A Taste of Passion ; Ambitious Seduction

by Chloe Blake

  “What else?” she prodded.

  “I’ll remember your birthday and our anniversaries, like today, when you made me the happiest man in the world.”

  Her heart melted. The man knew how to sweet-talk a woman. “And.”

  “I’ll be less vociferous when we’re making love.”

  “I never knew you could be so chatty.” She looked into his eyes with what she hoped showed her love for him. “I don’t mind so much, though. Tell me you love me again.”

  “I love you. More than I ever thought I could. I went out of my mind with worry not knowing where you were. Please don’t do that to me again.”

  “Well, I can’t promise—”

  He stopped the words she’d thrown back in his face with a kiss. A passionate melding of open mouths and tongues getting reacquainted until she struggled for breath.

  “I love you, too.” Kamilla panted as she looked up at him, seeing her future in his eyes.

  “I figured as much.”

  She stiffened her back. This man would drive her to drink with his arrogance. “How?”

  He lowered his head, nuzzling the side of her neck. She groaned with pleasure.

  “You ran away.”

  “So?”

  “You’re a fighter. Even when you know there’s no chance of winning, you’ll take down as many as possible before you fall.”

  Again with the magical words.

  “For you to run away meant you were afraid.”

  She scrunched her mouth to the side. “Of what? You?”

  His loud burst of laughter filled the barn. “Never me. Of your feelings.”

  How had he pinned her down so easily? She reached up and stroked the back of her fingers along his cheek. “I’m no longer afraid, so don’t think you’ll be getting rid of me anytime soon.”

  He rested his forehead against hers. “To the middle and beyond.”

  She couldn’t love him any more than at that moment. He’d remembered her preference of being in the middle of a relationship. She had a feeling they’d get to the end. Together. “And beyond.”

  Epilogue

  “To Astacio, Levere and Williamson Law Firm’s one-year anniversary. May they have many more.” Everyone took a sip of champagne after Miguel’s toast.

  Leonardo held Kamilla closer to his side. “There should be a Gordon in the name.”

  Kamilla rolled her eyes. “I’m not coming to work with you. Two years was enough.”

  “I thought it was because you love being a family lawyer.”

  She nodded. “That too.”

  Her smile elicited his stomach to flutter and gave him no choice than to kiss her supple lips. He’d never get tired of having her in his arms.

  The clearing of someone’s throat brought them back to the party. Leonardo turned a scowl toward the intruder, then changed his expression to a smile when he saw the Singletons.

  Mr. Singleton shook Leonardo’s hand with an enthusiastic clap on the back and kissed Kamilla’s cheek. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you representing us. It’s been a wonderful and profitable year. Your advice on the Wellington merger really saved us money. And we can’t forget your defense when it came to Rossman Jewelers. The government would’ve tried to destroy everything we’ve worked for if it hadn’t been for you.”

  He gave the couple a genuine smile. “It’s what we’re here for.”

  “Keep up the good work.”

  “We will. Enjoy the party.”

  His woman grinned up at him. “When did you become a people person?”

  He studied her face. Not a trace of mischief shone in her eyes. He’d never qualify himself in that category, but being with Kamilla had made him better at dealing with others. “Since the moment I wanted to be with you. I knew kindness was the only way to get you to like me, so I changed.”

  She placed a hand on her chest as her smile broadened. “I’m a miracle worker.”

  Laughter from the depth of his chest had him arching his back. “Yes, sweetheart. You are. Thank you for being you.”

  He tugged her out of the room and found an area that nobody occupied. Hands trembling, he reached in his breast pocket and removed an envelope. Was she ready? Would she decline? No. He wouldn’t think in the negative. Optimism and hard work had delivered everything he’d ever wanted. Including the only woman he’d ever loved. He held out the envelope without the nervous tremors shaking it. “Here.”

  “What’s this?”

  “Open it.”

  Her gaze zipped between him and the envelope a few times before she gently tore it open. It took her a minute of scanning the sheet before she looked up at him. “This is a contract to be a partner. I don’t understand.”

  “Yes. You’d have a percentage of my shares and since your last name would be Astacio, that’s if you wanted to exchange Gordon for mine, or even hyphenate it, we wouldn’t have to modify the company name.” He’d had a better planned speech than he’d delivered.

  “Exchange Gord—” The letter fell to the ground when she cupped both hands against her nose and mouth, stifling her gasp as she noticed the solitaire diamond he held out to her.

  “Kamilla Gordon, I love you. Every day brings me more in love with you. I knew you were special the first day I met you, Harvard pin and all. I can’t fathom my life without you in it as my friend, my lover, my keeper, my partner, but most importantly my wife. Will you marry me?”

  Removing her hands from her face, she revealed a smile that could rival the brightest star in the galaxy as her head bobbed with affirmative enthusiasm. “Yes.”

  That was all he needed to place the platinum pear-cut diamond on her ring finger before swooping her into his arms and holding on tight. He’d never let her go again. She possessed more of his heart than he did, and that’s the way it would be for the rest of their lives.

  He loosened his grip on her and stared into her glimmering eyes. “I love you so much. My life is for you.”

  She held his face between her hands. “As mine is yours.”

  He sealed their agreement with a kiss that promised forever.

  * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Pleasure at Midnight by Pamela Yaye.

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  Pleasure at Midnight

  by Pamela Yaye

  Chapter 1

  Entertainment attorney Roderick Drake st
ood in front of the bathroom mirror inside his eighteenth-floor hotel suite at the legendary Hotel du Lugo in Madrid, Spain, rehearsing his speech. Speaking in a quiet, soothing voice—the one he reserved for his most difficult clients—he smiled and nodded, as if he were addressing a room full of people rather than his reflection. His boss, Vincent Welker, didn’t call him “The Closer” for nothing, and Roderick wanted to live up to his reputation.

  Carefully inspecting his attire, he adjusted his metallic gray tie. Hired fresh out of law school at Welker, Bradford and Davidson, Roderick had had a seven-year career full of memorable moments. Visiting the White House during Obama’s tenure, attending the Super Bowl with the senior partners and delivering the commencement speech at his alma mater were cherished memories, and Roderick felt fortunate to be working at the prestigious Manhattan law firm. Determined to become partner at Welker, Bradford and Davidson, he’d do anything to achieve his goals, and wasn’t above breaking the rules to make it happen.

  Grinning at the thought, Roderick leveled a hand over the lapel of his tailored Hugo Boss suit. He looked sharp in his designer attire, and there was no doubt in his mind that he’d get the job done. And once he did, he was heading back to New York. Roderick had a meeting with a rock band next week, and if he wanted to convince them to sign with Welker, Bradford and Davidson, he had to prepare. He had ten days to fix Geneviève’s problems, and he would, no matter what.

  Pleased with his appearance, Roderick turned off the light and stalked into the living room. Decked out in scrumptious furnishings, gilded chandeliers and mirrors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered striking views of the city, the Grand Prestige quarters were worth every dime, and after his meeting, he was going to take advantage of the in-suite massage service. Last night, at his boss’s request, he’d boarded the private company jet for Madrid, and although he’d napped during the eight-hour flight from New York, he was still exhausted.

  That’s what I get for partying with my family on New Year’s Eve, Roderick thought, yawning. Three days later, he was still beat, but duty called, and he wasn’t going to let his boss down. Proud to be a senior attorney at one of the oldest and most successful law firms in the state, Roderick gave 100 percent to his clients.

  Noting the time on the bronze clock hanging on the alabaster wall, Roderick put on his leather shoes, then grabbed his briefcase off the chestnut desk. He had a lot riding on his one o’clock meeting with Jennifer “Geneviève” Harris, and hoped the pop star would be receptive to what he had to say. The former child star and award-winning singer was one of the greatest voices of the twenty-first century. Blessed with remarkable talent, Geneviève had six platinum-selling albums, more endorsement deals than an NBA superstar and avid followers. The total package, she had an angelic voice and a fun-loving personality people couldn’t get enough of. Everyone from Drake to the royals were huge fans of her music, and these days Geneviève couldn’t go anywhere without being mobbed.

  A troubling thought came to mind. What if, despite his best efforts, he couldn’t reach a settlement agreement with the injured fan? What if Geneviève made good on her threat to cancel the rest of her European tour, and returned to Philly in the morning? Roderick feared what would happen if he blew it. Millions of dollars would be lost, the media—and her fans—would turn against her and Roderick could kiss his promotion goodbye.

  Roderick gazed out the window. When he’d arrived at the hotel that afternoon, he’d been shocked to see hundreds of reporters, photographers and locals camped outside on the sidewalk, chanting Geneviève’s name. He shouldn’t have been surprised. Not after what happened on New Year’s Day. A video had surfaced online of Geneviève slapping a young man outside Madrid-Barajas International Airport, and the damning footage had gone viral. The “fan” claimed he was emotionally, physically and mentally scarred, and the twenty-eight-year-old singer was being crucified by the local media for being an “Ugly American.” Upset about the negative attention, Geneviève had lashed out at her critics, and threatened to cancel the rest of her tour. Mr. Welker had asked Roderick to travel to Madrid to meet with the fan and offer him a cash settlement.

  And that wasn’t all. His boss wanted him to persuade Geneviève to finish her lucrative, blockbuster tour. Inwardly seething, Roderick had gritted his teeth. He’d rather have a root canal than travel four thousand miles to babysit a spoiled pop star. Sure, he’d worked successfully with Geneviève in the past, but he preferred working with athletes, not entertainers. In fact, Roderick wanted to be transferred to the LA office in March to manage the athletic division. Working with the biggest names in sports would increase his profile and popularity, and he loved the idea of representing his favorite athletes. He’d started to suggest his boss send one of the associate attorneys to Madrid, but Mr. Welker had interrupted him.

  “The Diversity Committee wants to elect an African American partner this year, and I think you’re the perfect person for the job,” he’d said, with an earnest expression on his round, wrinkled face. “You’re a brilliant attorney, and I have high hopes for you.”

  Eager to hear more, Roderick had leaned forward in his leather-padded chair.

  “Geneviève makes this firm truckloads of money every year, and if you persuade her to finish her European tour, I’ll personally put forth your name for partner in May,” he’d promised, nodding his shiny, bald head. “I have faith in you, Roderick. You can do it. I know it.”

  Fired up, Roderick had returned to his Hamptons bachelor pad, packed a suitcase and headed to the airport. He had to turn things around on Geneviève’s world tour, aptly named Total Drama, before the pop star made good on her threat and skipped town. The Philadelphia native was a handful, and if she wasn’t the firm’s richest and most famous client, he’d drop her from his caseload. Welker, Bradford and Davidson provided legal counsel on business, corporate and entertainment issues, and was the first and only law firm in the nation to report a billion dollars in annual revenue. Heralded as the “Gold Standard for Law,” employees prided themselves on always being available to their clients, and although Roderick had initially balked at traveling to Madrid, he was glad he’d made the trip.

  Pocketing his cell phone, Roderick left the suite. He strode through the corridor, greeting everyone he passed with a broad smile. Life was good, and it was about to get better. There was no doubt in his mind he’d be named partner in May, and just thinking about the life-changing opportunity made his chest puff up with pride.

  Roderick stopped in front of suite 1812, knocked and waited for someone to answer. Geneviève and her team had booked twelve rooms on the eighteenth floor, and the hotel manager had let it slip that the group was a loud, rowdy bunch. Said that other guests had repeatedly complained about the noise. Roderick wanted to speak to Geneviève alone, without any interruptions, and hoped he wouldn’t have to compete with her entourage for her attention.

  The door swung open, and a dark-skinned woman with doe-shaped eyes, red lips and honey-blond twists stared at him. For a moment, Roderick didn’t recognize her, but when she spoke he remembered Geneviève’s fun-loving kid sister with the wicked sense of humor. Not only did Demi oversee all aspects of Geneviève’s personal and professional life, she designed all the costumes for the tour, and also managed her sister’s social media accounts. Every day, her posts racked up millions of views, and Geneviève credited her sister for the staggering success of her brand and her worldwide appeal.

  “Roderick? Oh my goodness, you look like a completely different person!”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?”

  “It’s a great thing.” Whistling, Demi fanned her face. “You’ve always been handsome, but now you’re sexy as hell, and if I wasn’t head over heels in love with my boyfriend, Warner, I’d be all over you.”

  Roderick chuckled and regarded the twenty-six-year-old personal assistant with amusement. He couldn’t believe ho
w bold she was. Demi was right; he’d changed drastically since last year. Nine months ago he’d been out of shape. Happy in love, he’d quit working out, and started partying with his fiancée, Toya Janssen, and her socialite friends. He spent thousands of dollars wining and dining the New Hampshire native, lavishing her with expensive gifts and affection. All for naught. Three months before their wedding, she’d betrayed his trust, and their engagement had imploded.

  Painful memories darkened his thoughts. He’d coped with their breakup by downing shots at his favorite bar, and things had gotten so bad his brothers had pressured him to go to rehab. Duane was a brilliant software engineer with a wife and four sons, and Morrison was an esteemed judge with a feisty fiancée, and even though they had busy lives, they’d harped on him nonstop about seeking professional help.

  To get his siblings off his back, he’d quit drinking, hired a personal trainer and adopted a healthier lifestyle. His hard work had paid off. He’d lost weight and regained his confidence, his swagger. Roderick enjoyed the Hamptons nightlife and being in the company of beautiful women, but he refused to let his mom set him up on blind dates. His father, Nathaniel, was a retired Supreme Court judge, and his mother, Viola, a talented interior designer, but Roderick often joked she should have been a professional matchmaker. His mom was obsessed with finding him Ms. Right, but Roderick didn’t want to settle down. Love sucked, and he wanted no part of it.

  “How’s life?” Demi asked with a bright smile. “Still killing it at that fancy law firm?”

  “You know it!” Roderick laughed. “How are things with you? Having fun on tour?”

  Demi groaned. “Don’t ask. These days I’m so busy I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”

  “I hear you. I was so tired I crashed as soon as I boarded my flight last night, and if the stewardess hadn’t woken me up when we landed I’d still be sleeping soundly on the plane.”

  “It sounds like this trip came at the perfect time.” Demi waved him inside, then closed the door. “I love Madrid, and you will, too. The museums are incredible, the people are friendly, the food is to die for and the architecture is enchanting.”