by Alice Ward
Before I slammed my door, I heard his cell ring. The walls were so damn thin I could hear everything he said. “She’s so fucking him. Listen to this, she got a delivery from an expensive department store from you know who. I told her we all know what she’s doing. The fool had the nerve to deny it.” He laughed like a jackass, and I made a mental note to ask Eli if I could take my own cab to work, so I didn’t have to ride in the company car with the assholes anymore. “I’m heading your way now. Miss Fuck The Boss can have her private apartment.” The door crashed closed, and I heaved out a breath.
After running out to lock the door so he couldn’t get back in, I went to take a shower. I had some shampoo and conditioner samples in my purse and even found a bar of soap in my travel kit. The joke was on Jeff. He could have the cheap crap; I’d buy myself something better anyway.
When I got out of the shower, I finally opened the boxes. There was a nice bra and panty set in a light green color. The silky material immediately had my mind moving into a fantasy of Eli running his finger over it, with me in it. The heat I’d already experienced on my lower back traveled with that finger across the edges of the bra, skimming over the roundness of my breasts then down my stomach, making my muscles jump. His finger dipped lower, caressing the silk before the rest of his fingers joined the one and cupped my — I dropped the box on the bed and moved quickly to the other, hoping it held an outfit fit for a nun. When I opened it, I found a dark green dress made of satin with lace overlay. It was gorgeous, descent, and there were shoes to match. Much more appropriate.
After I had the dress and its undergarments on, which somehow fit perfectly, I twirled around and felt like a princess. Somehow, I’d put all the anger, embarrassment, and even the ridicule behind me. It was New York, I was going to the ballet, and I still had my job. Things were going great.
I curled my hair, put on my makeup, and spritzed perfume on my neck. Then I looked at my cell and found I was ready with twenty minutes to spare.
With time on my hands, anxiety had a chance to eat away at me. Was Eli going to give me hell for how I acted? What would I do if he did? Would I act like a professional? Or would I act like a baby?
My cell rang, and I saw it was my father. I’d forgotten about calling him after work. “Hi, Dad.”
“Scout, how’s it going?”
“I’m about to leave to go to the ballet with my boss.”
“Hmmm…” I could hear the worry in his voice from miles away. “Is this the usual type of thing a young intern does with her boss? I mean, this man has a pretty bad reputation with women from what I’ve learned about him.”
I stifled a sigh. “He does, but you’ve raised me well. It’s a public place, and he says I need to know about things like this, how to entertain clients if I’m going to make it in this city.” Yet he bought me underwear, sexy underwear that fit like skin.
“He’s probably right. You watch out for him, though. Don’t let his charm fool you. You’re a beautiful young woman, he’ll definitely try to persuade you to do things you know better than.”
“I’m sure he will, but I can hold my own.” No more fantasies. “I want Mr. Right, after all. And Eli is no Mr. Right.”
“Eli?”
I’d made a major faux pas and Dad picked up on it immediately. “Mr. Reed. Did I say, Eli?”
“You did.”
Shit. “He told me to call him that when we’re not at work.”
His tongue was sharp. “It doesn’t matter what he told you to do. You have a mind of your own, don’t you? Refrain from calling him by his first name. It can lead to things becoming too personal.”
“But, Dad—”
“Honey, I’m not saying that you should be rude. You don’t have to refuse his request to his face, simply don’t call him by his given name. Men like to hear women say their names. It’s attractive. You don’t want that.”
“Okay, Dad. I’m listening. I’ll just avoid using sentences where his name would be needed. That’s what I’ll do. I should get off here now. The driver should be coming up to get me any minute. He told me to be ready at eight sharp which is only two minutes away.”
“Alright, honey. Be smart and call me in the a.m.”
As I put the cell in the small clutch that came with the dress, I felt the nerves begin to move in heaving waves inside my stomach. I was only minutes from having to look at Eli after my outburst. That was going to be hard, but I told myself that I could manage it. I’d have to sit with him, talk with him. Be seen with him. We might even make the papers or social media.
I thought I might throw up as the images assaulted me, then the doorbell rang, and I pushed it all away and went to the door. “I’m ready…”
I lost my breath. It was Eli, not the driver waiting for me on the other side. He was smiling and wearing a black tuxedo that fit him perfectly. I’d never seen anyone so handsome in my life.
“Good, you’re ready. You look gorgeous. Let’s go.” He reached out, took my hand, and I floated out the door. Speechless and enchanted by the man who was my boss.
CHAPTER NINE
Eli
I had no idea what happened at the ballet that night. Kendra looked like a goddess and smelled like heaven. My mind was on nothing but her. I couldn’t stop watching her face as she was mesmerized by the action on stage.
The way she smiled, frowned, wept a little bit, and reached over to grab my hand to give it a gentle squeeze as she told me, “Thank you for showing me something so beautiful.” She took all my attention. Her hair flowed down her back in delicate curls, the gold catching the light now and then.
Kendra apologized for our argument, and I found myself apologizing for it too. Not a thing I did. My usual thought on saying sorry was that I didn’t need to. But I knew I owed her one. I’d put her out of her comfort zone, and I knew what I was doing.
The young lady had my head spinning, and I was telling my rule about no fucking women in my workplace to go to hell. And my new sentiment was getting stronger as we ate a late dinner after the ballet, my focus on her mouth. Her perfectly kissable mouth.
“I never knew going to a live ballet could be so…” she hesitated as she looked for a word to fit, and I gazed at how beautiful she looked in the candlelight.
“Enchanting?” I had to interject, using the word I was thinking of about her.
She nodded as her lips curved into a sultry smile. “Yes. It was enchanting. Thank you again for taking me, Eli.” Her hand flew to cover her mouth as if she’d said something wrong.
“What?”
“It’s nothing.” She put her hand down and took a sip of her white wine. “I suppose you’ve been to so many ballets they’re old hat to you by now.”
“Well, I’ve been to many of them, that’s true. But this one was better than the others.” I placed my napkin on my plate, itching to get Kendra into the back seat of my town car.
Her eyes traveled over my face. “How so?”
I reached across the table and took her hand. “Because you were there. Because of you, I had the most enjoyable night I’ve had since I can remember.” I kissed her knuckles.
She didn’t try to jerk it away from my lips. Instead, she sighed and looked at me. “I had a better time than I’ve had in a long time too.”
“If you’re finished, we can get you home. We have work tomorrow, and I’ve already kept you out late.” I got up and pulled her chair out. When she stood, I ran my arm around her waist, pulling her close to my side.
She relaxed against me. I knew this was wrong for the office, but it felt more than right at the moment.
Inside the seclusion of the car, I was overcome with desire for her. No one ever had to know what she and I did on our own time. We could play it cool at the office while our nights could be our business. I knew I was breaking my own rules, but they were mine to break if I wanted.
I trailed my fingertips up her bare arm. “I did tell you how gorgeous you look tonight, didn’t I?”
She smiled. “Yes, about ten or fifteen times. Thank you again, though. And may I reiterate how handsome you look as well?” Her green eyes lingered on my neck, refusing to meet my gaze.
I took her chin, lifting her face so I could see what was in those eyes of hers. “It bears restating. I think you’re wonderful, Kendra Baxter. I’m glad we met.”
In slow motion, our heads moved in the tiniest of increments toward a common goal. My mouth hungered for hers, and when our lips touched, the passion I knew would be there ignited between us.
She wanted me just as much as I wanted her. Our mouths collided, our tongues doing battle to take charge. I won as I wrapped my arms around her and she melted into me. Her breasts pressed against my chest, our hearts pounded, and our breath cocooned us into our own little world.
I was usually this smooth guy with women, but with her, I was all over the place, pawing, clutching, and grabbing her anywhere I could get to. And her hands were moving all over me like a wildfire over dry grass, making me even more crazy for her.
Moving a step further as I continued to kiss her, I laid her back on the seat and moved my hand up to her plump breast. She gasped, and her hand flew to cover mine as her entire body tensed. My touch was gentle as I caressed the lacy fabric between her flesh and my hand. Her body relaxed again, and I moved forward. I pulled the dress down, then the bra to expose a dusky nipple, and she moaned, vibrating our mouths as I rolled the tip between my fingers.
“Eli, I—”
My mouth captured the words, and I let my body show her how she made me feel, what she did to me. What I wanted to do to her.
She moved a bit, repositioning herself on the long back seat, opening her legs for me. I nearly growled when she did so, and my hand left her breast to travel down to warmer and wetter territory.
My fingers inched along her body, and I kissed her even harder as excitement rushed through me. As I began to hike up her dress, she wiggled until she broke our kiss. “Eli…” Her hands pushed against me.
“It’s okay. We won’t go any further than this. In the car, anyway. Should I take you to my place?”
She tried to sit up, but I was all over her, not allowing it to happen. “No. No, I can’t go any further. Sorry.”
I didn’t want to let her up. I could hold her right where she was and kiss her again, take her back to that world we’d just visited. In that world, nothing mattered except us.
But she seemed so panicked. So vulnerable. The look on her face pulled at my heartstrings. Slowly, I moved away, feeling lost as our bodies parted, taking her hand until she was in a sitting position. We were both breathing hard.
The luscious flesh I’d been playing with still bulged above her bra. I gave her a second to realize that as she smoothed out her dress and ran her hands through her hair. When she failed to push it back in, I reached over and attempted to do it for her.
A swift slap to my hand had me pulling it back. “No! I can do that. Jesus, Eli.”
I wasn’t sure what had happened, in the matter of seconds the strong chemistry we’d shared had evaporated. I still felt it, but she didn’t seem to any longer.
“I did just have my hand all over it. I didn’t think you’d mind.” I licked my lips as I took one last glance at the perky thing before she put it away. “We’ve got time. How about you let me taste it?”
“Stop that!” She looked down as if she was embarrassed.
I took her face between my hands. “There’s nothing wrong with what we just did, Kendra. I know it can feel risky to get involved with people you work with, but you don’t actually work at the company.”
She took my hands away from her face, holding them on her lap, and I was glad she hadn’t pushed me away. “The other interns and probably everyone who works in cubicle city on the ground floor think we’re already screwing around. Not that I care a lot about what they think, but I don’t want to sleep my way to the top.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make you earn everything you get.” I pushed her hair back and leaned in, kissing her neck. I couldn’t seem to stop kissing her.
“Damn you, Eli Reed.”
She could damn me all she wanted. I just needed her to do it while my mouth was on her body. Anywhere on it, just as long as my lips touched her. Kissing up her neck, I bit her earlobe. “What you do to me is remarkable.”
Her hands moved over my back, her fingers clinging to me as much as I was clinging to her. “Why does this have to feel so good?”
“Because you and I have something unusual, Kendra.” I pulled back to look at her. “I think you know that I liked you from the first moment I saw you. And by the look of terror in your eyes when we met, I could tell you liked me too.”
“Terror in a woman’s eyes signals that to you?” She gave me a sassy wink. “Tell me more about how you gauge when a woman is attracted to you, caveman. If she throws rocks at your head, does that mean she’s lusting after you?”
“You’re funny.” I pulled her to me and kissed her again. Our tongues danced together as we slowed down the earlier frantic movements of our hands and settled into finding out all we could about each other, body wise, anyway. I knew better than to go straight for her sweet pussy, the way I had before. She would be a little harder to get to than most, but that was okay.
I’d have her sooner rather than later. She wanted me, and she wouldn’t be able to hold out for much longer. Or so I thought. Easing the kiss, I asked, “So, my place?”
“No.” I hated the look in her eyes. “And not mine either. I don’t do this, Eli.”
“What? Make out?” I grinned at her. “I’m aware there’s more we should know before we jump into bed together. Like what kind of birth control you’re on.”
“And how about you, Casanova?” She pressed her palm against my chest. “Are you free of social diseases?” The frown I made must’ve alerted her to how badly she’d hurt my feelings. “Don’t make that face. And don’t act like that’s a question you shouldn’t be asked. I know your rep.”
I couldn’t deny it.
“I would never risk your health and am tested regularly. I’m disease free, baby.” I moved in and took her mouth again before she could say anything else to dampen the mood.
She kissed me back as the car stopped and the driver got out to open the door. I ended the kiss set on getting her to take me into her apartment. She was breathing hard as I looked at her. With a quick glance out the window, Kendra realized where we were. “This is me. Thank you for a lovely evening. I’ll—”
“I’m walking you up. You can thank me when we get up to your place.”
She blushed, and I watched her consider her options, probably thinking it would be much harder for her to keep me away without the confines of the back seat. I slid out, not letting her hand go and wrapped my arm around her as we walked to the door.
She watched my bodyguard enter the building ahead of us, then signal the all clear. “If he goes everywhere with you, you must trust him completely.”
I kissed the side of her head. “Don’t worry about him. His lips are sealed. Think of him as a wall, not a voyeur.”
“Not that there’ll be anything to see.” She was too quick to blow the idea off, and it made me a little worried about us getting to the promised land.
We took the elevator up to her floor and waited until Scott got off and checked the surroundings before giving me another nod of all clear. He walked discreetly away as I escorted Kendra to her door. “Here we are.”
She looked a bit shy, which was fucking adorable. I’d seen many expressions from her, but shyness wasn’t one of them. “I had a nice—”
I didn’t let her say another word as I pushed her back against the door, pinning her with my weight. Our mouths crashed together as I ground my cock against her. I was rock hard and wanting… needing to be inside her.
The heat between us couldn’t be denied. I needed to get her inside and out of that dress, now. But she still wasn’t inviting me in for some
reason.
“Kendra, open the door,” I whispered against her lips. “Let’s get out of this hallway and away from prying eyes. I don’t want any of the interns giving you a hard time about us.”
She pushed against my chest. “I don’t care about them, and I’m not letting you inside. I can’t do what you want.”
I circled her wrists with my hands and lifted them above her head, giving me full access to her. I kissed her forehead, her temple, her cheek. “You want it too.” My lips captured hers again. I wanted much more than a kiss, and that was coming. I was getting more and more sure of that as each second passed.
She was fighting a losing battle. It was just a matter of time before she realized it too.
I wanted her to get the damn key out so we could go inside, which meant I needed to pull my mouth off hers to get that goal accomplished. But it gave her a chance to talk, which wasn’t good.
“Eli, wait.” She twisted her face away, her chest heaving as she took in long, ragged breaths. “I know I’m sending you the wrong signals with all this. The fact is you’re not a one-woman man, and I’m not a woman who takes anything less than that.”
My breath was ragged too. “Admirable. Respectable.” I let go of her wrists and stepped back a couple inches, running all ten fingers through my hair. “We did just meet. Surely, you don’t expect me to tie either of us down right now.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t expect you to make some grand commitment to me. Not that that would get you where you want with me, anyway. I’m sorry, I’ve led you on. That was wrong. I can’t be like the rest of the women you’re used to. I’m not them. And I’m not in New York to get laid. I’m here for one reason, to learn about the business world. I enjoyed our time together, I really did. But this is goodnight.”
Something unfamiliar hit me. Panic. “I can handle that. You want me to show you that I can be with one woman. I get it.”
“No, you don’t. I won’t have sex with you. Not ever. I’m not that person, Eli. It’s not that I don’t find you attractive. Please don’t think that. And please understand what I have to do.” She took the key out of her purse and unlocked the door, stepping inside as she held her hand against my chest. “This is it. I have only one more thing to say to you.”