*Liking someone is easy, loving them is hard, yet it is love we seek*

*

(Friday)

I wake up feeling woozy and distant. My eyes come into focus and I realize someone is standing next to me and it is not who I would expect.

"Sadri," I rasp. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm on my way home from work you big dummy," she teases me. "Next time try ducking."

"How long have I been out?" I ask. I feel like I must have been out for weeks I'm so sore. I've been shot after all.

"Eddie, it is Friday evening. You've been out less than twenty-four hours," she smiles. I must look totally gob smacked because she laughs at me.

"It felt like so much longer," I groan. "Does anyone know what happened to me?"

"Nothing really," she answers, "but some detectives came by and asked a few questions."

"What do you know?" I inquire weakly.

"Well, someone shot you in the shoulder in a room at the Regis and a woman was involved," Sadri tells me. "Was it your dominatrix girlfriend?"

"Long story, but she wasn't my girlfriend," I respond.

"Since you aren't going to tell me anything I can use for office gossip I'm going to go," Sadri smiles. I give her a nod and she leaves with a look over her shoulder before the door shuts.

A little while later, I'm eating my first meal when a couple walks into the room and gives me the distinct impression I've done something wrong. I've lived a dubious enough existence to know the police when I see them.

"Mr. Duarte, we have a few questions for you, if you feel up to it," the younger man questions me.

He's maybe thirty but looks a little worn around the edges; maybe a drinking problem. His older compatriot seems bored with the whole affair.

"I wonder if you can relate to us what happened Thursday night?" he asks.

"It is not very clear. I was talking to Ms. Cook and the gun accidently went off," I lie. I'm not even sure why. I should send her to prison for a long, long time.

The guy stares at me.

"How do you know the gun accidently went off if your recollections aren't clear?" he points out.

"Nothing in our conversation leading up to that would make me believe that she meant to hurt me," I rehearse the lines I vaguely remember piecing together before I passed out.

"Why did she have her gun out?" he persists.

"I think she was rummaging in her purse," I evade. I know that is terribly lame, but as I said it was the plan I came up with while fending off shock.

"What is Ms. Cook to you?" he changes tact.

"We have engaged in a personal but non-sexual relationship," I answer.

"Is that why she was dressed the way she was when we first interviewed her?" He questions.

"Do you seriously ask to ask a grown man why he was in a room with a grown woman in lingerie?" I sigh. "We weren't sexual, but we were appreciative."

"Listen you," the second man finally speaks, "if you continue to hinder prosecution on this case we'll drag you in right now. Now answer the damn questions."

"I stand by my statements. The gun went off by accident; end of story," I state.

"Next time she'll put you in a pine box," the second man sneers. He's probably right.

The first detective hands me his card; Detective Linus Dirac. The second cop doesn't even bother. I lie back and try to get some more sleep but the doctors stop by and examine me. On the plus side all my vitals are good and I'm scheduled to be released Sunday. Crap, how often do people get shot around her that they have to toss you out on the street after only three days?

(Saturday)

I'm eating like a champ and I've even have a nice female intern come by and give me some attention; apparently getting shot is manly. It seems my supervisor; Mr. Chu went by my place (brave man) and got me a new set of clothes. My old shirt and undershirt are a total loss, my pants and shoes have blood on them, but my tie made it through unscathed.

There is a knock on the door and there stands Joyce Cook. I can't help myself.

"Please tell me you don't have a gun," I gulp. That earns me a pained smile.

"No, they don't' allow guns in hospitals," she replies.

"Come in, take a seat, and tell me what the hell happened after I passed out," I request.

"The man next door was a doctor and took care of you until the EMTs arrived. I spent the night with the police. I'm sorry about what happened. I'm surprised you aren't sending me away," Joyce whispers. "You could have ruined my career ... my entire life."

"Think nothing of it. You didn't deserve to go out that way," I wince at my own joke. "Of course had you killed me I'd have been really cross." Joyce gives a dry chuckle.

"What am I going to do with you?" she says as she strokes my hand.

"I think we have established we aren't doing anything with one another," I grin, "or do I have to be shot again?"

"That's not funny Eddie. I could have killed you," she cautions.

"Fine Joyce; no more joking; I was trying to help you and Gloria not be at one another's throats and I pressed you too hard and I'm sorry. I only want Gloria and I hope you can understand that," I reason with her. I have to believe I can fix this thing; I have my reasons.

"Eddie, I will never know how you care so deeply for her yet not see her for who she really is," Joyce assures me.

"No Joyce ..." I stop her.

She is smart enough to know this isn't an argument she is going to win today. Instead she squeezes my hand and turns and leaves. Part of me hopes that she's shot me and this is the end of it. Part of me fears that she thinks I've saved her life and she'd got to return the favor.

(Sunday)

I'm with the male nurse helping me dress and my bag ready to go when I notice someone standing at the doorway drinking me in. It is Gloria and she looks decidedly unhappy. The nurse leaves and it is only she and I.

"I need to get home," I tell her gingerly.

"I am your ride home," she tells me.

"Oh ... okay. I promise I'll run up the stairs, lock the door and I'll be back to work on Tuesday; Wednesday at the latest."

"You are moving in with me," she declares with cold iron efficiency.

"I think we should talk about this," I begin to say.

"No, we shouldn't," she fixes me with her stare. "I've bought you some clothes and fixed up the guest room."

"No Gloria, I think we need to talk about this," I metaphorically stand up to her. Gloria walks physically into my space, standing up to me physically and I can tell she's trembling with pent up emotional energy.

"Damn you Eddie, you could have died!" she screams at me. Tears are starting to stream down her face. "I only started caring about you and you did this stupid stunt. How dare you?"

"You are the most beautiful woman in my life," I respond to her softly as I try to put my good hand on her shoulder.

"Don't you dare," she snaps. "You don't get to be nice to me. I am so angry with you right now I could scream," she screams. The fact that she is screaming is something I don't need to share with her.

"Do you know how I felt when Chu gave me the news? Do you know how empty I felt as I had to wait for the hospital to get back to me on how you were doing? Do you know how much restraint it took to not go down and strangle Joyce Cook? Do you?" she continues to snarl.

"No I don't," I whisper to her. She bats my hand away as I try to run it through her hair.

"You don't get to touch me," she responds angrily. "If you weren't already hurt I'd kill you. I can't begin to tell you how furious I am with you." There is really only one truth for this.

"I love you Gloria." Her face pales then flushes with rage once more.

"How dare you?" she sobs. She drives her head into my breastbone. "Don't you dare tell me you love me."

"I apologize but I won't take it back," I respond.

"What were we going to do without you?" she moans. By that I figure she means herself and our unborn child.

"You were right; I was wrong; I beg your forgiveness Gloria. I'm sorry," I express to her.

"Shut up!" She grumbles. "I've been building up to this for two days and you aren't going to get out of it this easily." I remain quiet for some time. "Why aren't you saying anything?" she says.

"I don't want to lose you, so I'm keeping my mouth shut," I reply.

"Rrrrr ... were your last thoughts of me?" she states with intensity.

"No," I reply honestly, "my last thoughts were that this couldn't be happening to me." She sobs, then sniffles, then laughs softly into my chest.

"You are such an idiot," she tells me.

"But ..." I prod.

"But I love you too," she whispers. "Now would you please come home with me?"

"I'd be happy to," I answer. This time she lets me hug her with my good arm. My left shoulder still feels like crap, but I'll manage.

(Sunday evening)

When she leads me into her place it feels different then I realize what it is; she's been burning food. I'm not sure what to say. I doubt asking her 'what is to eat' will earn me much good will. She can't cook so I have to imagine what anguish drove her to try again and again to win some sort of victory in the kitchen.

"What can I do for you?" I find myself asking.

"Go up and get situated and I'll order us some dinner," she says dejectedly. I've never want to see her this upset again.

"I'll cook dinner for us," I tell her.

"Sit down," she orders me.

"Gloria no; I need to do something," I say as I stand up and make my way to the kitchen. Gloria gets in my way. When I attempt to push pass her she holds me back violently which cause me to grimace.

"Are you going to push me around all night or are you going to let me do something for us," I relay with some heat. Reluctantly she nods and lets me go around her. I take my time because I'm down to one arm but I feel her eyes upon me as I prepare our meal. As we sit down to eat I start our ritual.

"Don't even say 'kiss the cook'," she states firmly. "Say it and I'll hurt you."

"Kiss the cook," I grin and she hits me in my good shoulder. It still hurts but not as much as the furious look in her eyes. God, I've hurt her and I'm not sure how to make it better because sex isn't going to do it any more than begging forgiveness.

"I'll try harder Gloria," I promise her. She doesn't stop glaring at me.

"You had better," she insists violently. Gloria looks at me, still furious but with a surprising softness sneaking in against her will.

"I don't want you to be angry with me," I tell her.

"Shut up," she snaps. A moment later she adds, "You told me you would stay with me under my terms Eddie. You lied."

"How is that? I didn't plan to get shot and all I wanted to do is keep you safe from Joyce. I fucked up; I admit it. I didn't mean for any of this to happen," I counter with some anger of my own. She looks pissed then sighs.

"I know. I knew you were doing the wrong thing and I should have stopped you," she admits while insinuating that I'm mentally challenged.

"Is the baby okay?" I sort of toss out there. The fire returns to her eyes. Now I've done it.

"Don't you dare go there," she seethes. "You can't hide behind me being a fragile mother. I've fought for everything I've gotten and being pregnant doesn't change that. You keep this up and I'll ... I'll ..."

"Slap me so hard you'll make my mother cry?" I offer. Gloria trembles then slaps me so hard I swear I hear my mother in the Midwest saying 'What the fuck?' I also go rocking into the wall and cry out in pain. Gloria shows all the feminine instincts of a Mother Grizzly. She slaps me four more times before her palm starts to hurt.

We are both standing their panting when she grabs me by my shirt and kisses me savagely for over a minute.

"Eat," she orders. I don't have much of a choice. I'm hungry and don't want to see her any more pissed.

When dinner finishes I clean up and join Gloria by the TV. She finishes up early, clearly unwilling to engage me in conversation. In case I was confused she cuts off the lights as she goes up so I tag along.

"You are sleeping in the guest room," she declares.

I take my pills and lie down for a few hours but I can't sleep. I think I know what I'm missing so I go over to Gloria's room and quietly climb into bed with her but on the far side. I know she will be pissed but I hope she will know how much I miss her. I wake up close to dawn with Gloria looking down at me.

"You ... I've missed you too," she says softly.

"I disobeyed you; do you forgive me?" I stifle a yawn.

"I should be angry with you forever -- wounded in a room with a scantily clad Joyce Cook -- but I can't. I'm furious with myself as well as you. I want you like I haven't wanted anything in years," she confesses.

"Do you forgive me?" I ask hopefully.

"Hardly," she snorts. "Let's see where I am on Friday." I groan in frustration.

"How about a little morning sex?" I suggest.

"Don't press your luck," she glares. "You are on thin ice as it is for slipping in here." With that she left me for a day on my own.

(Tuesday)

"Damn you are an idiot!" Sadri exclaims as she runs up and hugs me. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't I still have a job? Isn't this my tiny cell in Hell?" I taunt her back.

"Home life driving you nuts?" she counters playfully

"And how; have you missed me?" I ask.

"Of course; every part of the new program that I worked on is perfect but all of your work is crap that I've had to fix," she grins.

"You are so full of shit," I complain as she takes her work at her station.

Chu and several of my co-workers come by and congratulate me for being dumb enough to catch a bullet and a few go fishing as to who I was with and what I said to get shot. No one has any doubt that me getting shot is my fault. I struggle on for two hours until Leslie gives me a call. The Bitch needs to see me.

"How's the shoulder slugger?" Leslie greets me.

"I was trying to catch it in my teeth but it turns out I have lousy aim," I say in mock seriousness that earns me a guffaw from Leslie. She sends me into see Mrs. Hardison where I wait for her to acknowledge me.

"Mr. Duarte, you have allowed personal matters to impact your work efficiency," she notes coldly.

"I've already submitted the paperwork to qualify my missed hours as sick leave," I explain.

"Sick leave is for unexpected illnesses," Mrs. Hardison says as she looks sharply at me. How is getting shot not sick leave?

"Mrs. Hardison, would you rather have me put in for unpaid leave?" I manage to say.

"Yes. I thought that was abundantly clear Mr. Duarte," she states.

"Consider it done Mrs. Hardison," I answer.

"Dismissed," she tells me as she gets back to work. It is all about productivity numbers. You pay sick workers for no work; being unpaid speaks for itself.

When I get back I must look terribly pissed because Sadri keeps her mouth shut for the rest of the morning. She takes me out to lunch were she broaches the question.

"She what?" Sadri growls when I let her in on my conversation with the Bitch. "Eddie, you have debts; even with the overtime we've been pulling we need to meet our bills."

By the end of business Sadri and I've caught up with most of the backlog and we can look forward to a normal night at home. Once more I get a call from Leslie with a half hour to go. I drag my sore ass back to the Head office and Leslie tosses me into the Lioness' Den.

"Mr. Duarte," the Bitch addresses me distractedly. "You have one strike against you."

"One more!" I gasp. That's it for me; I'm fired. Mrs. Hardison doesn't look up.

"No Mr. Duarte, you have a total of one strike against you unless you think I'm mistaken," she continues on. I don't know what to make of that. "You may go now," she dismisses me.

"Good night Mrs. Hardison," is my stunned response. She doesn't look up.

(Tuesday night)

Dinner is freaking weird. By our rules work doesn't transfer over to home life - the very concept of home life is slowly sinking in and scaring me -- so I can't talk about why in the hell the Bitch has been kind to me. As far as I know this is her first act of kindness in recorded history. I cook up some pork chops with onions and green peppers for dinner.

Gloria seems appreciative of the effort and cleans her plate. She doesn't kiss me but she slips me a smile when she thinks I'm not looking. When we resume our routine around the sofa and TV I do attempt to touch her knee but she stops me. She's still pissed and not willing to forgive me yet but at least I know there is a yet.

After my first day back at work I'm exhausted and sleep grabs hold of me and slams me into the pillow like a force of nature I willingly accept. I can't quite remember what I'm dreaming about because Gloria's voice invades my slumber urging me on to some unknown purpose.

"Wake up," she urges me so I open my eyes and there she is hovering over my bed.

I reach out toward this dream and caress a breast covered by her sleeping gown. It is real alright and I bolt into wakefulness so suddenly that I forget to move my hand.

"I need you," she tells me with a mingling of passion and anger. I scoot over and she pulls back the sheets, dispenses with her dressing gown, and settles into bed with me.

Gloria works off my boxers before running her hands over my body. She kisses my chest and neck intently before moving her leg over my hips and mounting me. I can't say I'm not more than ready, her pendulous breasts hanging over me eclipses only by the beauty that is her face and the fire of determination in her eyes.

Gloria sighs as she slowly accepts my cock into her. I can only now think that she might have feared never feeling this way again. She leans forward until her hands are braced on either side of my head and her breasts drag along my nipples as she gyrates back and forth. I'm sore and hurt but I go on even when she starts rocking hard and my wounded shoulder screams.

"Eddie," she gasps, "tell me you will never leave me again."

"Never again," I pant. She tries to suck the very life out of me with her mouth over mine. I feel her juices surround me then gush pass my penis. Her whole body trembles and tightens around me before she collapses on top of my body.

"That was fantastic," I groan.

"Ssshhh," Gloria whispers intensely. "I'm not done with you yet."

"Oh crap," I moan which earns me a wicked look and the knowledge that she really has missed me. After a little bit of a recovery she shifts us around so that I'm beside her (I can't well be on top with only one good arm).

Our lovemaking is as much a matter of touch, kiss and tongue as breasts and penetrations. I do everything in my power to drive her insane with lust. I have her screaming and crying tears of rapture before I release her to climax and my climax within her. She's feeble pushing up against my hips as I kiss her head and neck but I barely have the strength to roll to the side when I'm done.

When she finishes with me I am a broken man.

"If I can't make it in tomorrow can I take a sick day?" I wheeze.

"How about a day of insolence," she counters between her own ragged breaths. She does manage to sleep with me which you know is worth its weight in gold if you've ever been in love.

(Wednesday)

"What; did you have a run in with a vampire?" Sadri giggles. "When do I get to see this girlfriend of yours? She's got to be quiet a hellcat in the bedroom."

"Would it annoy you to know you've already met her?" I wink.

"Claudia from Accounting? know she's go the hots for you and I hear she hits some seriously kinky sites. Maybe she could teach you something," Sadri teases.

"Don't expect to hear this often from me but I'm too tired to talk sex," I croak out. Sadri starts searching around for the cloning equipment because I'm clearly not the real me. We are both struggling in our work for the morning and after my last sensitivity training I'm ready to go home. We sense the trouble coming the way a predator's rumble permeates the forest as she stalks her pray. Sadri drops her stylus. The Bitch Queen has come down to our floor and focuses on our little bit of cubicle hell. She looks over the low wall that separates us from the outside world.

"Mr. Duarte," she commands with absolute superiority. "I require you for a social function this Friday evening. I will arrange transportation for you at seven thirty five. It is a black tie affair. You will be expected to perform the normal functions; this is an unpaid activity." I rise up and look at Mrs. Hardison.

"Of course Mrs. Hardison," I respond. Mrs. Hardison turns and strides away like the Queen of her Domain and a wonderful stride it is too.

When she is out of earshot Sadri whistles,

"So that's your mistress," she snickers. "That's a real tiger you have there, Tiger Cub."

"Who says I'm not the one in charge?" I lay on the false bravado.

"Eddie that was the clearest case of a girl marking her territory I've ever seen. You are her bitch and she wants everyone to know it," Sadri explains.

"The Bitch's bitch; how does that work?" I scoff.

"Usually with a strap-on," she grins wildly which makes me groan, sit down and put my head on my desk. "I have to ask you something; why did she choose you?" she asks.

"Fuck," I groan once more, "does no one believe I'm sexually irresistible?" Sadri finds that hysterical.

"Eddie, you are a nice guy, but hardly what a girl wishes for when she wants to get hammered all night long. You are the type of guy a girl calls up when her boyfriend has dumped her and she wants someone to hold while she eats ice cream and watches sappy movies," she instructs me.

"Why didn't you hit on me after your break up then?" I counter.

"Oh, I was going to but I wanted you to finish your sensitivity training first then you got shot and now you've been marked for death by the Queen Bitch so I guess we aren't going to happen," she smiles compassionately.

"Well thank you for that; you and I getting complicated is the last thing I need," I sigh.

"And the best thing yet is that this still doesn't answer the question of which woman shot you Eddie," she adds. "I swear I should get hazard pay just for working next to you."

"Funny like a crutch Sadri now let's finish up these last few calls and go home. I feel like crying into my pillow tonight," I groan.

(Wednesday evening)

I'm working my way through some Chicken Parmesan when Gloria comes gliding into the place. There is not bustling around the living room or standing in the doorway looking at me; she walks up behind me and wraps her around me from behind as she likes to do.

"Smells good," she sighs breathlessly to me.

"Does this mean all is forgiven?" I hope.

"Not a chance," she whispers softly into my back.

"So, are you going to call in sick for our date?" she then inquires.

"I don't have the proper suit," I divert the question.

"It is in your closet," she says in an exasperated tone. "Haven't you looked at any of the clothes I bought you?"

"Not really; I am still uncomfortable with you buying me things. I wanted our relationship to be on a more even keel," I explain.

"Do you want to spend more time with me?" she asks.

"Yes, of course," I answer.

"Then wear the clothes and go out with me," she tells me. I hate her logic because now I feel like I'm abusing our relationship.

"What am I going to have to do Friday now besides shut up and look pretty," I accept my fate.

"Talk up people Eddie. You are a lot better at it than I am. As I told you when I first assigned you your latest project, you know people and they like you. You take the cold hard facts I know about my department and make them presentable," she outlines and I am yet again reminded how her mind works; nothing goes to waste.

"So you were going to use me this way all along?" I question her.

"As I said, from the moment I gave you your new assignment I was looking at this. I knew you were strong were I was weak. You have real passion Eddie where I am cold and demanding at both work and at home. I have to have you living by my rules but I can't stand the idea of losing you," she tells me as she turns me around and looks up into my eyes.

"You are such a bitch," I respond to her but with more compassion than heat. She can't help what she is and for years it has worked for her. Now she finds this annoying inconvenience in her life and she's totally unprepared for it. I go back to dinner and she preempts me by kissing me before I ask. As she compliments me on the meal and helps me put the dishes away I ask her.

"When you get over being angry with me I'm going to make love to you for twenty-four hours straight," I state casually.

"Be prepared for a long wait," she says haughtily.

"I'll give you until Saturday," I reply. Gloria thinks about it but says nothing.

(Friday evening)

Gloria isn't kidding; at the Gala function being stuck next to her is considered the kiss of death. Finally one woman, a trophy wife of some bigwig, decides to talk with me and we hit it off famously. We abandon any thought of highbrow talk and concentrate on Entertainment Weekly and People magazine as well as a handful of popular blogs. I make a stand against political discussions; I'm still trying recover from my gun wound after all. That earns me some laughs.

"Is it true you were found wounded in a room with a woman?" one of my new female friends questions playfully.

"Didn't she shoot you?" a man asks. I wonder how people learn about this stuff.

"I prefer to think of it as defending a woman's honor," I grin rakishly. Gloria takes that moment to wrap an arm in my arm.

"Gloria, was it your honor this young man was defending?" a co-worker asks.

"I would hope if he was defending my honor he would have been doing the shooting not getting shot," Gloria smiles evilly.

"Well, I can't tell you how scary it is to shoot another person but I can't recommend being shot," I chuckle.

A few of the women are forward enough to rub my wounded shoulder and tell me how brave I am. The 'defending a woman's honor' line doesn't cause me any harm either. When Gloria and I split off to get some drinks I feel Gloria's gaze on me.

"Gloria, is there something wrong?" I ask.

"Other women find you attractive Edward," she says evenly then I realize she's never seen me work a room. I'm hell at parties but it is something I've always been good at.

"There is only one woman I'm interested," I squeeze her hand. I can't imagine it is insecurity but more a matter of our surroundings and a concern about me.

"Mr. Duarte," I hear Joyce Cook's voice. "Mrs. Hardison." We turn and look at her together. Were Gloria looks elegant in a strapless black full length gown, Joyce is dressed in a halter topped silver gown which is molded to her curves. I pity the married men in the audience.

"It is good to see you both here today," she tells us.

"It is more surprising to see you here Ms. Cook," Gloria says with a hint of steel.

"I have a very true friend I wanted to see," she smiles back. Ouch.

"I think Mrs. Hardison and I need to be getting some drinks," I hurriedly say. "It is nice to see you Ms. Cook." I drag Gloria away not because I'm afraid of either woman doing anything but of people noticing the stand-off.

"How dare she even talk to you?" Gloria seethes.

"You win by doing nothing Gloria," I whisper. "There is nothing between us." She doesn't look at me but she squeezes my hand. We get drinks and head back to our little crowd. I notice a skilled operator drawing Gloria's attention away while another man approaches me.

"Hi; I'm Roland Iverson. I'm not sure we've met before," he gives me a false smile. Mind you, I have no idea who this guy is but his little game is getting under my skin. "You are Edward Duarte, Executive Assistant Director of Special Projects. What is it that you do exactly?"

"It is a new position Mrs. Hardison has created to implement her new streamlining initiatives," is all I can come up with since I have no idea who he thinks I really am. I am so full of bullshit.

"Mr. Duarte, what are you and Director Iverson discussing?" Gloria says serenely. Director? Oh fuck! Why can't any peons pick on me?

"Oh, he was giving me a hint of your new streamlining initiatives Gloria," Iverson responds cautiously.

"I'm seeing what works in Administration before going to the Board with my results," Gloria answers. Technically she isn't lying; my recent project is a streamlining measure.

"I look forward to your report," Iverson nods before slipping away.

"What was that about?" I ask her softly.

"Don't worry about it. That was the Director in charge of New Product Development," she whispers, "snooping around for information."

"Why does he think I'm anything but a cubicle grunt?" I respond beneath the level of conversation.

"Don't worry about it," she pats my arm. We go back to the function and though I know Gloria is bored out of her mind she keeps us there for several hours. Only when we are driving home does she turn to me and smile.

"That was my most productive function in some time Eddie," she confides in me.

"I am glad you enjoyed yourself," I smile.

"One or two functions like this and I'll make VP of Operations then I'll crush Joyce Cook so hard she can't get job as a garbage collector," she gloats.

"Huh?" I mutter.

"Eddie, I am going to make her pay for you and for Vance," Gloria says vindictively. "Trust me; she will never hurt anyone ever again."

"Stop the car," I insist. When she seems reticent to do so, I open the door anyway. She stops before I find out what rolling from a moving car feels like.

"Eddie," she hisses. I get out and look back into the car.

"I'm walking home. Learn how to not fuck up a good time by going nuts over a lady who clearly isn't in her right mind," I snap then slam the door. I cover half a block before she finally moves the car.

When I get home Gloria is on the sofa waiting for me. She gets up and meets me in the hallway.

"How dare you stand up for her," she growls over my stand with Joyce.

"I have to live this life by your rules but I don't have to like it. If you are going to treat me like shit I love you enough keep going," I express sadly. "Now you have nothing to say I want to hear so get out of my way, I'm going to bed."

"You don't get off that easy," Gloria persists.

"Gloria, you disappoint me," I sigh. I couldn't have had more effect if I've slapped her. She sputters as I step around her. I'm almost in my room when she catches up with me.

"I don't need your approval!" she snaps.

"I know. I don't care. Go away," I respond then shut the door.

"Don't you dare," she states coldly as she opens up the door behind me. I get ready for bed.

"Talk away; I'm not obliged to listen," I respond idly. Gloria trembles as the realization hits her. She can throw me out and win this one victory. My only tool is our love, she has all the other cards just the way she likes it.

Gloria is smart enough to not argue. I've got her; she's got one option left. She goes to bed only to return early the next morning. Her presence wakes me up once more.

"You can't treat me this way," she says in a distant voice.

"Don't let this eat you up then Gloria. I can't protect from yourself if you fight me on this hate," is my exhausted reply. I can tell this is not what she wants to hear.

"Let me slide in next to you," she asks in a manner that tells me she hasn't had much sleep too.

"No," I mutter.

"No?" she mutters.

"I would rather sleep in your bed; it smells like you and I can't think of any place I'd rather be," I respond.

"Do you have to win every argument tonight?" she sighs.

"Only the ones that help me get closer to you," I comfort her as I get out of my bed and go down the hall to her room.

(Saturday)

I lie down with her leg raised up in a triangle, knee up and fool resting on her knee. I rest there looking into her pussy at the moment of arousal. I run a finger along crest of her lips, right at the opening. She is moist, but not wet; that is to come. My finger moves along, up and down, until she becomes damp enough to draw a steady line along the lips.

At this point her lips begin to puff out and darken and I get her first muscular reactions. My next path brought out the first droplets of true juice and it slowly coats the tip of my finger. It is a warm lubricant that I edge up to her semi-engorged clit, running that finger along her until I circle to the top and leaves a perfect pearl of her fluid on tip glistening there in the light.

I blow on that chosen point and Gloria moves her head off my cock long enough to sigh. It had been a long time since she'd given a blowjob -- fifteen years at least -- and she was taking it easy because of that. As my own activities were heightening her arousal she began messing up a little, sucking too hard or touching with teeth.

In the current state of our relationship I am hardly going to criticize her technique. She is trying and is showing real passion as well as her incredible ability to learn quickly. By the time I let my tongue touch her slit for the first time she is learning to bob up and down and stimulate with the her tongue at the same time.

I slip one finger in on each side labia, pulling her lips apart so I can dip my tongue in deeper. Surprisingly the trembling of my weaker arm causes Gloria to moan. I begin to studiously tongue-fuck, causing her to twirl her hips and push down on me. She gets me back by pulling enough of my cock into her so that it touches the back of her throat. Gloria gags but I can feel her smiling at me as I gasp.

We are serenading one another sexually for some time before a combination of Gloria's attentiveness and my own fatigue has me warning her I'm about to cum.

"Aaahhh, what do I do?" she panics.

"I can shoot on your chest," I suggest.

Gloria hesitates then I feel her suction latch onto my head once more. She doesn't take much in but the touch is enough to make my body stretch like a bow and shoot down her throat. She chokes and sputters but keeps sucking until my body returns to my control.

"Thank you," I gasp as I take a peek down to where she's licking her lips and looking oh-so proud of herself.

"Put that tongue back to work," she purrs and I hasten to obey.

Finished, we are laying back in bed my head resting on her stomach as she rubs her finger along my forehead to the bridge of my nose when Gloria rocks her hips and asks me,

"Where do we stand?"

"I think we are stronger; you have forgiven me a bit more and I understand how much you really care for me," I try to explain.

"I wish sex would somehow make everything better," she sighs wistfully.

"No you don't; you are far too smart for that, Gloria. You want things to make sense and that is something I love about you," I point out. "You don't throw your body at problems; you reward your body when you solve problems."

"What about you?" she asks. I stifle a quip and think about my reply.

"Do you doubt for a second I'm a better man for having known you?" I answer.

"No, but it is good to hear you say it," she murmurs happily.

(Monday)

I come in and find Sadri standing in our shared cubicle. I am about to joke to her about getting to work when I realize that that we have no chairs to sit down in. That's not so bad because we also have no phones and not computer stations to work from. We've been vacated.

"Eddie, what the hell did you do to the Bitch because this is the weirdest form of pink slip I've ever seen?" Sadri jokes poorly.

"Hold on," I tell her. I slip over to a co-worker's phone and call Kelly in facilities and see if she knows what's going on.

"Yeah, we came in at seven and moved you up to 542," she tells me. Wow, that's a floor up I think. "Where is Sadri Gupta?"

"She's in the same office," Kelly chuckles. "I think you've been promoted."

"Thanks Kelly. If you need anything let me know," I say before I sign off. "Sadri, come on; we have a new office."

"Weeee!" Sadri sings out. "I'm not fired!" After a moment she adds, "And it's good you have a job too."

On the fifth floor we make our way to 542 which turns out to be a small converted conference room, but it is still heads-and-shoulders above what we have started. Most fantastically there is someone working on the door.

"Executive Assistant Director of Special Projects" is being stenciled on the door.

Sadri looks it over, sets herself up and comes back to the door.

"Is that you or me, and if it is me, where is my raise?" she snickers.

"I think it is me," I groan.

"No raise, eh?" she sighs. "Well, we still have work to do."