Passion in James County XVI
Ann arrived at work and punched in. When she did, Toni Wicks, who was working at the service desk, looked at her. "Mr. Lewis wants to see you in the office before you start work," she said. "He said I should send you up as soon as you got here."
Wondering what her boss wanted, Ann walked to the rear of the store where the manager's office was located and knocked on the door.
"Come in," a male voice said in response to her knock.
Ann opened the door and went into the office.
Mark Lewis, the store manager, was sitting at his desk. When he saw Ann, standing in the doorway, he smiled. He thought she was one of the most attractive of his employees, and he had been trying to figure out how to get closer to her for some time. A few days previously, while sitting in the lunch room, he overheard some of the other female employees talking about Ann, and how she went out to bars and picked up men a lot. When he heard that, Mark figured he might have the chance he was hoping for.
"Have a seat, please, Ann," Mark said. He gestured to one of the chairs sitting in front of his desk and watched as Ann sat down in it and crossed her lithe, lovely legs.
Unlike most of the women who worked in the store, who tended to wear slacks and casual clothing to work, Ann always dressed very well. Today she a loose black mid-calf length dress with white flower pattern that had buttons all the way down the front. It had a scooped neck and wide bell sleeves. Mark thought it looked gorgeous on Ann's lean body. He gazed at her, captivated by the expanse of pale, smooth chest displayed by the dress, and by her long, silky-looking light brown hair. "I sure as hell would like to run my fingers through that hair," he thought as he sat at his desk, smiling at Ann, who looked a bit sad.
"Toni...she said you wanted to see me, Mr. Lewis?" Ann said.
"Yes, Ann, I do," Mark told her.
Ann looked at the manager. He wasn't bad-looking, but there was an arrogance about him that made her wary when she was around him. He was one of those guys who was sure how good-looking he was. And even though he was married she'd heard rumors that he'd been having affairs with some of the other clerks.
"You look sad this morning, Ann. Is something wrong?" Mark asked. He made no attempt to hide the fact that he was staring at the slim leg clad in dark pantyhose which showed through the cut in front of Ann's dress.
"Well..." Ann said. "I...I it's nothing, really."
"Are you sure?" Mark asked.
"I...I didn't...know it...it was affecting my work," she murmured. "Is...is that why you wanted to see me, Mr. Lewis?"
"Oh, no," Mark said. "Not at all. You are one of our best employees. In fact..." He stood up and walked around in front of his desk and leaned on it. "I believe there is a possibility of your being offered the next management position that becomes open."
Ann looked at him, more than a little surprised. "Really?" she asked, smiling a little. Her personal life might be a mess, but here at work, things looked like they might be better.
"You do like working here, don't you, Ann?" Mark asked.
Ann nodded. "Very much so, Mr. Lewis," she replied. "I...I really need this job...and...and I like it, too." She wasn't sure what he was getting at, and was a little disturbed by the way he was looking at her. He began strolling slowly back and forth in front of his desk. Then he walked around behind Ann, and laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Ann, I believe I have to tell you that I've heard some things that concern me," he said. "Things that might have a bearing on whether or not you are offered the management position."
Ann jumped a little when her boss's hand came to rest on her shoulder. All of a sudden, she experienced a tiny, cold rush of fear. This definitely wasn't right. Mr. Lewis shouldn't be touching her and she shouldn't be allowing him to. "Ah...what...what have you heard, Mr. Lewis?" she asked.
Mark felt Ann jump, and was very aware of how tense she was, but he left his hand where it was. This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this with one of his female employees. He knew that just like the others before her, Ann would eventually understand that she didn't have any choice if she wanted his recommendation for that promotion. He sat down in a chair next to hers and leaned toward her.
Ann was surprised when Mr. Lewis began running his fingers through her hair, then she felt his hand slide over her shoulder and trail down her arm. She shuddered again. She couldn't believe he would take a chance and make a pass at her in his office! She knew the company had a very strong anti-sexual harassment policy. "What am I going to do?" she thought, her mind whirling. "He...he is making a pass at me!"
"Ann, I'd love to see you get that promotion," Mark said, "and my recommendation will carry a lot of weight with the people at the district office who have to make the final decision, do you know that?" He continued to run his fingers lightly up and down her arm.
"Ah...yes...I...I suppose so," Ann murmured. Her boss's hand slid further down, over her hips, and onto the outside of her leg. Her breath caught in her throat and, despite herself, she felt warmth rising in her. "Oh! Why is my body reacting like this?" she thought. Alarms sounded in her mind. This was getting way out of hand. She had to stop him, now, before this went any farther. But...but what if she did tell him to stop and he got angry? She could get fired, and she certainly wouldn't get that promotion, and if she filed a sexual harassment complaint it would be her word against his.
Emboldened by Ann's lack of resistance, Mark continued to stroke her legs. He could feel her trembling and her breathing sounded a little ragged.
Ann's mind whirled as she struggled to figure out some way of fending off her boss's advances without angering him. His hand, caressing her legs, was starting to turn her on, which was the last thing she wanted. Why was her body responding like this?
Mark stopped talking. He was surprised to feel Ann responding to his caresses. In his previous experiences with other women, they had submitted to him, and allowed him to do whatever he wanted to do to them, but they hadn't really responded. Ann was responding, and it showed. Her response thrilled him. He realized her dress had a zipper down the back. He reached behind her, unzipped it, and heard her sigh softly as he did.
He began to trail his fingers lightly up and down her bared back. "You really are an attractive woman, Ann," he said softly as his fingers stole over her warm, bare skin. "You are one of the most attractive women working here."
"Ah..." Ann murmured. She had no idea what to do or say. She could hardly breathe and coherent thought was beyond her. Things had gotten way out of control. She wanted to make him stop, but no longer possessed the ability to.
"You're getting aroused, aren't you, Ann?" Mark asked softly while he continued to gently stroke her back.
Ann felt herself nodding. "Uh-huh," she murmured. Why was she letting him do this? Why wasn't she stopping him? Why did it have to feel so good?
"I thought you were," Mark whispered. He slid his hands into her dress, around her sides, cupped her breasts, and began to rub his thumbs over her nipples, which were already hard and pressing against the gossamer fabric of her bra.
Ann felt like there were electric shocks were going through her when Mr. Lewis grabbed her breasts and started to play with her nipples. She couldn't get her breath. She thought about getting up and running out of the room, but she knew her legs, which were trembling like an aspen branch, wouldn't hold her if she did stand up. "Ahh!" she groaned, her body quaking.
