From Boardroom to Bedroom

by Jules Bennett

  A glass of wine sounded good right about now. Who knows, maybe they could start talking and she’d find more information on Miranda, because so far her search had turned up nothing useful. Wasn’t that why she was here? To get some sort of proof that her stepmother swindled her way into the will and deceived Buck?

  Or maybe Sophie was here at this moment to do something for herself. To finally give in and take what she’d denied herself for so long. Because right now, she wanted to be here for Nigel and absolutely nothing, or no one, else.

  “A drink,” he repeated with a crooked grin. “I can manage that.”

  She’d never been more aware of any man in her life than she was in that elevator on their way up to the penthouse. There was plenty of room, yet he stood at her side, with his hand beneath his jacket at the small of her back where her dress dipped low and exposed her bare skin.

  That woodsy cologne of his had tantalized her all evening. She’d never been turned on by a man’s scent before, but, well, everything with Nigel was becoming her first.

  The door slid open and she stepped into the penthouse. As she walked through, the lighting automatically lit up her path. The view of the city below drew her to the wall of windows. The swirling snow shone bright as it caught the various lights from buildings and the streets below.

  “I never thought I’d be so mesmerized by snow.”

  Nigel’s dress shoes shifted across the hardwood floors. “You look good in the city. This life suits you.”

  If he only knew how much she missed her old self. Her boots and flip-flops, her long, flowy dresses. Pants were of the devil and she was so over them. Give her a nice maxi or A-line sheath any day over skinny jeans and tailored jackets.

  She missed the ranch and wondered what all was going on now. She missed her French-inspired home in her luxurious gated community. And she desperately missed her own bed.

  A flash of an image with Nigel in her bedroom pierced her thoughts. He could never be there. He could never know she was truly a Blackwell. If he ever discovered why she was truly here, he’d never forgive her and he’d never believe she hadn’t set out to deceive him.

  If he could have only known the real Sophie without this deception getting in the way...

  “You prefer red or white?”

  Sophie glanced over her shoulder to Nigel at the bar in the corner. She offered a smile and gripped the lapel of the jacket, pulling it tighter around her chest.

  “I think you know by now I prefer white.”

  He picked up the stem he’d already poured. “Just making sure,” he said, returning her smile.

  As he made his way over to her, Sophie tried to put her worries, her betrayal out of her mind. She took in the sight of her date bringing her a glass of wine, thought of how quickly he’d wrapped her in his jacket, remembered how he’d been impressed with her ideas and gave her credit for them without stealing them as his own when he very well could have.

  Nigel was a noble man, a man she could easily fall for...was already falling for.

  This date was going far beyond what she’d envisioned.

  Date. She really shouldn’t let that term settle in because actual dating wasn’t possible for them. A date would imply there could be more, but other than attraction and flirting...this was all there could be.

  Unless she was up front with him with as much as she could be and still not ruin her quest for the downfall of Miranda.

  “I’m not naive,” she told him as she took the glass. “I’m also not going to deceive you.”

  Well, not any more than she had to.

  Nigel held onto his tumbler and raised his brows. “Is there something you think I’ve misunderstood?”

  She pulled in a breath and took a sip of her wine before she exposed a very personal truth. “I’ve been focused on my career and trying to grow my design business, so my social life has taken a backseat.”

  More like it wasn’t even in the car.

  “I want to be the best at any job I do,” she went on. “So dating hasn’t exactly been on my radar.”

  “I’ll take it as a compliment that you made an exception for me.”

  Sophie rolled her eyes. “You would,” she laughed before pulling in a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say is that I realize you called this evening a date and I’m positive you brought me up here hoping we could extend our...um...”

  “Oh, now you’re shy?” he asked. “You’ve been so blunt and honest since you came to work for me. Don’t stop now.”

  “Fine.” She squared her shoulders and tipped her chin. “We’ve already agreed there’s an attraction, so I won’t pretend you don’t hit every button for me.”

  “Is there a but?”

  “But,” she went on, “you need to know one vital piece of information before you decide anything else about me.”

  He took a sip of his own drink and took another step closer to her. “And what’s that?”

  “I’ve never been with a man before.”

  Seven

  Nigel stared at Roslyn and waited for her to laugh or tell him she was joking. But those bright eyes continued to hold his and she didn’t even offer a hint of a smile.

  An innocent. He honestly didn’t know any adult who was still a virgin. Yet the one woman he’d been craving for days—even though it sure as hell seemed much longer than that—stood before him as vulnerable as she could be. Quite the juxtaposition to her bold, confident personality in every other aspect of her life.

  She hadn’t had to tell him, yet she’d trusted him with her most personal piece of information.

  “I totally understand if you want to end with the drinks and call your driver to come get me.”

  Without a word, Nigel took the glass from her hand and sat both of their drinks on the accent table. Turning back to face her, he stepped closer to her and framed her face until she had no choice but to look directly at him.

  “I’ve said this before, but I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  Her eyes studied him. “I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

  “Good,” he laughed. “Definitely good.”

  “So... I’m staying?”

  His body stirred and he had to force himself to move slowly. He’d never had to worry about this before, but he found that her being a virgin wasn’t a turn off at all...quite the opposite, actually.

  “Everything from here on out is your call,” he told her, grazing his thumb across her plump lower lip.

  He’d never relinquished control of anything in his life, but found that’s exactly what he wanted to do with Roslyn. He not only wanted her comfortable, he wanted to follow her lead, to learn with her as she expressed herself and explored her passion.

  Nerves settled deep and he had to tamp down the anxiety over the thought that he was taking advantage. He wasn’t about to do anything she didn’t want, but he had questions.

  “Were you that focused on work you didn’t take time for yourself?”

  “I want to make a name for myself,” she told him. “Personal life could always come later.”

  Or now.

  Nigel leaned in and slid his lips across hers. Her swift intake of breath and the increased pulse at the base of her throat only increased his need to make her feel everything she’d deprived herself of.

  The fact that he was the first one to even make her think about giving herself up in such a way was more than an ego boost...it was a bloody treasure.

  “So why are you here with me?”

  She licked her lips and he knew the act stemmed from nerves and not some practiced ploy. “Because I can’t help myself,” she murmured honestly. “I’ve never felt drawn to someone the way I’ve been drawn to you. I know it’s not right since you’re my boss and I’ve tried to ignore what I feel.”

  Nigel eased the jack
et from her shoulders and tossed it aside. “What do you feel?”

  He tipped her head and braced one arm around her lower back to hold her firmly against him.

  “Attracted, desired.” Her eyes dropped to his mouth. “Aroused.”

  For someone so innocent, she knew all the right words to say. She raised her hand, hesitated, then placed it on the side of his face.

  There was that hint of insecurity. He’d never seen even an inkling of that in the office. She’d always been confident and strong. Even in the minor position she’d been hired for initially, someone like Roslyn was too big in life to be a simple consultant.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he told her, even though fear pumped through him. He wanted everything to be perfect for her. Roslyn deserved more than for him to swipe off the top of his desk and lay her out.

  She’d never done this before and he had to respect her reasons why...even if they were foreign to him.

  Nigel took her hands in his and stepped back. Then he led her to the oversize leather sofa and urged her down. As she sat, those expressive eyes stared back at him. He’d have given anything to rip that excuse for a dress off her body and explore her tempting curves with his eyes, his hands, his mouth, but he didn’t want to rush or frighten her.

  Self-control was key here.

  Roslyn started to reach for the top of his pants, but he pulled away. Confusion flashed across her face as she stared back up at him.

  Nigel dropped to his knees in front of her, circling her waist with his hands, and leaning in to brush his lips across the swell of her breasts where her dress dipped.

  “Trust me,” he murmured over her heated skin. “Let me make you feel good.”

  “I’m feeling pretty good already,” she sighed, settling deeper into the sofa.

  The flare of her hips beneath his hands had him eagerly roaming down and pulling the skirt of her red dress back up over her shapely legs. He shifted his focus between her eyes and the dark skin he revealed inch by inch. He didn’t want to miss a single part of her experience.

  Roslyn stared down at his hands, her mouth open, her lids heavy. Desire looked good on her and he planned on making sure she knew just how desirable she truly was.

  Anticipation pumped through him, knowing no other man had ever touched her in such a way. The experience seemed heightened, the intensity raised to a dizzying degree. He was too far gone, and from the little pants and sighs, so was she. Obviously she wanted this just as much as him.

  Nigel glanced down to peek at the black lacy panties visible from beneath the slit of the skirt. He slid his thumb over the delicate material, right at the point where he knew she ached.

  Her gasp had him smiling. So responsive, so passionate. She was utterly perfect, and he hadn’t even pleasured her yet.

  When the snug dress wouldn’t move anymore, Nigel gripped her hips and tugged her into a half-laying position. Better. Now he could shift the dress a bit more and expose the rest of those lacy panties.

  His breath left his lungs as he finally took her in from the waist down. He’d never seen a sexier sight and he ached to touch her, to taste her.

  Roslyn’s hands threaded through his hair as she continued to stare back at him. The want and need he saw looking back at him had Nigel ready to give her anything she wanted...and more.

  Unable to wait a moment longer, he leaned down and slid his lips over her, where the lacy seam met skin. She trembled beneath his touch and Nigel continued to hold onto her hips as he explored her with his mouth.

  Those fingers in his hair tightened, pulled, and only further aroused him. Roslyn had all this pent-up passion and he was about to make her come undone.

  He curled his fingers over the scraps of material at her hips and slowly eased the panties down her legs. She still wore those bedroom heels and he most definitely wanted those to stay in place. He was a sucker for a woman in heels.

  “Nigel,” she whispered.

  He stilled, raking his gaze up her body until he met her eyes. “You trust me?”

  She bit her lip and nodded. Nigel slid one fingertip over her, earning him a soft moan.

  He eased farther down, settling his shoulders between her parted legs. She continued to thread her fingers through his hair, as if she couldn’t stop touching him. He was so damn aroused and turned on, but this moment, this night, was all about her. He never believed selfishness had any place in the bedroom and he sure as hell wasn’t about to start now.

  While he’d love nothing more than to shed this suit and show her exactly how much he wanted her, that would do Roslyn no good. He wanted her to see exactly how great this could be, how perfect her first sexual experience should feel.

  No pressure, right?

  His lips barely grazed her center and her hips bucked. The need for more had him sliding one finger into her.

  Roslyn cried out and he absolutely loved the sounds she made...loved knowing he was the one making her come undone.

  When he replaced his finger with his mouth, Nigel knew he’d never experience a sweeter, more erotic moment in his life. Roslyn moaned as she arched into his touch.

  Nigel pleasured her until she gasped his name and fisted her fingers in his hair, pulling tighter than before. Her heels locked behind his back, the point of her shoe dug in and he didn’t care one bit.

  This. Was. Everything.

  Roslyn had a passion that he’d never seen in another woman. She had an abandon that proved she wasn’t ashamed to be herself, to expose the most intimate side of herself.

  Nigel waited until her trembling ceased before he kissed her inner thighs and eased up. When he glanced down, he took a mental picture, never wanting to forget this for a second. Her hair had come undone, now spread all around her. Her eyes were closed, her mouth open, a sheen across her chest, her breathing rapid.

  Roslyn looked exactly like what she was...a woman well loved.

  But he had no clue what to do now. Nigel had never been in this situation before. He’d never been so bloody attracted to a woman, and a virgin at that. And she still was a virgin.

  Damn it. He was more scandalous than the stars of his show. If anyone found out he’d taken his brand-new hire to bed, his reputation would be shattered. It would give weight to every doubt and reservation his family had expressed, every time they’d told him that New York wasn’t his place and he should come home where he belonged. He’d built a life for himself here that he could be proud of—how could he risk throwing that all away?

  And yet how could he resist this woman who had given him this beautiful gift? Besides, she was showing him such trust—surely he could show a little trust in return that everything would work out.

  Nigel pushed aside any thoughts that didn’t center around Roslyn. Because right now, and for the foreseeable future, all he wanted was to continue showing this woman just how much she was desired.

  Eight

  Sophie pulled in a shaky breath and attempted to sit up and right her dress.

  They had just broken all the rules. This could hurt the business he loved so much and it could jeopardize her plan to protect her family’s legacy. But she wasn’t sorry this had happened. How could she be? Nigel had just pleasured her in the most intimate way and he hadn’t even fully undressed her.

  He slid his hands over her thighs, up to her waist, and pulled her forward.

  “I don’t know what to say,” she muttered, feeling reality crash back down.

  “You don’t have to say anything,” he replied with a naughty grin. “Believe me, this was my pleasure.”

  Speaking of...

  “Don’t you want—”

  “Oh, more than you know.” He cut her off with a low laugh that seemed to hold more frustration than humor. “But this was about you. I’ve wanted you since you stepped foot into my office. I can’t resist you, Roslyn.”

&n
bsp; There it was. The reason she couldn’t fully enjoy her first sexual experience. Nigel didn’t even know her real name. Guilt and disappointment spiraled through her. She’d finally chosen to give herself to someone, and her pleasure had been robbed by her lies. She had nobody to blame but herself.

  How could she let this go any further? Clearly Nigel cared for her on some level. He’d taken his time, he’d made love to her with his mouth, and now he looked as if he was perfectly content with nothing more.

  Why couldn’t she have met him before the deceit? Why couldn’t she just tell him who she was and why she was here?

  Because her brothers were counting on her and she couldn’t let them down. Miranda had no right to take ownership of a family legacy that meant nothing to her anyway.

  “I may be inexperienced,” she told him. “But I’m not naive or dumb. You’ve got to be...frustrated.”

  Again, he let out a throaty laugh. “I’ll admit to being a trifle uncomfortable.”

  His smile slowly faded and those lingering eyes continued to hold her in place. Another burst of arousal slid through her, coupled with fear of all the unknown components that made up this warped relationship.

  At some point, this was all going to blow up in her face and they were both going to end up hurt. The longer she stayed, the more involved they became, the more Sophie knew there would be no good way for this to end.

  Nigel sighed and came to his feet. He raked a hand over his mussed hair and stared down at her, then offered a soft smile.

  “You look good spread out over my couch,” he told her. “I’ve envisioned you several times, in several ways—spread across my bed, in my shower, on my desk.”

  Sophie adjusted her dress and stood, tugging the material down to cover her thighs. “You’ve been busy,” she joked, though her nerves were even more out of control than they’d been before he’d pleasured her.

  “I told you, I’ve never met a woman like you.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and raked his thumb over her chin. “Nobody has been able to distract me from work before and nobody has ever made me want to put them first in everything. You’ve put some spell on me.”