He raised a brow. “Well, you see that is unfortunate, Cambria because your proposal was genius. To lose that and you would really hurt this firm.”
“I’m sorry, Jeff.”
“I have a proposition for you.” He leaned back in his chair.
“I can’t say that I will accept.”
“Fair enough, but will you hear me out though?”
She nodded for him to continue.
“Take the next week off. Today is Monday, leave right now. Take a trip, on me. Come back next Monday after the ground work for this project is done. See how things are going. If you feel it’s a ship you’d like to get on board with, we will forget this conversation ever happened. If you feel like you are still holding the short stick, I’ll respect your decision to leave.” She looked out his window at the wet snow and cloudy skies of winter. A vacation sounded like a dream. She wasn’t sure it would change her mind about her feelings, but there was nothing wrong with a vacation while trying to mull over the idea.
CHAPTER 14
“T he Virgin Islands! Are you kidding me?!” Brandon ran a hand over his face. “Damn it. When did she leave?” He sank in the chair across from Jeff the next day.
“Yesterday, I would assume she booked the first flight she could get. She couldn’t get out of here fast enough when I told her about my vacation home there.”
“I thought you were going to talk her into working with us on the project, Jeff?” He snapped at the man.
“Look. I was trying to save my best employee from walking out on me because you deceived her.”
“I didn’t deceive anyone. Jim didn’t tell me we were working with your firm. If I’d known, I would have been up front with Cambria.”
“Don’t tell me, man. Tell your girlfriend,” Jeff said, getting up from his desk.
“It just so happens I can’t tell her anything because someone sent her to the Virgin Islands for the week!”
Jeff chuckled. “I guess you have a dilemma then.”
“You are going to help me out with that dilemma! You know what you have to do Jeff.”
“I ’m going.”
“Going where?” Jim asked.
“To the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
“Like hell!” Jim stood up.
Jeff chuckled from behind his desk.
“This isn’t funny, Jeff.” Jim pointed at his old college buddy. “Damn it, Brandon, this account is too much of a big deal for you to go running after some skirt right in the middle of it. I don’t care how fine a piece…” His voice trailed off at Brandon’s warning glance.
“You both know I’m not going to be able to get anything done on this project if I know she is somewhere out there, wherever the hell the Virgin Islands are.”
“The Caribbean,” Jeff interjected.
“I have to go get her. I’m—I’m in love with her,” he admitted to the two men. He closed his eyes and ran a hand down his face. “Did I just say that out loud?”
“Yes, you did,” Jim said, falling back into his seat.
“Can’t deny love, Jimbo.” Jeff grinned. “You go get her. Make this right and bring her back, sooner rather than later. It would do us all better if the both of you were here.” Jeff scribbled something on a piece of notebook paper and handed it off to Brandon. “Here is the address. Go get your woman. We’ll be waiting when you get back.”
C ambria repositioned her body in the lounge chair on Jeff’s deck. Who knew her boss had such a beautiful condo in St. Thomas, part of the gorgeous Virgin Islands? Two days into her vacation this was just the distraction she needed from work and Brandon; even though she missed him and the feel of his hard body against hers. “Mmm.” The moan escaped her mouth before she could stop it. It didn’t matter, though; she was the only one out here. She would have to face Brandon sooner or later, but she would rather it be later, not wanting to hear his excuses now, whatever they may be.
Cambria pulled at her bikini top. She had bought it on a shopping trip yesterday. She never usually wore two-piece suits and had received some appreciative stares while walking along the beach today—that made her feel a little better about the purchase.
She flipped the page of a trashy romance novel, jealous as hell the leading woman was getting all the sexing she could stand from the well-endowed man she had been lusting after for so long. “You bitch,” she murmured at the book. “Must be nice.” Her mind kept returning to the way Brandon had held her and made her feel so good. “Damn you, Brandon. Making me fall for you again and then you betray me. I knew this shit would happen. I didn’t know how, or when, but I knew you’d fuck me over and not in a good way.” She closed her eyes, trying to push away the pain this deception caused.
“My intention wasn’t to betray you, Cambria.”
She sat up from the lounge, dropping the book on the deck, and ripped the sunglasses from her eyes to glare at the man standing in front of her. “What the hell are you doing here, Brandon? “How did you find me? Better yet how did you get in the house?” she snapped.
“Jeff.” Brandon walked toward her and sat at the edge of the lounge chair.
She swung her legs out of the way just in time to miss his butt sitting on her. “Um, excuse you!”
He leaned over and picked up the book she had been reading. The smile that crossed his face was so gorgeous she had to look away from him. “Are you still reading these books, Cam?”
She jumped from the chair to get away from him. “You can shut the hell up. Don’t worry about what I’m still reading,” she warned. She heard him page through the book.
“He was so hot,” he read. “He made her teeth sweat… Really?”
“The book does not say that!”
“Swear to God; right here it does.”
She turned to look, but the book was closed and he stared at her.
“I was just trying to get you to look at me,” he said, his tone more serious.
“Why do you have to make fun?” She frowned.
“It is always more fun to make your own story than to read about it.”
“It is always hot to lose yourself in a sexy scene of a book. Makes you…” Cambria stopped short not wanting to think about anything sexy around him. It was too much. Just being around him hurt like a knife to her heart—
“It makes you what, Cam?” Does it make you want it yourself? Just as hot, twice as pleasurable. Just ask and you shall receive.” The look he gave her at that moment, on any other day, during any other circumstance, would have melted her heart and moistened her panties all in one swoop, but not today. She crossed her arms and glared at him.
“Don’t look at me like that, Brandon.”
“Like what?”
“With that look.” With those sexy bedroom eyes.
“Okay, so I won’t look at you, for now.” He stared down at his hands folded in his lap.
“What are you doing here?” she asked again, taking the book from his hands. He let it go but grabbed her hand, causing the book to slip from her grasp yet again. She looked down where their hands met. The contrast of their skin tones had always been such a turn on for her. She tried to push down the desire creeping up in her. Damn him for having this effect on her. She looked up at him. As he promised, he did not look at her, but instead looked at their joined hands as well. “I wanted to talk to you when this happened, but I realized you may need time to yourself and I respected that.”
“You gave me two whole days, Brandon. You’re so generous.”
“Those two days were hell for me. You have to believe I didn’t know anything about the project. I swear to God. Jim told me we landed a new account. We celebrated. He wouldn’t give me more details until the meeting. When I looked at your work Monday morning and I told you how much I’d admired your work and how genius you are, I meant it. I wasn’t thinking about my project, or stealing your work. You are so talented; Cambria, but I would never ever do that to you. You know me way better than that.”
“Stop. You don
’t have to say that.”
“No, I really mean it,” he said, squeezing her hand. “The way you looked at me Monday morning, well that killed me. I don’t ever want to be the cause for that look in your eyes again. I hope you trust what I’m saying to you.”
“Okay, fine, Brandon. It’s whatever. I don’t want to be angry about this anymore. I’m down here in paradise. I don’t want to think about work.” She turned, leaving him sitting on the lounge chair. When she reached the sliding glass doors she turned to him, only to catch him checking out her ass. “Excuse me! Aren’t you supposed to be leaving?”
His gaze snapped up to meet hers. “Is that bikini new?” He stood and walked toward her, his hungry gaze roaming her body.
“What if it is?” She attempted to stay sarcastic and carefree. But the way he feasted on the sight of her made her think of every sexual escapade they shared the last weekend.
“You look hot as hell, Cambria,” he said, placing both of his hands at her hips.
“What are you doing? You aren’t staying here.” Her mouth moved, but her body deceived her, becoming putty under his touch.
“I’m not going anywhere until I’m sure you have forgiven me.”
“I told you, I forgive you.” Her eyes closed as he dropped his head to kiss at her jaw line.
“No, you really didn’t. You kind of just blew me off.”
Her heart leaped at his words and goosebumps broke out on her skin when his warm hand moved around the small of her back.
“You mean too much to me to let there be any bad feelings between the two of us, Cam.”
“There are no problems with this…er, us.” Damn him, she couldn’t think. He lifted one of her arms and deposited it up around his neck. She looked into his eyes; gorgeous green, mischievous, and filled with desire. “What are you doing?” her words turned breathy as he moved their bodies together.
“I’m stopping you from walking away from me again.” He captured her lips with his.
She moaned her pleasure. She missed this. She missed him. The project and their silly fight already placed on the back burner when he held her like this.
“Did I see a hot tub over in the corner?” he asked against her lips, only breaking contact to speak the words.
“Yes.” She was working at the buttons on his shirt.
“Have you ever wanted to skinny dip?”
She smiled against his lips. “Are you asking me to get busy with you in my boss’ hot tub, Brandon?”
He grabbed her hand and walked her toward the tub.
“If you want me to stop just tell me, but I swear to God, Cambria, I have missed you, and I want you, now, baby.” He crushed his mouth against hers.
Warm water bubbled against her back side as he helped her up and into the tub. She opened her eyes wide. “What are you going to wear? You weren’t really serious about not wearing any clothes!”
“Why wouldn’t I be serious?” He finished the work she started and unbuttoned his crisp white shirt, throwing it onto the stone patio. He worked at his shorts as her gaze stayed transfixed on him.
“You are gorgeous,” she breathed. He tossed his shorts and boxers next to his shirt. She watched him slide into the bubbling water, his bare body hard and lean and other parts hard and thick, pointing right at her. “What are…you doing, Brandon?”
He stopped her train of thought and flimsy attempts at protest when his hand found her thigh. “I’m trying to get the sexiest woman I know to make out with me in this hot tub.” His arm snaked around her waist.
The heat of his embrace and the flutter in her stomach caused her to giggle like an adolescent school girl. What is wrong with me? He brings out this carefree, throw caution to the wind, wanton in me—
“Come here, Cambria.” He pulled her to him.
“I don’t know…I’m…mmm…stop I can’t be…damn…I can’t…ahhh.” The words got lost on her lips when he sucked at her hardening nipple through her new bikini.
“Tell me, baby, what’s wrong?” His hands ran over her backside, lifting her to straddle his lap so they faced each other. Her knees anchored on the seat around him.
“I’m supposed to be mad at you. I can’t be mad at you when you’re doing that.”
“What am I doing?” He pushed her bikini top to the side, her bare breast exposed to his mouth and tongue.
“You know good and hell well what you are doing.” Her head fell back in ecstasy as he continued feasting on her nipple, licking and suckling. Pleasure escalated inside her. “Damn it.” She bit at her bottom lip. “You are going to pay for this.” Her warning lacked the conviction she wanted, unable to sound as forceful as she wanted with a steel rod in between her legs. His naked erection pressed against her clit, still covered by the wet material of her bikini. She inadvertently rocked her hips against him causing the friction she craved on sensitive parts.
“This is not at all fair,” he growled in her ear, working at the clasp to remove her bikini top.
“What are you talking about?” She ran her fingers through his hair as he sucked at her breasts.
“I’m naked, baby, and you’re not.”
“I’m getting there,” she protested, looking down at her freed breasts in his mouth.
His fingers fiddled with the waistband of her bikini bottom. “I’m talking about these.” He moved his hips forward, making his erection more evident. “You are rubbing your clit against me so I’m sure you want me to take care of that for you without this material in the way.” He pressed at her clit through her bikini bottoms.
She stifled a moan as he touched her exactly where she needed it most. But he couldn’t do this to her without knowing where she was coming from. “No, no, no,” she said, finding her dominance. “Look at me.” She made him stop his mouth assault on her breasts, and his abled fingers at her pussy. “You don’t get to piss me off about work, then fly down here and take me— Mmm,” she moaned as he pressed his against her again. She placed both hands on the rim of the hot tub controlling how he moved against her body. “You don’t get to take me like this. Brandon, I need to know that you are sincere.”
“I’m more than sincere, baby.”
She put a finger to his lips. “I’m not just talking sexually. I get that. I can feel that.”
“No, I really don’t think you can, Cambria,” he said, taking her hands in his. “It may be crazy to you. But everything I’ve told you, how I feel about you—about us—is true. I didn’t know this was your project. If I did, I swear to God I would have been upfront with you about it. The last thing I want for you to think is that I’ve played you in anyway. Cambria, I-I’m….”
She positioned her body so they were face to face. She eyed him and moved her hand to his badly-in-need-of-a-shave face. “Hey,” she said, quietly, causing his wayward gaze to reconnect with hers. “Tell me. What is it?”
His eyes closed briefly before reconnecting with hers. “I’m falling for you, Cami,” he said quietly.
Her heart pulsated harder. “What?”
“Don’t make me say it again, if you aren’t ready to return the sentiment.” He tried to turn his head away, but she captured his chin with two fingers bringing his face back to her. Cambria kissed him lightly.
“I know how I feel about you already, Brandon.”
“Can I ask if it’s at all close to the way I feel about you?”
“Damn close,” she whispered against his lips.
“What are we going to do about that?”
“You tell me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her bare breasts into his chest.
“I want to work on us, Cambria. I want to be with you, make you happy. Come home to you at night. I don’t want to rush anything if you don’t, but…I don’t ever want to make you look at me the way you did a couple of days ago when you saw me walk in your conference room. That tore through my heart.”
“I should have talked to you about it before jumping to conclusions,” she said, hang
ing her head.
“We are talking now,” he said, quieting any doubt.
She let him kiss and love her. She pulled her bikini bottom to the side and slid her heat over his erection until she was totally filled with his length. She moaned her pleasure, “God, you feel amazing.”
Brandon stopped his movement, allowing her to ride him and enjoy getting pleasure from him. He knew she was all he wanted in his life. It had always been Cambria. Her moans became louder and he knew she was reaching her release. Her vaginal walls contracted around his erection.
Cambria yelled his name, “Oh, Brandon, yes!” She continued to move against his length. With both hands at her hips he moved inside her a few rapid strokes until he, too, moaned feeling his load jet inside her warmth. She opened her eyes and he stared back at her—both of them thinking the same thing.
“I love you, Cambria.”
“There was a time I never thought I’d hear you say those words.” She sighed, settling into his lap. The warm water circled around their naked bodies. She straddled his lap and he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I’m saying it now, because it’s how I feel.”
C ambria placed a wet hand to his cheek. “I feel the same way,” she whispered. She lowered her mouth for a gentle kiss. When she moved away his gaze gleamed. “What is it, Brandon?”
“I just had a thought.”
“Okay, are you going to share?”
“We've always worked together so well in college on projects. I think we work pretty well together in the bedroom, too.”
She could feel her cheeks burning. “We obviously work well together in a hot tub as well, but what are you getting at, Brandon?”
“Would you think I’m crazy if I’d suggest starting our own marketing firm?”
She stared at him in shock for a second. “I think it is a great idea. But it would take a lot of planning and capital and…”
Rekindled Desire Page 7