Hot Stuff (Hot Zone 1)

"Probably not but it sure is nice to watch Roy be intimidated." Annabelle's eyes glittered beneath the midday sun as she amused herself at Roy's expense.

Vaughn laughed. "I hear you, but I can't fire a man for wanting to cheat on his wife."

"I understand." She placed a warm, soothing hand on his arm. The electrical jolt was instantaneous.

Unexpectedly he covered her hand with his, surprising even himself. "Besides Roy's got a wife and kid and I don't want to be responsible for laying him off."

"You're a nice man." She smiled, turning everything inside him to instant, unmanly mush. "If you did fire him, he probably wouldn't get another job," Annabelle said.

"Exactly." Once again he was struck not just by her beauty or incredible body, but by her intelligence and insight.

"The invites," he said, getting to the reason he'd sought her out.

"Walk with me," she said, starting toward a line of trees in the distance.

He sensed she'd talk eventually and decided to humor her. They strode across the lush green grass. The blue sky overhead held a few bright, fluffy clouds. He glanced over. A warm breeze blew her hair around her cheeks. Not a man to stop and smell the proverbial roses, he still marveled at the precious simplicity of the moment.

"I had a reason for inviting everyone, you know."

"I'm sure you did just as I'm sure it's brilliant."

She paused and tipped her head to one side. "Was that a compliment I just heard?" she asked, her tone teasing.

"Am I that hard on you?" he asked.

"Only when you're trying to be." She slid her hands into the back pockets of her skirt, which had the effect of thrusting her breasts tight against her lacy T.

He swallowed hard.

"So don't you want to know the methods behind my madness?"

"Goodwill toward the employees?"

She frowned. "Don't tell me Mara gave me away."

He laughed. "Not exactly. I figure you're hoping that if the person who's behind the tampering works for me, we'll see it in their attitude outside of work." Vaughn voiced the notion he'd been thinking about since he'd heard about Annabelle's invitations.

"Not bad," she said, obviously impressed.

"You sound surprised. You didn't think I could figure you out?"

She flashed him a flirtatious smile. "I'd like to see you try."

And man would he like to.

Without warning, she took off at a sprint, giggling as she went, and he followed, chasing her through the trees. He could catch her easily but what fun would that be?

He let her dodge around one tall tree and another. Only when she was winded, did he do an end run, ducking around the opposite way and meeting her head on, then tackling her to the ground.

Her cheeks were flushed pink and her smile wide and carefree. For a brief time she wasn't running from her demons and for now he was content to leave his behind as well.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. A bird chirped in the distance as his lips came down hard on hers. He kissed her hungrily, his lips devouring her mouth like he couldn't get enough. Which he couldn't and feared he never would.

She teased him back, running her tongue over the seam of his lips and daring him to part them and slip inside. How could he not when she ignited a flaming desire this overpowering? He thrust his tongue into her mouth in an imitation of the most intimate act itself and Annabelle moaned from deep in her chest. Vaughn shook in reaction to the erotic sexy sound.

As she slid her hands into his back jeans pockets and pulled his hips close, she arched her back and thrust upward at the same time. The teasing contact of body parts, made frustrating by the barrier of clothes, drove him insane. He twisted his lower body, grinding his hard erection into the vee of her legs and she bucked beneath him, seeking closer, impossible contact.

A sudden sound ripped through the silence around them and Mara's static-ridden voice carried through the walkie-talkie clasped on his right hip. The intrusion couldn't have been more unwelcome.