Hot Proposition (Happy Endings, Contemporary)

by LB James

  Hot Proposition

  By LB James

  “Your rule about sleeping with a co-worker doesn't apply when you're out of state,” Samantha Peters commented, taking a sip of her cranberry vodka.

  We sat at high stools in the restaurant's bar area, which overlooked the dining tables. A wall of glass offered spectacular views of Washington, DC's famous sites. The sun had just set, the sky ranging in colors from black to a burnt orange, the Washington Monument glowing brightly.

  “Everybody knows crossing state lines null and voids that rule.” She eyed me over her glass, one eyebrow raised, daring me to contradict.

  “You're my executive assistant, not my love-life coach,” I replied.

  “You might be my boss, but you're my friend first, and I say you need to get laid.”

  It seemed, after hours on our business trip to DC, with work done for the day, Samantha wanted to tackle my personal life—my sex life, more specifically. My non-existent sex life.

  I gave her a pointed stare as I stirred my gin and tonic with the little drink stirrer, ice clinking in the glass. I crossed my legs and the knee length pencil skirt slid a demure inch up my thigh. “I love how you bend the rules to suit the situation.”

  My heart rate kicked up a notch, my blood thickened at the very mention of getting laid. I squeezed my thighs together trying to dull the thrumming ache that always started in my pussy when my mind shifted to Cole Porter. The man I secretly dreamed of, longed for in the late, lonely hours of the night. The man whose voice scraped over my senses like tumbling rocks. Just one look at his stubble lined jaw had my sensitive nipples tightening, imagining the rough texture against the very tips. Whose incredible height made me feel small and feminine, willing to submit to his every demand. Only Cole would do to assuage the fires that built by just a glimpse.

  Whenever he was in the same room, for a meeting or quick security update, it was hard to focus and stay on task. His blue eyes would meet mine briefly across the room, across a conference table. I'd read something in them that was just for me, a glimpse at the man behind the professional facade. A glance that screamed....more. More than just colleagues, more than professional associates. It read he wanted to rip down the cool, corporate shield I wore as crisply as my business suits and discover the hot blooded woman beneath. Each time he pierced me with his gaze, my inner muscles tightened, pulsed for his touch.

  My usual steel trap mind turned to the brain of a flaky teenager with just one whiff of his woodsy cologne that circled a conference room, or my office, entangling me in his thrall without even trying. If my body succumbed to him in such carnal ways by just a look, just a hint of his scent, I could only imagine what it would be like when his lips met mine, his hands stroked over my heated flesh, his mouth lowered to my center. One slide of his hot tongue on my clit would bring me to instant climax.

  My lusty imaginings aside, Cole was always completely professional. Nothing had occurred that was the least untoward, nothing that would indicate there was anything more to our business relationship for anyone in the office to see. No brush of hand, no sexual innuendo, not even an invitation for drinks. Not a blip on anyone's radar at work to indicate that either of us wanted something more. Except Samantha. Somehow she'd seen the signs, picked up on the electrical storm of attraction that arced between us.

  I furtively watched the man who could fulfill my every desire across the restaurant. Cole sat at a table with several other co-workers, having drinks and dinner after a day-long power-pitch to a potential new client. Negotiations followed and because the deal had closed successfully, celebrating was in order. It appeared from the smiling faces of my employees, they had the last well under way.

  “You've got to bend the rules sometime,” Samantha continued. She smiled at the bartender who delivered an appetizer and placed it between us on the bar.

  “No, I don't. Besides, I don't have time,” I replied, being evasive. Scooping spinach dip onto my plate kept me from having to look her in the eye. Dreaming after the man was one thing, but my nerves fluttered, my palms sweat and I felt vulnerable and insecure at the very idea of confronting Cole about anything that wasn't business related. How did you approach a man and tell him your panties got wet every time he turned his baby blue eyes in your direction?

  I was the head of a multimillion dollar company. I didn't flinch when a negotiation went south or a conflict with Japanese diplomats turned political. But Cole Porter could strip my defenses. With just one look, there was no doubt Cole saw me not as his boss, but as a woman. No man had done that since...ever. There had been men in my life, men who I thought I'd loved, men who I knew I didn't love at all, men who I just needed to warm my bed. There was only one man I wanted to warm my bed now, or anywhere else he'd have me, and maybe even to love. For some strange reason, my heart thought Cole was the man.

  My body wanted to make time to get Cole into my bed, take off his clothes one layer at a time like a Christmas present, but my mind balked at every opportunity, making rules like not getting involved with employees. It was a great way to keep him at a distance. And everyone else in my life.

  But work was my life and I had a strict rule of not mixing business with pleasure. Cole had been a consultant with the company for three months, handling security that came along with the just approved defense contract. Because of the high-end technical skills my company offered, it was crucial to maintain the safety of the intellectual property, and more importantly, my employees.

  “Don't have time?” Samantha repeated. She seemed unbothered by what she probably considered stalling tactics. “I know your schedule inside and out. It would be true if we were back in LA, but we're not. You have nothing tonight, nothing tomorrow. The deal's done. Use the excuse of being out of town to go after him.”

  I took a big fortifying sip of my drink. I was a CEO, not an escort. I had no idea how to lure a man to my bed. Did I say, I want you to fuck me or Come with me, I'm going to rock your world? I internally rolled my eyes at my innate ability to be completely, certifiably unsexy.

  Samantha waggled her eyebrows and smiled as she sipped her drink. “We could've sat with them, you know.” She tilted her head toward the rest of the team.

  I shrugged my shoulders nervously. “We got here late. Didn't make sense to disturb their meal.”

  “You're the boss! You can do whatever you want.”

  I pointed my fork at her. “Exactly. I'm the boss. No one wants to have dinner with their boss.” No one wants to have sex with their boss.

  “I want to have dinner with you,” Samantha replied. “You're getting off track. We're three time zones away from home. How much further can you get?”

  Bora Bora, perhaps?

  “Go after him. He's tall, gorgeous, smart, fit, sexy. I bet he's an amazing kisser.” She looked off dreamily. I looked at her funny. “What? Just because I'm married doesn't mean I can't look. Take what I know you want.”

  I scooped some spinach dip onto a toast tip. “Go after him? I don't know who you're talking about,” I said, and even I heard the snippiness in my voice.

  “Oh, please. It's like Fourth of July fireworks between you and Cole.”

  I choked on my appetizer. After a sip of my drink, I stared at her, stunned. “How on earth can you tell that? I have never done anything unprofessional at work, and I'd like to assume neither has he. Did he say something to you?” I mentally groaned. “Or someone else?”

  Samantha placed her hand on mine for a moment. Gave it a little pat. “Of course not. I wasn't suggesting anything like that. Besides, he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to kiss and tell. But come on, the way he looks at you, wow. He
seeks you out when he comes into a meeting. You can't miss it.” She smiled, shook her head. “I know you too well not to see your reaction to the man. Come on, he's hot—and super sexy.” She winked.

  “You've already said that,” I grumbled. I was uncomfortable with her bringing my fears to light. I wanted him. But should I, no make that could I, go after him?

  “Just do it. I know you want him.” She tipped her head toward the dining area where Cole sat.

  I placed my forehead in the palm of my hand, groaned at what I hadn't been able to hide from her. “Am I that obvious?” I replied weakly, hoping upon hope Cole hadn't noticed, too.

  With his blue eyes, dark hair, Cole was the epitome of the term Black Irish. He always filled out his suits to perfection, and whenever he didn't wear a jacket, his dress shirt fit snugly across very appealing, very hard muscles. Even now, having dinner with his co-workers, with his tie loose and the top button of his shirt undone, I wanted him so much my pussy all but wept for him. My panties were damp with need, clung to my swollen folds.

  I wanted to continue to undo the buttons down the front of his shirt, exposing his flat stomach, run my nails over his hot skin. Put my mouth on his....

  “Of course not. You've got nerves of steel.”

  “Great. I like the idea of having nerves of steel, as you put it, for work, but does a guy really want a woman like that? A woman who has balls in the boardroom?”

  “Balls in the boardroom, but a pussy in her panties.”

  My mouth fell open at her blunt words.

  “The only man who matters is Cole. And he wants you any way he can. He's looking at you,” she said, leaning in.

  I darted a glance to his table. Sure enough, his gaze was on me. Something flared in his eyes, a brightness that wasn't there a moment ago, something I'd like to think was a look just for me. He turned his head to respond to someone sitting across from him.

  The connection was broken, but the sultry heat thickening my blood like syrup lingered, softened me to requited desire. My nipples were hard tight points against my lacy bra at just one glance. Did he really want me? My body certainly wanted him. I took a sip of my drink to cool down. To stop and remember it was not smart, no, downright stupid, to take a man from work to bed, no matter how smoking hot he was.

  ***

  I left Samantha in the lobby. She to join some friends from work to hear some jazz at a nearby club, me to tackle a mountain of work still left unfinished. Exhaustion threatened my sixty hours a week ethic. But I had paperwork to read through, calls to return, probably a long list of emails that needed a reply. Who was I kidding? Sleep could come on the long plane flight back tomorrow.

  As I approached the bank of elevators in the lobby, my mind was focused on what client I needed to tackle first and didn't see Cole standing there until I was right in front of him.

  “Oh,” I gasped, frozen in place. Up close, he looked so much more virile, so much bigger. I came up to his chin in my heels. His dark hair was still neatly groomed, and I wondered what it would feel like having my fingers tangled in it.

  He gave me the look I'd seen across the restaurant. Up close I noticed his eyes widen imperceptibly, his jaw tighten. Were his fists clenched at his sides?

  There was no way I could retreat, no matter how much I wanted to make a run for it. Flee in any direction where he wasn't. The idea wasn't the least bit professional. It wasn't nice, and I was being juvenile.

  A ding signaled and before I could figure out my next move, Cole took a firm grip of my upper arm and led me into the deserted elevator. I turned around to face the doors as everyone does. Except for Cole. When I came around, he was right there, millimeters separated us. I looked at his stubbly chin, his strong jaw, the dark hairs peeking out the opened V of his shirt and loose tie.

  The doors whooshed closed, cocooning us in a small space all our own. When I took a deep breath to ease my racing heart, my breasts bumped Cole's chest. His spicy scent swirled around us, intoxicating me to his very essence beneath the cologne. His body heat pulsed into me, his full length matching mine.

  Cole placed one hand on the wall beside my head, leaned in so we were eye to eye. His breath was minty and sharp with a hint of beer.

  I was lost. I was confused. I was overwhelmed by Cole. It was as if he was like a vacuum, a black hole that pulled me into his thrall as if I had no control. At that moment, I realized I didn't. I had no control over this situation, no control over Cole's substantial power over me. And he hadn't even said a word.

  “Cole...I...where—”

  “Your room or mine?” he asked, a rough whisper against my neck. His proposition was like a zing of electricity to my very center. My woman's inner muscles clenched at his words.

  My heart pounded frantically like a hummingbird's wings. My tongue dashed out to lick my lower lip. Cole's eyes lowered to my mouth, his breath hissing out like a leaky tire.

  I straightened my shoulders trying to remain strong against his overwhelming onslaught. “You can't come in my room,” I said, hoping my voice sounded stern. Even to my ears I heard the breathless quality to my words.

  “Sweetheart, I'm going to come. And so are you.”

  My mouth fell open at his twist on my words. The doors dinged and slid wide. Grabbing my hand in his large one, he led me to his room. Standing in the deserted utilitarian hallway, Cole yanked me into him, our bodies pressed as one and lowered his mouth.

  The first touch of his lips brushing over mine was every torrid thing I'd dreamed about, everything I'd fantasized about for months. His mouth was not gentle, not friendly. His tongue swooped into my mouth in total possession, possession of a man over a woman at its finest.

  “Say it,” he said, his voice a rough whisper. “I want to hear you say it.”

  I lifted a hand to my swollen lips, felt them hot and tingly. “Say what?” I replied. With one kiss, I didn't know who I was anymore. Was I the wanton woman standing in the hallway with an employee or was I just a woman with a man I wanted deep inside me?

  “Say you want to fuck me.”

  I closed my eyes, my lids fluttering shut and I shook my head. Tried to clear the cottony fuzz from my brain. He leaned in close, ran his lips up my neck, his breath a tickling whisper behind my ear.

  “I'll start. I want to fuck you.” He nipped at my earlobe and I gasped. “Say it.”

  I opened my eyes, looked into his pale blue ones, saw the intensity of his need, of his mission to have me in his bed. I felt my cheeks flame. “I want you to fuck me,” I answered.

  Cole's pupils dilated, making his eyes darken like a stormy sea. His grasp tightened on my hand.

  “But I don't sleep with employees,” I whispered as I shook my head. I couldn't give in. Couldn't break the rules because I wanted him so desperately. Greedily wanted his cock pounding into me, having his pleasure seep into my very soul with his life essence.

  “I quit.” With those words, he slid the key card into the metal slot and pulled me into his room.

  ***

  Stunned by his words, Cole was able to get me into his room without any resistance. His room was identical to mine, except mirror image. One very large king sized bed filled the space. Turn-down service had come through, sheets folded back, a mint on the crisp white pillowcase. One lamp basked the room in a soft light.

  “Quit?” I asked, standing in the narrow hallway outside the bathroom. “Why would you quit?”

  Cole tilted my chin up to look at him, saw his shoulders shrug. “I want you more.” He walked me backward into the door, his body inches away. Lowered his mouth back to mine. Drugged me with hot kisses, the swipe of his tongue. He touched me solely with his mouth. His hands were pressed into the door by my head, pinning me in place. His dress shirt was rolled up to reveal hard muscled forearms with a sprinkling of dark hair.

  The only contact he made with me was his mouth. Just his mouth searing me with a brand I knew I could never forget. I wanted his big hands on me, roaming over
my breasts, my belly, lower.

  I wriggled my body, trying to get closer, to press my aching nipples into his hard chest, but Cole was able to lean back, to deflect me. My body shivered with desperate want. His mouth alone would not do.

  “Cole,” I heard myself beg.

  I moaned when his mouth left mine. Cool air caressed my lips. “You have to tell me.”

  “Tell you what?” I cried.

  “I know you. I know you want me. No more excuses. No more buts. No more work getting in the way. I've seen it in your eyes, the way you look at me in a meeting.”

  I bit my lip, wet from Cole's mouth. “Yes, I've watched you, dreamed about you doing things to me. Just like this. I want you, Cole. Please.”

  “I've been rock hard for three months, ever since you interviewed me in that prim black skirt and silk blouse. While I was answering your questions about security clearances, all I wondered was if your stockings were held up by sexy garters. What color your panties were.”

  I leaned out and nipped his strong jaw. “Why don't you find out?” I asked.

  Cole's hand came up to flick at the top button on my blouse. Stopped.

  I darted my eyes up to meet his. “What?” I asked, my voice a whispery pant.

  “This isn't just a work fuck.” Our breaths mingled in that tiny area between us. “It's more. I know it. You know it, sweetheart.” His voice was commanding. He wanted something from me, reassurance, a bond that was more than a one night stand.

  “Yes, it's more. So much more.” I wanted it, too. The knowledge that this wasn't an orgasm-on-the-go.

  Cole smiled then. Beautiful white teeth gleaming in the dimness of the room, his mouth quirked up in that sexy way of his. Taking my hand gently in his, he led me, guided me to the bed. “I'm going to make love to you in all the ways I've imagined over the past ninety days. I'm not letting you up until I've fulfilled every one.”

  It was my turn to smile. The soft pleasure blossomed not in my core where most pleasure with a man emanated, but higher, around my heart. The very idea that Cole had wanted me the last few months with as much longing as I'd felt for him was like a balm to a lonely soul. His words, the obvious desire that shone in his eyes at this moment made my pussy weep for him more than I thought possible.