Chapter 4
Amanda’s eyes were closed and she was trying to get her breathing back under control, the memory of Nick’s hands on her bum lingering in her skin. Knees weak, she found that she was taking most of her weight on her elbows, planted still on the desk surface.
Standing over her, watching her breath heaving, her small ass barely hidden under her short skirt, Nick took the printed piece of paper and placing it on her back started to slowly read it through again. Every thought, every emotion that she had opened to him. He took his time, his hand resting on the swell of her ass as he read.
Amanda noticed him take her diary entry and wondered at the time and attention it was receiving. She wondered too if he was looking at it, or simply comforting her with his touch.
He finished reading and smiled to himself, placing the printed sheet in front of her. "Read it out loud again, this time with feeling," he said, his big hands now resting either side of her hips, encaging her, barely touching her, inches between his groin and her ass.
She took a big breath, like before starting a performance of some kind, preparing. Beginning at the top, slowly getting more into it, she let her true hidden feelings tumble out from between the lines, the words the same but the message becoming clearer. With each word her voice became stronger, her own doubt subsiding, her need evident. As she finished, Nick ran his fingers through her hair and smiled.
"Well done, little one, you can get up now." With his hands on her arms, he helped her to stand up and turned her to face him, lifting her chin with his fingers. Brushing his thumb over the corner of her lips, he looked into her eyes. "There's something special inside you."
Amanda just gazed at him, her own eyes flitting between the two of his, searching. She didn't know what she was looking for but she felt like she’d found it. It was his fingers on her face that was special, and the light touch made her insides do things. She dared not speak, but she couldn't help react to him calling her special.
Nick kissed her forehead and his hand found hers, squeezing it gently. He smiled. "Let's have our coffee in the courtyard before the day begins." Leading her out he sat and watched as she did the same. "Are you looking forward to your first full day, Amanda?" The early morning light was just entering the courtyard, giving it an ethereal glow.
She laughed in a light giggle of nervousness. Carrying the coffees outside at least gave her some mundane actions to carry out and distract her from the turmoil within. His question deserved an answer though.
"Yes, and no, Sir. I'm looking forward to starting work. I'm scared of what else I've started." She looked down, a little ashamed. She may have begun something that she couldn't complete.
Nick leaned forward and placed his hand around hers on the coffee cup, stroking his thumb over her knuckles. "You are perfect, little one; look at me. Perfect."
Again she looked into his eyes and knew that she could trust him, that she was safe. She smiled, his touch comforting as always, needed even. But a single tear escaped from her left eye and ran unchecked down her cheek.
Nick stood up and walked round to her, lifting her to her feet, pressing her head to his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head and just holding her, his big arms wrapped around her back, not squeezing, just holding, feeling her small body nestled against his, the dampness of her cheek against his shirt.
She started to cry, just softly, and hugged him as tight as she could, muttering, "Sorry, I'm so sorry, sorry Sir," over and over. She squeezed him like she was going to crush him, though he was more like steel to her marshmallow. He held her there, squeezing her gently back before lifting her easily and kissing her cheek.
"Perhaps we should keep the shop shut today and focus on you," he whispered.
"No, no, don't do that, we need to be open for our customers,” she paused,” I'll be ok." She reclaimed a hand and wiped her face, smearing the mascara which she then noticed on her fingers. "I'm such a mess! I better repair my face!" She exclaimed and smiled up at him, knowing she must look hideous, if happy.
Nick‘s hands slid under her thighs and lifted her higher before placing her on the small table. Her legs either side of his as he stepped between them. Very slowly he wiped the mascara from her cheek and kissed where the mark had been. He looked into her eyes, looking for something that he found, happiness that reassured him. Nick smiled and kissed her lips softly, a gentle lingering kiss. "You'll be ok," he announced, grinning as he broke the kiss.
Amanda sighed in contentment, wondering if she was his girlfriend, his mistress, his employee, his bit on the side, an addition to his harem, or a friend. It didn't matter. She hadn't even checked if he was married or had a partner. "Yes, I'm ok."
With a smile and nod, he pressed his forehead to hers and kissed her again, a deeper kiss, his fingers in her hair holding her to him, feeling her giving herself over to him. She kissed back, wanting this, needing this, needing him, needing to be wanted, not caring if he had other girls. Her hands covered his and she closed her eyes.
Nick held her; their kiss, their first real kiss, that echoed their needs and wants, his lips leading the way, pressing and then exploring, his hand on the back of her head, the other caressing her cheek. Breaking the kiss he pressed his forehead to hers again and smiled. "Until lunch. Go get ready for our customers."
"Yes, Sir!" She grinned, sliding out from under him and skipping to the toilets, where, reunited with her bag, she repaired the signs of her first ravaging by her boss. She grinned so happily at her reflection that it was hard to keep her light pink lippy straight, but she managed. Presentable once more, she returned to the shop.
Sitting at his desk waiting for her return, seeing her lips immaculate, her eyes shining with happiness he couldn't help smiling from the bottom of his heart. "You look beautiful."
"You just can't admit that you hired an ugly hag for an assistant!" She loved every compliment and danced her way around the shop straightening books and tidying displays, singing quietly to herself, although the place was already immaculate.
Nick watched her for a few minutes just enjoying her before he unlocked the door and flicked the sign to Open, walking towards her quietly as she stacked books.
"Good girl," he said as he caressed his hand over the swell of her ass, which she wiggled just in case he wasn't aware of how much she liked it there. Then he walked through to the back while she went to the desk, manning the shop as he stepped out.
The morning progressed with a few customers coming and going and Nick and Amanda took it in turns to deal with their needs. When she served, he was always around just in case, but he noticed how she grew in confidence. When the shop was empty he couldn't help but watch her, his assistant who was distracting him from doing all the work he had hired her to allow him to do.
Amanda pretty quickly got into the swing of attending to the customers, doing her best to make them feel welcome but not pestered, checking the availability of certain items on the computer as he had shown her, and enjoying some light banter, especially with the older men. It was all innocent but fun and hopefully would bring them back to spend money.
As she made another sale and waved the customer out Nick came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Keep this up and I'll be asking you to work much more than Saturdays."
"Apart from my lecture schedule, I can probably change when I do other things if you decide you do want me?" She replied, looking up at him over her left shoulder, his hands comforting as always.
He smiled and then chuckled. "I think you know I want you, Mands," his hands gently stroking over the top of her shoulders then up her throat as he planted a small kiss on the side of her neck. She tilted her head to the side, liking the sound of that statement, making space for him.
Kissing to the corner of her jaw and up her cheek, he added, "Nearly lunch." He grinned and gave her a squeeze before walking off.
"Nearly," she whispered and returned to her station at the desk.
Chapter 5
Nick returned to the front of the store just after 1 pm having been on the phone and saw Amanda at the desk in his big chair.
"Is everything okay?" She asked, hoping the call wasn't a problem.
"Nope, all good,” he answered, “just some new stock to be delivered tomorrow. You could help me unpack it if you wanted some extra money."
"Sure!" Then thinking more practically. "Er, when?"
"How about one night next week after the shop is closed?"
"Sure, as long as I know ahead of time, I can do any night."
"Let's discuss after lunch. Lock the door and flip the sign for me."
Flipping the sign over to Closed, Amanda dropped the latch to lock up and started towards the back. As she brushed past Nick he smiled and stopped her, his hand on her arm. "You did well this morning," he said, his eyes looking deep into hers.
She looked back up at him, remembering to breathe despite him being so close, touching her. "Thank you, Sir."
He brushed her cheek and turned her so that her back was to the shelves, stopping inches from her. Running his thumb over her lips, his eyes willed hers to keep looking into his. Her lips parted, teeth gently closed, gaze fixed on him, almost whimpering, but not quite.
Nick dragged her bottom lip down and kissed the corner of her mouth, then the other corner, then full on her lips as his fingers traced down the collar of her blouse, their lips pressing together, melting as one. Eyes now closed she was in another world. Nothing existed but his hand on her, and the kiss.
Pressing his thigh between her legs as the kiss grew deeper, his fingers reached the buttons on her blouse, slowly undoing them one by one. She couldn't help herself, she pushed her hips forward, pressing into his leg, her hands gripping his muscular shoulders, kissing him, wanting his fingers to keep going.
Her blouse unbuttoned, his fingers pressed lightly to her taut tummy then circled to her sides, his thumbs slowly caressing up either side of her navel, his tongue lightly parting her lips, seeking more of her as he felt her pressing against him. She breathed him in, her tummy fluttering under his teasing caress, gently humping his trapped thigh.
Nick’s hands slid further up her body, grazing over the fabric of her bra and higher to her shoulders, peeling the blouse back and off her shoulders. She moved her arms so he could slide the blouse off if he wanted, unsure how far she should go.
He smiled and broke the kiss, looking into her eyes as he pulled the top off to her elbows, trapping her arms behind her, kissing her cheek and down her jaw, his hands sliding down to her ass, pulling her against his thigh.
Amanda turned her body, twisting away from his kisses, and tried to slide out from under him. "I'm sorry, I can't, it's just... sorry, I'm so sorry," she gasped.
With his hands on her shoulders, Nick held her in place looking into her eyes, "Look at me, Amanda."
She couldn't, she was too embarrassed, too ashamed, what must he think of her? Tears filled her eyes, blinding her. Nick held her to himself, her tears seeping into his shirt, kissing her hair, holding her, his strong arms around her.
She sobbed, her own arms uselessly tangled behind her. She was wretched, the worst of all girls, the easy tease who wouldn't deliver, the slut who wouldn't put out. She knew she deserved to be thrown out, fired, got rid of. She was so ashamed.
Nick simply held her, letting it all come out, his hand curled around the back of her head. Kissing her temple, "Oh Amanda, you are so wrong, so very wrong. You are perfect."
She realized with horror that her hidden thoughts must have escaped, and his kindness and understanding made her feel even worse. She felt so undeserving of his forgiveness, and cried even harder, great heaving sobs so that she could hardly draw breath. Nick squeezed her tight, letting her empty her heart of all of those emotions, ready to be filled with something new, something pure. He pressed his cheek to hers, sharing her tears as they streamed down her face.
"I'm so sorry, Nick, I want to, but I can't, I'm so sorry, so sorry, oh Nick!" She buried her face in his chest.
He held her, stroking her hair, "It's ok, it's ok. You're safe here, remember?"
Amanda pushed away and stepped back, just a pace from him. She tried to rip her hands out of her sleeves, to undress for him, but she couldn't even manage that.
Nick pulled her blouse back on over her shoulders and slowly buttoned it back up.
She had almost stopped crying, but his sweet gallant gesture set her off again, and she threw herself against him like she could bury her whole being inside the circle of his arms. She never knew she had so many tears.
Lifting her easily he carried her through to the courtyard and sat her on the table, holding her close, her head to his chest, his hands slowly rubbing her back.
Calming a little, she still couldn't look at him. "You must hate me. I'll get my things and go. You should be able to find a good replacement. No one would be as bad as me."
He combed his fingers slowly through her hair, brushing it back from her face, tilting her chin up, whispering in her ear, "I don't hate you, I could never hate you."
"But I'm... I'm a... I'm, but...?" she finally looked up at him, confused, knowing how appallingly she had behaved.
He slowly wiped the tears from her face. "You're safe."
Gazing into his kind eyes, thinking she must have heard wrong, she said, "I'm sorry, I got carried away, and then panicked, and, and I don't know anything anymore?" She was looking for safety and security in his eyes.
Looking down into hers, smiling softly at her, waiting for her to see what she needed to see, his hands held her face gently.
She placed her own hands flat on his chest, and gently kissed his lips. "I want to curl up on your lap," she said dreamily, not a demand or request, just a statement of how she was feeling.