Surprise Seduction

by Jana Mercy

  Her insides short-circuited, leaving her dazed and aware of only him.

  Neither spoke while they moved to the music. When the slow song ended and another began, they continued their sensual shuffling without missing a beat.

  When the third song began and was an upbeat pop tune, Chase eased back. But not before she felt him breathe in the fragrance of her hair.

  Did he feel the electricity surging between them?

  He had to. How could he not?

  “Do you want a drink?” he asked.

  Adrienne shook her head. What she wanted was to be back in his arms.

  As if he heard her request, he granted her wish. Ignoring the fast paced music and the wildly gyrating couples around them, his arms encircled her waist. Their feet slowly shifted on the dance floor.

  “I watched you dance with Mel.”

  She blinked, having to dredge her brain to even remember that she had danced with Mel at the anniversary party.

  “You don’t know me. Remember?”

  “I don’t think I can forget.”

  She met his gaze and caught her breath. Desire shone in his eyes. Chase wanted her. Maybe as much as she wanted him. Dear Lord.

  “I wanted to beat him to a pulp when he kissed you.”

  The tension in his body left her in no doubt he told the truth. Needing to sooth those tightened muscles she rose up on her tiptoes and tentatively touched her lips to his. Lightning streaked across her body, starting at where her lips met his and flaring out to singe every cell of her body.

  His feet quit moving. Green eyes stared into hers. His pupils dilated as her tongue darted out to taste him. His groan rumbled through her body. His hold tightened. Lips demanding access took control.

  She opened her mouth for his exploration. His tongue thrust between her lips. She wanted to savor the ambrosia of his mouth. Not willing to deny herself, her tongue danced in cadence with his. Tangling in a rhythm dating back to Adam and Eve.

  Her chest squeezed. Her stomach quivered.

  Pure heaven, like the sweetest chocolate. That’s what he tasted of. Her fingers twisted in his soft, silky hair, wanting to pull him closer. He wouldn’t be close enough until she had him inside.

  The thought excited her. Terrified her.

  Her hands fell from around his neck, and she leaned from him.

  His head lifted. “Adrienne?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Adrienne,” he repeated.

  She averted her gaze.

  “Look at me.”

  Her gaze met his.

  “Damn,” he cursed. Music blared around them. Throngs of people in motion danced around them. But for Adrienne only they existed as she continued to stare in his eyes.

  “This is all new to you, isn’t it?”

  Did her few kisses with Roger count? She nodded, not breaking eye contact.

  He swore again. Shook his head in slow…something. She couldn’t be sure if it was disgust or chagrin. His tension visibly eased as he stared at something over her left shoulder.

  Then, he totally surprised her by laughing. Crinkle lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. Real humor twinkled in his green depths.

  She wrinkled her forehead in confusion.

  Chase nodded in the direction of his gaze. She turned to see what had caught his attention. The three men she’d tried to pick up earlier curiously watched them.

  Chase mischievously waved.

  “No more kissing,” he told her as his lips touched the top of her head. “That was the last one.”

  His kisses melted her insides to mush. Just the way a kiss should. And that little peck on her head was to be the last?

  She held her protests inside, opting to go with the flow of his mood. He’d gone from hot to upset to his normal fun-loving self so quickly she wasn’t exactly sure where each transition had taken place.

  It didn’t matter.

  She would take each moment of this night with him as it came. Tomorrow she had to convince Mel she wanted him and hated Chase’s guts.

  Adrienne’s hand reached for the door handle of Chase’s car as he pulled up in front of her apartment building in an upscale section of Boston.

  “Thanks for tonight,” she began.

  “I’m walking you up.” He surprised her by saying. He put his parking lights on and turned off the ignition switch.

  “But what if your car gets towed?”

  He grinned.

  “Guess I’ll just have to stay the night.” Her shock must have registered on her face because he quickly added, “I’m only teasing, Adrienne. I have no intentions of going into your apartment.”

  Relief and disappointment filled her in unequal proportions. Disappointment took top billing.

  She’d be lying if she didn’t admit how much she wanted him to stay, but she knew better than to offer.

  “You’re looking too serious. Come on.” He opened his door and leapt out. In seconds, he stood at her open car door.

  She placed her hand in his and let him help her from his low-slung Ferrari. Men and their toys. Still, the flashy red car had impressed her. It seemed so…Chase.

  Hand in hand, they walked to the entrance. She took her security card from her purse and gained access to the building.

  “Nice place,” Chase commented as they crossed the lobby of the building. Adrienne glanced around the chic room trying to see it through his eyes.

  Large crystal chandeliers hung from the high ornate ceiling. Burgundy and hunter green printed carpet lined the floor. Rich mahogany furniture shined. The scent of fresh-cut flowers tickled her nose. Expensive. That’s what this room shouted.

  Would he question how she could afford to live in a building this nice?

  “Yes, I was fortunate Sheila happened to be looking for a room-mate at the time of my arrival in Boston.” She took a preemptive strike.

  “Apparently so.”

  Adrienne slid her card into the elevator slot. The door shifted open.

  He held his arm out to allow her to step inside the car first. Adrienne did so.

  Silence loomed as the car moved upward. Adrienne dredged her mind for something to say.

  “I had a really nice time tonight, Chase.”

  Those dimples she loved deepened. “Me, too.”

  “So the truce ends at the stroke of midnight?” she teased.

  He glanced at the slim gold watch on his wrist and chuckled. “Looks that way. You aren’t going to turn into a pumpkin, are you?”

  Adrienne shook her head. “I’ve undergone enough changes for a while.”

  “Mouse to fox,” he mused out loud.

  “What did you say?” Adrienne knew she hadn’t heard him right.

  He shook his head, grinning. “Nothing.”

  The elevator door opened on the twenty-third floor. Her floor. They stepped out of the elevator, and Adrienne led the way to her apartment. When they stood outside the door, she turned to face him.

  “I really did enjoy tonight,” she repeated.

  Chase didn’t say anything, just stared into her upturned face. Her eyes fluttered close as she waited for him to kiss her goodnight.

  Only it didn’t happen.

  She opened her eyes.

  His tender smile threatened to send her body into meltdown.

  “Night, Adrienne,” he whispered and stepped away from her. She watched as he walked away.

  He was leaving?

  Why? She’d have invited him in for a drink. Maybe more.

  He confused her.

  Tonight had been so wonderful.

  Tomorrow was back to reality. Back to convincing Mel she was interested in him and that he could use her against Chase.

  The thought sickened her. What would Chase think when he saw her working in George Weston’s office? Or if he discovered her playing up to Mel? Which she planned to do. She had to gain his confidence. Bashing Chase and flirting outrageously should accomplish that.

  Her worry was what el
se it might accomplish.

  She’d already lied to Chase. He wouldn’t take well to her attempting to seduce Mel.

  She hit her head against the door, rolled it against the cold metal in frustration, then let herself into the apartment.

  She closed the door with a soft click.

  “Oops! I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  Sheila and her current steady scuffled with each other on the couch. Their bodies tangled together in a confusing array of twists as Sheila continued to wiggle in an attempt to escape Tim’s tickling.

  “Hey, Adrienne. Have a good time tonight?” Sheila asked when she managed to squirm her way to half-on-top of Tim.

  “Yes.” She’d had a good night. With Chase.

  “How was Mel?”

  “He didn’t show.” Adrienne plopped unceremoniously into a chair.

  “What?” Sheila jerked up right.

  “Chase did something.” She closed her eyes and put her hand to her now throbbing forehead. “Something about an audit due in the morning. Anyway, Mel never showed. Chase did.”

  “Chase Aaron ditched your date and took his place?” Incredulous disbelief dripped from Sheila’s words.

  “Yes.”

  “Why is that?” Sheila’s inflection grew speculative.

  “How would I know? The man is driving me crazy.” Adrienne propped her elbows on her knees with her face in her hands.

  “Think about it. Why does a man thwart another man’s attempts to woo a woman and show up for the date himself?”

  “I can tell you why,” Tim piped up. “Because he wants her for himself.”

  “Maybe.”

  “No maybes about it. He does. A man doesn’t go to the effort Chase went to, unless he wants the woman for himself.”

  “I agree,” Sheila added. “Why else would he not want you to go out with Mel?”

  Adrienne stared at her friend, skeptical of the train of her thoughts. “Maybe he just doesn’t like Mel?”

  “Oh, right.” Sheila’s eyes rolled at her. “If that was the case, why bother to show up for the date himself?”

  “Good question.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Idiot! Chase blasted himself. She wanted you to kiss her and you walked away.

  What sane man walks away from a tasty set of full lips begging for his kiss?

  It wasn’t like him to ignore a sexy woman desiring his touch. She had.

  Yet he hadn’t been able.

  Not like with Starr. He hadn’t wanted her. He’d thought he should, but he hadn’t.

  With Adrienne, he wanted. He wanted bad. But he’d held back.

  She’d looked innocent. So completely untouched. And, damn it all, she really was as pure as she’d looked with her eyes closed and soft lips slightly puckered.

  Adrienne was a virgin. He was sure of it. Tonight when he’d asked her, she hadn’t denied her innocence.

  He shuddered.

  He’d never been with a virgin. Wouldn’t ever be with one, either. But hell if he didn’t want this one.

  He’d taken her mouth out of sheer frustration in his office. He’d felt the need to prove something to her. What, he wasn’t exactly sure. He’d been the one claiming annoyance because of assistants falling for him. The first one who didn’t, he’s kissing her, hoping to spark a flame.

  The joke was truly on him. He’d been the one left burned from that kiss.

  Man, but did he burn. Burned to feel her lips beneath his, unsure at first, then responsive and demanding. Burned for her hands around his neck urging his kiss on. Burned for those long legs haunting his memory wrapped around his waist holding him tight as he buried himself deep within her softness.

  He groaned.

  Idiot. Fool. He continued to call himself every derogatory name he could think of.

  She wasn’t for him. Assistant or not. She was an innocent and would expect more than he’d ever give. She’d expect the trappings of romance.

  He’d worked with her for two months. She wasn’t the type to have casual sex.

  He needed to stay away from her.

  Mel needed to stay away from her.

  Chase wasn’t willing to let another man take advantage of her innocence.

  Especially not Mel, he would only end up hurting her.

  Of all the men in the world, Mel Sheppard was the last he’d stand by and let have a woman he desperately wanted.

  Maybe now that she no longer worked at Weston’s, her fascination with Mel would end. He could always hope.

  Regardless, now that she didn’t work for him, and he wouldn’t be confronted with her temptation every day, maybe he wouldn’t be constantly tempted to break his rule regarding co-workers.

  And virgins.

  Thank God.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Chase demanded the next morning when Adrienne came sashaying into his office carrying a stack of files.

  Could her skirt get any shorter? He couldn’t keep his eyes off the expanse of shapely leg on display.

  What had happened to the ankle hugging skirts she used to wear?

  This one barely covered the curve of her hips, much less the sexy stretch of thigh, knee and calf showcased above slender high heels that looked impossible to walk in.

  What had happened to the flat, sensible shoes of only last week?

  Damn it, he didn’t need to see her in high heels and short skirts.

  Was she trying to torture him?

  “I work here.”

  Her tone flared so impertinent he jumped up, sending his chair against the glass window behind him with a loud bang.

  “The hell you do!”

  “Whatever.” Adrienne rolled her eyes as she placed the files on his desk. Her attitude was in such contrast to the warmth of last night, he grabbed her arm, gently turning her to face him.

  Primitive instinct took over as she stared up at him with those blue-rimmed eyes with golden flecks glowing.

  Something sexy filled his nostrils. Adrienne.

  She filled him with her innocent, seductive scent.

  He wanted to kiss her insolent lips. They needed to be kissed, and kissed good. Only they weren’t turned up expectantly awaiting his kiss as they had been last night. Instead, they pursed in outright impudence.

  “This isn’t a joke. I was serious when I fired you. Last night didn’t change that.” He raked frustrated fingers through his thick hair.

  “Oh?” The glimmer of amusement in her eyes almost undid him.

  She found this funny.

  “Last night was great, but this is business. You no longer have a job at Westons.”

  It was just as well he’d had no choice but to fire her for her dishonesty. He couldn’t have taken having to look at those legs of hers every day.

  Not without knowing how they’d feel beneath his hands.

  “Really?” Adrienne hid a smile. She planned to enjoy this. She hadn’t expected to see him first thing this morning. But George insisted she deliver the files to Chase personally. His request may have been innocent, but Adrienne believed the truth of the matter was George liked playing devil’s advocate.

  “Mr. Aaron,” she addressed him formally, although she knew her lips twitched with her exaggerated wide-eyed expression. “I took your words very seriously.”

  “You aren’t supposed to be here.” His voice almost whined.

  Adrienne stifled a giggle. Did her presence really bother him that much? Surely the great Chase Aaron wasn’t sweating because of her?

  “I work here,” she repeated in her best Sheila “Duh!” impression.

  “Not anymore.”

  “Maybe I should clarify,” she paused, then, gave him a catty smile. “I don’t work in this office specifically, but I do work at Weston.”

  His brows drew together, taken aback, frowning.

  “For Mel?”

  Was that jealousy she heard?

  “No. I’m working as George Weston’s personal assistant. You’re an intelligen
t man. You should’ve realized when I delivered files from his office who I now worked for.”