The golden days at the beach house had become a cherished memory as Victoria and James settled back into their routine. September had arrived with its crisp mornings and the promise of autumn, bringing with it a new rhythm to their lives. Their relationship had deepened over the months, growing stronger with each passing day like roots finding purchase in fertile soil.
Victoria discovered she could no longer bear extended separations from James. Whether at home or at the office, his absence left her feeling incomplete, as if a vital part of herself was missing. The attachment had grown beyond mere affection into something that felt essential to her very being.
At Sharp Innovations, Victoria's reputation as a formidable leader remained unquestioned. The conference room buzzed with nervous energy as department heads filed in for the morning meeting, their tablets and notebooks clutched like shields against their CEO's exacting standards. James sat at his usual position near the head of the table, his role as Chief Strategic Officer evident in the way others deferred to his insights during strategy discussions.
"The quarterly reports," Victoria said, her voice cutting through the ambient noise. She stood at the head of the polished table, her tailored suit and confident posture commanding immediate attention. "Marketing, I need your analysis first."
Elena, the marketing director, cleared her throat, shuffling through her papers. "Ms. Sharp, the response to our latest product launch has exceeded all projections. We're seeing a forty percent increase in consumer engagement compared to our previous release."
Victoria's expression remained neutral as she processed the information. "Production capacity?"
"We're scaling up to meet demand," the operations manager responded quickly. "Additional shifts have been implemented, and we're exploring partnerships with secondary manufacturers."
"Distribution channels?"
"Expanding rapidly. We've secured agreements with three major retail chains this month alone."
Victoria nodded curtly. The success of their product had created a whirlwind of activity, endless meetings and strategic planning sessions that kept her away from James for longer than she preferred. Each hour spent in boardrooms felt like time stolen from where she truly wanted to be.
"I want daily reports on production numbers," she instructed. "And I need the legal team to review all new contracts before signing. This meeting is adjourned."
The executives filed out with quiet efficiency, leaving Victoria alone with James. She glanced at her watch, though she knew she wouldn't need to wait long to be with him. The convenience of working together had become one of her favorite aspects of their arrangement.
Later that evening, Victoria found herself in the sanctuary of James's bathroom, seated on the small stool he had placed there specifically for these moments. The day's tensions melted away as she watched him gather the hair care products with practiced movements.
"Turn around," he said softly, his voice carrying the gentle authority she had come to associate with these intimate rituals.
Victoria complied, closing her eyes as James began working the towel through her damp hair. His touch was methodical yet tender, each movement designed to care for her in the most fundamental way. The sensation of his fingers against her scalp sent waves of contentment through her body.
"You're tense," he observed, his hands pausing in their ministrations.
"Long day," she murmured, leaning into his touch. "Too many meetings, too much time away from you."
James resumed his work, sectioning her hair with careful precision. "You're building an empire. That requires sacrifice."
"I'd rather be building something with you," Victoria replied, the honesty in her voice surprising them both.
The silence that followed was comfortable, filled with the sound of James's gentle movements as he began braiding her hair. Victoria found herself completely relaxed for the first time all day, her body responding to his care with a warmth that spread from her chest outward.
When he finished, James leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. The gesture was so tender, so full of unspoken affection, that Victoria felt her heart flutter against her ribs.
"There," he said, his breath warm against her skin. "Perfect."
Victoria smiled, watching in the mirror as James began tidying up the bathroom. He moved with quiet efficiency, placing bottles back in their designated spots and hanging the towel with characteristic precision. Her mind began to wander, formulating an idea that had been growing stronger with each passing day.
"Hey, James," she called out, her voice carrying a note of casual curiosity.
"Yeah?" he responded without looking up from organizing the hair products.
Victoria felt her pulse quicken as she prepared to voice the question that had been occupying her thoughts. "Now that I think about it, you have never asked about the color of my nipples. Haven't you wondered what they look like? Aren't you curious?"
James paused in his movements, his hands stilling on the bottle he was holding. After a moment, he resumed his task with deliberate focus. "No," he said simply, though Victoria caught the slight roughness in his voice.
She counted to three in her head, gathering her courage for what came next. With deliberate slowness, she reached for the strap of her spaghetti hand and slid it down, pulling the fabric to rest just beneath her breasts. The built-in bra meant she could expose herself precisely as she intended, revealing one breast.
"James," she called softly.
He turned automatically, his attention still partially focused on his organizational task. The moment his eyes registered what she had done, his face flushed a deep red. His hand flew up to his mouth, the space between his index finger and thumb creating a barrier as he immediately looked away.
Victoria felt a thrill of satisfaction at his reaction. "You can't unsee that," she said in a playful tone, adjusting the strap back into place. "Now you know the color. Dusty light nude, a little bite, suck or pinch will turn it a bright cherry red."
She stood from the stool and walked toward him, her movements fluid and confident. The power she felt in that moment was intoxicating, the knowledge that she could affect him so completely with such a simple gesture.
But then something unexpected happened. James dropped his hand from his face and turned to look at her directly. The expression in his eyes was unlike anything she had seen before, heated and intense in a way that made her breath catch.
"Do you want it?" he asked, his voice rough with an emotion she recognized as desire mixed with something deeper. He knew her well enough to understand when her needs reached this level of intensity.
Victoria felt her heart slam against her chest, the directness of his question sending electricity through her entire body. Without hesitation, without the usual dance of uncertainty that characterized their interactions, she met his gaze squarely.