by Maisey Yates
He looped the necklace around with one hand, fastening it in the back and letting the heavy weight of it rest on her chest.
“Let me see,” he said.
He gripped her shoulders and turned her slowly. It wasn’t a line, what he’d said about seeing jewelry on a woman, it was the truth. He never really felt he’d seen a piece until it was being worn.
On Madeline, the necklace was exquisite. Large emeralds and small pear-cut diamonds woven together in a platinum chain. Some of the glittering diamonds dropped to the curve of her breasts, demanding that he look at her ripe, tempting flesh.
“You should wear it,” he said.
She touched the lowest hanging diamond, the one that was nearly nestled in the valley of her cleavage. “I am wearing it.”
“To the exhibition in Luxembourg. It is best displayed on you.”
She opened her mouth and he could tell, by the stubborn set of those pretty lips, that she was about to argue.
“Madeline,” he said, “don’t say anything about professional boundaries. Because those were well and truly breached last night.”
Her cheeks turned a deep crimson. “It happened. It isn’t happening again, so professional boundaries do matter.”
The desire to kiss her, touch her, caress her where those tiny diamonds glittered, was nearly impossible to combat. That by itself gave him the willpower to move away. Anything, any feeling, that was that strong…
It was simply unsatisfied desire. That was all. He’d had his taste, and now he wanted to eat his fill. His reaction was simply that of a hungry man in need of satiation.
Need. It was a word he didn’t like. He’d needed someone before, and he had no intention of ever needing anyone again. And that meant he was going to have to deny the arousal that was coursing in his veins.
He could find a blonde. Or a redhead. Variety was always good. And he could go back to the carefully, controlled form of relationships he preferred. The sort of relationships that didn’t include spontaneous sex on a desk.
It was better that way.
“I still want you to wear it,” he said.
“You could hire a model,” she retorted.
“But it looks perfect on you. Why should I pay some skinny woman to walk around in it when it suits you?”
Blue eyes narrowed in his direction. “Did you just imply that I’m fat?”
“No, I implied that professional models are skinny. You have curves. You are a woman.” Curves that had fit in his hands perfectly, curves he was longing to touch again.
“Women want to be skinny, Aleksei. Good grief, I thought you were some sort of legendary playboy. Seems like you should know that.”
Madeline wasn’t really annoyed with Aleksei. Well, not about the skinny comment. She was annoyed at herself. Because the minute she’d walked into the room her sophisticated, blasé self, the one that had got dressed this morning repeating the mantra, “I can have a one-night stand and then face the man the next day, because I’m totally sure in myself,” had gone and run for cover, leaving her nervous, and breathless, and a little turned on. Okay, a lot turned on.
And when he’d commanded her to turn around in that same tone as he’d used yesterday… It had melted her. Physically, not emotionally.
It had felt… It had been strange to have him leave after they’d been together. But ultimately, she was glad he had. No point in cuddling up. That was part of making love. They had not made love on that desk. That had been nothing but purely physical sex.
And the purely physical part of herself wanted him. A lot. Again. Maybe a couple more agains after that. But she hadn’t known that sex could be so good.
She’d done the whole crying after, emotional thing before. But she’d never done the pleasure-that-felt-like-it-might-kill-you thing before. And she liked it. Which brought her back to the wanting more thing. Which was really impractical and not going to happen.
But was kind of hard with Aleksei’s dark gaze trained on her, his eyes full of heat and, she was sure she saw it, desire.
“I didn’t find the statement insulting,” he said. “I like your figure.”
“Boundaries,” she said, not as sharply as she would have liked.
“You like me to cross boundaries.”
She thought he might kiss her. But he didn’t. He only looked at her. But that look had the power to melt the soles of her shoes. She waited for him to make a move. He didn’t.
The disappointment that settled in her stomach irritated her. She shouldn’t be disappointed. She was the one who’d said it was one time only. For very good reasons. Aleksei, or rather Aleksei’s bedroom skills, were addictive. And whether she was with him one time or ten, they always would be. So there was no point in prolonging it, in making it more important than it needed to be.
More important than it could be.
There was no room in her life for emotional entanglements. And she didn’t even believe that love really existed. Her brother and his wife were extremely happy, even after five years. But of course some people were compatible, so it was bound to work.
She’d never seen real love up close in action. Her parents certainly hadn’t loved anyone but themselves. Definitely not their unexpected, unwanted daughter. William hadn’t loved her. All of his compliments, all of his poetic words, had been designed to manipulate her into bed. Had been to make her docile and happy so she didn’t ask why he didn’t stay the night, and why they never went to his house. And why it was a secret they were together.
She’d been so stupid.
She never would be again. At least with Aleksei it was just the sex and she knew it.
“I can’t deny that I liked it,” she said.
Oh, good, and now her cheeks were hot, which meant they were bright pink with embarrassment. She just wasn’t a sexually sophisticated person, and one time with Aleksei hadn’t changed that.
“But,” she continued, “that doesn’t change the fact that it was a bad idea, and…and we have to get back to business now.”
“I fail to see what any of this has to do with you wearing the necklace. Even if yesterday hadn’t happened, now I’ve seen you in the necklace, you’re the one I would want displaying it.”
Okay, this was work. It was just work. She was good at this. Besides, the necklace was gorgeous. She admired what Aleksei did so much, saw so much art and beauty in it. She was really almost honored to be asked to wear it.
“As part of my job?” she asked.
“As part of your job.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll wear it.”
Because he was her boss, and he was asking her to. But it felt different…and that was because they’d…been together.
All the more reason to just wear the necklace. If she let a few stolen moments of pleasure, the kind of pleasure she’d denied herself for so long, the kind of pleasure she deserved, ruin her job, then she’d have sabotaged her career for sex. And that was even stupider than sleeping with her boss had been in the first place.
“If you need a gown, I will have one purchased for you,” he said.
“You sign my paychecks, Aleksei, you know I can afford a gown if I need one,” she answered tightly.
“It’s for a company event. Shouldn’t the company provide it for you?”
She chewed her lip. “Maybe, under normal circumstances.”
He shrugged and raised his dark eyebrows. “I thought circumstances were normal.”
Maddy made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat. “They are. But they aren’t. If you bought me a gown, when you never have before, given what happened, it would make me feel cheap.”
“That would not be my intent.”
Her stomach tightened. She didn’t suppose it was usually a man’s intent to make a woman feel cheap. Just like he wasn’t lavishing her with attention when all he was really giving her was things.
She’d liked the things William had bought for her. She’d imagined them to be thoughtful. A sig
n he was thinking of her. Her parents had never bothered to buy her anything, and they didn’t care about her at all, so maybe…
Grrrr. She refocused her thoughts. She wasn’t going there. She wasn’t doing the self-pity thing. The long and the short of it was that taking a gift from Aleksei, at this point, wasn’t happening.
“You know why it wouldn’t be appropriate,” she said, meeting his eyes, feeling the impact down to her toes and at all the interesting points in between.
“You’re being ridiculous, Madeline.”
“No,” she said. “No, I’m not. You’re in the position of ultimate power, so you don’t get it. I know what it’s like to be the one dependent on someone for something. To be the one at a disadvantage. Yesterday happened, and while it isn’t happening again, it doesn’t change the fact that it did, and that it alters the dynamic between us. I’m not going to let you…buy me, so just let me buy my own dress.”
“What’s this about, Madeline? Because I’m sure it has nothing to do with me specifically. When have I ever acted like I owned you? Or like I even wanted to?”
“Let’s just not talk about it,” she said, clipped.
“Fine with me. But I’m buying your dress.”
“No, Aleksei…”
“Madeline, last I checked, I was your boss. As you so eloquently reminded me a moment ago, I sign your paychecks. The fact that I had sex with you doesn’t mean you can suddenly disagree with everything I say.”
“I want to choose it,” she said.
“Fine, I trust your judgment as far as fashion is concerned.”
Maddy rubbed her forehead, trying to ease the tension there. “Well, that’s something.”
“I’ll have to approve it of course.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Aleksei!” she hissed. There would be no easing the tension in her head now.
“It’s my display, for my jewelry.”
“Your display is my body.”
“I will not force you to wear something you’re uncomfortable with. I simply want to ensure I’m happy with how it complements the necklace.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. Things had got out of hand, and all because of yesterday. She’d been congratulating herself on how emotionless it had been, and now she was feeling extra touchy about everything.
“Okay, fine. I’ll buy a few dresses I like and I’ll show them to you and return the ones you don’t like, fair?” she asked.
“Fair enough,” said Aleksei.
He touched her shoulder, his fingers rough from the fine work he did with his hands, his palm hot. Then he reached around with his other hand and unclasped the necklace, sliding it off of her, the cool metal a sharp contrast to his touch.
How was it possible to be so annoyed at a man and to want him so much at the same time? Maybe that was how it worked when there was no love involved. If desire was divorced from emotion it didn’t really matter how she felt about Aleksei. It only mattered that she was still attracted to him.
It made everything inside of her a strange series of compartments. Aleksei her boss, Aleksei the man she’d slept with, Aleksei the man who sometimes drove her crazy.
As long as she was able to keep it all separate, everything would be fine. And she would. Because she had no other choice.
It had been two weeks since Aleksei had been inside Madeline’s body. Two weeks since he’d touched her, tasted her. And it was a sad commentary on the power of his attraction to her that he remembered the exact date he’d been with her.
He hadn’t found another woman. He’d considered it. Had even considered calling Olivia for a brief and satisfying reconciliation. But he hadn’t. Because it wouldn’t be satisfying. Not in the way it had been to be with Madeline.
He wanted more of her, and until he had it he could not see wanting anyone else.
He had been working in the Milan office more. It was more convenient at the moment because of the upcoming exhibition in Luxembourg. It was also a form of sexual torture he found almost intriguing. To see Madeline and not have her. To want something he couldn’t have. To actually want anything and anyone specifically. It was all fascinating in a way.
He hadn’t desired a certain woman in a long time. It had been more about a need for sex than for anyone in particular. But Madeline…he desired her. Likely because she had ended things before their natural conclusion. Because she had ended things, period. He couldn’t remember if a woman had ever ended things with him before. It was always his call to end the relationship.
The intercom on his phone beeped, and his secretary’s voice came over the speaker. “Madeline Forrester is here to see you. She says she has the dresses.”
A slight chuckle rose in his throat. “Send her in.”
Thirty seconds later the door to his office opened and Madeline strode in, three garment bags draped over her arm, her long brown hair loose around her shoulders.
“I come bearing gowns,” she said.
He hadn’t seen her very often over the course of the past couple weeks. Brief meetings in her office, and he’d passed her a few times walking through the vast lobby of the office building. Every time she was polite, but seemingly unaffected.
Except for the flush of rose that stained her cheeks whenever she met his gaze.
She looked at him and her cheeks darkened. Satisfaction tightened his stomach. She still wanted him. But if she wanted him, it would be her who made the move. He was hardly going to chase after a woman, especially one doing such a good job of feigning disinterest.
She would have to admit it. Would have to acknowledge how much she wanted him.
She stepped forward and draped the bags over his desk. “So, I’ll leave them for you to inspect and you can get back to me about which one you like.”
He placed his hand over hers, catching it before she could pull it away from the bags. “No, that’s not how this is going to work.”
“Oh, no?” She lifted one well-shaped brow at him, the curve of her left hip cocked to the side in defiance.
“No. You must try them on for me.”
Her mouth dropped open and she pulled that smooth, sexy hand away from him. “That’s…objectifying.”
“How? You’re going to wear one of them in front of me anyway, and I assume all are entirely appropriate for public viewing.”
She shut her mouth, her teeth clicking loudly. “True.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
That bottom lip of hers, so lush and kissable, got a very good chewing on as she decided what to say. He knew she wouldn’t have much of anything to say ultimately. Because her issue with it pertained to their having sex with each other and he knew she’d rather chew glass than bring it up.
“Nothing,” she said finally, releasing her lower lip.
“You can change in there.” He gestured toward the bathroom that was at the far end of his office.
She scooped the garment bags back up in her arms and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. He had to laugh when he heard the unmistakable click of the lock. Then he had to acknowledge it was probably a good thing she’d locked it, or he might be tempted to go in and help her with zippers or something.
And then he’d end up stripping her bare and having his way with her on the vanity.
His body pulsed in serious approval of that fantasy. He let it play in his mind for a while, much longer than he usually allowed himself, until Madeline came out of the bathroom, perfect curves encased in a long emerald-green gown. It was strapless, but the cut was high and didn’t reveal enough of her gorgeous breasts for his taste.
Though, staying on task, the real issue was that he wanted to see the effect of the necklace on her skin and not on heavy green satin.
“Next,” he said.
She shot him a deadly glare. “I like this one.”
“Keep it then, but don’t wear it with my necklace.”
Lifting the skirt and kicking it to one side, she sauntered back into the bathroom.
She was sexy, even when she was in a snit. Perhaps especially then. He liked her spirit, liked the fact that she wasn’t afraid to have a little verbal battle with him. Women, people in general, usually deferred to him. Even Paulina had looked to him for answers, had waited on his approval.
Not Madeline.
She reappeared a few moments later in a black dress that was fitted all the way until it hit her knees, then billowed out with flowing fabric. The neckline plunged to her sternum, the pale skin on display so tempting it was all he could do to remain at his desk.
The necklace would make the dress more modest, would show hints of those glorious breasts without revealing too much. It would be perfect.
“That’s it,” he said.
He stood and walked across the room, coming to look more closely. Because he had to.
“I have one more,” she said, taking a step back.
“This is it,” he repeated.
She quirked her mouth to one side and put a hand on her hip. “Ta-da.”
He felt his lips lift into a smile. “Turn for me.”
She shot him a glare but turned slowly. The dress hugged that tight rear end of hers that he was so fond of, showed the tiny dip of her waist. Yes, it was the perfect dress. All eyes would be on her with or without the necklace.
She looked up at him and he felt the impact of her gorgeous blue eyes streak through him. He could remember the last time she’d looked at him like that, her color high in her cheeks, her breasts rising and falling with her rapid breathing.
The last time she’d looked at him like that he’d ended up taking her over his desk.
He could hear the sounds of employees milling around in the next room. Stripping that dress off Madeline’s gorgeous body and having his way with her now would be incredibly stupid. Although, even knowing that, it was very tempting.
His teeth ached. He wanted her so badly. He honestly couldn’t recall the last time sex had held such power over him. He was thirty-three years old. He’d been in love, been married, had lost his wife. He’d lived a full lifetime by the time he was twenty-seven. With all of that experience behind him, he was a difficult man to captivate.