Tricking Astrid (ch 6.1)

Chapter 6 - part 1

Astrid did not see Calder nor Remy the rest of the week. It was odd. Calder hadn't come to work nor was he spoken about from anyone she worked with. Like a ghost of Lewis brothers past.

She didn't call Remy. Their hours of sex on Monday night had left her satisfied. She had been surprised at his profession of love, but when she had told him she loved him too, it had been during an orgasm. She did care deeply for Remy. Love was a much deeper commitment than she was willing to admit. No boyfriend she'd ever had in the past had spoken of love. Granted most of her relationships had only lasted less than a year and only if the sex was on a regular basis.

Remy had changed Astrid's life without her noticing it. His steadfast devotion to their friendship had at first made her wonder if he was as lonely as she.

Growing up without parents and living with cold grandparents had made Astrid mistrust real warmth when it came along. How could anyone really be as warm as they appeared when she felt knives in her back constantly? People lied to your face. People tended looked out for themselves and her on a good day mistrusted anyone genuine.

Astrid had accepted Remy after a couple of great dates for what he was offering. He just wanted to spend time with her whenever she could and took the time to find out her likes and dislikes, same with him. She knew he hated butter on his popcorn at the movies and that he had no family, same as her.

The sexual tension had blasted their friendship out of the water. Astrid wondered if she shouldn't have done it the first month instead of waiting for three. Remy was a fantastic lay. He obviously thought the same about her.

Friday afternoon Astrid skipped lunch with her co-workers to call Remy. She hadn't heard from him in four days. She'd been okay with that because Wednesday she'd stayed late at the office helping Flo. But Friday night was usually their date night. She could use some fun. Could use Remy's reassuring compliments.

Surprise, Remy did not answer his phone. She cursed, tossing her cell phone down on her cluttered desktop with a huff.

Astrid was sitting at her desk, bare feet propped up on the edge of it. Her white skirt had a slit that rode high, revealing her garter belt. Her pink blouse nipped in nicely at her waist showcasing her hourglass figure.

Calder looked at Astrid through the glass amused. She did not see him since she half faced away from the doorway. Her legs looked too fucking good in the fine nude hose that the garter belt held up. He bit his lip as she absently ran a hand through her thick, dark mane of hair. He itched to do that with his own fingers sometime soon. Astrid's sultry look fired up something deep inside of him from the first time he'd laid eyes on her.

He had, like the first time, watched her silently. She was not aware of the fiery strength she exuded when she thought she was alone.

When Astrid had been up on the ladder the first time he'd seen her on Monday, she had looked like a frustrated, sultry, but stiff librarian. His sneaky peek under her skirt that day had changed his opinion once he'd glimpsed the frilly red satin panties. Fuck how he'd immediately gotten hard.

Now, watching her white skirt steadily work its way up as she swiveled back and forth slowly in her chair, Calder definitely realized he had the hots for her. How could his other brothers not have hit on her? He'd asked Cody his opinion of Astrid only for Cody to shrug and change the subject. Maybe she only attracted him because he liked clever women. He liked them sexy sure and Astrid had that going on as well.

Calder felt at ease with Astrid. She appeared shy around him, especially when he purposely stood a little too close. He liked making her pretty face red. When they'd been at the club he'd ached to ask if she felt she could like him. He knew he had to appear as a stuck-up, silver spoon man who had a long list of women to call on. He was tired of the fake attentions women threw out there for him to catch.

He wanted more in a woman. After having his whole teenage and early adult years spent trying to figure out why girls saw his body, money, and family as his only virtue he'd decided to change tactics. He'd ignored the hot girls his last year in college and focused on what really mattered to HIM.

What mattered was still alluding Calder when it came to life in general, but he knew he wanted a real woman who saw HIM. The Calder behind the pretty face, money and powerful family. Astrid made him laugh. She looked at him with chocolate eyes that seemed to understand more than most.

Astrid's cell phone rang.

She sighed, then seeing it was Remy, smiled as she answered, "I thought you may have left your phone at home... again," She teased.

Remy chuckled, "Not today. What's going on babe?"

"Sitting at my desk," She absently tugged her skirt down, "You?"

"Nothing. It's Friday. What do you want to do?"

She frowned, hearing an odd noise over his end of the phone. Wherever he was, it sounded weird. "Where are you?"

She could've sworn she heard a slapping sound. Slapping against flesh. She'd recognize that anywhere she mused. The sounds quickly disappeared. She could hear nothing at all now like he'd stepped into a quiet space.

"I'm just shopping," he hurriedly replied, "Want to see that movie we talked about? I may be a little late."

"Then we shouldn't go," She laughed, "I hate missing previews, you know that. Why not meet at BOUNCE? That way you can just not rush and I don't have to wait."

"Waiting can be very good sometimes," He seductively countered, "Especially if it's the sexual kind."

She grinned, dropping her legs off the desk, "We've DONE that Remy. Okay so, is it a plan?"

"Yes. I'll try to be there at 7:30. Wear something extremely low cut so I can ogle your rack."

She rolled her eyes giggling. "I'll be there at seven wearing something that hides all my naughty parts just because you said that."

He groaned, "You tease! Alright... see you, baby."

"Bye," she hit the end button feeling odd. He had sounded like he wanted to say it. Say, 'I love you.'

She heard a noise, so swiveled around quickly. She didn't see anyone but felt SOMEONE had been there. After a few seconds, she shrugged it off then slipped her heels back on and got back to work.

Remy had been shopping? Where had he actually been because she believed his lie as much as she liked raisins which were not even a little? She was curious still about his job. Why wouldn't he answer her questions? It was really starting to mess with her trust.

Flo and Mallory returned from lunch, bringing her a soda. She thanked them. Mallory slyly looked at Astrid's fading hickey wondering if Calder had done it. They'd passed him coming in and he had had a little smile on his young, handsome face. Astrid wouldn't have given them such an innocent look if she had seen him. Mallory walked off hoping Astrid didn't get too involved with Calder Lewis.