“Not at all.” His hands slid up to lightly hold her jaw as his head came down.
His lips grazed hers and a zip of desire ran the length of her body. She sucked in a breath as his lips trailed along her jaw before lightly sucking in her earlobe.
“How long do we have?” he asked. His hot breath fell across her skin, making her heart hammer.
She had no idea. Time had started to melt away. And with it, all deadlines and work in progress.
“We’ll do the regular version for now, shall we?” he asked, and she felt his smile against her cheek.
His lips connected with hers again. He sucked in her bottom lip before nibbling, teasing her.
“How about touching?” he murmured into the kiss. “Do you want touching?”
“Touching is good, yes.” She moaned as his hands covered her breasts. “Touching, kneading, sucking—all of those things are good.”
His chuckle was deep and dark, and his hands continued their downward path. “I’ve been looking forward to this,” he said, and his kiss deepened.
Her mind went blank. She couldn’t form words, so her admission that she’d been craving this all week came out as a moan of desire. His tongue flirted with hers, still teasing, but taking on the urgency surging through her.
One of his hands applied firm pressure on her inner thigh before sliding upward to her apex.
Oh my God, am I really doing this? At work?!
His fingers slid between her legs and stopped on her nub, kneading through her trousers.
“Ohh,” she sighed.
Yes, she was. She was really doing this at work.
He rubbed as he kissed, building an incredible tightness in her body. She clutched his muscular shoulders and lost herself in the feel of him. In his expert touch.
“I’m so glad to have met you, Kaylee,” he said as he unhooked the clasp on her pants before unzipping.
Her affirmation that she was glad as well was lost in his lips. In his hot mouth.
Air accosted her wetness as he slid her pants and panties down at the same time. Moaning again, she scrambled up on the desk to give him access. She didn’t give a damn where she was in that moment. Or that her bare butt had scattered papers and pens across her well-organized desk. All she wanted was him between her thighs, hard and fast and deep.
His hands found the backs of her knees and he pushed her legs up into an incredibly awkward position. She didn’t even notice.
He bent to her. His tongue left a wet, hot trail on an inner thigh, leading to her sex. He sucked in her skin, right next to where she needed his mouth. There was a pop when he released her, the bite of pain quickly overcome by the pleasure of him running his tongue along the other side. He sucked her skin in again.
After that pop, his mouth disappeared for a moment, and she held her breath and closed her eyes in anticipation. His tongue glided up her slit before he sucked in her clit.
Pleasure flooded her body. Color danced behind her closed eyes. She arched back, moaning much louder than she probably should in her office at work. The suction took on a fast pace, winding her up and applying the most exquisite sort of pressure.
She writhed, pumping up her hips in time to the suction. His fingers plunged into her.
“Oh shit!” she said, her body going taut. “Oh God. Oh Ethan.” His mouth backed off so his tongue and fingers could work in tandem before he went back to sucking.
She couldn’t get enough air. Her body was in agony, begging for release.
She grabbed fistfuls of his hair and pulled, hearing a low moan in response. His fingers continued to work her, his mouth driving her to the edge of madness.
“Yes, Ethan,” she exalted, on the edge. Almost there. “Yes!”
Her toes curled and her stomach twisted as every muscle tightened. As she hit the edge and—
“Oh!” An orgasm tore through her, and she exploded in pleasure. She slapped her hands on the desk. “Hmm, Ethan,” she said as she came down. She shuddered with an aftershock. “I would pay good money for that.”
He lightly kissed the insides of her spread thighs. “You’ll never have to.” He straightened up and pulled her into his arms. “I want to make love to you so badly, but first I have to turn in my resignation.” He angled her face up. “Even more beautiful, with the flushed face and satisfied smile. I can’t wait to worship you.”
“When will that be?” she asked, half-naked in her office and not at all caring. It was Ethan’s fault—in such a short time, she’d learned to roll with his weird.
“After work. I’ll pick you up at your house at…”
“Six. What should I wear?”
“We’ll be going to an untraditional five-star restaurant. Dress casual.” He hugged her tightly. “See you tonight. Happy birthday. Do you want a cake?”
“No. I hate cake.”
He laughed like that was a grand joke. “Okay, then. I’ll improvise.”
And with that, he was gone, opening the door and leaving before she’d even gotten dressed. “Oh shit!” Thankfully, he had closed the door behind him. She quickly pulled on her pants, her mind now stuck on what was in store for her. Knowing him, it was a night she’d never forget.
Sixteen
Ethan showed up at Kaylee’s house in jeans and a button-down shirt. He’d texted her his picture before leaving the house so they’d sync up. She’d immediately responded with a thank you—she’d been having a hard time deciding what to wear.
As if it would matter. She’d rock anything.
Butterflies danced through his stomach as he pushed the button on the doorbell. This was probably the biggest night of his life, and he was taking a chance on the dinner situation. It wasn’t what she was expecting. He hoped it would be a good surprise rather than a disappointing one.
She opened the door in a gust of fragrant perfume that stilled him for a moment as he breathed in the scent of her. He opened his eyes again, feasting on the lady who stood in front of him.
Also in jeans, though hers hugged her legs and showed off her curves, she wore a pair of stressed leather cowboy boots that screamed urban and cool and beatnik all at once. A sparkly purple sweater covered a plain black tank, both set off by a really neat necklace that dangled down her breastbone. Her hair tumbled around her face in loose waves, tamed for the most part, but with little flyaways that made the look natural.
His heart swelled as he beheld her. “Hello, Kick-Ass Lady.”
“Hey.” A shy smile graced her lips.
He reached forward. She took his hand, allowing him to pull her out of the doorway. “I should’ve gone a little wilder,” he said. “Look at you. I love your style.”
“I think only one of us should go wild at a time. Otherwise people will think we’re both crazy.”
“There’s no harm in that. It’s a nice change from weird, at any rate. I could rock crazy.”
“Hon, you already do.”
He laughed. “Nice. Now lock your door so you don’t come home to a squatter.”
After they got in the car, she said, “I know I’m not supposed to ask, but we’re going to a five-star restaurant…dressed casually?”
“You already have great trust in me. Let’s hope it holds up.”
“You’re not going to tell me, then?”
“Nope.”
“Is this another horrible surprise?”
“Possibly. The whole night might be one horrible surprise after the other. We’ll find out together.”
She huffed out a laugh and looked out the window. “I like how honest you are.”
He reached over and rested a hand on her leg. “Tell me, do you prefer being dressed up, or dressed like you are?”
“Like I am, hands down. Comfortable, but fun. I can express myself while still being relaxed.”
“Your version of relaxed, at any rate.”
“Yes. Exactly. I think I’d need a handful of drinks and a Xanax to be as relaxed as you.”
“It’s a gift.
I can fall asleep almost anywhere. Just put my head down and take a little catnap.”
“You probably travel well, don’t you?”
“Pretty well. I’m a stickler for cleanliness, so bad hotels can play hell on my fragile sensibilities.”
She laughed. “I can’t sleep anywhere unless there’s a somewhat soft bed and good pillows. That’s why I stay at nicer hotels. But I’m pretty clean, too—mostly because I like organization. You wouldn’t want to eat off my floor or anything, but it looks clean.”
“You shouldn’t have told me that,” he said, pained.
For some reason, that seemed to delight her. He had no idea why.
At the restaurant, she sucked in a breath and looked down at her clothes. “Oh, Ethan, no.”
He smiled as he stopped at the valet area. No way would they find parking remotely close to this hot spot. It was the absolute best in Sacramento.
“Trust me,” he said before exiting the car.
“How did you even get reservations?” She climbed out after him and scurried to his side, uncomfortable and clearly showing it.
“I know people.” He winked at the valet and reached for Kaylee, liking that she moved into the space of his arm and body without hesitation. They walked right past the front entrance.
“Oh…” She glanced back, confusion stealing over her expression.
Around the side of the building, where the light cut out, the pavement showed cracks and wear. The owners didn’t pay as much attention to fixing problems out of the public eye.
“Are we dumpster diving, or…” She glanced in the shadows, trained, as a woman, to suss out danger. Which was great for him, because he never thought to do it. She’d warn him before anything jumped out.
“You hate surprises, don’t you?” he asked with a chuckle.
“I hate things that don’t make sense.”
“It’ll make sense in just a minute.” Near the back of the building, they turned another corner. Light spilled out of an open door. Shouts and the clink-clank of dishes filled the space. Weaker lights positioned on the side of the building pointed downward, showing weeds fighting for life in the cracked cement.
“I’m still betting on dumpster diving,” she murmured.
“Not my style. I’m much too lazy to crawl into a garbage can.” He paused by the open door and stuck his head into the room. Men and women in white coats manned their stations. Fire flared from a metal pan. Food sizzled.
The woman nearest him glanced up. She flipped something in her pan before giving it a stir and tasting it, all while trying to figure out if he had a legitimate reason to be there. This restaurant had one of the most competent staffs out there, which was just one of the reasons they were kicking ass.
“I’m looking for Owen,” Ethan called. “He’s expecting me.”
The woman nodded, gave the contents of the pan another stir, then called out Owen’s name and jerked her head Ethan’s way. Someone shouted something about risotto, and in her next breath the chef said, “Risotto, thirty seconds to the pass.”
“Are we going to eat in the kitchen?” Kaylee guessed.
Owen appeared in the doorway with a calm face and tight eyes. His salt-and-pepper hair, which normally had a wave to it, was plastered flat against his head. Sweat glistened on his brow. He nodded at Ethan before glancing past him, catching Kaylee. “Right this way.”
“The kitchen, then,” Kaylee said.
They walked along the outskirts of the kitchen, careful not to bother anyone. Kaylee muttered again as they followed Owen through a small side door and into a simple room with white paint, two paintings on the walls, a worn rug, and a long table equipped to seat twelve. Only two places were set, facing each other across the narrow surface. White candles in crystal holders stood between them.
“Hi, I’m Owen, Colton’s brother-in-law,” Owen said to Kaylee, sticking out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Owen is also the executive chef here,” Ethan said, not bothering to hide the pride in his voice. “He worked his ass off to get here, and he’s doing a great job.”
“Thanks, man,” Owen said, giving Ethan a smile. “Anyway, you two get settled. I’ll drop in some wine and appetizers. Kaylee, are you allergic to anything, or do you hate anything?”
Her eyes widened, and she stuttered out a no.
“Great.” Owen clapped once and hurried out.
“His job is demanding.” Ethan pulled out her chair. “He’s excellent at it, though. I know a waitress here. She says they love him.”
After she sat, he moved around the other side and took his seat.
“So…what is this room?” she asked, mystified. Her gaze hit the painting on the wall in front of her and her eyes started roaming it.
“This is the owner’s dining room. He would rather eat near the kitchen than out in the restaurant with the customers. The size of the table is because this is also where he invites guests to join him, which is more than a little cool.”
“Yes. A lot more than a little cool.”
He smiled and turned, glancing at the painting that was holding her attention. Having already studied it, shortly after creation, he turned back around. “Our timing is lucky. Or maybe incredibly unlucky. Owen wanted someone to test a few new menu items. They’ve already been signed off on, but he’s thorough. He wants to see what common palates think of them. I assured him that your palate was just as common as mine. If that’s not true, lie.”
She smiled. “I’m sure it is incredibly common, my palate. So the owner isn’t using this place tonight, right? Because it would be more than a little embarrassing if he came in with all his friends.”
“There’s another one behind you.” Ethan pointed at the painting on the wall he was facing.
Her gaze followed his pointer finger, and then her whole body followed suit. “They’re really cool, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Janie painted them.”
She whipped back around with wide eyes. “Janie? Like…your friend Janie? The one that hates when people see her work?”
“That’s her, yes.”
“Wow. She’s…excellent.”
“Yes. You’ll see more of her stuff later.”
“And the owner bought these?”
“It would seem so. He must’ve bought them at the event she held a while back. You might’ve heard about it. The one in the warehouse that only went on for a weekend?”
“Wait. Wait, wait, wait.” Kaylee held up her hands. “Wait. Are you talking about that huge art show a couple months ago?”
“Yes.”
“The one all over social media— Oh my God!” She slapped her hand across her mouth. “That was Dave, wasn’t it? With the censored area. He didn’t look familiar when I met him, but… Holy—”
A young man dressed in all black bustled into the room, carrying a bottle of white wine. He paused when he saw Kaylee’s reaction. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, sorry. Just…having an epiphany.” She dropped her hands into her lap.
“Ah.” He smiled and screwed off the top. “Well, get ready for more epiphanies. The new items are going to make you a believer. I’m Adam, your host this evening, but all I’ll really be doing is filling up your glasses and taking away your plates. The chefs will be delivering and explaining each menu item.” He opened the bottle, smelled it, then poured a bit in Ethan’s glass.
“That should go to her. She knows what she’s doing.” Ethan gestured at Kaylee.
“My apologies.” He poured a little in her glass as well.
Kaylee sampled and nodded, then took a harder look. “Very good.”
“Yes. This pairs nicely with the first dish.” Adam finished pouring and gave them a slight bow. “Enjoy yourselves, and let me know if I can get you anything.”
“Great, thanks,” Ethan said. He waited until Adam was out of the room before saying, “Though how are we going to reach him? By wandering through the kitchen?”
“That
’s what I was thinking,” Kaylee said, laughing.
“Screw-top, huh? I thought screw-tops were for cheaper wines.”
“Some argue that screw-tops are actually better than corks. I don’t know the details. But corks aren’t needed for most white wine, so they aren’t used as much anymore. Screw tops are effective and cheaper. But anyway, can we get back to the art, please? I cannot believe that Dave is…was… I just can’t believe it. It’s like I met a celebrity but didn’t know it at the time.”
“Did you go to the show?”
“No. I’m not usually moved by hype. Now I wish I had. So that artist is Janie? I honestly can’t believe it. Everyone at the office was talking about it. The people that went said it was off-the-charts awesome. I’m usually good with names, but I had no idea it was her. Maybe no one mentioned it.”
“She goes by a pseudonym. Only two people in the art world have met her. She hates showing her work.”
“How could she hate showing stuff like that?” Kaylee pointed at the piece on the wall before turning around and staring at the other one for a while longer. “I am blown away. Wow. How neat. And wait…” She turned back around. “Did you say I’ll see more later?”
“Yes, though you might not be as excited about it. Or you might be very excited. Tonight is playing hell on my nerves.”
“It shows,” she said dryly. A sparkle of excitement lit her eyes.
A young guy in a white chef’s coat smeared with something orange bustled into the room. Everyone at the restaurant was in a constant state of motion. At least everyone they’d seen. The chef held two plates of scallops presented in an artful sort of way. He set a plate in front of each of them.
“Hello,” he said, stepping back. “Welcome. So you’re going to be our tasters from off the street?”
“Yep.” Ethan leaned back and looped his arm over the back of his chair.
“Fantastic. Well, I created this first dish and fought chef to give it a try.” He smiled as if he’d made an amusing joke, then launched into an explanation. Ethan really only understood the words “scallop” and “reduction sauce.” Kaylee was nodding along with glazed eyes.
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