“Then tell him to stop. Have you called him yet?” Sadie asked.
“No. That’s exactly what he wants,” Claudia said, hands on hips. “I’m not giving him what he wants—he’ll think he’s won.”
Grace gave her a look. “That’s one way of looking at it. Or…you could just let the man know he’s barking up the wrong tree.”
“Look, I don’t want to speak to him, okay?” Claudia snapped. She could still remember the smoky bass of his voice curling around her from their last phone conversation. “You have no idea how persuasive he is, how sexy his voice is. I can’t stop thinking about him, and I don’t like it and—” She broke off as Sadie and Grace stared at her. Realization dawned, and Claudia sat back in her office chair, profoundly shocked.
“My God. He’s right,” she said, forcing herself to face a painful truth. “I am a scaredy cat! I’m afraid to call him. I’m afraid of how much power he has over me.”
There was a stunned silence for a long beat, then, good friends that they were, Sadie and Grace stepped into the breach.
“I totally understand. You’re really into your career right now, you don’t want to be distracted,” Sadie said. “Your contract is up for renewal soon, you want to put your best foot forward. Being producer is a big job.”
“Just because you know what you want doesn’t mean you’re afraid,” Grace said.
Claudia made a rude sound in the back of her throat. It was bull, and they all knew it. She’d been using work and the contest of wills between her and Leandro and the conflict of interest issue as convenient excuses to mask her true feelings. When she was with him, she felt on fire, out of control. And she was a woman who prided herself on being in control of herself and her life. She had a five-year plan, a ten-year plan. She knew what she wanted to be—and Leandro had no place in any of it.
Standing, she reached for her car keys. She’d never backed down from a challenge in her life. She might be scared of the intensity of her reaction to him, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t conquer it, control it, the way she had everything else life had ever thrown at her.
“What are you doing, Claud?” Sadie asked as Claudia snatched up her handbag as well.
“I’m not a chicken,” she said through gritted teeth, already on her way out the door.
“Claud,” Grace called urgently.
Despite the fact that every cell in her body was focused on proving something to herself and Leandro, Claudia forced herself to pivot on her heel.
“Yep?”
“You might need this,” Grace said, pulling out something she had tucked inside her bra.
Claudia automatically caught the shiny silver packet: a single condom, still warm from Grace’s body heat.
“Just in case,” Grace said.
“Why do you have a condom in your bra?” Sadie asked dryly, cocking her head at her friend.
“Just in case,” Grace repeated, deadpan.
* * *
CLAUDIA PURPOSELY DIDN’T think as she drove across town to where Heartlands was filmed. She certainly didn’t acknowledge the tremble of trepidation in the pit of her stomach.
As she’d said to her friends, she was no chicken, and she’d do whatever it took to prove it.
Including giving in to her secret desire to have Leandro Mandalor again, no matter how much that challenged her view of her life and her future.
She didn’t bother waiting for the receptionist to buzz her through when she arrived. A long time ago she’d interviewed for an assistant’s role on the show, and she had a rough idea of the office layout.
“I’ll show myself through,” she reassured the receptionist blithely as she sailed past.
It seemed only fair to ambush him, since he’d ambushed her every day so far.
She paused on the other side of reception and scanned the office area quickly. She spotted his office to her left, smiling a feline smile of satisfaction when she saw he was holding an open-door meeting with two of his staff.
They’d have an audience—perfect.
Chin high, she strode toward his office, her gaze pinned to his downturned head. He glanced up when she was still several paces from his doorway, and she saw the arrested expression in his eyes as he sat back in his chair.
She’d surprised him. Even more perfect.
“Claudia,” he said when she arrived on the threshold.
But she didn’t stop there. Ignoring the eye-popping stares of his staff, she rounded his desk, slid her hands around his neck and into his thick, dark hair, and lowered her mouth to his to deliver her best take-no-prisoners, tongue-till-Tuesday French kiss.
For a second he froze, and she felt an intense thrill of satisfaction. Scared, her ass! Then she lost her balance as he tugged her into his lap, taking control of the kiss now as he bent her back over his arm, completely disregarding the two members of his team who were probably taking notes on every nuance of their lip-lock.
He crushed her breasts to his chest, his tongue telling her in no uncertain terms what he’d like to do to the rest of her. Her body was more than up for it, already aching for his touch. Beneath her butt, she felt the distinct, arousing firmness of his burgeoning erection, and she gave a feminine murmur of approval.
He’d so successfully scrambled her brains and hijacked her purpose that she was about to slide her hand down onto his crotch when someone in the room cleared their throat. She stiffened as she remembered where she was, what she was doing, and who was watching her.
Leandro reluctantly broke their kiss, and she was eternally grateful for the fact that he slid a hand onto the nape of her neck and held her face against his shoulder, guarding her privacy, as he spoke to his people.
“I’m going to take an early lunch, guys,” he said in an admirably deadpan tone. “I’ll leave you to decide between the two actors on our short list, okay? I’m happy with either.”
“Sure thing, boss,” someone said, and then Claudia heard the scuff of feet and the shuffle of papers as they made themselves scarce.
“It’s times like these I hate the interior designer who made these offices out of Plexiglas,” Leandro murmured ruefully as he ran a hand over her hip.
“Do you really think I’m going to go at it with you in your office after that display we just put on?” Claudia asked, desperately trying to cover how good it felt to be in his arms again, how much she’d craved his taste, his touch.
“Thirty seconds ago, you were about to,” he reminded her.
Aware that he was smiling like a particularly self-satisfied Cheshire cat, Claudia pushed against his arms, trying to win her way free of his lap. It was one thing to take up his challenge, and another thing to put herself entirely in his hands. Leandro just grinned and tipped his chair back, overbalancing her into his chest again.
“Let me up,” she demanded.
“Not until you tell me why you’re here,” he said.
“You want me to draw a diagram?” she asked.
“I want to hear you admit I was right,” he said, grinning down into her face.
Yeah, right, she was going to admit she’d been afraid of the powerful connection between them. She might be in his lap, but she wasn’t brain-dead. She grinned right back at him.
“Not a chance in hell, pal.” She slid a hand between their bodies, finding the undeniable evidence that his need was a powerful as hers. Confident that his desk and computer shielded them from the general office view, she rubbed him through his jeans.
“Now, are you going to do something with this or are we going to argue for the rest of my lunch break?”
CHAPTER 6
HE HAD HER OUTSIDE the production office and standing by the elevator bank in about five seconds flat. She smiled to herself as she noted the way he was holding his jacket draped in front of his body, conveniently masking the tent pole in his pants.
“Very discreet,” she murmured as they both watched the floor indicator impatiently.
“Oh yeah. Discreet is my mi
ddle name,” Leandro said. His gaze dropped below her neckline, caressing her breasts. She got hot all over again.
“Stop it,” she said.
“Or what?”
“Or I won’t be answerable for the consequences,” she said.
“Maybe I like the sound of that.”
He moved behind her, and she felt a warm pressure as he slid a hand down her back and onto her butt. Cupping a cheek, he squeezed her firmly through her slim-lined black skirt. They were alone for the present, but still she shot a nervous glance around.
“I bet you played with matches when you were a kid, too,” she said over her shoulder.
“Couldn’t stay away from them,” he said. He was standing so close, she felt the rumble of his voice through her body.
She pressed her thighs together as she willed the elevator to arrive. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so turned on. Leandro Mandalor infuriated her, intrigued her, fascinated her. And she wanted him, bad. She was going to have him, too—on her terms.
She gave a grunt of impatience when she realized the elevator was still miles away. The damn thing was obviously stopping on every floor. Behind her, Leandro slid his hand to her other butt cheek, his fingers curling in toward her inner thighs in a delicious intimation of things to come.
“Okay, this is ridiculous,” she said.
A red door to the left of the elevator bank indicated a stairwell, and she turned to grab Leandro by his waistband and belt buckle. Yanking him forward, she dragged him toward the door.
“Hey!” he protested, but he went willingly enough.
Once the door had closed behind them, Claudia backed him against the wall and pressed herself against him.
“Don’t tease me like that again,” she said.
He felt very hard and very ready. She rubbed herself against him and pressed her breasts to his chest, itching to feel his skin against hers.
“I don’t know. I kind of like the results,” he said, big hands sliding down to cup her butt.
Lowering his head, he kissed her, and quickly she was lost in the passion that flared between them.
The things this man could do with his tongue! The thrust of it in her mouth reminded her of the way he’d feasted on her, the intense pleasure he’d brought her. Running her hands up his back, she measured the width of his broad shoulders, then wove her fingers into his hair to deepen their kiss further still.
He gave a grunt of satisfaction and she felt a tug at the waistband of her skirt as he pulled her shirt free. Then his warm hand was gliding up her rib cage and taking possession of her breasts.
“Yes,” she murmured into his mouth, racing her own hands around to find the ridge of his erection through his jeans.
For a few seconds more they tortured each other, then they broke apart by mutual unspoken consent, both panting like they’d run a mile.
“Let’s go,” Leandro said, grabbing her hand.
As he led her down four flights, she calculated how long it would take for them to get in his car, exit the parking garage and find someplace private.
Too long. Waaaay too long.
“Here we are,” he said as they left the stairwell and stepped into the dim coolness of the underground parking garage. “My car’s over there.”
She waited until they were both inside and he was reaching for the ignition before making her move.
“Don’t bother. I can’t wait,” she said.
He gave a startled bark of laughter as she climbed over the hand brake and gearshift and into his lap.
“What if someone comes?” he asked as she laved his neck and slipped her tongue into his ear.
“Someone is definitely going to come,” she said.
He laughed again as his hands once again slid up on to her breasts.
“You know what I mean,” he said.
“It’s dark. We’re in the corner. Good luck to them,” she said as she began unbuckling his belt.
“Where have you been all my life?” he asked, his fingers plucking at her nipples.
“Waiting for this,” she panted, sliding his fly down and gripping his erection with firm, knowing hands.
His whole body shuddered as she worked his shaft, caressing the sensitive head with her thumb. He was so big and hard. Parts of her shivered in anticipation. She was so wet and hot for him, so ready to go, she pushed his hands away from her breasts so she could concentrate on getting her underwear off. He sucked in a breath as she accidentally elbowed him in the ribs.
“Sorry.”
“Never apologize for taking your underwear off,” he said, his breath coming fast as he watched her slide her black lace panties over her stiletto heel.
Instantly his hands were pushing her skirt up. She gave a small yelp of surprise as he adjusted something and they both tumbled back with the seat as it dropped flat, then he was pushing her thighs wide so she straddled his lap and racing his hands up legs to where she craved his touch the most.
“Claudia,” he said as his fingers discovered her slick center. “Man, you drive me crazy.”
“Ditto. Ohhh!” she gasped as he found her clitoris and began to massage it with his thumb while the rest of his fingers teased her mercilessly.
It was so good, so intense, so exactly what she needed. She grabbed on to his shoulders as her climax thundered toward her, shaking with the intensity of it as his clever hands pleased her and pushed her over the edge.
“Leandro,” she gasped. “Leandro.”
“I know baby, believe me, I know,” he said. She was vibrating with aftershocks when she felt him trying to lever his body up so he could get at his wallet, and suddenly she remembered Grace’s parting gift. Sliding it from her skirt pocket, she dropped the condom on his chest.
“Goddess,” he breathed gratefully when he saw what it was.
“Hurry,” was her response.
His answer was the rip of the foil packet opening, and within seconds he was lifting her hips as he guided her down onto him. She bit her lip as she felt the first delicious inch of him slide inside her, and then he thrust his hips upward and she shuddered as he filled her to overflowing.
“Have I told you lately that you have the best, most amazing body in the world?” she said as she began to ride him.
“No. But keep talking,” he said, his eyes narrowed to slits as he gazed up at her from his near-prone position. Pushing her shirt and bra up, he covered her breasts with his hands and began to tease her nipples.
But she was beyond words. Panting, straining, her hips moving to a primitive, needful rhythm that he seemed to know and match instinctively, she climbed toward another orgasm. His hands found her butt as she began to tighten around him, his fingers digging in as he strained toward his own climax.
“Yes,” he said, even as she writhed on top of him, pleasure exploding inside her, rippling through her body in hot, liquid waves. She felt the urgent shudder as he reached his own peak, and looked down into his handsome face as his features tightened with desire.
He was incredible. She couldn’t get enough of him.
Still breathing hard in the aftermath of his climax, he flopped flat on the seat, threw his head back, closed his eyes and let out a low belly laugh.
“Please tell me this is real,” he said, opening his eyes to gaze up at her.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” she asked, bracing herself on one elbow.
“Because you have just stepped straight out of my fantasies,” he murmured, his dark gaze dropping to catalogue her breasts, her belly, her widespread thighs.
She grinned down at him, something deep inside her responding to the possessive, hungry masculinity in his eyes.
“Something else we have in common.”
His expression became more serious as he smoothed a hand over her hip.
“Spend the night with me?” he asked.
There were a million reasons to say no. But lying astride him, her everything bared to him, she couldn’t deny him or herself
anymore. She’d taken the plunge into uncharted territory when she’d barreled into his office fifteen minutes ago, but she was confident she could ride out the storm.
“Yes,” she said.
* * *
LATER THAT NIGHT, they sat naked and cross-legged in Leandro’s bed and ate pizza straight from the box.
“I am starving,” Claudia said, stuffing her face with yet another piece of super supreme.
Leandro watched her lick a drop of tomato sauce off her bottom lip and felt his body respond like clockwork. He didn’t know what it was—her perfect petite body, her deep brown eyes, her smart mouth—but she did it for him, every time, big-time.
As though she sensed the direction his thoughts were going in, Claudia’s gaze fixated on his crotch.
“Look who wants in on the conversation,” she said, arching an eyebrow.
“He can wait. For about another five minutes,” Leandro said, his gaze zeroing in on a piece of pepper that had dropped onto the upper curve of her breast.
“The joys of eating naked,” she said, following his gaze. “If I was dressed, that would have just ruined a perfectly good shirt.”
She lifted a hand to rescue the pepper, but Leandro spoke up first.
“I’ll get it,” he volunteered.
She laughed as he leaned across and licked it off her breast, managing to include a hell of a lot of nipple along the way. She tasted amazing, and he instantly wanted more.
“Maybe we should make it two minutes,” Claudia said as he nuzzled closer and tugged her other nipple into his mouth.
“I really like cold pizza, I don’t know about you,” Leandro said, pushing her back onto the bed, his eyes devouring her erect, glistening nipples all the while.
She was still holding a crust in her hand and she tossed it over his shoulder, back into the pizza box.
“Not enough hot salami on it for me, anyway,” she said wickedly.
He laughed at her double entendre. “You like hot salami, do you?”
“The hotter the better,” she said, grabbing on to his erection and sliding her hand up and down his shaft.
“Let’s see how hot we can get it,” he murmured as his hand moved between her thighs and into her warm, silky folds.
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