My competitive nature is a true double-edged sword. Growing up, I was a rare combination of physically coordinated with good grades, which got me a free ride to an excellent private college.

When an injury subsequently took me out of sports, my grades carried me into a choice business school. From there, I’ve continued my ascent in the corporate world. Overall, I’ve never been a man to settle for less in anything that I set my mind to. I demand the best from myself always — and I never back down from a challenge. In terms of my personal life, though, I’ve always been the total opposite.

Sure, I have always enjoyed the “chase” and the rush of landing a sought-after sexual conquest — that goes without saying! However, when I was younger, the last thing I wanted was a super-competitive partner or a fellow “type A” person. When I was “off,” I just wanted to be able to relax and not have a pissing contest, so without meaning to offend, you could say that this caused me to date women of markedly lower intelligence and ambition. I suppose my younger, less mature self thought it was easier or safer to avoid relationships where I’d be forced to reckon with a true equal.

Lucky for me, when I was in my early thirties, I met a lady who managed to reverse the polarities of my world and shake things up completely — and not a moment too soon. Without breaking any corporate espionage laws, I can say that once upon a time, I was in charge of spearheading a very lucrative and top-secret new project for a major tech company.

When I walked into the conference room to begin the first of many brainstorming sessions, you bet I was pissed to see that our CEO had, at the last minute, called in some female consultant — and put her above me, allegedly because she had some “insider knowledge of the consumer base.”

Now, before you bristle, this was not at all a “sexist” thing — it was a “I have worked on this project for a year, was told I had carte blanche, and who the hell is this new person” thing. Nevertheless, I managed to keep my composure and shake hands. The female consultant’s name was Sherri.

Sherri had tumbling chestnut curls that she restrained with a demure French twist. And she had the most regal face with creamy ivory skin and light green eyes. Hiding beneath that navy pantsuit was a toned figure with incredible legs. Gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe Sherri: Given the power and confidence she exuded, and the ease with which she carried herself, she was miles away from any other woman I’d ever known — and for the first time, I felt out of my depth.

I smiled and tried to make nice with some pleasantries, but Sherri more or less just cut me off: “I’m sure we’ll get to know each other later, Mr. Keller. But right now, I have a presentation that I really want you all to take in, so please, have a seat.”

OK, fine, you can call me arrogant, but I was used to being in charge, not being dismissed and told to “sit down” by some totally new person — much less a woman I found myself attracted to. And it got worse.

In front of the entire room, Sherri spent the next fifteen minutes eviscerating my ideas — several of which were backed by a great sales record. Now, I’ve seen some macho moves before, but this was pushing it. I glanced at our CEO and he gave me one of those helpless shrugs like he didn’t have the power to stop what he’d set in motion.

Once she finished, Sherri had the nerve to dismiss everyone and ask me to stay back and chat with her — like she was a stern schoolteacher and I had detention.

“Sure, not a problem,” I said, clenching my fists under the table. “I welcome your feedback.”

My colleague Stan patted me on the shoulder. “Easy there, tiger.” He whispered. “She’s probably all bark and no bite.”

My boss had the nerve to give me a thumbs-up: “Can’t wait to see what you two will come up with.”

It was all I could do to smile and nod at him.

As the room emptied, I stood up and headed over to Sherri. In spite of the fact that my varsity days are long gone, I’ve maintained my physique every day at the gym; I’m 6’3” and made of lean muscle. Sherri, looking me square in the eye, was maybe 5’10” with her heels on. If we were dogs, no doubt we would have been circling each other for the next hour.

“Listen,” Sherri began, “I am aware that you’ve made some important strides over the last — ”

“ — no, you listen.” I held up my hand. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing here, but no one knows this area better than me.”

“If that were true, then your numbers would be rising.” Sherri gestured to her PowerPoint: “These figures from last quarter say it all.”

“That’s bullshit — you know as well as I do that external factors had impact — ”

From there, Sherri and I ended up in a full-blown screaming match that probably everyone in our vicinity could hear. Maybe it was all foreplay. But at the time, it landed me in hot water.

After a few rounds of our yelling, the room intercom buzzed and my boss’s secretary interrupted: “Brian, Mr. McNeill says he needs to see you now.”

The blood was rushing to my head as I snapped back: “I’ll be right there.”

I glared at Sherri and slammed out of the room. First “detention” with a self-righteous bitch, and now the “principal’s office” with a sputtering idiot — I could never recall being so pissed off at work before.

“Brian — ” My boss began, “Listen, I know this might have come as a shock to you.”

“No kidding!”

My boss sighed. “Look, you want success, I want success — so I need you to work with her. And I actually think she has some really useful ideas, or I wouldn’t have brought her on board like this.”

“Is that all?” I said.

“No,” my boss replied. “I don’t want a lawsuit or any ‘ugliness’ leaking out, so here’s what: You’re going to say ‘mea culpa’ and take Sherri to a nice, convivial dinner to reevaluate our strategy.”

Before I could speak again, he cut me off: “It’s on the company dime, so whatever. You want to order caviar out of spite, that’s fine. Just work with her — and don’t make me ask you again.”

I sighed and nodded. “OK. When?”

“How about now? Hit up the happy hour — you know our place.”

The walk down the hall to Sherri’s office felt like it went on forever. When I reached her new suite, I stopped just to take in the sight of her hunched over her laptop screen with the slightest hint of cleavage emerging from her blouse. I cleared my throat.

She looked up at me but did not smile. “Yes?”

“So. If you get your things and meet me in the garage in ten minutes, looks like Mr. McNeill has approved the expenditure of a rather lavish business dinner,” I paused, “for the two of us.”

“Is this because you think plying me with martinis will make me give in to all your ideas?”

“I don’t think so, but I guess for what it’s worth, it’s an olive branch — and I’ll be getting pliable myself, so — you won’t be the only one,” I shrugged.

Sherri reached for her purse and stood up. “You almost sound charming when you put it that way.” And then there was the slightest hint of a smile as she brushed past me: “Are you going to lead the way, or do I have to do that, too?”

“After you,” I smirked.

“Fine.” Sherri pursed her lips and pulled her office door shut: “Let’s go then.”

At the time, I had no idea just how literally those words would manifest. I volunteered to drive, and surprisingly she let me. Dinner itself was also unexpectedly pleasant — although we didn’t even talk about anything related to work, so that’s probably why! In any case, I wasn’t sure what to do.

The Sherri from earlier in the conference room drove me nuts — but I couldn’t get enough of the Sherri who was across from me now.

As if she sensed my hesitation, I felt her hand touch my arm:

“Brian?” Sherri smiled. “This was nice.”

“Yeah,” I said, staring into her eyes first, and then letting my eyes wander down from her collarbone, taking in that alluring hint of her cleavage. “I’m — ” I paused. “Sherri, I really owe you an apology.”

Sherri shrugged. “No, I get where you’re coming from. Believe it or not, I might’ve reacted the same way.”

I didn’t expect her to be so gracious, much less casual about it. “I’m hoping we can work together better — but, to tell you the truth, I’m also sorry that I have to work with you.”

“Why would that be?”

“I usually don’t date women I work with.”

Sherri smirked. “So you’re hitting on me now? Is that where this spirit of teamwork is coming from?”

“Yes — no.” I laughed. “I plead the fifth.”

“Uh-huh.” Sherri tilted her head and folded her arms.

Inwardly I wanted to crawl under the table. I was used to feeling smooth and in control, but around Sherri I felt like a blindfolded guy stumbling around during an earthquake. And the prospect of her rejection made me feel extra vulnerable, so I tried to play it cool: “Let’s get the check. Don’t know about you, but I have plenty to catch up on.”

We headed to the car and drove back to the company parking garage in awkward silence. I was certain I had put my foot in my mouth earlier but had no idea how to recover. I killed the engine and smiled at her again. “Well — thanks for coming out and humoring me, I guess.”

And that’s when she touched my arm again. “Brian — ”

“Hmmm?”

“You know I want to do more than humor you, right?”

“What do you — ”

“ — I didn’t say no back there, did I?”

Before I could blubber out another response, Sherri leaned in and kissed me with such passion that the touch of her lips sent chills down the back of my neck. I grabbed her and pulled her as close as possible, but she was clearly taking charge.

“Move your seat back, Brian,” Sherri whispered.

I complied, and Sherri took hold of my belt buckle.

“See?” She unzipped my pants and felt her way to my throbbing member. “When you cooperate with me, we can work really well together.”

Still too stunned to properly speak, I let my mouth just fall open as I felt her lips encircle the head of my dick. Without even smudging her lipstick, my new perfectionist alpha-female colleague worked my member back and forth between her pillowy lips, sucking and tugging me to new heights.

I stroked the sides of her face and hair as Sherri opened her mouth and expertly overcame her gag reflex to take me deeper and deeper down her throat.  I could feel my climax building, but I really wanted to fuck her.

“Sherri — ” I gasped. “Sherri — slow down.”

She released my dick from her mouth and grinned: “Why would I do that?”

“I want to fuck you.”

“You’re going to have to earn that perk, mister,” Sherri said, casually stroking my shaft. “In fact, you are going to need to show me that you can deliver a huge load first.”

I don’t know what was more arousing — her challenge, or the way she was taking charge and making me her private come-stud. In any case, Sherri went back to work and deep-throated me into sweet oblivion. I tried to last for as long as possible, but there was no stopping the torrent of hot come that erupted as she pumped and sucked me dry. Sherri swallowed everything, too, save a little trace in the corner of her mouth when she looked up and smiled at me again.

“Well done,” she said. She straightened her blouse and sat up.

I slumped back in my seat, thoroughly spent and, pun intended, blown away by this woman. “That was incredible.”

Sherri smiled again. “Indeed. See you tomorrow.”

And before I could speak again, she kissed me on the cheek and got out of the car.

I went home that night and jerked off in the shower, trying to remember every detail of her spontaneous suck-off as I pictured the gorgeous body hiding beneath her business attire.

I walked into work the next day thinking all was well and the project would be smooth sailing — but I was wrong.

Before I could even say good morning to the receptionist, Sherri was at the front desk barking at me. “Brian! Where the hell have you been?”

“What do you mean? We don’t have a meeting?”

“Get into the conference room. I’ve been on the phone with Japan since six this morning, and you and I need to go over some new contract clauses.”

“Well — nobody told me!”

My boss came down the hall and shook his head. “Brian, you two simply need to learn to work together and communicate.”

Great. Between that admonishment and Sherri’s attitude, I felt like the “bad kid” in school again. But imagine my confusion: The woman who just blew me in a parked car was apparently now trying to make me look bad in front of the boss.

I started down the hall to the conference room, calling out over my shoulder:

“What’s going on, Sherri? What didn’t you call me?”

“I’ll explain in a moment.” Sherri ushered me inside, pulled the blinds — and then locked the door.

“What’s going on?” I repeated. “I thought we were — uh, cool, after yesterday.”

And that’s when her face changed. “Oh, Brian,” she giggled, “please don’t worry.”

“Worry?” I threw my hands up. “Sherri, are you trying to sabotage my career here?”

“No!” Sherri shook her head. “I had to make it sound like we needed privacy to work, and I also needed a very good reason to get you alone in a soundproofed room.” She reached over and tugged on my necktie.

“I’ll be damned.” I shook my head. “You couldn’t just come to my house and fuck me like a normal person?”

Sherri laughed. “No — ever since I first saw you in here, I wanted this — right here in this room.” She gave me another mind-melting kiss.

“I thought you hated me when we met.”

“Mmm, maybe just a little.” Sherri gently bopped me on the nose.

“Well, I give you serious props for initiative.” I felt my way up her blouse and began to undo the buttons.

Sherri smiled. “Go on — I know you’ve been dying to see them.”

Beneath her conservative white blouse, she had on a white sheer mesh bra that gave me a naughty little peek at her erect nipples. I licked them through the thin cups and felt her squirm: “I want to strip you naked and fuck you all over this table.”

“Good.” She whispered in my ear. “Because this time I want to feel that load inside of me.”

I unhooked her bra and helped her toss it aside with her blouse. She wore a pencil skirt today instead of the pantsuit. As we kissed, I squeezed Sherri’s ass. “Are you not wearing panties?”

Laughing, Sherri unzipped the side of her skirt and wiggled out, revealing a lovely bare cunt. “You really are a professional, Brian.”

“You don’t know the half of it.” I put her on the table and dove between her legs. As I set about returning Sherri’s oral favors earlier, it gave me pause to remember the cold, argumentative Sherri I’d met in this room vs. the whimpering wet nympho who kept egging me on and pulling my hair as my tongue circled her clit. If you would have told me a day ago that this is how things would end up, I never would have believed it.

“Oh, fuck!” Sherri wiggled her hips in time with my tongue, so I felt her pussy all over my smooth-shaven face: “Don’t you fucking stop, Brian!”

I didn’t; I kept going with my tongue and fingers until I felt her body start to shake. But I didn’t let her bask in the afterglow of orgasm long; my bulging dick was straining to go, and Sherri knew it.

She laid back on the table and spread her legs again, stroking her wet folds for me. “Go on, Brian. Show me how you work.”

I plunged into her pussy, filling it to the hilt. I loved the way her long, petal-like labia wrapped around my tool, as if she was devouring me.

“Ahh, yes!” She moaned and pinched her nipples. “Fuck me, Brian!”

“Oh my God, you’re so fucking wet!” I groaned.

Sherri and I power-fucked with her legs over my shoulders, knocking over pens, remotes — any office supply near our romp ended up on the floor. I wanted it to last all day — this was chemistry unlike any other I had ever experienced. We both came together, and just as Sherri had wanted, I shot my entire load into her pussy — although there might’ve been a suspicious puddle on the table after we left the room.

Now, after our actual work project together ended, no one at my company was surprised that I left and went out on my own. However, what no one saw coming was the name of my new business partner — and our wedding announcement, six months later.