by Nana Malone
There was no way he'd make it till tonight. Not if he had to go back to the office knowing she was just down the hall. He tugged her into the small conference room he'd used for a client meeting sometime last year. When he locked the door behind them, she objected. “Bryan, what do you think—”
He picked her up easily and stepped between her parted thighs, kissing her soundly. She tasted like the tiramisu she'd been having for dessert. Sweet. Tempting.
In seconds, she was moaning as his erection pressed into her. Her hands tightened in his shirt and he was sliding his hands up over her thighs. “Fuck Kyra. I've been dying to do that since I saw you walk into the office this morning.”
She dragged dazed eyes open and blinked up at him. “Bryan.” He tucked his hand into the low rise of her jeans and pulled her forward to the edge of the table. “We're going to talk. But first. I need something to take the edge off. Otherwise I'm going to go crazy trying to wait for tonight.” He unsnapped her jeans and she threw her head back with a groan. “Those fucking shoes have been making me crazy all damn day.” They were silvery and sparkled and he wanted her to wear them every day…with nothing else.
“Bryan, what are you doing?” she teased.
He grinned. “You want me to walk you through it? Okay then.” He pulled her to standing. Then keeping her eye contact, he peeled her jeans over her hips. “Right now, I'm going to peel off your jeans, then I'm going to suck on your clit until you come for me. At least twice. From there, who knows. I think I can manage to wait until later to sink into you. The anticipation is so much better that way, but maybe I'll lose control. Maybe I won't be able to wait. Maybe I'll sink into you bare. You'd like that wouldn't you. If you made me that crazy for you?”
“Oh God.” He had her jeans and thong around her ankles and her thighs parted, leaving her bared open to him. God she was beautiful. Wet, and slick and ready.
He tipped his head up and watched her face as he ran is thumb over her soaked slit. Her lashes fluttered shut and she tossed her head back. Even if she didn't want to be all open with him. When it came to her body, she was completely open.
He smoothed slow circles over her clit even as he shifted to his feet. He needed to see her face. Needed to see when she flew apart because of him. That's when she was the most open. The most vulnerable.
The lust infused his blood and he choked back the need to have her, to brand her to him. He could wait. He wanted her to be his on her own. To choose to be his. Not just because she couldn't deny the attraction. But because she was choosing to be with him.
Fuck what was wrong with him? This was supposed to be fun. Supposed to be relieving the pressure. But the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted. The more of her he needed...This thing wasn't going away.
He sank a finger into her even as he rubbed a thumb over her clit. Gently, so gently only teasing the pleasure. He should be hurrying. Should be cognizant that they were in a public hotel. But he wanted her too bad. Had to have her flying. Two fingers. She was tight.
Suddenly, her head snapped up and her eyes went wide. When that dark gaze met his, he gave her the pressure she craved, and her silken walls tightened and convulsed around his fingers. Her eyes rolled up and he grinned. “That's it, sweetheart.” But he wasn't done with her. He wanted her limp, and boneless. Unable to focus the rest of the day. Like he'd been unable to think, focus for the last two weeks. Why should he be the only one suffering? Sliding down her body, he pulled his fingers from her. “Look at me, Kyra.” She dragged her head up to meet his gaze and sleepy eyes blinked down at him. “I want you walking around the rest of the day, remembering what I can do to you. How you feel when you're with me.” He brought his soaked fingers to his lips and licked them clean relishing the tiny gasp she made as she watched him. He leaned forward and licked her slit, taking time to pay attention to her sensitive clit.
“Oh, god, Bryan, I can't take anymore. Please. I—”
He licked her again, before sucking hard on her clit. She came apart in seconds, her legs quaking around him. He sat back and kissed her thigh even as he helped her get dressed again.
She frowned. “But you—”
He kissed her inner thigh again. “Not everything is about me. Isn't that what you told me once?”
She flushed. “I didn't mean...”
Her voice trailed and he chuckled. “I know. But I'm trying to learn some patience. Besides, it's fun this way. Delayed gratification and all that. Since we're negotiating our contract. I think I might have you renegotiating no sleep overs tonight because I don't think I'll be leaving once I'm inside you.”
“You're a killer negotiator. Right about now I'll give you whatever you want.” She studied him warily. “So you're not mad that my friends know?”
Mad? Hell no. “No. I figured we'd only be able to keep it under wraps so long. Besides. I think we should go to HR and—”
She shook her head. “What? No. I mean, it's just Megan, and she won't tell anyone. The others don't work there.”
“You still want to sneak around?”
A small wrinkle creased her forehead. “Well, I certainly don't want to publicize everything. When you call this off, I'm the one who will be the topic of gossip.”
Approval shifted to anger. “Jesus, Kyra, how do you not see that you have the power here? I know I'm your boss, but you own me. Do you even get that? I'm changing and adjusting because of you. Before you started, I was a hard-ass. I'm still a hard-ass, but you've been teaching me to see better. Don't you get it? I'm not in control here.”
She blinked “I—I don't understand.”
He ran his hands through his hair, but he didn't shift away because he knew she'd close right back up into herself. “Look, I know whatever drove you here to San Diego must have been pretty shitty. But this isn't that situation. I'm not using you. I want something real with you. I'm not hooking up with you anymore. As far as I’m concerned, I'm dating you. You're the one who thinks we're hooking up.”
Her mouth formed a small O. “I told you I was bad at this.”
“Yeah well, so am I, but I'm giving it a shot. Come over tonight. I'll cook. We can talk.”
“You're going to cook for me? Dare I ask where you learned to cook?”
He helped her to her feet before kissing her softly again. “There's a lot you don't know about me.” And there was a lot he didn't know about her, but he was going to be patient for once. She'd open up.
Twenty-Eight
Bryan wiped his hands on his jeans. He wanted things to be perfect. The fact that she'd agreed to come over was huge. For the last couple of weeks, they'd met at her place or they'd had that semi romantic date that ended at the Westhorpe before his place was finished.
This condo had been everything he wanted, everything he'd worked for. Sacrificed for and he wanted someone to be able to share it with. He wanted to share it with Kyra. But things with them were so tentative still. She was just so cagey. But she's coming tonight isn't she? He'd made chicken parmesan from scratch and he really hoped she liked it. She said she didn't have any dietary restrictions, but it still didn't mean she'd like his cooking. Stop being a sap and open the door.
With one last check, he swung open the door and nearly swallowed his tongue. Kyra had her hair down. She'd straightened it and had it curling in loose soft waves down her back.
Under the glow of the recessed lighting, her cinnamon skin looked luminescent. Her makeup was simple but somehow managed to make her eyes appear even bigger.
And the dress, vermilion red, body hugging with a flared skirt. On a woman with normal legs, it wouldn't have been obscene. But with Kyra, her long legs stretched on for miles. The thing was barely a tunic, and as a piece de resistance, she capped it off with those gold and red stunners he'd seen her wear the other day.
“Hi, sorry I'm a little early. Curse of being a project manager.”
“No, you're perfect. Come on in.” It was only after she stepped aside that he noticed the p
in on her dress and he laughed. “Is that a Next Generation comm pin?”
Kyra grinned. “Sure is. One of my old teams gave it to me at the end of a major project. I thought you'd get a kick out of it.”
A kick? Hell, he might be half in love with her. Love. It was far too early for that kind of thing. He wanted to be with her, but they barely knew each other. And he ... He noticed her smiling at him and he completely lost his train of thought. He had it bad. And there was no going back with this girl. “You would be right.” She looked around, those heels of hers gently clicking on the hardwood.
“Something smells fantastic.”
“I hope so. I made my specialty. Are you hungry?”
The way she bit her lip told him, she might have more than just dinner on the mind. “Absolutely hungry. Maybe you should give me a tour of the place.”
His cock answered her mating call with a twitch, but he shoved back at the desire threatening to engulf him in the red flames. He wanted more than just the hot flame between them. He needed more than that from her.
“Sure, I'll give you a tour, just as soon as we eat.” Her grin was cheeky and he nearly gave in to what she wanted. Hot, quick, desperate. The same thing he'd wanted. Or so he'd thought.
“You're going to make me wait?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “I'm going to make you wait.”
* * *
Kyra wasn’t sure how to do this. The candles, flowers, the soft music — he was setting the stage for seduction. But more than seduction. He’d set the stage for romance.
She'd been perfectly honest with him about her romantic disasters. About how she wasn't looking to date anyone. And he’d been clear that he didn’t want that either. Except, after Los Angeles, everything seemed to change.
This felt real. And the masochistic part of her wanted it to be real. Wanted him to love her. What did this mean? What did this mean for them? What did this mean for her job?
She moved here for a clean slate with no scandal. She did not want the mistakes or missteps of her past coloring the decision she made. But the truth of it was, she didn’t want to get hurt again. She didn’t want her accomplishments overshadowed by who she was with. Yes, this was a different situation than last time but she could still get burned here.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Kyra shook her head and turned her attention back to him. “I’m just thinking of how amazing dinner was. Where did you learn to cook?”
Bryan narrowed his gaze at her. He knew she was deflecting and redirecting. Because she wasn’t telling him what she'd been thinking about.
“If you say so.” He took her wine from her and put it on the coffee table before taking her onto the couch. Smoothing a hand over her thigh and then down her calf, he met her gaze and licked his lips.
This man, looking at her like this, should be completely illegal. And that was nothing to say for the magic his fingers were working on her calves down to her feet.
The man had magic hands. She knew that before, but now she knew knew. He worked over her arches and it was impossible to hold back the low moan at the back of her throat.
His answer was a fleeting smile even as his fingers worked magic. “You look almost as good as when you come, you know that?”
Kyra giggled. “I’m totally making the O face aren’t I?”
“It’s my favorite face of yours. Right after your laugh. I swear that sound is like you humming around my dick. Every time I hear it, I want to bury myself inside you.”
Finally a plan she could get behind. She reluctantly tugged her foot free so she could crawl the length of the couch. Balancing herself on her hands, she hovered her lips just over his. “I’ve been waiting to hear that all night.”
But instead of lifting his lips to kiss hers, he brushed his hand over her hair and tucked several loose strands behind her ear.
“Kyra. I’m falling love with you. I want you to give us a chance.”
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. She blinked back tears even as the urge to move away overwhelmed her. But his gaze held her still while her heart slammed into her chest. This is what you wanted. This is what you said you’d kill for. But ration and logic didn’t rule in this space. Fear did. “Bryan, I–”
He shook his head and his hand held her firm while his eyes went soft. “You feel it. I know you feel it.”
His scent enveloped her and the spell he weaved slipped under her defenses, warming her. “What happens when this doesn’t work out? I’ve been here before. And it’s bad for me. Bad for my career. Bad for my life.”
“I know it’s been rocky. Just tell me you don't feel it. Tell me I’m making this up. Tell me it’s just sex and I’ll let it go. I’ll never bring it up again. All you have to do is tell me you don’t love me.”
She searched his gaze and willed her brain to call up the words that would put her back into the safe zone. But she couldn’t do it. Couldn’t pull back. And he knew why. She could pinpoint the moment it had tipped from fun into something more.
When she’d taken the team out for their fun outing. He’d assumed that she wanted him there to pay for the outing. But she’d just wanted him there. To take part in the celebration. For once to relax and let go. She’d started to fall that day. It had been inevitable in some way. But that didn’t mean it didn’t scare the shit out of her.
For the first time, she was able to swallow and say the words. “I love you. I want to do this.”
* * *
Bryan stood her up and took her hand, leading her into the bedroom. He couldn’t help but glance down at the red and gold heels she wore. “Just so you know, you’ve been driving me crazy with those shoes of yours since I met you.”
Kyra licked her lips. “Just so you know. I’ve been wearing the heels for that exact purpose.”
His balls tightened. “I had a feeling you might be.” Reaching his hands into her hair, he angled her head so he could kiss her deep. His lips melding over hers, fusing them together. His tongue stroked into her mouth, deep, exploring, pulling a response from her. He shook when she stroked her tongue over his.
Smiling to himself when she made that needy mewling sound she always made at the back of her throat, his hands slid over her ass. Tight and firm, he caressed it, pulling her closer. He controlled her hips, rubbing her against him just so. Enough to drive him fucking insane. Ever helpful, she added the little roll in her body which brought him to the brink with her little movements.
Fuuuuuuck. Naked, he needed her naked. She’d worn this red strappy number. With cutouts at the sides and the backs. He’d been trying to figure out how the hell to get it off her since she showed up. Was there a zip, or snaps or buttons to this thing? Taking his hands off her ass, he coasted them up over her arms. The simple answer was always best. Tugging silky material off her shoulders, he groaned in satisfaction as he pulled it down just enough to reveal her breasts.
So full. Considering how athletic she was, her tits always overflowed his hands. And the best part, her nipples were damned responsive. Backing her up to the bed, he eased her gently onto the bed until she was on her knees facing him, Perfect breasts on display, begging him to touch them, suck them, fuck, lick them.
The dress rode up her smooth thighs and he couldn't help a peak over the smooth expanse of skin revealed. Is she wearing underwear? There was only one way to be certain really.
Even as he leaned over her to take one of her juicy, mocha colored nipples into his mouth, he smoothed a hand over her thigh. Her breath caught and he smirked against the soft flesh in his mouth. Oh yeah, she wanted him to touch her, to see how wet she was.
Inch by inch, he ran his fingers up her inner thigh. His breath caught when he found her bare. No panties. And she’d left him another little surprise. Tearing his lips away from her nipple, he lifted his head to lock gazes with her. “You didn’t mention you’d been to the salon.”
Her lips twitched and he smoothed his fingers over her soaking slit. The shudder stole though hi
m before he could control himself. He’d be coming the second he was inside her if he wasn't careful.
“You didn't ask.” She bit her bottom lip and her next question was soft. “Do you like it?”
“Baby, I hope you hydrated properly, because when I get between those sweet thighs, I’m not coming back up for a long, long time.”
“Maybe I’d better have you make love to me first then.”
As she spoke, her nipples hardened and he got distracted. Eyes locked on her breasts again he muttered. “I’m in charge here. And I haven’t decided yet.”
As he latched onto first one breast, then the other, his fingers slid though her cream. She rolled her hips into his questing fingers, and he wanted to see her come apart. To drive her as crazy as she was driving him.
She shifted position so that her legs weren’t folded underneath her and he happily followed her lead even though he was supposed to be in charge right now. She’d already learned that when it came to sex, he was happy to relinquish control sometimes.
Dragging his mouth away from her tits, he kissed her lower, past her breast, down over, that flat expanse of her belly to the soft slippery juncture between her thighs. Fuck, she’d waxed. He’d never had any real preference, but on Kyra, damn, it was hot.
It didn’t take long before she was trembling in his arms. The moment he put his mouth on her, she bucked under him and came apart. He smiled to himself. That’s one.
He was just getting started. As he licked her slit, sucked on her clit, teased her sweet soft center with his tongue, shallowly penetrating her, Kyra begged him, called out his name, moaned, swore. “You’re mine, Kyra. After tasting you, there’s no way I can let you go. I’m addicted.”