privacy

Jake grabbed a handful of tree branches and pulled them down and away so that I could enter the grove without getting molested by leaves, and I stepped through into what could only be described as an enchanted forest.

Slowly, as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I took in the whole scene.

Surrounded by trees and bushy undergrowth, moss covered flagstones formed a beautiful spiral in the shady alcove, and a single concrete bench sat, begging for someone to sit and let the trees swallow them up. A folding cart stood alongside the bench, fully stocked with plates, silverware, champagne glasses, cloth napkins, and a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice.

A Bluetooth speaker was hidden somewhere in the foliage, playing soft jazz. A vintage picnic basket was angled artfully on the bench to complete the whole scene.

"Jake..." I whispered, speechless. I blinked the mist from my eyes and shook my head, attempting, and failing, to remind myself that this was technically a business lunch, not a romantic date. But Jake's subtle, sweet-spicy fragrance filling the space made it impossible to differentiate.

I inhaled the intoxicating scent and felt my heart hammer between my breasts.

Jake cleared his throat softly behind me, and I could feel the nervousness flowing off him in waves that matched the ebb of my own confidence. Warm, strong hands wrapped around my upper arms from behind me, the rough patches of callouses and burns from the kitchen dragging enticingly over the goosebumps that rose on my skin.

I stood perfectly still, fighting the urge to lean into him and feel his golden brown skin beneath my fingertips. I realized my mouth was open as I panted under Jake's touch, and I closed it with a snap.

Jake's throaty chuckle vibrated through my body as he inched closer to me, leaning over my shoulder to move a strand of hair off my neck, and trailing the tip of his nose along the path it made. An involuntary shiver went up my spine at the contact and I gasped, not realizing I had been holding my breath.

"Don't be nervous, Ginny," Jake teased, his hands massaging comforting circles on my upper arms and shoulders. "It's just lunch."

"I'm not nervous," I lied, straightening my back a little bit.

"Mmmhmm," Jake said, his humor evident. "That's why you're so stiff," he added, before running a finger down the outside of my rib cage and down to my hip. Hot liquid between my legs accompanied the tremor that shook my body this time, and Jake's knowing chuckle made me want to prove him wrong.

I spun myself around to face him, grabbing his hands and interlacing my fingers with his behind my back, stepping into his embrace with my breasts shoved tightly against his chest, and his hips pressed firm against my lower belly. I could feel his erection stir to life at the sudden closeness.

Leaning close, I let my lips flutter over Jake's jawline as I whispered, "Who's the stiff one, now?"

Jake's eyes darkened, and a thousand unasked questions swarmed behind his eyes. We were testing each other, but I knew I couldn't back down from these sexually charged moments with any of my bosses. I had to show them I could handle the job, in all its aspects. I had to be bold.

Just as the thought struck me, Jake's eyes met mine, and something passed between us like a checkered flag. In another second his mouth was on mine and he was devouring me, his lusciously soft and full lips caressing mine with wild abandon. I clung to him, releasing his hands so that I could pull him closer, even as he grabbed handfuls of my ass and hauled me to him.

His rock hard erection dug into the crease of my thigh and I moved against him, sliding my hips against the bulge as Jake's tongue parted my lips forcefully and invaded my mouth with delicious thrusts.

After a moment Jake broke the kiss and dropped his forehead to mine, breathing heavily as his hands caressed the back of my neck.

"Ahhh, I'm sorry, Ginny," Jake breathed, peeking at me sheepishly. "I shouldn't have done that."

Speechless, I just stood there blinking at the ground between us, my head propped against Jake's, his massive erection still fighting to be released from the thick fabric of his jeans.

"Umm, okay," I began, not sure which way this conversation was supposed to go. "Why not?"

"Honestly?" Jake considered me quietly before shrugging his shoulders and nuzzling my neck with his nose. "I have no use for a personal assistant."

I shook my head a little, raising my eyebrows. I was utterly confused. I had been hired by four eccentric men to be their shared PA by day, geisha by night, and the part about a physical relationship with all four of them was clearly discussed.

"That's not the only reason I was hired, Jake." I didn't like to beat around the bush about things. If Jake didn't need an assistant, fine. I was still under contract to play the part of his love interest.

"I just don't want you to feel... taken advantage of," Jake responded sincerely, his maple colored eyes penetrating mine deeply as his hands rubbed circles on my upper arms again.

I sighed in relief. During this whole conversation I had been dreading the moment of rejection, when Jake would tell me he wanted out of the agreement with the other three, but it didn't come. Instead Jake was just making sure I felt comfortable before moving forward. It turned me on to think of his nurturing side.

I slid my arms around his waist and splayed my hands across his shoulder blades, pulling him close as I nestled my head against his warm chest.

"I don't feel taken advantage of; not with you, Jake." I said honestly. "No personal assisting, because I can't cook, but we can still... work together." I lifted one shoulder in an off-hand shrug and winked up at him.

Jake's eyes filled with a hunger I knew had nothing to do with the picnic basket behind us, and he descended on my mouth again, one hand thrusting up into the hair at the base of my neck, the other locking tight around my waist, pinning me to him. When he broke the kiss again, it was slow and sensuous, and carried the promise of more... much more... to come.

"Shall we?" He asked, and swept a hand towards the romantic display in the sheltered alcove of trees.

I nodded and let him lead me to the stone bench, then place a delicate glass of bubbling champagne in my hand.

"To working together," I said with a nod, raising my glass to Jake's.

"To working together," Jake repeated, clinking his glass with mine.

Our eyes locked as we both sipped the sparkling liquid, and Jake winked over his glass at me.

A while later,  Jake and I had moved from the stone bench down to the mossy stone floor of the hideaway, and we were on our second bottle of champagne. Jake was reclined back against the bench, and I was leaned against his broad chest, eating red grapes from his hand.

We had kissed leisurely and languidly throughout the afternoon, but Jake hadn't made any move to go further, and I let him set the pace. It helped to break down the wall of uncertainty I had been holding onto about this job. I had a sneaking suspicion the guys had planned that, but I didn't mind.

I felt empowered in this position, letting them take control of me, while also exercising control over themselves. It was basically what I did in the industry when I consulted with startup business owners... I had just never applied the concept in a sexual nature... and I was surprised to find how easily I transitioned.

"I should probably get back to the office," I sighed, no telling how many hours later. I knew my hour long lunch break was long gone, but Jake insisted I shouldn't worry.

"Derek texted a bit ago, actually." Jake shifted to show me his phone.

Rough day. Taking off early and heading to the ranch. Let Virginia know.

I read the text and pursed my lips, nodding slightly.

"Wonder what he means by 'rough day'?" I mused, rolling one of Jake's dreadlocks between my fingers.

"Probably means his sexy personal assistant got stolen away by his younger and more attractive business partner," Jake growled, shifting positions so that I fell backwards across his legs, looking up at him. He dropped a kiss to my lips, lingering just long enough to raise my blood pressure, then pulling away with a little nip on my bottom lip. I groaned softly, capturing my lip between my own teeth as the sensation of his mouth left mine.

"Why's he going to the ranch?" I asked, reaching up to stroke the stubble on Jake's angular jaw.

"You'll get to know Derek better in time," Jake deflected, absently fingering the stem of his champagne glass. "You'll get to know all of us." Jake's voice was low and brooding, and I knew the afternoon was coming to a close.

Sure enough, a moment later he took a deep breath and ran his fingertips through my hair, laid out across his muscular thighs, then said, "Let's get you home, Ginny."

I stood up and brushed myself off wordlessly as Jake packed up the rolling cart and picnic basket, and scanned the clearing for trash. As he led the way silently back to his Range Rover, I mulled over what he had said about Derek, and what I had really stepped into with these men.

One sexy makeout session with one of my bosses in a public park certainly didn't reveal too much about the kind of job I was committed to.

But the heat that spread between my legs at the thought of Jake's hips pressed roughly against mine had me eager to learn more about my mysterious bosses-- all of them.