural skin color.

“That’s correct,” Danielle muttered sweetly, “You barely lasted a second. It’s almost as if you want to be punished, but you’re a good girl, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m a good girl,” Emily moaned. Danielle pulled back out, and Emily gripped the edge of the desk. Danielle pushed back in quickly just to hear Emily gasp out and then slowly pulled back out.

“God, you’re sexy,” Danielle breathed, reaching her hand up and wrapping her fingers in the strands of hair by Emily’s neck, pulling slightly, as she slammed back in. Emily let out another moan, biting her lip to keep from yelling out the string of obscenities in her throat. Danielle pulled on her hair slightly, as if gripping onto her, “I’m going to enjoy playing with you, darling.”

“I’m all yours,” Emily breathed, letting her muscles relax.

“That’s right,” Danielle breathed, pulling on Emily’s hair as she did so.

“Shit!” Emily screamed.

Slap.

God, fucking Christ that feels so good, Emily thought circling in an internal debate about being a good girl and feeling the pleasurable sting of pain.

“That’s two,” Danielle warned, using her free hand to soothe the spot that she had just hit, “Another time and it’s three strikes.”

Emily’s eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head as Danielle began a steady rhythm of thrusting inside of her.

Emily was on the cusp of an orgasm, feeling Danielle pounding into her with complete relaxation of her muscles. Her mind went blank, and she felt a never-ending string of fireworks and explosions behind her eyes. She could hear a tingling and ringing in her ears as each moan and chant of her lover’s name fell out of her mouth. She didn’t even try to stop the last, “Fuck, Danielle. Yes, please.”

Danielle smirked as she slapped Emily’s ass three times in a row.

“Fuck, please. Again.”

Danielle grinned, knowing Emily couldn’t see her. She kept up her pace and delivered another slap against Emily. The sting coarse through her body.

“Fuck me.”

Slap.

“Fuck, Danielle, that feels so good.”

Slap.

“Danielle, just please-“ followed by a long moan as Danielle continuously spanked Emily as she pulled her hair with her other hand and kept an uncontrollable pace that left Emily into a gibberish mess of moans and chants and expletives until Danielle heard a long passionate scream. She stopped slapping as she watched Emily shudder and shake and ride out her orgasm. Emily couldn’t think. She could barely breathe. All she could think about was being filled by her- filled by the one who she belonged to- being taken for the first time by her. She felt so complete, so full. She finally went limp as Danielle stopped, letting Emily catch her breath for the first time. Sweat dripped down her forehead and cast a sheen across her skin. Danielle started to pull out, and she felt Emily’s hand stop her, “No, please, not yet.”

Danielle smiled and leaned down, still inside Emily, and kissed the back of her neck. Danielle placed small, loving kisses around her ear, taking in the smell of the post-orgasmic glow of her Emily, whispering things like, “You were so good” and “I’m so proud of you” and “You are so incredible.” Finally, when Emily’s breathing had returned to normal, she slowly slid out of Emily. She helped Emily up off the desk, and she tucked their toy back in the box where she could take it home and wash it.

“Have you really had that since I took the job?” Emily asked, her eyes twinkling from her orgasm still.

Danielle blushed, running her hand through her hair, “Yes, I have. I wasn’t sure it would ever be used, but I… sensed something between us. I wanted to be prepared.”

“Well, you did tell me to say what I wanted,” Emily winked, “and now I’m yours.”

“Yes, you are,” Danielle growled, delivering another kiss to her neck and then her jaw and then back on her lips, “very much mine.”