'Til Death - Chris Motionless Love Story

Chapter Twenty-Four - Workplace Compromises

SALEM'S POV
"Mrs. Cerulli," Chris walked up to my desk, "can I have a word with you in my office?" I looked up at him from my file I was working on, then laughed lightly. Mrs. Cerulli? Really? Already? I put my pen down and shut the file, then stood up. He held his hand out to help, but I declined.

"I'm pregnant, Chris, not broken. I can move around," I told him with a smile. He placed a hand on my back, then kissed the top of my head softly.

"I'm well aware," we began walking to his office, "I just worry, I guess. I don't want you to get hurt. Either of you." His caring was endearing, if not slightly annoying, but everything was annoying right now. I sat down in the chair across the desk from him, my legs crossed. "You know I love you right? And I'd never force you to do anything you don't want to?" What was this leading into? "Salem, I want you to step back from the business. The doctors are worried about your stress levels, and I am, too."

"Was there something that red flagged it when I got in the wreck that no one told me about?" Now I was panicking.

"No! No, Salem, there wasn't anything. It's just out of an abundance of caution, that's all." An abundance of caution?

"Chris, I'm fine. I've never been stressed out about work, I love what I do!" Chris cocked his head to the side. "I do! Really!"

"Salem, you had a breakdown just the other day because you were caring for a miscarriage family. I don't want that for you. I don't want that for us. Please, just consider it. Consider stepping back, I'll take care of everything." Though being a stay at home whatever-the-fuck-I-am seems like a great idea, I honestly think I'd go stir crazy. You can only clean so much before you get bored.

"I promise I will be okay. Staying at home will just make me depressed and feel worthless."

"Babe, you're not worthless. You're literally doing the hardest thing right now, you're growing a full on human being. Your families will be taken care of, I promise. Even if I have to do it myself. Your job is now to take care of our family," Chris reached across his desk and took my hands in his, "our small, beautiful family." I sighed, knowing I wouldn't win this fight. Arguing with him is like arguing with a brick wall. I nodded my head in agreement, and Chris called for an end of day meeting. We all gathered in the office, and I stood awkwardly next to Chris in front of everyone.

"I hope everyone had a good day, I've got a few things to address," Chris glanced over his list one last time, "first, I know you've heard the rumors of a possible sale of the funeral home, but I want to assure you we are not going anywhere. After a harsh slap of reality, I realized I couldn't possibly sell the funeral home and leave y'all hanging. So, I will be staying and keeping full ownership. Second, out of nothing but caution, Salem is stepping back. She will be available for emergency situations, but other than that she will be at home mainly." I watched as Ben rolled his eyes, and I scoffed at him.

"This is exactly why women should not be in the business." Ben muttered under his breath. I put my hands up as if to say "what the hell", and Chris furrowed his brow.

"Okay, Ben, you think women shouldn't be in this business," Chris walked up to Ben, "then I want to see you do everything that Salem has done. All the embalmings, all the cremations, meeting with a grieving mother," Chris put his finger in Bens chest, "but you can't. You're a man, and you and I both know that woman right there can run circles around us in this business. You've had an issue with Salem since day one, and I suggest that if you want to keep your job you keep your thoughts to yourself." Chris then turned to walk out, but stopped in his tracks. "Oh, and next time you wanna say something bad about Salem, you should know that's my fiancée you're talking about." Chris walked out, leaving the office staff stunned at what had just happened. Veronica stood up from her chair, came up to me, and gave me a hug.

"Thank you," she whispered, "Chris needed another woman in his life to help take care of him. He's definitely happier with you around." Her words made me feel better, more assured, about our relationship. I made him happy, and others were able to see it. Well, everyone except for Ben. Fucking Ben... I shook it off, and walked down to Chris' office. He was sitting down, working on financials.

"You look stressed," I said as I wrapped my arms around him from behind. He kissed my hand and put his pen down, then spun around. Chris pulled me onto his lap and pushed my hair behind my ear.

"I'm never stressed when you're around. You have an oddly soothing aura to you," Chris smiled as he played with my hair. I let out a small laugh.

"Do I now?"

"Absolutely, I knew it the moment you walked in. You're like my personal Xanax."

"Yeah? And how do you get your hit?" I was still laughing, expecting his answer to be something perverted. Chris gave me a genuine, sweet smile.

"Just by getting a single glance of you, hearing that laugh, seeing that smile," Chris  ran his hand up my thigh under my skirt, "and, of course, some other things." There it is. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and a hot blush come across my face as he played with the hem on my panties.

"Oh, and you want to show me what the other way is?" Chris picked me up, then slammed me onto his desk. His hands hiked up my skirt around my hips, stripped off my panties, and he slid a finger in me. I let out a small moan, and he added a second digit. I groaned as he curled his fingers inside me, then laid down on my back on his wooden desk.

"So wet for me already, are we?" He whispered in a sultry tone. I grinned, and bit my lip. He chuckled then withdrew his fingers and they wandered to his belt buckle. Chris undid his belt as I watched him closely, admiring every movement, knowing I'd made a fine choice in my man. With one swift motion he had shoved his whole length inside me. There wasn't any easing this time, no, he wasn't wasting time. His hand went up to my throat and lightly squeezed as he pounded into me, shaking the whole desk. His head went back slightly, his eyes shut, as he groaned.

"Fuck, Salem, tell me you're mine," Chris groaned out. I bit my lip.

"Mmm, fuck, Chris, I'm yours, baby, I'm all yours," he smiled as I obeyed him, and proceeded to go harder and faster. I clung onto the edge of his desk, feeling myself getting closer to climax. He began to thrust in an upwards motion and I tightened around him. I could feel him release into me, pumping in and out still, as I began to orgasm. Chris abruptly pulled out, and withdrew his hand from my throat.

"That's the other way, in case you were still curious." He played off of our conversation from earlier. I laughed, then watched as he adjusted himself. "What? What is it?"

"Just thinking about how I made a good choice."

"In what?"

"My lifetime partner." Chris smiled, then kissed my forehead as I sat propped on the palms of my hands.

"That's what I think every morning that I wake up next to the most beautiful woman in the world."