“Because you adore me,” I say, smiling back.
Tessa and I met in college at Boston University. We were on the same floor freshman year and got paired together for a team-building exercise during orientation.
We had nothing in common.
She’s a Boston city girl. I’m a rural girl from Kansas.
She studied accounting and sees everything in black and white. I studied photography and see everything in shades and layers.
She’s tanned and beautiful with a great body. I’m fair and reasonably pretty. Yeah, I’ll give myself a fairly good body, too, compliments of walking, yoga, and the occasional Jazzercise class.
But we clicked and are still friends today. I’d do anything for her. Except something ridiculous, like getting drunk for no reason or having a one nighter with a stranger just to get Braden Black off my mind.
I have my limits.
“I do adore you.” She smiles. “You’re not getting out of this, though. This weekend, prepare for some off-the-charts fun.”
…
The shoot went off without a hitch, and Addison promptly threw her pretzel in the trash. She hates carbs almost as much as she hates coffee. Actually, she loves carbs, but she can’t maintain her waifish figure if she indulges too often. I saw her put away a whole pizza once, though. I’m pretty sure she barfed afterward.
“I’m taking the rest of the day off,” she tells me. “Be sure to stay at the office until six thirty because I’m expecting some important calls.”
“Okay, have a good day.”
I head back to the office. I walk through the ornate hotel lobby—complete with crystal chandelier—to the conference wing where Addie’s office is. We keep it locked up when we’re out on shoots.
Someone’s standing outside the door and leaning against the wall. He’s wearing a navy-blue suit and reading the New York Times. I can’t see his face, but already my body reacts.
It’s him.
It’s Braden Black.
Chapter Seven
I check my watch. It’s noon. Lunchtime. Addie and I left around nine thirty to do the shoot. How long has Braden Black been standing there?
Don’t get too excited. He’s probably here to see Addie.
I clear my throat.
He lowers his paper. His expression is noncommittal. Is he happy to see me? Surprised? Angered? I can’t tell.
His full, firm lips twitch slightly, and I flash back to the memory of them sliding over mine, of his tongue diving into my mouth for a deep, raw kiss the likes of which I’ll never experience again.
“May I help you?” I ask.
“Sure. You can open the door.”
I quickly retrieve the key from my purse and unlock the office. “Addie’s not here.”
“Good,” he says.
Okay, then. I open the door, walk in, and set my purse on my desk. I take out my phone quickly and check the comments on today’s post. Everything’s in order so far. I’ll respond to a few later. After he’s gone.
My heart is racing. Really racing. When I turn around, away from the desk, Braden Black will be there, standing tall, his glorious body filling out his blue suit in all the right ways. My blood pulses through my veins, heating to boiling.
“Skye,” he says, his voice dark.
I turn. “Why are you here?”
“For this.”
He grabs me and kisses me. Hard. I gasp, and he thrusts his tongue into my mouth, exploring at first but then taking. Another raw kiss, and my pussy is already pooling with desire. My nipples tighten and harden, and I push my breasts into him, move my hips without thinking.
He groans into my mouth, the hum like a bass clef crescendo on a piano. Is this truly why he came here? To kiss me again?
He tastes of morning coffee and peppermint, different from the wine-laced kiss we shared last night. Fireworks explode inside me, and soon my thoughts turn to mush, obliterated by Braden’s lips.
Only feeling remains—pure, raw emotion that coils through me and leaves me like a coyote trying to keep from springing on its prey too soon.
Control. Maintain control.
Fuck control.
I grab his head and thread my fingers through his silken hair. I pull him toward me and explore him as he explores me, our tongues locked in a sword fight, our lips sliding against each other. Nothing matters. Nothing except this amazing kiss.
Until he breaks away, sweat dotting his brow.
His full lips are sexy and swollen, and they glisten from our kiss. His hair is mussed from my fingers, and yes…his cock is bulging against the blue wool of his trousers.
“Dinner tonight,” he says huskily. “I’ll pick you up here at seven. And this time, Skye, you’re coming to my bed. Get used to the idea. It’s going to happen.”
He turns and walks out the door, leaving my legs wobbling.
…
Sitting next to Braden in the back seat of his car, I clear my throat. “Where are we eating tonight?”
“My place.”
My body turns to melted butter. “Oh? You cook?”