by Kira Blakely
I narrow my eyes. “You know exactly who I mean.”
“So, he assigned you to the Seeker? I’m glad he lived up to his end of the bargain.”
“Bargain? What bargain?”
He looks away. “Just business.”
My fists clench. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ugh, he is so infuriating.
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to clean up my mess.”
“You mean the mess you made with Casey Rockford? She’s still pissed, you know, but don’t worry. She won’t bother you anymore.”
I don’t even want to know what he did about Casey.
“Like I said, I don’t need your help. I can take care of myself. And I sure as hell can get my dream job on my own.”
“Really?” He leans forward, elbows on his desk. “It’s a competitive world out there. If you ask me, it’s wise to accept favors. Climb the ladder however you can.”
“Well, maybe that worked for you, but I prefer to climb the ladder with my own hands and feet.”
“Sometimes, you have to sacrifice your pride in order to succeed.”
“Say those who do not have enough pride.”
“Why?” He stands up. “Why is it that you refuse to take anything more from me?”
“You mean more bullshit?”
He comes around his desk toward me. “Is that all I’ve given you? Haven’t I given you something else? Something good?”
He’s in front of me now, so close I can smell his cologne and feel his body heat washing over me.
Too close.
I take a step back, suddenly feeling like a cornered kitten. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away?”
“Why? Because if I come near you, you’ll be tempted to throw yourself right into my arms? Because if you look into my eyes, you’ll remember how good it felt for me to fuck you and want more?”
Without warning, the memory returns, my skin tingling as heat rushes through my veins.
“I shouldn’t.”
“Shouldn’t, or don’t want to?” He takes my chin in his grasp. “What are you so afraid of, Sam?”
I don’t answer. I can’t. My throat feels so tight I can barely swallow, and my chest feels so tight I can barely breathe.
“I know.” He strokes my cheek, the pad of his thumb making me blush more furiously. “It’s not me you’re scared of, Sam. You’re scared of yourself. You’re scared that once you fall, you won’t be able to get up again, that once you lose yourself, you won’t get it back.”
My eyes grow wide. “How did…?”
“You want to know how I know?” he whispers in my ear. “Because I feel the same way.”
That surprises me even more. Nathan is scared, too?
His gaze holds mine and for the first time, I see the flicker of fear in his eyes. It’s just a flicker, though, all too soon banished by a bigger, sturdier flame: the flame of lust.
Like before, it lights my own.
Already, my body has remembered his, wanting him, preparing for him. My breasts swell against the pads of my bra, my sex growing moist with something other than sweat.
A chemical reaction. Plain and simple.
And something I can’t fight against.
His eyes narrow. “Fall with me, Sam.”
His lips are on mine, his tongue delving into familiar territory, reclaiming me.
He tastes like coffee and something minty. Delicious. Intoxicating.
At first, I bang my fists on his chest. I try to push him away, but it’s futile.
He’s too hot.
And he’s right.
I was afraid of falling. But not anymore.
Fall with me.
I kiss him back as I place my arms around him, and he kisses me more fiercely, his tongue sending delicious heat all the way to the tips of my toes.
Damn, I’ve missed this.
He hoists me on the edge of his desk, his fingers working on the buttons of my blouse as his mouth continues to keep me busy.
His hands find my breasts. I gasp.
He pushes up my bra, the pads of his thumbs grinding against my nipples that quickly push back.
I moan.
He kisses me harder, grabbing my ass and pulling it closer to the edge so that another part of his body can grind against me.
A bigger, harder part.
Even through all the layers of fabric, I can feel its length, its heat as it rubs against my sex, its quivers of desire.
He wants me.
Badly.
That knowledge sends a thrill through me.
“See what you do to me,” he murmurs as the kiss breaks, the words coming out in a gravelly whisper.
I push against him, bolder now. “I can feel it.”
He frowns. “I don’t know if I can be gentle. It’s been too long.”
I shake my head. I’m no longer afraid. “Don’t be. Just let go.”
I whisper in his ear, “Take me.”
At first, he grimaces, torn between his thoughts. Then he shakes his head.
“Fuck it.”
He takes me off the edge of the desk, turning me around and bending me over it. I feel my pants and my underwear drop to my knees.
I hear the sound of a zipper being pulled down.
Then I feel him.
Gripping my hips, he enters me with one thrust.
I moan, my fingers raking the surface of the desk.
That first thrust is followed by another and another.
Harder. Deeper. Faster.
Incredible.
My knees shake, my clothes falling to my ankles.
I can no longer speak, the air in my lungs not enough to fuel speech. Only moans and gasps escape past my lips even as tears brim my eyes from the intense pleasure.
I can’t… take it… anymore.
My orgasm rips through me like a knife, sharp and quick.
When it is over, I’m turned around and shoved on top of the desk, my legs up in the air.
“Cum… ming.”
Those two strained syllables, that dazed look in Nathan’s eyes and the feel of his cock throbbing inside me as his orgasm seizes him sends me into my second.
And this time, it’s longer.
The longest orgasm I’ve ever had.
When it’s over, I lie limp and completely out of breath, vaguely feeling Nathan pulling out and carrying me to the couch.
For a while, I lie still as I gasp for air, my mind blank and my vision blurred. Then it hits me that we’re still at the office, and I scramble to clean up and get dressed.
I can’t believe we just had sex in his office.
I can’t believe we just had sex.
“Explain,” I tell him as I put my pants back on.
“Explain what?”
He’s already behind his desk, going through the pile of papers on it as if he didn’t just fuck me there.
“You said a while ago that you could explain the pictures and the phone numbers.”
“I can,” he says. “I keep track of the women I sleep with. That way, if they try to cause me trouble after, I know how to deal with them.”
“Trouble?”
“They get clingy. They try to get money out of me. They spread rumors about me.”
My eyes grow wide. “That’s horrible.”
He looks at me. “Not every woman is like you. In fact, I don’t think there’s another woman like you. That’s why I… why I don’t want to lose you.”
I realize I don’t want to lose him, either. So, have I forgiven him?
Well, technically, there’s nothing to forgive. As far as the evidence goes, all those women were in the past, after all, and he did give me a good reason for keeping their pictures and contact numbers.
If anyone must be forgiven, it’s me.
I was jealous. I didn’t trust him.
From now on, I’m going to.
I reach for his hand. “Shall we go home
?”
“If you mean go back to my apartment and have sex some more, my answer is yes.”
I smile, blushing. Sure, I’m still recovering, but hey, if he wants some more later, I’m sure I’ll manage.
He’s not the only one who wants to make up for lost time.
“I’m all yours tonight.”
Chapter 12
A Pair Takes Flight
“Good morning,” I greet Nathan as I enter the kitchen in one of his white shirts, yawning as I place my hand on top of the granite counter.
Nathan gazes at me from behind it. “Well, look who’s finally up.”
I pout. “Hey, it isn’t my fault I was up all night.”
He grins. “Slept well?”
I nod.
It’s true. After I’m not sure how many rounds of sex — and I mean mind-blowing sex — we had last night, I conked out, sleeping like a log. I can’t even remember the last time I slept so soundly.
Now, nine hours later, I feel reinvigorated.
And starving.
I walk over to the counter where Nathan is plating the pancakes and bacon.
I close my eyes, inhaling the sweet and salty aroma. “Smells good.” I open my eyes. “Looks good, too.”
“Thanks.” Nathan sniffs his arm. “I did take a shower.”
“Not you, silly.” I give him a playful nudge. “Though you do look good in that apron.”
“And you look good in that shirt.”
“What, this old thing?” I look at the oversized white shirt I’m wearing. “Thanks.”
He chuckles.
I take a strip of bacon. “Don’t you have work today?”
“I just have to drop by the office for a few hours this afternoon.”
“I see.”
“Then I’ll meet you for dinner. I’ve got something special planned.”
“You do?” Now, I’m excited. “Can you give me a clue where we’re going or what we’re doing?”
“No.” Nathan shakes his head. “It’s a surprise.”
I pout.
“But I’m sure you’ll love it,” he adds.
I smile. “I can’t wait.”
***
“So, what? You’re going out with Nathan Landers now?” Pam asks.
Once again, we’re having coffee at our favorite café, which is currently packed and bustling, and once again, she’s acting like my mother instead of my best friend.
Actually, she’s worse than my mother.
My mom rarely scolds me or gets mad, and is patient and loving, doing her best to understand me. Pam, on the other hand…
“Sam, we’ve already talked about this.” She lets out a sigh. “I thought you’ve already learned your lesson.”
“I’ve learned my lesson, all right. And that’s to never jump to conclusions again or to be so quick to believe what other people say.”
Pam frowns. “You mean what I say.”
“I mean other people,” I repeat. “I was wrong about him, Pam. He’s not a bad person.”
“And I was wrong to expect you to start using your head more than your heart,” she says. “You’re not thinking straight, Sam. Again. Actually, you’re not thinking at all.”
“I am thinking straight,” I argue.
“Really? Did you sleep with him last night?”
“Um, yes.”
“Then you’re not thinking straight.”
I lift my shoulders. “What does that have to do with it?”
“It’s the sex talking. Not you.”
I frown. “You know, maybe if you had sex a little more often, you’d be less cranky and skeptical.”
“Ouch.” She picks up her cup of coffee. “That confirms it. He’s a bad person. I mean, look at what he’s done to you. He’s turned you into this mean bitch.”
“Sorry,” I tell her quickly.
Pam may scold me a lot, but she is my best friend.
“I just… I wish you’d trust me on this. I wish you’d give Nathan a chance. He really isn’t a bad person.”
“So, womanizers are saints now?”
“I’m not saying he’s a saint, just that he’s not all bad. And he’s not a womanizer anymore.”
“So he says.”
“I trust him. Won’t you trust me?”
Pam says nothing.
“I’d really love to have my best friend’s support, you know. It would mean the world to me.”
Pam sets down her cup and sighs. “I wish I could but…” She stops suddenly.
“But what?”
She doesn’t answer and this time, I can tell her silence is a meaningful one. This usually means there’s something she wants to tell me but doesn’t want to upset me.
“What?” I ask again, curious.
“Never mind,” she says.
“Pam.” I look at her insistently.
She gives another sigh. “You say you trust Nathan. But do you even know him? Like, really know him?”
Now, I’m really curious. And worried.
“Pam, what are you not telling me?”
Again, with the silence.
“Oh, no. You’re not going to leave me hanging here. Now, spill the beans.”
She looks at me. “Fine. Do you remember Elaine? She’s a news writer just like me.”
“No. Why?”
“Well, she’s working on this story about the trade on rhino horns. You know that’s illegal, right?”
I nod.
“Of course, you do. You’re the animal expert.”
“Pam.” I try to steer her back on track. “Cut to the chase, will you?”
Pam takes a deep breath. Moment of truth.
“Well, the name of Nathan’s company came up.”
My eyebrows crease. “Landers Innovations?”
“That is his company, right?”
“Are you saying his company is involved in the illegal trade of rhino horns?”
“And possibly other poached goods.”
I shake my head. “Absurd. Landers Innovations is in the tech industry. Why would he deal with wildlife goods?”
“I was wondering the same thing. Then I remembered how Landers Innovations developed an app for tracking wildlife.”
“They did?”
“It’s not too well-known, but I found a few articles on it,” Pam answers. “What if it’s a cover-up, Sam?”
I don’t even entertain the thought. “No. There’s no way Nathan would be involved in something like this. Why would he be? He’s already making enough money from his products.”
“Enough money? Do you really think businessmen can have enough money?”
“You’re wrong, Pam. You were wrong about him before, and you’re wrong about him now.”
“This is not an opinion, Sam. This is a fact.”
“Well, it’s wrong. Your friend’s facts are wrong.”
“I looked into them myself, for your sake.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
Pam exhales deeply, looking down. “As I thought, your mind is clouded.”
I, too, sigh as I get up and grab my purse. “I have to go. I still need to rest.”
This conversation has proven exhausting.
She picks up her cup. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“It’s not a warning,” I insist. “It’s an attempt to bring him down, to ruin what he and I have.”
“I—”
I look at her. “I was really hoping you’d support me, you know. But it’s fine. We’ll do just fine, even without anyone’s support.”
“Sam…”
I don’t listen. I don’t look back.
I leave the café, leaving my best friend behind for the first time.
It’s fine.
True, my heart is heavy, but I’m not mad at her, really. Pam’s just being Pam. I’m just sad that we had to argue. But then, even best friends argue sometimes.
At any rate, I’m not going to think about it. Not right now.
I ha
ve a date to prepare for with the man who’s everything I ever dreamed of and more.
I wonder what surprise he has in store for me.
***
“Now, open your eyes.”
I obey Nathan’s command, clasping a hand over my mouth as I gasp in wonder at what he’s prepared.
A candlelit dinner just for the two of us on the deck of the yacht, the sea glistening beyond us, and the stars sparkling above.
Romantic.
Perfect.
He puts an arm around me. “Like it?”
“How can I not?”
“I actually thought hard about this. I thought about bringing you to a zoo, but something tells me you don’t like seeing animals in cages.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then I thought of bringing you to a restaurant inside an aquarium, but I was afraid you’d feel stifled. You’re claustrophobic, aren’t you?”
I look at him. “You’ve noticed?”
“Of course I have, since that first elevator ride.”
“Really? Sorry.”
Nathan shakes his head. “There’s no need to apologize for what you fear. Anyway, I figured I’d bring you somewhere open. And this occurred to me.” He gestures toward the sea. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Of course.” I give him a light kiss on the cheek. “Thanks.”
He grins. “Don’t thank me just yet.”
I smile, my heart that hasn’t even slowed down yet skipping a beat.
There’s more?
He grabs my hand. “Shall we eat?”
I go with him. “And while we do, why don’t you tell me more about yourself?”
Of all the things Pam said, she was right about one thing — I don’t know Nathan all that well. But that’s going to change after tonight.
After tonight, nothing is going to come between Nathan and me.
***
“You got thirteen stitches?” My eyes grow wide in disbelief.
He shrugs. “What can I say? I was young and reckless.”
“And stupid,” I add.
“That, too.” He takes a sip from his glass of wine. “Aren’t the stupidest moments of our lives some of the most memorable?”
“You mean we can’t just forget them even though we want to? Like they just surface when we least expect them, and then we end up either laughing out loud or grimacing and wanting to hit our heads against a wall?”
He looks at me. “What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done?”