Shaft

by Krista Gold

  “Comfortable?” Nate asks wryly, and I quickly sit up, realising that because of me, he’s doomed to stand staring at the wall until help arrives. I watch as he shifts his weight to his other foot, feeling a sharp twinge of guilt.

  Hastily, I adjust the jacket so that it covers as much of my thighs as humanly possible. I reel my legs back in and cross them primly. Lastly, I pinch the lapels together to hide my plunging cleavage.

  “Alright,” I relent. “I’m decent. You might as well come and sit down. There’s no point in either of us being any more uncomfortable than we have to be.”

  There’s a long pause. “You’re not waiting to blast me with the pepper spray, are you?” Nate asks mildly, and I laugh. A warm feeling spreads through my body. I’ve never even held a can of pepper spray, let alone owned one, but Nate doesn’t need to know that.

  “Not right now,” I tell him. “But that can be amended if I see any signs of mischief on your part. Understood?”

  Nate laughs softly, and the sound makes the space between my thighs tingle deliciously.

  “Understood,” he says, and he turns to face me.

  Chapter Eight

  Nate

  Holy fucking Christ.

  It’s all I can do to keep breathing when I turn around to see Allie sitting on the bench, trying to look demure despite being half-naked. Her long, slender legs are tucked beneath her, and my jacket barely covers her thighs. My eyes trail greedily up her body, taking in the hint of cleavage, the faint flush on her chest, and the way she swallows hard as my gaze rises to finally meet hers.

  She clutches at my jacket self-consciously, but her eyes, as they meet mine, are defiant. All the saliva in my mouth dries up, and I feel my cock twitch.

  Fuck, she’s beautiful.

  I try to calm my breathing as I make my way over to the bench. I perch on the opposite end to Allie, as far away as possible, looking stiffly ahead at the closed doors. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, and I know I need to respect her space, but it’s taking every ounce of my self-control not to turn my head and stare at her, drinking in every detail. I can hear her breathing, her breaths rapid and uneven, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s feeling it, too – this instant, magnetic attraction.

  I cross my legs, willing the throbbing in my cock to subside, and use the opportunity to remind myself of my recently-set ground rules.

  Number one: no more meaningless sex.

  Number two: no intimate relations of any kind with anyone who works for, or is affiliated with, Hart Enterprises.

  Number three: no distractions of the female variety. No matter how gorgeous they are, or how ridiculously sexy they may look wearing my jacket.

  I let out a puff of air, annoyed with my past self for the behaviours that have made these ground rules necessary. I’ve never wanted anything as badly as I want this woman. How typical that she’s walked into my life now, on those fucking supermodel legs, at a time when she – and every other female on the planet - has been determined strictly off limits.

  I clench my jaw. I’ve made my promise. But right now, I’d give up everything that’s at stake to take it back.

  Chapter Nine

  Allie

  I’m shivering again, but now it’s absolutely nothing to do with being wet or cold.

  The look in Nate’s eyes when he turned to face me…I can’t get it out of my head. He’d looked as if he wanted to devour me.

  For a split second, I felt a quiver of fear, but then my whole body flooded with a desire so strong, my knees would have buckled had I still been standing. I held my breath, willing him to come to me. To slowly unbutton the jacket protecting my modesty and tease my nipples with his tongue and teeth. A strong sweet pulse set up in my sex, and it was all I could do not to moan aloud.

  But then a strange look came over his face – anger? disappointment? – and he looked away, and now his eyes are fixed once again on the closed doors.

  My face is hot, my stomach churning.

  I’m not imagining it: Nate wanted me. I know he did: I could see the naked desire in his face, the lust blazing in his eyes. And then he shut down.

  Why? I rack my brain. Was it something I did? Something he thought? My eyes widen as a thought occurs to me, and I shoot a glance at his hands. It’s hard to see in the poor light, but I can’t see a wedding band. I let out a small sigh of relief. I suppose he could still have a girlfriend though. The thought sends a bolt of pain to my heart.

  What is wrong with me? I don’t know anything about this guy, other than his name. Why should I care if he has a girlfriend or not?

  I cross my arms over my chest, frustrated.

  It’s so typical that the first flicker of interest I’ve felt for any man since Sean is for someone who seems to be either uninterested or unavailable. Judging from the look of pure lust Nate shot me when he first turned around, I don’t think a lack of interest is the problem. So that leaves unavailable.

  I slump against the wall, dejected.

  Well, what did you think? my subconscious asks kindly. That he was going to jump your bones in the elevator? He works here, Allie. No way he’d risk his job like that. And even if he did, what would happen if you ended up working here, too? You’re always going to be the girl that slept with someone in the elevator. Because don’t think he wouldn’t brag about it. Who wouldn’t?

  I wince a little at the home truths, but my subconscious isn’t done.

  It comes down to one thing, Allie. Which do you want more? This man, or this job?

  I close my eyes.

  This job, says my brain.

  This man, says my heart.

  I breathe in the fresh cedar smell from Nate’s jacket and feel a sharp pang of loss.

  Stupid: I never had him; he was never mine to lose. But despite that faultless logic, I can’t help feeling glum as I settle back to wait for the Fire Department to arrive.

  They can’t get here quickly enough for my liking.

  Chapter Ten

  Nate

  Fuck, this is killing me.

  I sneak a sidelong look at Allie. She’s leaning back against the wall, her head tilted back, eyes closed.

  She is so beautiful. The breath catches in my throat.

  Her dark lashes graze the smooth skin of her cheek, and my eyes widen as my gaze travels down and I notice that she isn’t clutching the jacket together quite so tightly, and as a result, I can see the full swell of her right breast, lightly clad in pale lace.

  I swallow. Hard.

  As I watch, Allie lets out a small sigh, and I feel a twist of desire low in my gut.

  I force myself to look away. I’m used to taking what I want from women, but not without their permission, I feel guilty, suddenly, for allowing myself to take advantage of her unguarded moment. I imagine someone ogling my seventeen-year-old sister, Millie, in this way, and my jaw tightens.

  Eyes on the doors from now on, buddy, I tell myself sternly.

  Allie breaks the silence with another sigh. I glance across at her. She’s opened her eyes, and she’s gazing at me steadily. “How long has it been since we broke down?” she asks softly.

  I check my watch. “About twenty minutes, I think. It’s almost noon.”

  She sighs and closes her eyes again. I watch her, being careful to keep my eyes above her neckline. I can see the flutter of her pulse at her throat, and for some reason, it’s driving me wild. I check my watch again and send up a silent prayer that the Fire Department get here fast. Being in such close proximity to Allie and not even being able to look at her is driving me wild. My cock barely knows what to do with itself.

  I adjust myself for the hundredth time in order to keep my semi to myself.

  Just then there’s a whirring noise, and the elevator lights stutter back on. We both look up as if on cue, and then smile across at each other in relief, though I notice Allie pulling my jacket tightly together across her breasts now that she doesn’t have the gloom to help camouflage her
nakedness.

  I clear my throat. “Must be the back-up generator kicking in.”

  Allie picks up her cell-phone and shuts off the torch function.

  “Any reception?” I ask, and watch as she checks the screen, then shakes her head.

  “Nothing,” she says glumly. She tosses the phone down, and it hits the bench at an angle and bounces off onto the floor.

  “I’ll get it.”

  I bend to pick it up. The screen is still lit, and my breath catches in my throat as I see the photo she’s using as her screensaver.

  Allie and a dark-haired girl are standing next to a Christmas tree holding flutes of champagne and beaming at the camera. I barely look at the other girl, though a quick glance confirms she’s very pretty; I only have eyes for Allie.

  She’s wearing a floor-length gown in emerald green that reminds me of something a Grecian goddess might wear. It clings in all the right places, showing off her narrow waist, full breasts and hips to perfection. It fastens at her throat with a delicate gold bar, and then the material cleaves in two so that the neckline plunges all the way down to her stomach. Her hair is down, the fiery curls spilling over her shoulders, and her eyes are sparkling. She looks utterly fucking incredible.

  I realize I’ve been staring at the screen for longer than is strictly appropriate, and clear my throat, embarrassed, as I hand the phone back to Allie. She can’t meet my eyes, and I see that her cheeks are pink.

  “Nice photo,” I say, aiming for nonchalance, and Allie shrugs self-consciously.

  “My best friend Norah’s office Christmas party,” she says. “She’d just split up with her boyfriend, and she wasn’t going to go at all, but then at the last minute, she asked me to go as her plus one instead. It actually ended up being an awesome night.”

  “So, your friend is single,” I say. “What about you?” It’s not the subtlest I’ve ever been, but I’m past caring; I need to know.

  Allie blushes furiously, and I feel a corresponding heat spread through my groin. Fuck. Everything about her is reeling me in like a fish on a line. I need to get hold of myself before I do something I’m going to regret.

  “Oh, well, she isn’t single now,” Allie stammers. “Norah actually met someone right after that. On New Year’s Eve, actually. Jason. He’s super sweet. A veterinarian.”

  She’s babbling, and it’s so cute, that it’s all I can do not to stop her mouth with a kiss.

  “What about you?”

  Allie swallows, and then looks up at me, blinking those beautiful cat-like eyes. “I haven’t dated in a while. My ex was kind of a douche.”

  My heart clenches. I can see the pain in her eyes, and I’m not a violent man, but I’m feeling a strong and sudden urge to find this ex, whoever he is, and rip his heart right out of his chest for whatever he did to hurt her.

  “He must have been an idiot,” I say evenly. “To let you go.”

  Allie’s blush deepens, but she lifts her chin. “He was.”

  That’s my girl , I think admiringly, then as I realize the implications of that thought, I take a mental step back, alarmed.

  What am I doing? As beautiful as this girl is, as sweet as she seems, is she worth risking everything for? And even if she was, she deserves better than me. Someone who won’t use her and then toss her away when he’s done like I have with every single woman I’ve been with.

  I don’t know what it is about Allie, but she’s getting under my skin in a way no-one ever has, and I’m lost as to why. We’ve been stuck in here for what, half an hour? It isn’t enough time to have developed a crush; I don’t know anything about her, other than her ex was a louse and she looks amazing in green (and also in my suit jacket, but I’m trying not to think too hard about that).

  I step away from the bench and lean against the elevator wall, as far from Allie as it’s possible to be in this confined space.

  It’s just lust, that’s what it is. Pure and simple.

  And I need to stop thinking of it as anything more than that, or we’re both going to end up in trouble.

  Chapter Eleven

  Allie

  Oh my god, what is it with this guy? One minute he’s looking at me like he wants to eat me alive, the next he’s stand-offish and distant.

  Just a second ago, he was flirting – or at least, I thought he was. Ogling my screensaver, asking if I was single. Now he’s brooding silently over the other side of the elevator, his back to the wall and his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

  I sigh. Men.

  Why couldn’t I be stuck in here with a girl instead? Kacey for example. We’d both roll our eyes and say what an inconvenience it was, and I’d ask her what it was like to work here, and she’d ask what job I was interviewing for, and it wouldn’t matter that I was half-naked because she wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested in what I was or wasn’t wearing. Instead I’m stuck in here for god knows how long with this incredibly gorgeous but totally unpredictable man, who one minute looks like he wants to fuck me, and the next like he wishes he’d never laid eyes on me.

  Once more, I cross my arms over my chest.

  I’d started this morning praying for time to go more slowly so that I could make my interview on time. Now I’m willing it to speed up so that I can get the hell out of this elevator before this man confuses me any more than he already has.

  Something tells me it’s going to feel like a long wait for the Fire Department to arrive.

  Chapter Twelve

  Nate

  This is torture.

  I glance across at Allie, who now has her eyes closed and is ignoring me completely. Her long legs are tucked primly under the bench. I follow them down, see how they taper into slender ankles, note the fuck-me heels she’s wearing. I imagine her fully naked, on her back, me thrusting into her with those legs wrapped around my waist…

  Fuck. No. What am I doing?

  Guiltily, I avert my eyes once again, and tug at my collar. I’m suddenly feeling flushed, and I know it’s not because the air-con snapped off with the electricity. That fleeting vision of a naked Allie bucking under me flickers at the edges of my mind, wanting me to explore it, wanting me to make it a reality. Instead I push it away, sit back down heavily on the bench.

  “You ok?” Allie is eyeing me warily. I shoot her a half-hearted smile.

  “Fine. Just a little warm in here.”

  “Maybe for those of us with clothes on,” Allie replies archly, and I turn to her in concern.

  “Are you still cold?”

  She shrugs, folds her arms tightly across her breasts as though she’s hugging herself for warmth.

  “Not as cold as I was, but it’s not exactly tropical in here.”

  I let out a breath and feel a trickle of sweat run down my back. “Come here,” I command, and I open my arm, inviting her to move closer to me.

  She raises her head slowly until her eyes meet mine. God, she’s stunning. Every time I look at her she seems even more beautiful. I feel a twist of desire low in my belly, a lust that only increases when I watch the heat begin to steal into her cheeks.

  “I don’t think that’s advisable, do you?”

  I snort and roll my eyes as if that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. “Oh, please. It’s not like I’m going to pounce on you.”

  Allie raises a single eyebrow. When she speaks, her voice is frosty. “Well, I’m so glad you’ve made it clear that I’m not at risk. Though I must admit, it’s hard for a normal girl to compete with the supermodels you have working here. I guess I’ll have to thank them later for ensuring my ongoing chastity.”

  I stare at Allie astonished. How can she possibly not realize that she’s the most beautiful woman in this building? Probably in most buildings? I feel a surge of affection mixed with irritation.

  “I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it. What I meant was that I’m a grown man in full control of my urges. I’m not offering to help you so that I can seduce you.”

  Allie’
s eyes narrow. “You’re very confident, I’ll give you that. But don’t assume every woman is going to fall at your feet just because you look the way you do. There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, you know.”

  “Excuse me?” I’m more than irritated now. “I think you’ll find that I was offering to help you.”

  “Yes, while making it clear that I’m both safe from your advances and also helpless to resist them should you choose to bestow them upon me.”

  “Bestow them upon….what is this, Wuthering Heights?”

  Allie glares at me and folds her arms. “You’d make a great Heathcliff, actually. He was arrogant as well.”

  I gape at her. The fucking nerve of the woman! I’m taken aback. The fact that Allie seems determined to pick a fight when I was just trying to help, and not only that but insult me while doing it…it beggars belief. I’m used to women wanting to please me, and the fact that Allie seems determined to do exactly the opposite is fucking infuriating.

  Although privately, I have to admit: while her defiance is maddening, there’s also something about it that is turning me on like crazy.

  Obviously, the last thing I can do now is act on that; I’d never admit to this exasperating, impossible woman just how much of an effect she has had on me.

  Even if I didn’t have the Ground Rules to think about.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Allie

  My blood is boiling.

  The arrogance of the man! Assuming I wouldn’t be able to resist if he turned his charms on me.

  Think again, bud, I tell him furiously in my head. I push down the niggling voice asking me if I’m quite sure about that and turn to squarely face the elevator doors.

  Yes, he’s handsome, I can admit that. Ok, he’s fucking gorgeous. And yes, he looks absolutely delicious in that suit. But that superior attitude…the sense of entitlement that undoubtedly comes from getting anything he wanted all his damn life just by flashing a winning smile, just by demanding it…argh, it makes me want to spit.