Desire Part Two (The Desire Series Book 2)

by Ava Alexia

  “Well, I’m glad I passed muster,” she said irritably.

  Whit observed her closed expression. Damn it! What had he said? He had given her a compliment but it had incited her ire. They had been getting along smoothly. She was animated and alive when she was discussing her work. Her green eyes had twinkled with amusement and her guard was down. Her vibrant red hair kept falling in her face and she continually brushed it back. The action was somehow extremely erotic and he had wanted to hold her hair back and kiss her tempting neck. She’d been relaxed and responded to him as a friendly colleague. They had discussed the design and been in perfect agreement. They had shared a common bond and he didn’t want to lose that connection with her. But now she was annoyed with him and he wasn’t sure what had caused it. What had ticked her off? She pushed her chair back from the desk and stood.

  “Excuse me,” she said abruptly as she left the cubicle.

  Whit’s expression was thoughtful as he watched her walk briskly out of the office. He knew she had to be upset over recent events but she was holding it together. He admired that quality of strength and perseverance in her. She refused to allow his actions to disrupt her game plan. He had heard that she was driven and ambitious and that she wanted to establish her own interior design company. Having spent time with her while she fashioned her creative vision, he had little doubt that she would manifest her dream.

  *****

  Maddie trudged up the walkway of the red brick apartment building and unlocked the modern security door. Entering the building she crossed the foyer to her mail box. Maddie sighed as she pulled out only one letter of significance. The rest was junk mail. Crossing the hall she stopped before her first floor apartment and unlocked the door. Luckily she did not run into her loquacious landlady. She didn’t feel up to friendly chatter. Maddie scooted into her apartment and quickly shut the door. She leaned against the door for a moment and took a deep breath. She had had a horrid day and it would have simply been unfair to have to suffer through a conversation with Laura. Maddie pushed away from the door and slowly walked into her living room. She looked around her apartment and smiled. She loved her spacious dwelling. It was large, light and airy. The color scheme of pale blue, white and grey suited her personality perfectly. The big bay window provided a wonderful view of the tree lined residential street and the downtown skyline in the distance. The high ceilings gave the room a sense of grandeur yet the old world fireplace exuded warmth and coziness. She felt her stomach rumble and realized that she had not eaten all day. She decided to change into her pajamas then make a turkey sandwich to go with the left over clam chowder soup she made yesterday. She went into her bedroom and quickly changed into her red pj’s and furry floppy slippers. She then padded into the modern, open kitchen to prepare her dinner. She had just put the soup on the stove to warm when her door buzzard sounded. Maddie frown as she was not expecting anyone. She crossed to the door and pressed the speaker button.

  “Yes?” she said.

  “Madison, it’s me. May I come in?”

  Maddie was shocked. It couldn’t be him. Yet she would know that voice anywhere.

  “You?” she exclaimed.

  She could hear him sigh deeply.

  “Will I forever be a non-entity when you address me?” he bemoaned.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked sharply.

  “Let me in, Madison and I will tell you,” he answered.

  Every instinct in Maddie screamed that she not allow him entry. But her curiosity was getting the better of her. She pressed the button to release the security lock on the front door. She heard him come in and within seconds he was knocking on her door. She looked down at her pajamas and shrugged. He would just have to see her as she was. It wasn’t as though she were expecting him. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

  Chapter 2

  Whit looked at Maddie and blood immediately rushed to his cock. He could feel himself growing at the sight of her. Maybe those pajamas were supposed to make her appear unappealing and sloppy but they were having the opposite effect. With her red hair falling over her shoulders covering the luscious mounds of her full breasts, she looked damned sexy and enticing as hell. He hadn’t realized how short she was when he’d seen her earlier today. Without her towering heels the top of her head barely reached his chin. The baggy pajamas could not hide how slender she was and he had no problem imagining her enticing curves. She stepped aside to allow him to enter.

  “Why are you here? And how did you know where I lived?” she asked pointedly as she closed the door.

  Whit looked at her and saw the clear clarity and questions in her beautiful green eyes. He would never tire of looking into her eyes.

  “Personnel files gave me the information that I wanted,” he said off-handedly.

  “That doesn’t explain why you are here,” she said tartly.

  “What? No small talk before delving into schematics and floor plans?” he asked wryly.

  “Small talk is for friends. You and I are not. Now why are you here?” Maddie said curtly.

  “Ouch! I have a lot of ground to make up,” he thought.

  “The Edelston project,” he replied.

  “What about it? And why could you not tell me tomorrow in the office?” she demanded.

  Whit knew she would confront him with these questions. He wasn’t her favorite person at the moment and would not appreciate him knocking on her door after work hours.

  “I have decided that you will go to Aruba to oversee the project,” he said.

  “What! I thought Dana would be going on-site to supervise the assignment,” Maddie said in astonishment.

  “She is needed on the Cochran project in the Hamptons. There are some problems there and I need her expertise to sort them out,” he said.

  Maddie had heard about the problems on that project. Dana had been complaining about the suppliers and scheduling of deliveries. She was not happy with the designer she had assigned to the project; and apparently nor was Whit. He was sending Dana there to straighten things out. But she could hardly believe Whit wanted her to manage the Edelston project. Working on this project in Aruba was a dream of a lifetime.

  “Why me?” she asked.

  “Why not you? I need the best on this assignment and that would be you. Are you ready for it? Or is it more than you can handle?” he asked.

  He was challenging her and Maddie never turned down a challenge.

  “Of course I want to do it. After seeing my enthusiasm for the project, how could you doubt it?” she asked.

  “I need to be sure. There can be no hiccups or mistakes. Edelston is too important,” Whit warned.

  “There will be no mistakes. I will make sure of it,” Maddie said confidently.

  “Good,” he said. He sniffed the air. “What’s that I smell? Is it burning?”

  “Oh my God!” Maddie said as she ran into the kitchen.

  She snatched a pot holder from a wall hook and quickly moved the soup to an idle burner. She turned off the burner where the soup had set and picked up a wooden spoon to stir the soup.

  “I caught it just in time. Thanks for your keen nose,” she said as she smiled at him.

  Whit was struck by the transformation her smile caused. He had known that she was beautiful but her smile gave her an angelic stunning loveliness. Did she realize the power she held in her smile? She could have any man she wanted and he would walk on scorching coals if that’s what it took to please her. He normally would assess that kind of man to be weak and ridiculous. But as he grew to know her better, he wasn’t sure if he wasn’t one of those men.

  “I was about to eat dinner when you arrive. Would you like to join me? I have plenty,” she invited.

  The astounded look on his face was comical and Maddie wanted to laugh heartily. But to be honest she was just as surprised at her invitation. Why had she invited him to join her in a meal? Yes, she was grateful for the opportunity he was affording her. But did it warrant an intimate
dinner invitation? Oh well, she offered and she couldn’t withdraw it now. If he accepted she would just have to make the best of it.

  “Thank you. I am a bit hungry,” he said admitted.

  Maddie turned from him and smiled. He had regrouped nicely. Maddie busied herself setting the kitchen table.

  “Can I help?” he asked.

  “I have a bottle of white wine chilling in the fridge. Would you get it for me? The wineglasses are in the cupboard,” she instructed.

  “Of course,” he answered.

  He opened the fridge and noticed that it was fully stocked. Obviously Maddie liked to cook. He had not thought of her as an avid cook; just the opposite in fact. He had assumed that her career was the most important focus in her life and she would have little time for domesticity. He saw the bottle of wine and removed it from the fridge. He placed it on the island and saw that Maddie had placed a cooler on the counter. He placed the bottle of wine in the cooler then opened the freezer drawer to scoop ice into the cooler.

  “Thank you,” Maddie said softly. She moved the cooler onto the table then returned to the island. “Do you like turkey, pastrami or roast beef?”

  “Pastrami,” he replied.

  Maddie removed the necessary ingredients from the fridge to make his sandwich. He watched her as her deft hands made the sandwich in record time. He wondered how her fingers would feel as they glided across his naked body. He felt his penis react to his thoughts and gripped the back of the island stool tightly. He needed to keep his imagination in check. It was way too early in the game to let her see how much she affected him. Maddie finished the sandwich and moved it to the table. She then dipped up the soup.

  “It’s ready. Let’s eat,” she invited.

  They moved to the table and he pulled out her chair for her. His behavior unnerved her a bit. He was a gentleman which was a surprise for her. Her opinion of him had been less than flattering. But maybe he was beginning to prove her wrong. She had to admit that she enjoyed being treated like a lady. She adored being catered to by a man. And although having a man in her life was not on her agenda at present, she could still appreciate the attributes of chivalrous man. She glanced up at him and smiled.

  “Thank you,” she responded.

  He nodded then seated himself.

  “The soup smells good,” he sighed.

  “I hope you like it. It’s a simple fare. I wasn’t expecting company,” she said.

  “This is fine. I am a simple man. And don’t think of me as company. I want to be your friend,” he said. “I know things did not start off well between us. But I’m hoping that will change.”

  Maddie looked in his clear grey eyes. They actually were brilliant silver in coloring and it seemed that they were shimmering with sincerity. She felt that she could believe him. That he honestly wanted a real friendship between them. And she wanted that as well; despite being booted out of her office. And he had offered her an incredible career opportunity. That had to be worth something. And besides, it really wasn’t in her nature to be antagonistic and mean.

  “I’m willing to start over if you are,” she said.

  Whit smiled. She had extended the olive branch and no way would he not take it.

  “I am,” he smiled in return.

  They spoke of a variety of things; music, food, travel and sports. Whit was a good conversationalist. He was funny, intelligent and well-versed.

  “So you are good friends with Jules. How did the two of you meet?” she asked.

  “We met in college and immediately became great friends. After graduation we joined the Navy,” he explained. “He’s my best friend; more like a brother actually.”

  “The two of you share a special bond. That’s wonderful,” she smiled.

  “Just like you and Jaime. I could tell the two of you were special when I saw you at her wedding,” he murmured.

  Maddie became thoughtful.

  “You’re right. Jaime is my best friend. We’ve been friends since first grade. I would be lost without her,” Maddie said softly.

  He saw the gentle, loving look in her eyes when she thought of her friend. He wanted that same look in her eyes when she looked at him. He knew he needed to be patient. Too bad patience was not one of his virtues. She stood and began stacking the dishes. She picked them up and moved to the sink. He picked up the remaining plates that she had left behind and followed her. He stopped close behind her and reached around her to set the plates on the counter. He did not back away after setting the dishes down. Although he wasn’t touching her, Maddie felt that he had effectively imprisoned her with his body. She was pinned between the sink and his large frame with no escape. She gripped the sink tightly, waiting for his next move. For moments he did nothing. He was motionless but she could hear his labored breathing. His breathing was erratic. Why? She couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

  “Whit?”

  “You’ve finally said my name. It sounds good on your lips,” he whispered.

  He could smell the light apricot scent wafting from her hair. He pressed his nose into her thick mass and breathed deeply. Dear Lord, how he wanted her. His penis had taken on a life of its own and there was no way of controlling it. It strained against the material of his pants, demanding to spring free. He knew that if she turned to face him there was every chance that she would notice his erection. But he couldn’t hide it. He’d left his suit jacket in the car so he had no way of covering it. So be it. He needed to touch her. He couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. He lifted his hands and laid them lightly on her shoulders. His fingers trailed across her shoulders then circled her neck. Slowly his hands inched their way down her chest and slid under her pajama shirt. His fingers itched to reach the tips of her breasts.

  “Whit!” Maddie exclaimed as she whipped around to face him.

  His face was inscrutable. His eyes were dark pools of stormy deep blue waters. Their intensity was startling. She shifted her gaze downward to break visual contact only to see his penis protruding outward, seeking release. She gasped. Whit grasped her by the waist and pulled her against him.

  “There’s no getting around it, Madison. I want you…badly,” he growled.

  She liked the way her name sounded when spoken with his British accent. It sounded romantic and intimate. It seemed the things she liked about him were mounting. His lips descended upon hers in a devouring kiss. There was nothing gentle or circumspect about his caress. His mouth covered hers and he immediately pushed his tongue into her mouth; seeking and claiming what he wanted. And she responded. She couldn’t help herself. She’d known she was attracted to him from the moment she met him. He had infuriated her but he had also ignited something sexual and primal within her. She wanted his kiss as much as he wanted to give it. He cupped her face as their tongues danced together in perfect rhythm; neither of them seemingly able to get enough of each other. Maddie encircled his waist and reveled in the feel of him. He was muscular and well-toned. She could only imagine what he must look like without clothes. Her hands drifted down to his buttocks and she squeezed. He jerked in response and grinded against her. He took a step backward, pulling her with him. He took another and another.

  “Madison?”

  She knew what he was asking. He wanted to have sex with her. But did she? Maddie wasn’t a prude or a virgin. Yet she hadn’t indulged in sex on a regular basis. Maddie lost her virginity to a man she thought she was in love with when she was twenty years old. But he’d been older and smarter and had disappeared when he’d gotten what he wanted. That callous treatment had hurt her deeply and now at twenty-three she was mistrusting and cynical of men. And if she were not emotionally involved with the man, she did not sleep with him. But for some reason Whit made her want to break her rules. She certainly was not emotionally attached to him. But she desired him beyond belief. The temptation to sleep with him was overwhelming. He picked her up and supported her bottom as she wrapped her legs about his waist. Although Madison wasn’t sexually
active she was still taking birth control pills. At this moment she was glad that she was protected. He began walking out of the kitchen. They crossed the living room and rounded the corner.

  “Whit! Wait,” she exclaimed.

  He stood stock still. They were in the hallway that led to her bedroom. He was breathing heavily and she could feel his chest pumping furiously.

  “I can’t,” she whispered.

  He groaned and pushed her against the wall. He ducked his head into the nook of her neck.

  “Are you sure?” he asked hoarsely.

  Maddie sighed heavily.

  “Yes. I’m sure,” she whispered. She cupped his face and kissed him deeply. When she pulled back she looked into his smoldering blue eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s just too much too soon.”

  She dropped her legs to the floor.

  “It’s okay, Madison. I understand; although my penis doesn’t,” he said wryly as he grinded against her. “It wants what it wants.”

  “Down boy. I think a cold shower is in order,” she smiled.

  He pulled back from her slightly.

  “I want you to know that this wasn’t what I had planned when I came over,” he said softly. “You are one sexy lady and things got out of hand. But seducing you was not my intent.”

  “But you would have had I been willing?” she asked.

  “Yes, I would have. I’m not going to lie. I want you, Madison McClain. I’ll make no secret about it,” he said firmly.

  He was certainly direct. Maddie adjusted her pajama shirt as she stepped away from him. She needed to put some space between them. He wanted to bang her. That much was quite obvious. But although her actions probably said the same thing she was not going to verbalize how she felt.

  “Perhaps we should work on a platonic friendship before jumping into deeper waters,” she said quietly.

  “I’m an excellent swimmer,” he quipped.

  Maddie shook her head sadly.

  “I am not,” she whispered.

  Maddie walked back into the living room. Whit watched her closely. She’d been hurt—very badly and her guard was firmly in place. Who was the jackass that hadn’t recognized the gem he’d held in his hand? He’d been a bloody fool to let her slip away. Well, that idiot’s loss was his gain and he intended to capitalize on it. He followed Maddie into the next room.