by Kira Blakely
She sure isn’t giving up. Shit, she’s strong.
But I’m smarter.
Suddenly, I stop pulling, sending her reeling back. She falls ungracefully to the grass, her arms getting dirty.
Oops.
Casey rushes to her side to help her, then glares at me. “My father and my brother will hear about this, Samantha Willis.”
I smirk, savoring my victory for a moment, but stop once Casey’s threat sinks in.
Oh, shit. I’m in a load of trouble now.
***
“Mr. Archibald will see you now,” Henry’s secretary, Lisa, announces.
I get up from the couch where I have been nervously fidgeting with the tassel of the throw pillow for the past half hour.
I’ve been nervous since last night, actually, hardly able to sleep and eat. I’m even more nervous now as I head inside Henry’s office, doing my best to keep my hands from shaking and my teeth from chattering.
But there’s nothing I can do to keep my heart from pounding.
I take a deep breath, bracing myself for the lecture.
I know there’s going to be one, probably the same one Nancy and Mattie gave me. But this is the most important of all.
After this lecture, I’m going to find out my fate.
“G-good afternoon, Mr. Archibald,” I greet him as I step in the room.
“Ah, Samantha.” He looks up from his phone and smiles.
He’s smiling?
“Please sit.” He gestures to one of the empty chairs in front of his desk. “I must say that was quite a party yesterday, wasn’t it? The food was great. The women were fabulous. The wine was divine.”
I feel confused. Isn’t he going to get mad at me?
“As usual, the Talbots know how to throw a party. And I believe you had fun, too, didn’t you?”
I hold my breath. Here comes the lecture.
“Honestly, Samantha, I’m surprised.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“And impressed.”
Impressed?
“I didn’t know you’d made such strong connections while covering these parties. I must say it’s clever. I told you to use this job as a stepping stone and you definitely have.”
My eyebrows crease. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.” He pushes a sheet of paper toward me. “Anyway, you won’t be working for Prima Vida anymore.”
My heart sinks. “I’m not?”
I knew it. He’s going to fire me.
“In two weeks, you’ll be working for Seeker.”
“Seeker?”
I can’t believe it. Seeker is the company’s adventure magazine, focusing on quiet getaways, secret destinations, natural retreats and wildlife encounters.
In short, it’s the magazine I’ve been wanting to take pictures for, the reason why I joined the company.
It’s my dream job.
“You’re assigning me to Seeker?”
It’s too good to be true.
“Yes.” Henry nods. “I believe your first assignment is somewhere in Cambodia.”
“Cambodia?”
Now, my heart is racing for a different reason.
But then my mind catches up.
Wait. Why am I suddenly being assigned to the Seeker?
“Did someone resign?” I ask curiously.
“No. We created this opening just for you.”
Just for me.
“Don’t you want it?”
I do. Oh, God, I do, but there’s something holding me back.
The knowledge that this couldn’t have happened just because of me.
“Does this have something to do with what happened yesterday?”
“In a way,” Henry answers. “Truthfully, Allen Rockford wanted me to fire you on his daughter’s request and I was going to, but then I received another phone call.”
Another phone call.
“Let’s just say your connections paid off.”
I frown.
In all my months covering parties, there’s only one connection I’ve made.
Nathan.
“So, I guess I should congratulate you.” Henry offers his hand. “And clear your desk. You won’t be needing a desk anymore.”
I nod, absently shaking his hand.
Fine. I’ll clear my desk.
But first, I have something else to clear.
Chapter 11
Lion’s Share
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go upstairs,” says the blonde, snub-nosed receptionist in the lobby whose name tag reads Sarah with another shake of her head.
Ever since I came up to her and told her I wanted to see Nathan, she’s been shaking her head, unconvinced by every argument and plea I’ve presented. Even the one-woman-to-another appeal didn’t work. She’s still cold as ice, straight-laced as that white blouse she’s wearing.
“Fine.” I sigh. “If you can’t let me go upstairs, then ask Mr. Landers to come down here.”
“I’m sorry, Miss.” Sarah still has the same expression. “But that is out of the question.”
“Can you at least tell him I’m here? If you only tell him that Samantha Willis is—”
Another shake of the head. “Sorry, Ms. Willis, but I can’t do that. Mr. Landers is very busy and—”
“Oh, I know he’s busy,” I interrupt, running out of patience. “Though he apparently still has time to send me flowers and try to call me. Do you know how many times he’s tried to call me? I don’t know. I’ve lost count. But if he finds out I was here and you didn’t let me see him, I’m sure he’s going to be very upset.”
“Perhaps you can call him then?”
I pout. Really? If I could, I would have, but I’ve already deleted his number.
“Look, if you can just—”
“Mr. Landers gave strict orders that no woman is to bother him while he’s at work at any time.”
No woman, huh? Now I get it. This has happened before. Sarah thinks I’m another of those annoying women who just can’t get over Nathan.
“I think you’re misunderstanding something, Sarah. I’m not here to try to sleep with your boss or steal a kiss or any of that. I’m here to speak to him about something very important.”
“Sorry, but it doesn’t matter what the reason is. I just can’t let you go up.”
God, I feel like strangling her. “Now, listen to me, Sarah. I—”
“Sam?”
I turn my head at the familiar voice then sigh in relief. “Abby.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see Nathan. There’s something important I absolutely need to talk to him about. But Sarah here won’t give me a guest pass.”
Sarah looks at Abby. “Mr. Landers’ orders are—”
It’s all right, Sarah,” Abby cuts her off. “I’ll take it from here.” She turns to me. “Well, as it so happens, Mr. Landers’ 5:00 meeting just got cancelled. That’s why he’s sending me home early.” She sneezes. “And because he probably noticed I’m coming down with a cold.”
“Bless you,” I tell her. “You poor thing. Then you don’t suppose you could…?”
“I’ll accompany you upstairs,” Abby says.
I almost jump up and down.
Instead, I hug her. “Oh, Abby, thank you. Thank you so much.”
She gives another sneeze. “Come on. While I can still stand.”
I follow Abby to one of the elevators, taking deep breaths until it reaches the seventeenth floor. At least the elevator isn’t completely enclosed — one side is built of glass and I can look outside the building, so I’m not as scared as I usually am.
Once the doors open at the top floor, Abby steps out, and I follow her all the way down the hall. At the end, sliding doors lead to a large room, comfortable couches and chairs and overflowing magazine racks on either side. There’s a water dispenser as well, along with a coffee dispenser and two decanters filled with bronz
e liquid. My guess? Whiskey.
A waiting room. Judging from the drinks and the magazines, most of the people who wait here wait a long time.
And some of them probably need something strong before facing Nathan.
That makes me a little scared, but I hold my chin and shoulders high.
I’m already here. I’m not leaving until I speak to Nathan.
There’s another set of double doors — wooden this time. Abby knocks on one of them. Four quick raps.
I hear a beep, and the light on the door just below the knob turns green. Abby pushes it.
“Abby?” Nathan says in a puzzled voice from inside.
At the sound of that familiar voice, my heart skips a beat. And I scold it.
He used you, remember? Now, get a grip.
“There’s someone here to see you,” she says, holding the door open and gesturing for me to come in.
I take a deep breath and go past the doors.
“Who—?” Nathan stops talking as he sees me, his eyes wide. “Sam?”
Why does he have to be so good-looking?
“I’ll be leaving now,” Abby says, closing the door.
Nathan stands up. “Sam, I—”
“Just sit down,” I tell him, stepping forward. “And stay there. I’m not here to kiss and make up or anything. I’m just here to talk.”
“You mean get mad at me.” He sits down and leans back, running his hand through his hair before tucking it under his square chin. “Go ahead. If I recall, you’re most attractive when you’re out of control. I mean, when your temper is out of control.”
That was no slip of the tongue. That was deliberate.
He’s trying to seduce me.
Thankfully, I’m not the frightened little squirrel I was before. This time, I’m an experienced, more confident…
Wildcat.
“I…”
“While you’re at it, you might want to explain why you returned my flowers and gifts but not my calls.”
So, I’m the bad guy now?
“What? You haven’t figured it out?”
“Does it have something to do with the envelope you found in my office?”
He knows?
“Or more precisely, the pictures and the book inside?”
He does know.
“I can explain.”
There’s an explanation?
I shake my head.
Focus, Sam.
“I’d rather you explain something else,” I tell him. “Why did you tell Henry to assign me to Seeker?”
“Henry? Oh, you mean Henry Archibald.”
I narrow my eyes. “You know exactly who I mean.”
“So, he assigned you to the Seeker? I’m glad he lived up to his end of the bargain.”
“Bargain? What bargain?”
He looks away. “Just business.”
My fists clench. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ugh, he is so infuriating.
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to clean up my mess.”
“You mean the mess you made with Casey Rockford? She’s still pissed, you know, but don’t worry. She won’t bother you anymore.”
I don’t even want to know what he did about Casey.
“Like I said, I don’t need your help. I can take care of myself. And I sure as hell can get my dream job on my own.”
“Really?” He leans forward, elbows on his desk. “It’s a competitive world out there. If you ask me, it’s wise to accept favors. Climb the ladder however you can.”
“Well, maybe that worked for you, but I prefer to climb the ladder with my own hands and feet.”
“Sometimes, you have to sacrifice your pride in order to succeed.”
“Say those who do not have enough pride.”
“Why?” He stands up. “Why is it that you refuse to take anything more from me?”
“You mean more bullshit?”
He comes around his desk toward me. “Is that all I’ve given you? Haven’t I given you something else? Something good?”
He’s in front of me now, so close I can smell his cologne and feel his body heat washing over me.
Too close.
I take a step back, suddenly feeling like a cornered kitten. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away?”
“Why? Because if I come near you, you’ll be tempted to throw yourself right into my arms? Because if you look into my eyes, you’ll remember how good it felt for me to fuck you and want more?”
Without warning, the memory returns, my skin tingling as heat rushes through my veins.
“I shouldn’t.”
“Shouldn’t, or don’t want to?” He takes my chin in his grasp. “What are you so afraid of, Sam?”
I don’t answer. I can’t. My throat feels so tight I can barely swallow, and my chest feels so tight I can barely breathe.
“I know.” He strokes my cheek, the pad of his thumb making me blush more furiously. “It’s not me you’re scared of, Sam. You’re scared of yourself. You’re scared that once you fall, you won’t be able to get up again, that once you lose yourself, you won’t get it back.”
My eyes grow wide. “How did…?”
“You want to know how I know?” he whispers in my ear. “Because I feel the same way.”
That surprises me even more. Nathan is scared, too?
His gaze holds mine and for the first time, I see the flicker of fear in his eyes. It’s just a flicker, though, all too soon banished by a bigger, sturdier flame: the flame of lust.
Like before, it lights my own.
Already, my body has remembered his, wanting him, preparing for him. My breasts swell against the pads of my bra, my sex growing moist with something other than sweat.
A chemical reaction. Plain and simple.
And something I can’t fight against.
His eyes narrow. “Fall with me, Sam.”
His lips are on mine, his tongue delving into familiar territory, reclaiming me.
He tastes like coffee and something minty. Delicious. Intoxicating.
At first, I bang my fists on his chest. I try to push him away, but it’s futile.
He’s too hot.
And he’s right.
I was afraid of falling. But not anymore.
Fall with me.
I kiss him back as I place my arms around him, and he kisses me more fiercely, his tongue sending delicious heat all the way to the tips of my toes.
Damn, I’ve missed this.
He hoists me on the edge of his desk, his fingers working on the buttons of my blouse as his mouth continues to keep me busy.
His hands find my breasts. I gasp.
He pushes up my bra, the pads of his thumbs grinding against my nipples that quickly push back.
I moan.
He kisses me harder, grabbing my ass and pulling it closer to the edge so that another part of his body can grind against me.
A bigger, harder part.
Even through all the layers of fabric, I can feel its length, its heat as it rubs against my sex, its quivers of desire.
He wants me.
Badly.
That knowledge sends a thrill through me.
“See what you do to me,” he murmurs as the kiss breaks, the words coming out in a gravelly whisper.
I push against him, bolder now. “I can feel it.”
He frowns. “I don’t know if I can be gentle. It’s been too long.”
I shake my head. I’m no longer afraid. “Don’t be. Just let go.”
I whisper in his ear, “Take me.”
At first, he grimaces, torn between his thoughts. Then he shakes his head.
“Fuck it.”
He takes me off the edge of the desk, turning me around and bending me over it. I feel my pants and my underwear drop to my knees.
I hear the sound of a zipper being pulled down.
Then I feel him.
Gripping my hips, he enters me w
ith one thrust.
I moan, my fingers raking the surface of the desk.
That first thrust is followed by another and another.
Harder. Deeper. Faster.
Incredible.
My knees shake, my clothes falling to my ankles.
I can no longer speak, the air in my lungs not enough to fuel speech. Only moans and gasps escape past my lips even as tears brim my eyes from the intense pleasure.
I can’t… take it… anymore.
My orgasm rips through me like a knife, sharp and quick.
When it is over, I’m turned around and shoved on top of the desk, my legs up in the air.
“Cum… ming.”
Those two strained syllables, that dazed look in Nathan’s eyes and the feel of his cock throbbing inside me as his orgasm seizes him sends me into my second.
And this time, it’s longer.
The longest orgasm I’ve ever had.
When it’s over, I lie limp and completely out of breath, vaguely feeling Nathan pulling out and carrying me to the couch.
For a while, I lie still as I gasp for air, my mind blank and my vision blurred. Then it hits me that we’re still at the office, and I scramble to clean up and get dressed.
I can’t believe we just had sex in his office.
I can’t believe we just had sex.
“Explain,” I tell him as I put my pants back on.
“Explain what?”
He’s already behind his desk, going through the pile of papers on it as if he didn’t just fuck me there.
“You said a while ago that you could explain the pictures and the phone numbers.”
“I can,” he says. “I keep track of the women I sleep with. That way, if they try to cause me trouble after, I know how to deal with them.”
“Trouble?”
“They get clingy. They try to get money out of me. They spread rumors about me.”
My eyes grow wide. “That’s horrible.”
He looks at me. “Not every woman is like you. In fact, I don’t think there’s another woman like you. That’s why I… why I don’t want to lose you.”
I realize I don’t want to lose him, either. So, have I forgiven him?
Well, technically, there’s nothing to forgive. As far as the evidence goes, all those women were in the past, after all, and he did give me a good reason for keeping their pictures and contact numbers.
If anyone must be forgiven, it’s me.