by Evie Balos
“That’s it, baby…” Jay rasped. He slanted the angle of his fingers and rotated with perfect pressure, coaxing her clit from its folds. A bolt of pleasure shot through her flesh and this time the moan escaped her.
His warm breath fanned her ear. “I fantasise about you every day. Pleasing you like this…”
She shut her eyes against the onslaught of tremors that began rocking her body, surprised by the speed of her climax.
“Bending you over this table and sliding my cock into you…”
“Jay…ohh…”
“Listening to the wet sounds of your pussy as I fuck you hard…”
She peaked seconds later, sensation rippling from the bud beneath his fingers, bowing her off the table, while his mouth smothered her cries of pleasure. She clung to him, panting, as the final tremors subsided. The stroke of his hand on her back stirred her out of her erotic state. Blinking, she pulled back and stared up at him, the reality of the situation pelting her conscience like little bullets.
Angry colour flooded her face as she tore her gaze from his and brought her foot back to the floor. His hand came up to her face but she turned away. “Damn you,” she muttered. He’d used her weakness and turned her body against her.
He caught her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. A challenging flame danced in his eyes. “Why, Tara? Because it felt so good?”
The muscles in her jaw tightened. “Yes. No.” She edged around him but he caught her hand.
“I suspect you’re afraid to acknowledge what’s happening between us, but it is happening, Tara.”
She dislodged her hand and walked over to the pen she’d dropped on the floor, to buy some space and time to think. Yet her weakness towards him, along with his audacity, stoked her anger. She turned to him. “I acknowledge it, Jay. But I’m not going to be another one of your trophies…like Rebecca.”
His brows knotted above his nose. “What are you talking about?”
She averted her gaze to hide the swell of unwanted feelings. “I saw her coming out of your office last week, buttoning her shirt.”
Surprise flitted across his handsome face before he frowned. “You actually think I was screwing her?”
Tara turned towards the door, wanting to end the conversation. “Email me your feedback for Sauber.”
“Tara, you’ve got it wrong, damn it.”
His repressed anger bounced off the walls as she slipped through the door.
Chapter Three
Morning, Tara
We revised two of the Sauber designs yesterday evening and I’d like your opinion. Let’s meet in the small boardroom around 11:30.
Jay
Tara read the email a couple of times and exhaled hard. This was something he’d normally discuss with Evelyn, the art director. He was playing a subtle predator’s game with her. She realised with a stab of anxiety that for every side-step she’d take, he’d chase her with two. No man had ever pursued her like Jay. No man had ever revved her hormones like Jay. Her desire for him was so intense it unsettled her. One touch—hell—one look from him and she’d come unravelled.
She gave herself a mental shake. His pursuit was flattering, but she was sticking to her guns.
Tara deleted the email. If he brought it up, she’d say she never received it. With that, she stood up and headed into the studio. Apart from Sauber, she was managing two other projects, plus a load of administrative work that had piled up. She stifled a groan, put a smile on her face, and got updates from her team. Tight deadlines were the norm here, so she was used to the quick pace.
Penny approached her with a marked proof. “This one’s been proofed to death, so I hope JQ doesn’t make any more changes.”
“Thanks, Penny. How are your eyes holding up?”
“Not too bad. The eye drops help.”
Tara shook her head. “It’s a difficult week. Can’t wait till it’s over.”
“A small group from the studio’s going to dinner after work. I know you’ll probably be tired, but we’ll be at Flynn’s if you’d like to join us.”
“Sounds good, but I doubt I’ll be out of here before seven.”
Penny pouted. “Poor you. Well, at least Josh is back from vacation next week.”
“Thank God.”
Penny glanced at her watch. “Oh. I’d better get downstairs before the line-up for the microwave hits.”
Tara chuckled and took the proof back to her office to give it a final look before signing it. Just as she eased into her chair, the phone rang. She answered without taking her eyes from the sheet.
“Tara speaking.”
“Tara, you missed our meeting.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Oh, hi, Jay. Um, what meeting?”
“I sent you an email about it. I wanted your opinion on a couple of Sauber designs.” There was no mistaking the thread of disappointment in his voice.
“Well, I didn’t receive any message from you.” She chewed her bottom lip, knowing she wasn’t a good liar.
He chuckled. “You’re pretty cute when you lie.” A little pause followed. “I just wanted to talk to you.”
Here we go again. “I’m not having this discussion, Jay.”
“Let’s have dinner this Friday. I promise to be on my best behaviour.”
She released a curt sigh. “Why are you pushing it?”
“It’s dinner, Tara. In a public place.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as she stirred with longing for this man. Yesterday’s encounter had lingered in her body like an incessant pulse, depriving her of a good night’s sleep. It was so tempting to spend some private time with him. A part of her screamed, Say yes! Yet the rational part of her countered with, What about Rebecca?
“I’ll think about it.” She wasn’t sure if she was placating him or giving herself time to actually consider it.
“All right. I guess I can accept that for now. In case I haven’t mentioned it, you guys are doing an amazing job with Sauber.”
She couldn’t help the smile. “Thanks, Jay. I appreciate that.”
When they rang off, she realised that no matter what, she liked him, particularly his earthy nature and charming sense of humour. She worried her lip. Perhaps she was being too critical. He was a grown, unmarried man with healthy sexual needs. Perhaps she could make him forget about Rebecca—the woman was downright arrogant.
“God, Tara, listen to yourself,” she groaned, then got up and went down to the cafeteria for another strong cup of caffeine.
At around seven fifteen, Tara signed off on the final round of work for the evening, slid it into a large envelope and placed it in the outgoing mailbox. She heaved a tired sigh, eager to get home. She glanced around the empty studio—everyone else had gone home. The only sound was the gentle roar of a vacuum cleaner at the far end of the room.
In her office, she logged off her computer before walking over to the clothes hanger to fetch her shawl. A rap on the door startled her and she looked over to see Jay standing in the doorway, causing an extra skip in her heartbeat.
“Long day, eh?” he said.
“Um, yeah. I was just ending it.”
When he stepped inside the room and closed the door, her stomach fluttered with a mixture of anticipation and nerves. She tried to school her features. “What are you doing?”
He stood there, his broad frame, clad in a grey shirt and dark slacks, shrinking the size of the room by about half. “I need you to hear me out,” he said with a sober note, closing the distance between them in a few long strides.
Awareness crackled between them, delivering a shock to her senses.
“About Rebecca—” he continued, but she shook her head as the woman’s name jabbed her in the chest.
“Please, Jay—”
“She came to see me requesting a—”
“I told you—”
He moved so quickly she didn’t have time to react as he trapped her face between his hands and crushed the rest of her words with his mouth.
Sensation exploded through her body even as she tried to push away from him. His lips moved against hers with firm strokes, coaxing them apart for his skilful invasion. Unconsciously, her hands travelled up to his shoulders.
He broke the kiss for a moment, his warm breath fanning her lips. “She wanted a raise, and she thought she could use her looks to persuade me…” His mouth descended on hers, hard, demanding, causing her fingers to curl into him as her knees gave.
His hand curved into the small of her back, pressing her closer. “I flat-out told her she’d have to earn her raise with hard work. She was pissed and she up and stormed out of my office.” He paused, a sharp breath brushing her skin as his eyes held hers with firm intensity. “It’s the truth, Tara. And I wouldn’t touch that woman if you paid me.”
She fell silent as she sifted through her erotic cloud. She’d been too upset at the time to consider any other scenario. Now that she thought about it, she’d witnessed Rebecca using manipulative tactics to get what she wanted in the past. A wave of relief washed through her.
He grazed her lower lip with his teeth. “You believe me, hmm?”
She closed her eyes as his mouth trailed a shivery path across her jaw. “Yes,” she whispered. He swelled hard and fast against her belly as he cupped her buttocks and lifted her against him.
“I need you now,” he murmured against her temple, his voice thick with arousal.
A thread of caution reminded her of their surroundings. “Jay, we shouldn’t. I mean…not here.” Her protest was barely a husky whisper.
“No one’s in the building, and we both want this so badly.”
“The cleaners are here.”
He stilled, then released her. “Stay right here.” He walked over to her desk, found a blank piece of paper and scribbled something on it. Then he tore off a long piece of tape, attached it to the paper and stuck the paper on the outside of the door before shutting it again.
She shook her head in mild disbelief. “What did you write?”
“Do not clean room. Thank you.”
The heat of his gaze seared her with a look of possessiveness that set her nerve-endings on fire. She watched as he walked towards her, rugged, big, virile, his handsome face shadowed by a few days’ stubble. Her need for this man had been held in check for too long. She held his gaze as he reached out and brushed his thumb across her lower lip, then traced a path to her nape, where he threaded his fingers through her hair and tilted her head back slightly.
“I’ve waited so long for this,” he said. A low groan sounded in his throat as his mouth swept over hers with a raw urgency that broke the final chains on her own desire. She welcomed the moist thrust of his tongue as it tangled with hers, and she arched against his hard, sculpted flesh. His cock was like a brand, its heat permeating their clothing and coaxing fresh arousal between the lips of her sex.
His hands swept down, over her hips and around to the back of her skirt, unfastening the clip and the zipper in a few deft motions. He pushed the skirt over her hips until it bunched at her feet, and she kicked it to the side. Then he loosened the buttons of her shirt, her skin prickling as the cool air brushed up against it. Her shirt, too, ended up on the floor.
She heard the catch in his breath as his gaze moved over her, his eyes now charcoal-black.
“I love your body, Tara,” he said, his voice thick with desire. “Love these beautiful, luscious curves. God, I could caress you all night.”
And she’d love to feel those hands on her body all night. She stifled the urge to tear the rest of her clothes off and give him access to all her aching parts.
As if reading her mind, he said, “No barriers this time.” In seconds, he’d stripped her underwear from her body. He sucked in a sharp breath. “So fucking hot.” He reached into his pants’ pocket and pulled out a condom wrapper, which he tossed onto the desk.
She raised an eyebrow. “You came prepared.”
He grinned. “I knew you’d be up here alone.”
“I see. Let’s balance things out real fast, hmm?”
When she reached for his shirt, he shook his head. “Sorry, baby. I can’t wait.” He all but tore his clothes off until he was just flesh.
A gasp escaped her. She’d pictured Jay naked dozens of times, but nothing could have prepared her for the real thing. He was all powerful, lean muscles, olive-skinned and smooth except for a dusting of hair on his arms. The wide expanse of his chest tapered to bands of tight flesh along his abdomen. Her eyes widened as she took in his cock, which jutted out at a high angle…cut, hard and thick…at least eight, nine inches long. Oh, God. Below that, legs like muscled steel. What a gorgeous man.
She flicked her tongue across her lips, itching to glide her hands over him, to follow the path of her gaze with her fingers. But once again he denied her by lifting her into a straddling position.
As he walked towards the desk, he said, “Tell me how you want me to fuck you.”
His brazen words spiked her arousal. “Hard,” she replied, although she knew he wasn’t asking for instructions.
He uttered a low growl, pushing objects on the desk out of the way as her bottom touched the cool surface. He eased her back so that she rested on her elbows, then scooped her breasts up in his hands. When his mouth latched on to one taut nipple, Tara threw her head back and moaned as a dart of pleasure shot out from the aching tip. His tongue flicked rapidly over her before he switched to the other breast.
This time, as he sucked her nipple, he reached down between her legs and stroked the slick seam of her sex. Frissons, aching and sweet, spread throughout her flesh, wrenching a hoarse gasp from her throat.
“Mmm…you’re dripping, baby,” he murmured against her breast.
When two of his fingers penetrated her, her hips bucked off the desk. He pumped into her with deep, slow strokes, preparing her for his cock, most likely.
“Please, Jay,” she whimpered.
He gave her a quick kiss, then he reached for the condom and sheathed himself. He nuzzled his cock’s head into her opening and slid inside her with one smooth thrust. A hoarse moan broke from his throat. A ragged gasp pushed past her lips.
They locked gazes as he cupped her behind the knees, spreading her legs wide. He began moving inside her with long, slow thrusts, forcing her muscles apart until he reached the farthest depths. Sensations merged and curled into little coils inside her before unravelling into sweet frissons. Uncontrolled whimpers escaped her as she watched his cock plunge into her faster, marvelling at how big and hard it was.
“Too much?”
“No…ohh…harder…”
The sound of his skin slapping against hers mingled with their grunts of pleasure as he drove into her like a piston. God, the man really was an animal.
“So fucking good…” Jay muttered as a mixture of pleasure and pain crossed his face. His muscles clenched with an apparent effort to fight his release.
A mild ache began in her arms, but she ignored it and licked her lips as he pushed her closer to climax. Tension continued to build and contract in her womb until it broke into shards of pleasure, sending her into infinite bliss with a fractured cry.
Even in her fuzzy state, she sensed his restraint snap as he plunged into her a final time before his cock pulsed in the tender depths of her core. She opened her eyes in time to watch his handsome face tense with sweet agony.
When he’d caught his breath, he reached out and brushed his fingers across her cheek, then gathered her against his chest. With a contented sigh, she nuzzled into the earthy smell of his neck, aware that Jay had revived her deepest, most secret urges. It was about time someone did.
Chapter Four
Jay looked at Tara across the boardroom table while she scribbled something in her agenda. Her gaze had skirted away from his during the meeting, but colour rode high on her cheeks. He hid his smile, pleased to be the reason for that blush, especially as he’d woken with her on his mind and a painful hard-on.
Wh
at surprised him, though, was that his desire for her had practically doubled since yesterday. If he’d thought it was unusually intense before, it was dangerously explosive now. This had never happened to him before. He shifted in his seat as his cock swelled uncomfortably against the fly of his jeans.
“We’re definitely giving them what they want,” Charles said as he looked at the six final designs for Sauber Spirits. “Fresh, crisp, contemporary.”
Jay nodded. “We’ve got a great chance of winning this.”
“God knows, we worked our asses off,” Evelyn added with her trademark dryness.
Charles smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Great job, everyone.” He stood up, his fifty-something wiry frame resisting the signs of ageing. “Now you guys rest well tonight, and good luck tomorrow.” He left the room.
Evelyn came around and began collecting the designs she and Jay would be presenting for Sauber first thing in the morning.
Jay finally caught Tara’s gaze and read the flash of a question in the green depths before her lashes concealed it. She stood up. “Well, good luck tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Tara,” Evelyn replied.
“Thanks—” he stopped himself short of calling her “baby” and tacked on “Tara.”
The colour in her cheeks deepened as she made a hasty exit. He cleared his throat. “My car tomorrow?”
Evelyn glanced up. “No choice. Mine’s in the garage,” she grumbled.
On the way back to his office, Jay’s mind strayed to Tara. Yesterday had been amazing, but he had something spicier planned for her. He hoped she’d be open to it. He resisted the urge to swing by her office and went down to the cafeteria to refill his coffee cup. Ryan, their IT guy, was pulling out a bagged lunch from the fridge.
“Hey, Ryan. Late lunch?”
Ryan glanced over his shoulder. “Nah. I’m just grabbing a snack for the road. Got an appointment and I won’t be back till three thirty.” He pulled a bright red apple from the bag and shoved the bag back into the fridge.