Siren Song

by A C Warneke

  “I’m trying to decide what type of woman you’re interested in,” she offered lamely. “Apparently the eldest Rudnar is not an option; what about the others?”

  “Married women are off limits and from what I remember they are all married.”

  “The youngest one isn’t….” Why was she still talking?

  Duncan’s brows pulled together in a slight frown as he considered her statement. “I suppose you’re right but from what I understand she’s not much for society. Now, if you could get an interview with her….”

  Lexi made a strangled sound and bolted for the door before he could cajole her into interviewing herself.

  Chapter 7 (Friday)

  At exactly the right moment, Lexi glanced through the opened door of her office and was unable to prevent the smile from swallowing her face. Duncan – Mr. Tremain – was walking through the maze of cubicles and talking to the various employees. With the convention in a few hours, she didn’t think the day could get any better and then Duncan appeared. Standing, she smoothed down the front of her copper robe dress and wriggled a bit to get the undergarments realigned.

  She knew she would be seeing him, they worked in the same office, after all, but he had been conspicuously absent and she was growing worried that she wouldn't see him before the weekend. After all, it had been nearly a hundred hours since she last saw him. Glancing down at her watch – 3:17 pm – yep, almost a hundred hours. The only reason she had successfully stayed away from him for the past couple of days was for the simple fact she had driven six and a half hours to the Menominee River to go white water rafting and rock climbing with Cole. Not that she didn’t think about Duncan at the most inappropriate moments; she almost went over because she was imagining what it would be like to take a shower with a naked Duncan and lost her grip on the rope. Thank God Cole had caught her before she fell in.

  She had hoped that the exertion of the trip would have diminished her attraction to the captivating man but it had only grown. When she fell asleep the night before under the stars, exhausted from battling the rapids and then going for an extended hike, all she could think about was how nice it would be to curl up in Duncan’s strong arms and sleep, knowing he was there. The disturbingly domestic image was made bearable by the hot and sexy dreams.

  Had he not appeared, she was going to make up an excuse to accost him in his office. Luckily, the fates were smiling on her as she left the confines of her office to follow him. Wearing his dress shirt and tie without the jacket, her looked incredibly sexy. His sleeves were unbuttoned and rolled up, exposing his strong forearms, making Lexi long to see the rest of his arms. And then his chest, followed by his stomach and back; basically working all the way down his body until he was naked. And that was not a good thing to be thinking about when he made it clear that they were not going to engage in anything more intimate than chatter.

  Having promised to play nice, she kept her distance as she watched him covertly, talking with her various coworkers as he discussed business with others. If she occasionally lost track of the conversation, she could blame Duncan for exuding so much charm and confidence and male sex pheromones. He fairly oozed sex appeal; she was surprised that more of the women in the office didn’t simply follow him around. Of course, none of the other women were fatalistically drawn to the man, either. While they might appreciate his handsome face or his chiseled body, they seemed a little intimidated by his arrogance and self-confidence.

  With a blinding flash of self-awareness, she realized she was acting like a shy and socially awkward high school girl who followed the captain of the football team in the hopes that he would turn around and see her and realize she was the one he had been waiting for all of his, admittedly brief, life. Or praying that he never looked because it would have been mortifying to be discovered spying on him. High school was a confusing time and she sympathized for every poor soul that had to suffer through it.

  Laughing at her absurdity, she wandered to the break room to grab a cup of coffee and maybe she'd try getting out of there a little early. Even though the convention didn’t officially start until five, she wanted to get there and get checked in as soon as possible. Grinning, she thought about her outfit beneath the copper dress and Duncan’s reaction if he ever saw her in it. And then she wondered if he would even get the reference; he didn’t seem the type to waste his time on pop culture.

  *****

  Duncan knew the moment Lexi stepped out of her office and he waited for her to cross the distance between them, leaping over any obstacle that was in her way, and talk to him in that sassy, sexy way of hers. The whole point of visiting that area today was to see her, since he knew she was back at work in her office. But, of course, he couldn’t approach her directly since he explicitly stated they had to keep their distance.

  But the little vixen just followed after him, keeping her distance as well, even as she sent flirtatious glances that he had to pretend to ignore. He continued talking to the various people on the floor, just enjoying being able to see her. And the moment she stopped following him he felt it in his gut; she simply wasn’t there. Interrupting the man who was talking about his project, he excused himself to hunt her down, following the clean, spring breeze scent that was Lexi.

  Prowling along the corridors, ignoring anyone who attempted to snag his attention, he tracked her down to the little break room, calmly pouring herself a cup of coffee. Clearing his throat, he rumbled, “Miss Darling, a word if you please.”

  “Sesquipedalian,” she said, keeping her back towards him.

  The strange response momentarily stunned him. “Pardon?”

  Turning around, she leaned against the counter and grinned at him, “You asked for a word and I gave you on. It means 'many syllabled' and while it's exceedingly pretentious it is a lot of fun to say. Sesquipedalian; it tangles up the tongue and then just fall right off.

  “Or perhaps you would prefer a different word?” she continued guilelessly and he was completely charmed by her. “Tittle, which is the little dot over i’s and j’s; or ornithopter, an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings; or Tuatha De Danan Lora or Expecto Patronum?"

  “Now you’re just making words up,” he grinned, and realized he had missed talking to her.

  Her eyes widened in her beautiful face and she looked innocent, until he saw the spark of mischief in those green and gold eyes. “They are all valid words or phrases, in books, in movies….”

  “I don’t spend a lot of time reading fantasy or watching movies….” He shook his head and tried to scowl but failed to turn his smile into a frown. “Miss Darling, you have made me forget why I came in here.”

  Artlessly, she stepped forward and handed him a cup of coffee before twisting around and grabbing a second cup; she had known he was coming. “Coffee break?”

  Since he was pretty sure all rational thought fled the moment he met her, he took the cup without thinking. When his fingers brushed against hers sparks shot up his arm. He was lucky he didn’t accidentally drop the cup.

  “I wasn’t sure how you take your coffee,” she said, her voice a little unsteady as a pink stain of arousal colored her cheekbones becomingly. “So I made it like I take mine.”

  Glancing down, he saw that the coffee was suspiciously light but not wanting to offend the generous, if slightly crazy, woman, he took a sip. And grimaced at the sweetness, “Let me guess, a splash of coffee and a whole lot of sugar and cream?”

  “Yep.” She took a sip of her cream with a dash of coffee and closed her eyes in bliss as she gave a little hum of pleasure. When she opened her eyes, she smiled at him, “I make sure to use French vanilla creamer; it’s better that way. Do you like?”

  He shook his head and dumped the creamer pretending to be coffee into the sink before pouring himself a new cup. When he turned around, expecting her to be offended by his behavior, he found himself staring at her as she shook in silent laughter. When she noticed he was looking at her, she let the laughter out and he
knew he had been had. He tried to sound stern but failed miserably as he informed the delectable Miss Darling, “I prefer black.”

  “I figured you would.” She made an adorable face, scrunching up her nose, as she grimaced and handed him another cup of black coffee. “But it is so bitter.”

  “Black is perfect,” he countered, taking a sip of the stronger brew, enjoying himself far more than he should. “I prefer sweetness in my desserts and women, not my coffee.

  “I like my bitterness….” She paused and frowned as she thought a moment before smiling brightly, “I know! I like my men hot and my coffee sweet.”

  “Nice, Miss Darling,” he grinned foolishly, feeling younger and more alive than he ever felt, even while running as a wolf. “I like my women creamy and my coffee strong.”

  “I like my men dark and dangerous and my coffee tepid,” she purred. “So I can drink it without burning my tongue. What did you need to talk to me about?”

  He laughed at her abrupt change of topic; it was so Lexi. “I wanted to yell at you for slacking off on the job but I can’t bring myself to get mad when I seem to be slacking off as well.”

  “I like a man who takes responsibility and looks that good in a suit,” she grinned, nodding her head towards his clothing. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at his face, “I like a man better when he steps out of his suit.”

  Arching an eyebrow at her words, he asked, “Is that an invitation to get naked?”

  “Only if you’re willing….” She let the words hang out there and he was so tempted.

  “I’m not willing,” he lied.

  She shrugged her shoulders and sighed, “Oh, well; it was worth a shot.”

  “You are a dangerous woman, Miss Darling,” he muttered, sipping his coffee.

  “I take that as a compliment, Mr. Tremain,” she beamed and his heart skipped a beat.

  “What’s with the outfit?” he asked, noticing the relatively normal dress for the first time. It was a coppery dress that covered her body from neck to toe, leaving her slender arms bare except the spangling, swirly bracelet on her wrist. Her shoes were an odd looking pair of suede boot, not her usually sexy, strappy heels. He liked her hair, though; the front had a loose, romantic look about it as the whole mass was pulled back into a thick braid that hung down her back. The metal hair piece was a nice touch.

  “I’m actually heading to the sci fi convention right after work,” she admitted. “My roommates are picking me up and we’re all dressing up; Dima is dressing up as Luke and Cole is going as Han and I am going to be Slave Leia.” Scrunching her nose in that adorable way of hers, she added, “I thought my costume might be a little too distracting for the office.”

  Astonishment punched him in the gut and he grinned; what did Miss Darling consider too distracting for the office? “This I have got to see.”

  Grinning wickedly, she undid the frog clasps that held the front of the dress together and then let the silky material slide off her body to reveal a siren’s body encased in a damned sexy metal bikini. A gauzy bit of maroon material twined about her legs and all of the blood in his body rushed to his penis. Without normal brain function, his coffee spilled down the front of his shirt, scalding his belly and bringing him painfully back to reality.

  Flinging the mug down and plucking at the wet material, he swore, “Damn, that’s hot.”

  “Mr. Tremain!” Lexi cried, reaching his side immediately and frantically unbuttoning his shirt. When it was opened, she pushed it off his shoulders then reached behind her to grab some paper towels, mopping up the rest of the liquid from his skin.

  His breath caught in his throat as she diligently cleaned him up, the concern in her face slowly morphing to fascination as she realized she was cleaning his bare chest. The towels slipped from her fingers and her hand was pressed against his skin and his world narrowed until all that was left was Lexi Darling. As he stood there looking down at her, he tried to remember why he couldn’t touch her but there was nothing there. Lifting his hand, he almost touched her but knew if he did, he wouldn’t stop until she was out of her metal bikini. He had to satisfy himself with looking and not touching.

  Her skin was kissed by the sun, a dusting of gold over smooth curves, and the metal bikini cupped around her perfect breasts. In that moment he hated the ornamental metal because it was touching what was meant to be his. As he watched, her hand and gaze slipped lower to the erection pressing against the front of his pant and he had to grind his teeth together to keep his hands to himself.

  “It looks like you stained your slacks as well, Mr. Tremain,” she said in a low, sexy, aroused voice. Falling to her knees in front of him, she gently pressed the towels against his penis, running her hand lightly over the length and driving him mad.

  She looked up at him with those wide, hazel-green eyes and he imagined her unzipping his pants, sliding her hand inside and wrapping her fingers around his cock. In his mind, he saw her taking the length of his penis between her shiny red lips, sucking it into the depths of her hot mouth until he was mindless with pleasure. Grinding his teeth together, squeezing his hands into fists, he managed to drudge out, “That is not helping, Miss Darling.”

  Her eyes sparkled with knowing amusement as she continued to lightly run her hands along his erection, tormenting him and making him wish she would just take the damn thing out and let him fuck her mouth. “Miss Darling….”

  The realization that they were in the middle of the break room, that they could be interrupted at any moment, gave him the strength to grab her beneath the arms and pull her to her feet. He was about to let her go but she wobbled so he tightened his grip to keep her steady, “Are you all right, Miss Darling?”

  “Hmm?” she asked dreamily, visually feasting on his naked torso, his straining erection. Blinking, she came back to the moment and looked up at him, “I think you should be Han; I can imagine doing such wicked things to you….”

  “Miss Darling!” he hissed, not needing any more temptation. If she kept it up, he was liable to go absolutely primal and take her where she stood, that provocative bikini the only barrier. He was sure the metal bottoms could be removed easily enough. “This isn’t the time or place.”

  She heaved a sigh and glanced around the room, “Yes, I suppose your right.” Bending down, she picked up the discarded dress and slipped it back on, hiding her glorious body from his view. “Besides, you don’t sleep with your employees. Yeah, I got that. Plus, it would suck trying to get this outfit back on; metal is not forgiving and once free I’m sure my breasts would throw a fit if I threatened to bind them again.”

  In spite of his screaming hard on, he chuckled, “Miss Darling, I tremble in your presence.”

  Her smile was incongruously shy as she lightly ran her hand over his chest and started heading for the exit, “Have a nice weekend, Mr. Tremain. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  She was leaving him? Spinning around, his damp shirt clutched in his hand, he had no choice but to watch her go. With another little smile, she disappeared, leaving him with a mammoth erection and a weekend of erotic images to look forward to. Stalking over to the sink, he turned on the water and stuck the ruined shirt beneath, needing to do something – anything – to get his lust under control. Thoughts of Lexi filled his head and he chuckled; she was a marvel.

  And he absolutely, positively could not give in to animal lust.

  It’s more than that and you know it.

  He clenched his jaw together. The only thing his wolf was good for was getting rid of his rampaging erection. Go to hell.

  *****

  Lexi walked back to her desk on wobbly legs, grateful for the absurd shoes that went with her outfit. Why did Duncan have to be so utterly charming? Or have a body that was simply breath taking? When she had rushed to rip his shirt off it was to prevent his skin from getting blistered by the hot coffee but as soon as she realized she was staring at his naked chest, she just wanted to touch it and the towels she was using magically disappe
ared.

  His skin was scorching hot, and she didn’t think it had anything to do with the coffee; he simply ran hotter than a mere human. The crisp black hair circling his nipples and then angling downwards to the waist band of his pants was sexy, neither too much to hide the skin or too little to give him an androgynous appearance. He was all man and she just wanted to bite him, take a little nibble of his flesh and….

  Jeeze, she was turning into a cannibal, simply because Duncan Tremain was so scrumptious. And incredibly stubborn; most men would have taken her up on her offer but not Mr. Tremain. Strangely she was even more attracted to him because of it; there was definitely something to be said about the chase. It made his ultimate surrender that much more rewarding when he finally gave in.

  Or she just found self-control incredibly sexy, even when it cost her endless, sleepless nights thinking about him. What would it be like to lose her virginity to him, what would sex be like with him once her virginity was long gone? And while her roommates might suspect she had a crush on someone, Duncan Tremain remained her tormenting and delicious secret. She supposed it was possible to talk to one of her sisters, probably Penelope, but that just seemed awkward. As much as she loved her family, she didn’t share much of her life with them; when she was younger she had lived in her head and now that she was older… well, she had simply gotten into the habit of keeping to herself.

  “Ready to go, Leia?” Cole asked, knocking on her door, wearing his white shirt and black vest. He golden hair was dyed dark brown for the occasion. “Dima’s in the car waiting.”

  Startled, she realized she had spent the last hour of her day day-dreaming about Duncan. Standing up, she took a final glance around the office to see if she needed to bring anything home, then smiled at Cole. “Yep.”

  His brows pulled together, “Where’s your costume?”

  With a grin, she took off her dress. It was almost quitting time on a Friday afternoon; if they weren’t already distracted, her outfit wasn't going to be a problem. Posing with a hand on her head and one on her hip, she modeled the bikini, “Well?”