CardsNeverLie

by Heather Hiestand

  “He called Brisa.” Melanie watched Rob’s hand form a fist where it leaned against the table, but he said nothing. “He’s still demanding money. He must have found her through me somehow.”

  “He’s a coward, bothering women. I told him to come to me.”

  “I’m sure he wanted to scare her.” As she said it, she watched Rob become angry in a way she hadn’t realized he was capable of. His stance, his hands in fists, his mottled face, showed her how seriously he took his commitments to people. But she didn’t want violence, she just wanted Drew Huntley to leave them alone for good. Melanie said quickly, “I had an idea. What if Brisa told him about Ethan?”

  Rob frowned. “Why would she want to do that?”

  “Brisa could demand child support from him.”

  Rob’s darkened face relaxed and broke into a slow grin as he considered this idea. “And that would negate any monies that Brisa may or may not owe him.”

  “Exactly.”

  “But what if he decides he wants visitation rights or, God forbid, custody?”

  “I talked to Brisa again this weekend, to make as sure as I could that this couldn’t happen. She said he’s got a grown son he’s never shown any interest in. He’s never let any kids into his life. Though I hate to let Huntley know about Ethan, I think they’re safe in that regard.”

  Rob nodded. “I hope she’s right. This tactic will probably solve the problem, but it carries its own risks.”

  “Doesn’t everything?”

  Rob gave a half laugh. “You are a risk taker.”

  Melanie shook her head. “I’ve turned conservative again, Rob. You know that.”

  Their eyes met then Rob looked away. He stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll give Huntley a call.”

  As easy as it would be to let him, she needed to gently remove Rob from her family’s private life. “No, Brisa will call him. I’m glad I could bounce this off you though.”

  “Let me do it, Melanie. I’m not involved like she is. It’s better to be dispassionate in terms of money matters.”

  Melanie stifled a laugh. “We’re good at that, aren’t we?” She hoped her casual tone hid the hurt in her heart.

  Rob bent toward her for a second, raising a hand to her face. Melanie closed her eyes, not knowing what to expect from his touch. She felt a strand of hair being tucked behind her ear and opened her eyes to see him sitting back up.

  “This isn’t about us, Melanie. Let me help.”

  She was surprised to feel the prick of tears behind her eyes. How could she refuse a sincere offer of help for her cousins? “I expect you’ll be more effective. And Brisa knows I was going to talk to you.”

  “Good. I’ll let you know what happens.” Rob walked out without a backward glance, as if he didn’t care about her feelings, only her problems.

  Melanie rested limply against the spot on the table where Rob had leaned a few seconds before and touched her hand to her hair. She could feel his body’s heat in the wood and his cologne wafted faintly through the air. She wouldn’t be getting any closer any time soon and she detested this knowledge. God help her, but she wanted Rob Black. His presence messed with her heart, her pulse, her breath. He didn’t even leave her standing.

  Could she get him out of her system? Would it take action or just avoidance? She knew she couldn’t steer clear of him entirely. A product designer could never evade the executives.

  Melanie ran a finger down the cool, smooth row of leathers to her right. The scent reminded her of the boy she had lost her virginity to in high school. He had ridden a motorcycle and wore an old leather jacket. The scent of these leathers reminded her of him. Yet she hadn’t thought of him for years.

  Melanie took a swatch of black aniline-dyed leather from the wall and put her nose to it. She couldn’t even remember the kid’s name. She had only had sex with him because she thought it would make her seem more adult around Gerald. At seventeen, she hadn’t realized how impossible it would have been to ever persuade him that she was his equal, no matter what she had done to narrow their experience gap.

  Maybe she was kidding herself just a bit. She had felt an adolescent hormonal rush around that boy, but only before the sex. They had done it on a park bench in March, after a motorcycle ride to Gasworks Park. It had been uncomfortable and over quickly, a wild, reckless moment never repeated.

  She wanted a wild, reckless moment with Rob. His sexual talent had been proven extraordinary by that night in Las Vegas. He had chained her fantasies to the memory of his touch, but life had served to separate them. Melanie shook her head and hung the black leather sample back on its peg. How could she fulfill the promise of that night? A one-night stand wasn’t the answer, even if it could be kept secret from her new coworkers. Or could it? Would one night get him out of her system for good?

  * * * * *

  Late the next afternoon, Melanie was embossing an abstract geometric design into a strip of leather, trying to reorient herself to the art of leatherworking, when her phone rang.

  “Melanie, it’s Tim, Rob’s assistant. He’d like to see you at five if you’re available.”

  “Of course,” Melanie said, feeling a slight weakening of the knees at the mere sound of Rob’s name. She glanced up at the institutional clock on the wall. It read four forty-five. The day had gone fast. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  She cleaned up her project and left her room for the end of the hall where the steps to the second floor were located. Along the corridor were framed glossy photographs of LeatherWorks’ product line throughout the years. She wondered if any of her creations would grace these walls someday. The idea she had been working on today was for a line of notepads with embossed leather covers. She had seen them at craft fairs but they were quite expensive. She thought she’d put together a prototype and have the operations people tell her what it would cost to make. Volume should bring the price down. First, however, she’d have to figure out what designs to emboss.

  Melanie drifted slowly down the corridor. The management wing had a hushed, quiet air. The plant workers had gone home at the end of the three-thirty shift and management must be gone too. She slowed her steps even further. What if Rob had spoken to his grandfather and she was now out of a job? And would that be a bad thing? She had dreamed of Rob last night and had woken covered with sweat and dizzy with unfulfilled sexual longing.

  She shouldn’t see him, if the truth were told. Surely he would see in her face that she hadn’t gotten over him yet, that she didn’t feel able to resist him if he pushed just a little. Though he hadn’t pushed at all yesterday. He had probably moved on. Buying time, she stopped in front of the picture of a gleaming red riding crop. She needed a few lashes with that as punishment for ever coming to work here.

  Why hadn’t she simply gone job hunting? Maybe a miracle would have occurred and she’d have found a job right away. She could have kept their romance going. She could have actually had sex for the first time in over a year.

  She took a few steps down to the next picture, this one of a spiked collar filmed against white velvet. She visualized it on Rob’s tanned neck, with her holding the attached leash, but dismissed the thought immediately. He wasn’t the type. Tommy Joe was, however. Blech.

  A door opened behind her and she heard a throat clear. “What are you doing out here?”

  Melanie whipped around, startled at the sound of Rob’s voice. Her heart leapt when she saw his hot eyes on her. She recognized his sheer masculine beauty as if seeing it for the first time. His mere presence, ever darker-haired in the waning summer, clothed in close-fitting tailored attire in the muted colors that suited him, seemed to raise the hall’s temperature ten degrees. “I was told to come and see you.”

  “Your presence was requested,” he said, stepping purposefully into her personal space. “But my office isn’t in the hall.”

  Melanie tilted her head up to his. Why was he behaving this way again? Had he forgotten their deal? “I was
checking out your wall of products.”

  He chuckled and the tension she sensed fell away. “Kinda scary, huh. This hall has the air of a torture chamber. My favorite is in my office. Come and see.” He pointed her down the hall to the left. They went through an anteroom where Tim’s desk was located and then stepped into Rob’s office. He shut the door behind them.

  Melanie turned, startled. Heat radiated from his eyes again. She swallowed. How could she ever have said no to this gorgeous man?

  “This is my favorite.” Rob placed his hand on her back and guided her to a framed photograph on the wall behind his desk. Melanie felt a shudder go through her at his touch, branding her shoulder. She felt herself melting as she focused on the picture.

  The photograph was of a woman’s back. Her long blonde hair draped over her shoulder, bestowing a tantalizing view of the back of her hourglass torso. She was encased in a tight leather corset and a thong bottom. Her feet were bare and her legs were spread.

  “I just love this one,” Rob said thickly. “It never impressed me before I met you, but,” his breath tickled her ear, “in the last month it has given me all kinds of ideas. I had it moved in from the hallway.”

  Melanie’s breath caught in her throat as she imagined herself as the woman in the photograph, willing and spread for a lover. Melanie turned to him and put her hand on his muted Italian yellow cashmere vest. His nipple hardened instantly. She flashed back to the memory of their first meeting as she tried to catch her breath. But it was no use, he was Adonis. “Thank you for showing me.”

  Rob nodded, not taking his eyes off her. “You’re welcome.”

  “Is that a recent product line?” She licked her lips. “I mean, do you have that corset in stock?”

  Rob’s eyes dilated, dropping to her fluttering chest. “I wish. It’s from the 1980s.”

  “Oh,” Melanie sighed. “That’s too bad.”

  “You like it too?”

  “Oh yeah. Is it hot in here? I’m hot.” She took off her jacket and tossed it on Rob’s chair. Underneath she wore a tight, sleeveless shell of baby blue silk.

  Rob’s lips hovered over hers. “Your blouse matches your beautiful eyes.”

  Melanie almost felt rather than saw his lips curve into a smile as he said, “Am I taking advantage of the situation?”

  “Women don’t get turned on by pornography,” Melanie responded. She licked her lips. They felt parched from the heated room, from the heat his body gave off. “The beginning of sexual attraction happens in our minds.”

  “So what’s in your mind, Melanie Vanderpool?” Rob leaned forward until his forehead touched hers.

  “You,” she admitted. “Is that okay? I feel like I’ve really jerked you around.”

  “Everything is just fine.” Rob tilted his head and kissed her with caressing lips. She opened herself to him with a moan she couldn’t suppress and welcomed his smooth, hot tongue into her mouth. It sizzled against her own.

  Rob’s clean-shaven face glided against hers as they tangled together. Melanie suddenly realized she didn’t feel his hands on her and grabbed for his arm, then pulled it to her breast. What she really wanted was to be wearing that corset like the woman in the picture, to feel him behind her, running his hands down her tightly encased body. She wanted to be held, explored.

  Rob put his other hand to her breast and squeezed. Melanie arched her back against his hands as her head fell back. Who needed arms around her if she could have his hands on her breasts?

  “Wow,” she breathed. “That feels really good.” She pulled her blouse out from her skirt and with clumsy hands, started to undo the buttons at the neck.

  Her eyes refocused as she felt hands pulling her fingers off the buttons. “What are you doing?” she asked, pushing his hands away with a frantic movement. “I want this.”

  Rob nuzzled against her cheek. “Me too.” He pushed his groin against her stomach just long enough for her to feel the turgid, pulsing heat hidden under his slacks. Melanie reached her hand down between his legs and caressed him as he moved away.

  Rob thrust himself into her palm. “Please, Melanie.” He grasped her hand with his slightly shaking one and pulled away.

  “Why not?” She grinned naughtily. Wild Melanie was being taken for one last spin. “Would you turn me down if I offered you some very personal attention?”

  She pulled her hand from his and ran her hands down the front of his body until she found his zipper. She felt moisture pooling between her thighs as her body softened to embrace him, but if it took some preliminary oral consideration to blow his mind, she was more than willing. Melanie wanted to view his package and she wanted her showing now.

  “Look,” he said.

  “I’m looking and I like what I see.”

  “No, really.” He stepped back. “I’ve got a couch right over there. We don’t have to stand.”

  “Is it leather?” Melanie pulled down his zipper with a quick motion that surprised even her. The ripping sound as the zipper separated into two sides made her crazy.

  “Oh shit,” he breathed. “Of course it’s leather.”

  He grabbed for her. “Come here, you hussy.”

  She leaned back, giggling and checked out the slightly gaping front of his pants. “I don’t know. I can’t see the goods.”

  Rob lunged at her, pushing her against the wall, rubbing his groin against her. “Screw this,” he muttered and tugged her skirt up. “You’re tall enough to take me on.”

  He pushed her panties sideways with one hand and pulled up her thigh with the other arm until she was standing on her tiptoes. He moved his hand away for a second and as she put her arms around his neck, he tucked his under her bottom and pulled her off her feet. As she locked her legs around him, he thrust into her.

  She cried out before she buried her face against his shoulder, distantly afraid that someone might hear. Then Melanie threw herself into the delicious motions, the amazing friction that hit in just the right places.

  Desperate for the completion that was so quickly near, she angled her pelvis against his thrusts and dug her feet into his legs. Once, twice, three times and she felt the sun explode in her head as she came. Her heart pounded in her chest, her pulse thundered in her temples, as she quivered convulsively, tightly, around his penis.

  “Oh Melanie, Melanie, Melanie,” Rob chanted into her ear as he continued to thrust. It didn’t take much longer for him to finish. His grip loosened for a second as his head dropped against the wall, but he caught her before she fell.

  Melanie pushed against his chest and he released her. She breathed hard as she uncradled him and slid down to the floor. Leaning against the wall, she panted.

  “I’m not sure I could have made it to the couch.” She was little more than a puddle of happy liquid.

  “It’s already too late.” He put his arms around her and his head on hers.

  “Do you think anyone heard us?” Melanie asked, suddenly worried.

  “I couldn’t care less.” He licked her temple. “I felt you come.”

  “And how.” Melanie’s smile of satisfaction crept across her face. “Every time I’ve seen you I’ve walked away wet.” She felt his breath catch.

  “That’s quite a compliment.”

  “You are deserving of all compliments. But,” she paused, not wanting to sound so practical at such an intimate moment, but already taken out of the moment by her fear of discovery, “I’d like to clean up now.”

  “Okay.” He led her into his ensuite bathroom then left her alone. As Melanie came back to herself, she thought ruefully of her plans of extreme professionalism. It hadn’t a chance against Rob’s magnetism. She felt like a fly attracted to his light, even as it destroyed her.

  An affair with an authority figure, she thought to herself as she stared into the bathroom mirror, was exactly what she had tried to avoid. Melanie had no idea what prompted her to continue to be attracted to them. Maybe having been attracted to Gerald meant she’d alway
s be attracted to men like him. Rob hadn’t left her with the energy to figure out what to do next.

  She heard a knock. “Why are you taking so long, beautiful?” Rob asked.

  “I’ll be right out.” She blinked at herself in the mirror. Why couldn’t she duplicate this hairstyle? She looked wild and free with her hair in thick, vibrant waves. No styling product could mimic the magic of a man’s loving hands. Such silly thoughts and yet they brought her further back to herself. She could relive the amazing passion when she was out of danger.

  She opened the door and smiled nervously at Rob.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Everything is where it should be,” she said, blushing. Rob stared at her until she felt a little nervous. The intensity this time was dark instead of sensual.

  “No condom,” Rob said.

  “I know.” She bit her lip. “I’m safe, I mean, I got tested after the divorce.”

  “Haven’t there been men since? You seemed awfully eager to me, first with that other guy, then me, in Vegas. I can’t figure you out.”

  Melanie looked down, hurt. “I admit to a bit of divorcee fever, but you’re only my third ever, I swear.”

  Rob raised an eyebrow. “I can’t say that, but I am safe.”

  “Good.” Melanie twisted her hands and went to sit on the couch. Rob leaned back on his desk, shoving his hands into his pockets.

  “I spoke to Drew Huntley, following our game plan.”

  “Really?” Melanie patted the seat next to her. She was glad to change the subject though it increased the surreal nature of this encounter. Rob came to her and sat down, entwining their fingers. Melanie leaned back. He seemed calm enough so the call couldn’t have been a disaster, even though she could see from the rapid rise of his chest that he hadn’t quite gotten his breath back yet from their erotic encounter.

  “It’s going to be okay. He’s got no interest in Ethan.” Rob tilted his head.

  “I’m glad Brisa was right.”

  “You know, I wouldn’t feel the same way.”

  “You aren’t a low life.”

  “Some might think I was. In this business.”