The Motivated Employee Pt. 08

Author's Note: I open to any feedback and read every comment.

----

Celina had tried not to think about it too much.

But Dani had dreamed about her. Her. And not in some vague, floating-symbols kind of way--Dani had said it plain, right to her face, with that guarded look she got when she was forcing herself to be honest.

It shouldn't have gotten under her skin the way it did. But it had.

And Celina couldn't stop replaying the way Dani had looked right after--the slight hitch in her breath, like she'd had something else to say. Something heavier. Something real.

Then Randall and Viv had come crashing in like a damn sitcom, and the moment had vanished.

Typical.

Celina leaned back in her chair, arms loosely crossed, legs angled just enough to look casual, not posed. Her office was warm with late sun, the window cracked for breeze, and still she felt restless. She drummed her fingers once against the arm of her chair, then stilled them.

Never mind. Dani would be on her way up by now--for their review.

A knock. Then the door creaked open, and Dani stepped inside.

"Hi, Celina." Dani asked, as neutral as she could muster.

Celina was flipping through a manila folder. "You're cute when you're nervous." A smirk played on her lips.

Dani smiled back. "Well, you should see me when I'm trying to flirt." She went red immediately, like she was surprised the words came out.

Celina closed the folder with a soft thud. She stood up. "Lock the door, please."

Dani did as she was told, then moved toward the desk, stopping and standing in front of Celina.

"I've reviewed your numbers," Celina said, her voice measured, unreadable as she stood just in front of the desk, arms crossed.

Dani folded her own arms, trying to look composed.

"They've improved," Celina continue. "Better than last week. But..."

Celina circled around the desk and stopped next to Dani.

"... they're still not quite where I want them."

Dani shifted from foot to foot. "Are you sure?"

"You know I expect excellence." She leaned forward, one hand bracing on the desk beside Dani. "That's our agreement."

Dani's breath caught. Oh, she knew.

Celina smiled slowly, knowingly. "Got nothing to say?"

"I--" Dani started, but stopped.

Celina moved the the other side of Dani, hands in her pockets, clearly enjoying herself. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you wanted to be told off."

Dani looked down, biting back a smile like she hoped didn't give too much away. But it was too late. Celina had already seen it.

Celina stepped in closer again, until Dani had to tilt her chin up slightly to meet her eyes.

"You know..." she said, almost thoughtfully, "when we had this conversation last time, you were very responsive to correction."

"I remember."

Celina's mouth curved. "I do too. You got flustered. Fidgety. But you listened." She paused, then added with quiet emphasis, "And you liked it. Did you not?"

Dani nodded, swallowing.

"Take off your shirt," Celina continued. Once the buttons were undone, Celina stepped in close to slide it from Dani's shoulders before she could finish the motion herself. She stood there in a purple, lacy bra - the kind chosen in case someone might see it.

Celina's eyes lingered on the bra, the corner of her mouth curving slowly. She reached up and traced the edge of the lace with a fingertip. "Purple looks good on you." she murmured. Then, she leaned in, her lips close to Dani's ear. "Now take your pants off too."

Dani reached for the button on her pants, but before she could undo it, Celina's hand covered hers.

"Actually, let me."

Dani let her hands fall to her sides without question. That kind of trust made Celina's throat tighten. Celina's fingers brushed against Dani's skin. When the button popped open, it felt louder than it should have in the quiet room.

"So ready to be told what to do." Celina whispered. The blush on Dani's face - she had to fight to urge to kiss her.

The fabric pooled at Dani's feet, and Celina crouched to tug them the rest of the way off. Celina let her palms glide up the backs of Dani's calves, over the curve of her knees. Her thighs were warm, steady under her touch, and it took effort not to press her mouth there just to see how Dani might gasp.

Celina stood back up but let her eyes drift down, taking in the full effect of the matching purple lace. Of course she wore a set. Thoughtful, obedient even--whether she knew it or not. There was something so good about that. Something that made Celina want to take her time just to make a point.

She let her thumb hook just beneath the waistband, tugging gently. "Do you always dress like this when you're hoping to get in trouble?"

Before Dani could respond, Celina took her hand and led her to the couch. She sat with quiet authority, then patted her lap.

Dani hesitated--just a second--before Celina guided her down, steady and sure.

The cushions were soft beneath her, Celina's body firm and warm beneath her own. Her heart pounded as she lay across her boss's thighs, every nerve alert.

One of Celina's hands rested between her shoulder blades. The other skimmed down the back of her thigh, light as breath.

"Comfortable?" Celina asked.

Dani nodded. "Yeah."

"Good," Celina said, her hand stroking her lower back now, slower. "Then we can begin."

Celina's hand slid slowly over the curve of Dani's ass. Dani sucked in a breath.

"You know," Celina said, her tone light, almost conversational, "I really should be punishing you for how distracting you are - all that lace."

Dani's fingers curled into the edge of the couch cushion.

Before she could reply, the first smack landed--sharp, a small sting. Dani gasped.

Celina rubbed the spot gently, then let her hand drift again.

"You like this," she murmured, amused.

Another smack. Dani bit her lip.

"You wore this knowing exactly what it would do to me."

Another, a little firmer. Then soothing fingertips again, tracing soft circles over heated skin.

"You've been shameless, Dani," Celina continued, her voice lower now, silkier. "But I'll let you in on a little secret..."

She leaned over, her lips brushing Dani's ear.

"You hit every single target this week."

Dani blinked, dazed, the words cutting through the haze of sensation.

"I--what?" she breathed, twisting slightly to look back at her.

Celina smiled, slow and wicked. "You didn't really think I'd let all this lace go unrewarded, did you?"

Her hand slid beneath the waistband of Dani's panties now, all teasing gone from her touch.

"You've been a very, very good girl."

Dani sat up, flushed and breathless, her skin humming from the sting and the praise. Celina watched her closely, eyes dark, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

"Come here," Celina murmured, reaching for her.

Dani leaned in, and the second their mouths met, something inside Celina snapped--finally. She kissed her back without hesitation, all the restraint of the day dissolving into heat. She'd waited for this. Let herself wait, just to feel the way Dani melted into the kiss now, like she'd needed it just as badly.

Celina's hand slid to the back of Dani's neck, fingers threading through her hair, holding her there--not to trap, but to savor. To guide. Dani's mouth was warm, eager, and when she shifted into Celina's lap, it was all Celina could do not to groan.

She felt Dani's thighs tighten around her, arms looped around her shoulders, and the way Dani kissed her--like she'd been dreaming about this too--made something possessive stir in her chest. Celina's hands gripped her hips and pulled her flush, needing more contact, more friction. Dani moaned into her mouth, and Celina swallowed the sound like a reward.

God, look at her. Lace, heat, flushed skin. All that careful defiance unraveling now beneath her hands.

She kissed her harder. Tongues tangled. Dani's fingers curled into the dark curls at the nape of Celina's neck, tugging just enough to draw a low growl from her. Celina pulled back slightly, eyes locked on hers.

"You're still shaking."

Dani managed a smile. "You made me this way," she whispered--and kissed her again before Celina could respond.

Celina's hands moved with slow certainty, rediscovering every curve she already knew. The energy between them shifted--less control, more hunger. Shared. Immediate.

Dani deepened the kiss, rocking into her, hips falling into rhythm. The rest of the world dropped away, leaving only the heat between them.

Celina's hands slid up Dani's back, fingers splayed, mapping every inch. She paused at the clasp of Dani's bra, letting her thumbs brush over the edge.

"Still such a good choice," she murmured, her lips brushing Dani's jaw. "But I want to see more."

She worked the clasp open with practiced ease, and Dani shivered as the straps loosened, the lace sliding down her shoulders. The bra slipped away completely and fell to the couch beside Dani.

Dani sat there, bare from the waist up, chest rising and falling with uneven breath.

Celina froze. Her gaze dropped--drawn to the soft weight of Dani's breasts, the faint flush across her skin, the way she still trembled in the aftermath. It was the first time she'd seen her like this, fully revealed.

Something shifted in her chest. Her pulse skipped, breath catching high and shallow. She felt it all--heat, yes, but something gentler too. Like awe.

"God, you are beautiful," she said, and it landed low and sure between them. No tease. No edge. Just the truth, spoken without hesitation and felt all the way through.

Dani swallowed. "So are you."

Celina smiled softly at that--an expression that felt rare and private--and leaned in again. Her hands slid up Dani's sides, cupping her gently, and the kiss that followed was slower this time, deeper.

Celina's lips trailed from Dani's mouth to her neck, lingering there, nipping lightly at the skin just below her ear. Her hands stayed firm around Dani's waist, guiding, grounding.

Then, slowly, her mouth traveled lower--over the line of Dani's collarbone, across the gentle slope of her chest. Dani arched slightly, breath catching, hands curling into Celina's shoulders as anticipation bloomed sharp and sweet through her.

Celina glanced up once, eyes dark and steady. And then she took Dani's nipple into her mouth--slow, deliberate.

Dani gasped, her head tipping back as warmth flooded her. Celina's tongue flicked lazily, teasing, coaxing. Her other hand rose to cup the other breast, thumb circling until Dani was trembling again.

She sucked softly, then harder, and Dani moaned--quiet but needy--rocking slightly in Celina's lap.

"Ooh, you like that," Celina murmured, lips brushing over wet skin, her voice low and velvet-soft.

Dani could only nod, her fingers tightening in Celina's hair, aching for more.

Celina smiled against her, then moved to the other breast, giving it the same slow, focused attention--tongue and lips working in tandem, melting Dani, piece by piece.

Celina shifted sideways on the couch, guiding Dani with her. Her hands skimmed up Dani's torso, slow and sure, then pressed gently against her sternum. Dani followed the touch without resistance, easing onto her back until she was stretched out fully along the cushions. Celina knelt beside her now, one knee on the couch, leaning over her.

Celina slid Dani's panties down her legs, letting them fall to the floor. Her hands lingered, warm against Dani's calves, before she gently nudged her knees apart, opening space between them.

Celina's gaze lowered, dark with want and something more tender beneath. "So pretty," she murmured, fingers gliding along the inside of Dani's thighs--close, but never quite touching where Dani wanted her most.

Dani's breath caught. Her hips lifted just slightly, reaching, seeking.

But Celina only smiled, teasing, and her fingers slipped away again. "Not yet."

With one hand, Celina reached up and gently guided Dani's wrists above her head, holding them there, her grip firm but careful. Her eyes flicked to Dani's face, checking. Dani nodded, lips parted, chest rising fast with breath. That was all the answer Celina needed.

Her other hand drifted lower, resting over Dani's mound. She paused there, her palm warm, thumb brushing lightly. "Okay?" she asked, voice quiet, steady.

"Yes," Dani whispered. "Please."

Celina's fingers traced lower, exploring with slow reverence. She brushed along the edges of heat and slickness, not quite touching directly. Dani's hips lifted involuntarily, and Celina smiled, controlled and amused, but not unkind.

"So wet for me," she murmured.

She eased her fingers inward, pressing her palm against Dani's center--gently squeezing, just enough to make Dani gasp and squirm. Then she paused again, letting the moment breathe, watching Dani's face.

"Celina, please." she whimpered.

"Let me take care of you. Just breathe... and trust me."

Dani's eyes fluttered shut, her breath catching as Celina's thumb moved in slow, deliberate circles. She watched her, felt the tension rise beneath her hands, the way Dani trembled and tried not to. God, she was beautiful like this--open, trusting, already undone and asking for more.

Celina leaned in, kissing the inside of Dani's thigh, then the crease of her hip. She wanted to savor this, not just the taste or heat or sounds, but the way Dani responded to her--like every touch was earned, like she wanted to give herself over completely.

Finally, she dragged her tongue in a long, deliberate line, from the bottom of Dani's sex to the tip of her clit, and felt the shiver that ran through her. A moan broke from Dani's lips--deep, helpless--and Celina smiled against her, pride blooming hot and possessive in her chest.

"Good girl," she murmured, and meant every word.

She lathed her tongue over that sensitive bundle of nerves, slow at first, then more focused, lips closing around it with a gentle pull. Dani was already writhing, breath shallow. Celina let one hand drift lower, slipping easily between wet folds, pausing--just for a second--to feel how ready she was.

So wet. All for me.

She slid a finger inside, and Dani's back arched, her whole body straining toward the sensation. Celina held her steady, overwhelmed by the heat of her, the way she clenched tight around her hand, as if her body didn't want to let go.

"Oh - God," she gasped her eyes squeezing as heat rolled through her.

Celina chuckled. "You're not going to last much longer, are you?" she whispered.

"No... I can't," she admitted, voice high and shaky, as if even saying it made her weaker.

Celina slid a second finger inside her, slow but certain, and curled them just right--until she felt Dani's body tighten around her. The pressure was perfect. She watched Dani's face, the way her lips parted, the way her breath caught

Celina's mouth closed over Dani's clit again, her rhythm purposeful now--sucking harder, faster, in time with the steady thrust of her fingers. She felt Dani's body respond instantly, hips lifting, breath breaking.

"Tell me," Celina said, her voice dark and steady. "Are you going to come for me?"

Dani's breath caught. "Yes," she whispered, almost a cry.

Celina's fingers curled deeper, finding that sweet spot inside of her.

As Dani's body reached the peak, Celina's hand moved over her mouth, firm and deliberate muffling cries she knew would follow. Dani's hips bucked wildly against Celina's hand as she came, her moans muffled by Celina's palm. Her grip tightened slightly, not harsh - just enough to remind Dani who she belonged to in this moment.

As Dani shattered beneath her, the thrilled only deepened - this secret, hidden just behind a closed office door. No one outside knew. No one guess.

She was being claimed, consumed - and God, she loved it. Dani lay still, breath slowly evening out. Celina sat up and watched her quietly, brushed a few strands of hair from her flushed face.

Celina climbed back onto the couch, pulling Dani close until her head rested against her chest, and began to stroke her back in long, unhurried sweeps. They stayed like that for a while, pressed together in the warmth, the air still scented with sweat and skin and something more tender. Dani melted into her without resistance--she wasn't just sated, she was held.

"You really liked that," Celina murmured into her hair, not a question.

A breathless laugh puffed against her collarbone. "You think?"

"I could feel it," she said. "You were trembling so hard."

She helped Dani sit up slowly. Celina reached for Dani's bra first, helping her into it, fingers brushing over skin reverently. Then her shirt, sliding it up her arms and buttoning it with quiet precision. She tucked a stray piece of lace back into place with a soft smile. Dani's heart ached in the best way.

"You don't have to," she said quietly.

"I want to." Celina replied. "Let me take care of you a while longer."

She crouched to retrieve Dani's pants, guiding her legs back in, then smoothing the waistband gently.

Once Dani was fully dressed, Celina sank down behind her on the couch and wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her close. She rested her chin on Dani's shoulder, breathing in slowly--like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Dani leaned back into her, her hands finding Celina's and lacing their fingers together. The quiet that followed was soft, easy. They stayed like that for a while--bodies warm, hearts settling.

Dani leaned her head back against her. "I could stay like this forever."

"Mmmm." Celina kissed her neck. "I'd be okay with that."

After a moment, she added, almost too casually, "Hey, do you wanna hang out this weekend?"

Dani turned her head just enough to look at her, trying not to smile too wide. "Yes."

Just as Dani nestled deeper into Celina's arms, the phone on the desk rang, sharp and insistent.

Celina sighed, pressing a soft kiss to Dani's temple before reaching over to pick it up. "This is Celina." Her voice instantly shifted--calm, poised, back in command.

A pause. Then: "Yes, of course. I'll be ready. Thank you."

She set the receiver down and turned back to Dani, her expression apologetic but composed. "That was the front desk. The CEO's on his way from downtown. So I need to be in full 'executive mode' in about ten minutes."

Dani nodded, already standing, smoothing her blouse and running fingers through her hair in an attempt to regain composure. She glanced toward the mirror, but then paused, eyes back on Celina.

"I'll message you later?" she asked, her voice soft but sure.

Celina's lips curved into a subtle, knowing smile. "I'll be waiting."

They exchanged one last lingering look--quiet, charged--and then Dani slipped out the door, heart still racing, body still tingling, already counting down the minutes until she could see her again.

Later that evening, the scent of garlic and onions hit Dani the moment she stepped through the front door. She exhaled, letting the stress of the day slide off her shoulders. The grocery bag crinkled in her hand as she kicked off her shoes and made her way to the kitchen.

"Hey," Dani called softly.

"Hey, you," Kayla said over her shoulder, stirring something in a large skillet. "You remembered the vegetables?"

Dani lifted the bag with a little grin. "Of course. I'm a woman of my word."

Kayla chuckled and reached out for the bag. "Lifesaver."

Dani leaned against the counter, watching her. Hair in that messy bun, sleeves rolled up, brow furrowed in concentration--it was such a small, ordinary moment, and yet something about it made Dani's chest ache. TTheir shared kitchen, the easy rhythm of being home with Kayla--it grounded her. Familiar. Safe. But lately, it had become something more. Something warmer, sharper, harder to ignore. Something that she didn't want to name for fear of losing their friendship.

"Need any help?"

Kayla was already chopping. "Actually... I got some news today."

"Oh yeah?" Dani asked, easing onto a stool, curiosity stirring.

Kayla's eyes lit up. "My boss nominated me for a leadership spot at the youth development camp they partner with every summer. But this time, it's the international branch."

Dani blinked. "International?"

"Yep." Kayla's grin spread. "Costa Rica. Three months. Starting in June."

For a beat, Dani just stared, surprise blooming into a slow smile. "Kayla, that's huge."

"I know." Kayla tried to keep her voice even, but the thrill in her eyes gave her away. "It's not locked in yet, but if it happens--it's a big step. I'd be leading a whole team, mentoring new educators, living in a totally different culture."

Dani nodded, the warmth in her chest mingling with something tight and unspoken. "You'd be amazing at that. Seriously, they'd be lucky to have you."

Kayla glanced up from the cutting board, meeting her eyes for a second longer than usual. "You really think so?"

"I know so." Dani smiled back, but there was a wobble behind it she hoped didn't show. Three months. That was a long time. And a lot could shift in silence.

Still, this was Kayla's moment. She wouldn't let her own confusion shadow it.

"Okay," she said, rising to pour them both a soda water. "To Costa Rica."

Kayla's gaze softened as she accepted the glass. "Even if it means I'm gone for a while?"

Dani hesitated just a second too long before smiling. "Even then."

But when Kayla kept looking at her--quiet, expectant, like she was waiting for something more--Dani couldn't help it. She looked down at her glass and said lightly, "Not gonna lie, I'll probably cry my eyes out every night while you're gone. But I'm thrilled for you. Truly."

Kayla didn't answer right away. She just smiled and touched her glass to Dani's. The kitchen was silent except for the sizzle from the stove.