by Jada Sioux
“I never was a fan of French Baroque, if I’m being truthful,” he noted softly, his voice sending a tingle running down her spine.
His hand on her back felt so good. Warmth flooded through her from where he touched her, and she caught herself leaning back into his touch, wishing to be closer to him.
“I think there’s a certain charm to them,” she managed meekly, pressing the words out.
He chuckled, and she felt childish next to him, but the way he squeezed her hip made her breathe a little easier. It was odd how quickly it had become important to her for that man to take her seriously. Not just as a woman, but as a person. It was a sharp contrast to her blinding physical desire for him, which would have her doing just about anything he told her to.
“I’m glad you came.”
“I couldn’t say no to such an invite. When else would I have the chance to see the inside of Brimmen Manor?” She didn’t add that the real reason she came was that he drew her to him like a moth to a flame.
“Kiara, you wound me. I thought for certain that you would come here for me,” he teased, leading her away from the painting and down the hall.
She didn’t know what to say. “Yes, I want you so badly that I can’t see straight?”
Didn’t sound very ladylike. Then again, she hadn’t been a lady in New York either. It had been so much easier when she had just thought of him as a random accountant or Wall Street chump out looking for a good time. Now, there was a layer of professional courtesy, the fact that she was sure she could hardly match up to a man like him and the constant feeling of being outmatched in just about everything.
Kiara wished she could just forget all about that and sink into his arms again like she had that night, blissfully unaware that he came with more strings attached than she could comprehend.
Damien opened a door to a study and showed Kiara in. He closed the door with a click behind them, and goose bumps trailed across her skin. She was alone with him again. Alone with the hottest and most dangerous playboy she could imagine.
“I like the way you look tonight, Kiara. You did well,” he murmured, stepping behind her and gently putting both hands on her hips.
She smiled to herself, enjoying the feeling of his body so close to hers. Secretly, she was thrilled that he appreciated the way she looked. She’d worked damn hard to look so good. His hands trekked lower over her ample curves, and she caught her lower lip between her teeth. Oh, what she wouldn’t do for him to just keep going. He laid a kiss on the back of her neck, and Kiara couldn’t suppress the moan that had been building in her throat. She’d missed his touch so badly.
Damien chuckled softly and took his hands off of her. She couldn’t help but blush. He stepped around her, walked to a small fully stocked bar placed under a gorgeous landscape painting and poured himself a whiskey. Trying to shake off her excitement, Kiara took a few wobbling steps towards one of the paintings in the study, determined to hide her embarrassment. But of course, nothing was lost on Damien.
“You shouldn’t be ashamed of being excited, Kiara. I like hearing that you’ve missed me.”
He strolled back over to her, standing next to her. One hand immediately slid around her waist, affectionately pulling her close while he studied the painting.
“You’d think I’d appreciate these things more. Honestly, I’d much prefer some good vintage movie posters on the walls. But I don’t think my investors quite share my interests.”
“I think it would clash with the decorum,” Kiara giggled, shaking off her nervousness.
She liked the ease with which Damien plunged into conversations and the way he liked keeping a hand on her, as if wanting to make sure she didn’t stray too far from his touch. She had nothing against being close to him, nothing at all. Still, a bit of trepidation churned in her stomach, not letting her fully enjoy the heat that was flooding through her from his touch and his presence.
“Probably. Alien posters don’t go well with carved mahogany, I guess,” he mused, eyeing the careful craftsmanship of the bookcases in the room.
“Damien, I…”
“What is it, sugar?” he asked, cocking a brow and studying her with much more interest than he had the painting.
It made her squirm a bit. He could see right through her defenses as if she was standing naked in front of him.
“I’m not sure if we’re supposed to do this. With me working for Divinad and you… well, owning Divinad,” she said, feeling the red blush creep up her cheeks again.
Damien took a sip of his drink and fell into thought for a moment, the clean, powerful lines of his jaw set hard as a look of strain passed over his expression. Oh, she didn’t like seeing that look on his face. Any hint of distress made her want to kiss it away immediately.
What are you thinking, Kiara! He was just a fling and now he’s your client, the most important client you’ll ever have! Don’t get attached, she chided herself, but it was no use.
She lifted her hand to his hair and raked through it. He caught her wrist and kissed her palm softly, sending tingles running through her and making her nerves stand on edge. Everything he did registered as sexy for Kiara. It was damn hard keeping her focus around him.
“You’re probably right,” he said, and Kiara’s heart fell. She knew she was right, but she didn’t want Damien to confirm it! “But, I’m not a man who likes doing the right thing all the time. What about you, Kiara? Do you do everything right, the way you’re supposed to?”
“No,” she said sheepishly, but it drew another throaty chuckle from Damien.
Who was she kidding? Other than that night with him in New York, Kiara had been the epitome of good manners and right decisions all her life. She rarely strayed far from the beaten path, knowing full well that with her background, opportunities were few and far apart. She didn’t want to squander them in the name of a couple of hours of fun and immediate gratification, especially if sucking it up and dealing with some boredom and drudgery could lead to a better, more secure future.
“I think you’re lying, sugar,” he said, pulling her close to him.
Her hips pressed against him, and she sucked in a breath, feeling his hard muscles against her body. She knew why she’d come here tonight. To finish what they had started at the office, even if she tried to convince herself that it was all for her work and that she had no untoward thoughts about the gorgeous, mesmerizing billionaire. Damien put his glass on a shelf and picked Kiara’s out of her hand as well. He drew closer to her, towering above her, and his lips were just inches from her mouth as he inclined his head, mirth twinkling in his eyes.
They seemed suspended in time, Kiara too afraid to do anything that would ruin the moment. Dammit, why did he have to be so hot!? But it was more than that – it was how he carried himself and how he could command the room with the slightest of effort, making everyone bend to his will.
“The way I see it, we have two options,” he started, teasing his hand through her hair and letting it fall down her back until it rested on her ass. “We could part ways as nothing but business partners, who had one unforgettably sexy night and just the right kind of fun, never to look at each other again as anything but dull people behind even duller conference tables.”
That didn’t sound fun at all. Kiara pursed her lips, her hands resting on his wide chest. She could feel his heart beating heavily under her palm, and she longed to rest her head on his chest and just listen to his heartbeat through the night.
“Or, we could say to hell with that and see where this takes us. I won’t tell if you won’t tell. If we find out that it was just one night and other than having a moment of physical pleasure this doesn’t work for us, then we’ll call it off, no harm, no foul. Nobody has to know. I’m a grown man, and whether or not you and I take this further, it won’t affect my decisions about your company.”
He paused, his expression not betraying which version of the story he preferred, but the way he held her close told her that the majority was certainly leani
ng towards the more fun option.
“So what’s it going to be, Kiara? Do we want to get to know each other better or would you prefer to back away?” he asked, giving her all the power in the decision.
A clump formed at the back of her throat, and she took a deep breath to clear it. There was no question of what she wanted more. She definitely wanted Damien, more than she had ever desired any man. While he made it sound so easy to separate their business and their personal lives, she knew it couldn’t possibly come without any difficulty. But, for the time being, it didn’t seem like an insurmountable hurdle.
Maybe, just maybe they could make it work? Maybe there was a way to have a relationship with one of the most powerful men in the world and not be found out, at least not until she was ready for it? Oh, but at the end of it all, did she really care? Between having Damien and not having Damien, the decision was pretty damn easy.
“Yes, I want to get to know you better,” she finally said, breathless with excitement. He grinned, and his face lit up.
“Excellent.” With that, he kissed her, and the world floated away, leaving nothing but Damien and his warm, gentle lips.
CHAPTER SIX
Kiara
Kiara lost herself in the kiss completely. Her nails raked through his hair and clutched behind his neck as he scooped her up in his arms, making her feel insignificantly tiny and delicate. She gasped as he carried her across the room and sat her down on a wide, polished wood table, sending the pens and knick-knacks flying with a brush of his hand.
He kissed her feverishly, and she answered back with the same enthusiasm, loving the taste of his mouth and the way his tongue snaked into hers, promising of things to come.
Damien pulled up her shimmery dress, revealing her thighs and the sheer black hold-up stockings she was wearing. He grinned wolfishly at the sight of them, sliding his palm across the lacy fabric and then to her bare upper thigh.
“You’re gorgeous,” he murmured, and his words and touch sent shockwaves of pleasure running through her.
He kissed down her neck while she pulled his belt off and undid the front of his pants. Damien stopped for a moment, kissing right between her breasts, before gently pushing down the dress just enough to reveal one dark, inviting nipple. He sucked it into his mouth without hesitation, and Kiara had to brace herself on the table, throwing her head back and letting out a tortured moan. God, he felt good. He teased her nipple with his tongue and teeth while his hands slid under her dress and pulled down her panties.
She was wet with excitement, and having his hands so close to her heat drove her wild. Kiara pushed down his dress pants and boxers, and her hand curled around his thick cock, her fingertips barely touching around his size. He was even bigger than she remembered. The way her breathing hitched drew a grin from Damien, and he kissed her again as she stroked his cock, loving the feeling of the smooth skin and thick hardness.
“What if someone walks in?” she asked between kisses, though she barely cared.
“Let them,” he growled.
She didn’t mind. Damien reached into an inside pocket on his jacket and fished out a condom, which she quickly snatched from him. She ripped the packaging open with her teeth and sheathed him as he shrugged off the jacket. Weeks of waiting culminated in a burst of pleasure as he thrust into her, filling her with his size. Kiara’s hands latched onto his sides as Damien drove into her on the table, making her groan heavily as he sunk deeper into her bit by bit, until he was completely buried within her.
She was sure she’d pass out from the sheer girth of him, but the way he cupped her ass, lifting her a little and angling her just right made the spark of pain turn into a roaring fire of pleasure.
“Oh my god, Damien!” she squealed as he pulled out almost completely and then stroked into her, deep and hard.
He kissed her neck and her shoulders as he rutted into her, long, merciless thrusts that drove her pleasure to its peak so quickly and immediately that she barely had time to recognize what was happening to her when she tumbled over the edge, giving in to the orgasm she had been waiting for for so long.
It left her gasping for breath and holding onto him for dear life. Nothing seemed to matter other than being close to this compelling man, at least not for the time being. Kiara had always been the kind of woman who could do just about anything on her own, not needing anyone to hold her hand or make sure that she was safe and on the right path.
But now, with Damien, she felt like while she didn’t need it, it was wonderful to be next to a man who made her feel like leaning on someone could be a possibility. Perhaps she wouldn’t always have to be the strongest one? Maybe it wasn’t impossible to find a man who could be her rock?
She kissed his neck and nibbled on his earlobe as the violent shakes of ecstasy began to die down, giving her back some control over her body.
“That feels so good,” Kiara murmured as he slowed his thrusts, moving in and out of her with heavy, deliberate motions that made her shudder anew in his arms.
He dipped her chin up and laid a kiss on her lips – languid, soft and yearning – taking her breath away. While he could be a beast, ruthless and hard, he also showed her the tenderness that she imagined he didn’t reveal often. He hadn’t kissed her like that before. Like she was a lover, a partner, not just a hot, curvy body in a fantastic dress.
He pulled away from the kiss and their eyes met, her hazels boring into his blue depths. For a second in time, she felt completely connected to him, like nothing stood in their way, and they were simply free to enjoy one another without the difficulties of their reality.
Then, he kissed her neck, and a smile broke across her lips as he let out a stifled groan, thrusting into her one more time before he came. She loved feeling him release. There was something so intimate about the exchange that for her, it registered as far more than just raunchy sex at a party. He’d wanted her as badly as she wanted him, and that was beyond unexpected for her. When he pulled out and they cleaned up, neither of them could stop grinning.
Damien helped her get her dress back on the way it was supposed to be, and this time, she got the chance to retrieve her panties on time. She didn’t even pay any attention to what she was doing before she was already straightening his tie, like it was the most normal thing. Kiara paused, frowning at what she was doing.
“What’s wrong, sugar?” Damien asked, putting his hands around her waist.
“I... Oh, nothing. I’m just being silly,” she said with a weak smile, letting go of his tie. She hadn’t expected to feel so comfortable around him.
Just then, a knock sounded on the door and, a second later, Eliza strolled in. She looked devastating. Her slim body was wrapped in a tight red dress that left just enough to the imagination, and her brunette hair tumbled over her shoulders in loose, perfectly coifed curls. She looked like she’d just stepped off a magazine cover. Any other time, Kiara would have felt incredibly outmatched next to the young heiress, but standing next to Damien, that feeling was curiously absent.
Kiara took a step back from the man, creating some distance. As much as she was ready to give being with him a shot, it was far too early to let the world know. Still, by the way Eliza froze and her eyes narrowed, it was obvious that she suspected something was up. Kiara and Damien’s slightly frazzled, after sex glow was probably hard to miss.
“Damien, I’ve been looking for you. It’s time for the toast,” Eliza said, conjuring a mesmerizing smile on her lips.
“Alright. Guess it’s back to work. Don’t stray too far, Kiara. I need to talk to you later,” Damien said casually, lightly touching Kiara’s arm.
She nodded, and he retrieved his glass and stalked out of the room, those long, effortless steps of his making her think of a predator again.
“I’ll be right with you. Just need to freshen up,” Eliza said as Damien passed her, looking pleasant and approachable.
As soon as Damien disappeared through the door though, that veneer of hospita
lity cracked and fell. Instead, Eliza stared daggers at Kiara, her lips tightened into a small line and her expression severe.
Exactly what I needed, Kiara thought sourly. A scorned ex.
“I don’t know who you are,” Eliza started coldly, her words dripping with malice. “But I guess I should tell you a little something about the dashing Mister Thatch. Damien has a woman in every city he does business in. Probably more than one. If you want to fuck him, go right ahead, but don’t get any ideas about anything more with him.
You’re just another slut he’s found to amuse himself with, and if you ever think you’re anything more than a good time for him, then you’re sorely mistaken. He’ll use you up and throw you away, just like he does with all of them. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
Kiara’s mouth fell open. In the span of a few sentences, Eliza had managed to take her happy glow and shatter it into pieces. Tears threatened to well in her eyes, and her throat as if collapsed into itself, making it hard to breathe. Eliza spun around and rushed out of the room, the long skirt of her red dress whooshing behind her. Kiara was left behind, stunned.
Could it be? Could Damien really be such an effortless bastard?
He didn’t promise you anything… and he didn’t say you were exclusive or anything. So why does it hurt? Kiara thought bitterly.
She cradled her arms around her. A shiver ran through her, but this time, it wasn’t of happiness. It was disgust, with herself and how naïve she had been. Of course she was nothing more than a fun time for Damien Thatch! How could she ever think that she could be more, that a simple marketing specialist, and a colored one at that, could rope the most eligible bachelor in the world!
Tears fell in earnest now, and Kiara ran from the room, determined to get home as fast as she could and forget that this evening ever took place.
Nothing could happen between her and Damien, not anymore. She couldn’t afford to be so foolish with her career, after all.
Still, her heart broke at the thought of not getting to share another moment with him. Just when she had thought that there was hope for happiness, it had been yanked out from under her. It went to show that listening to her heart never got her anything good.