“Tell me what you’re thinking.” He hadn’t moved, but his body seemed to go on alert.
No. No. No. Except it was exactly what she wanted. “If it clears the air and makes it possible for us to be in the same room…then yes.”
“No other reason at all.” He closed the distance between them and stopped close enough for her to feel his heat, but he didn’t touch her. “It’s all about closure.” His attention lingered on her hips and again on her breasts. “Well, maybe not completely. I’ll enjoy the view, too.”
Her breath hitched. She should be upset at the objectification, but his gaze seared her thoughts and made an ache of need throb between her legs. “When do we want to do this?” she asked.
He raised a hand until it hovered less than an inch from the side of her face, but never made contact. “What are you doing this afternoon?”
“Now?” She almost choked on her question. Swallowing to clear her throat, she tried again. “You really know how to charm a girl, don’t you?”
He searched her eyes. “I’d rather do this right. You deserve to be romanced. Seduced. Even though it’s only one time, you should enjoy it. As long as you promise that if I let you leave, I won’t miss my chance.” His voice was smooth. Assured.
You really won’t. She’d like to think she was strong enough to write this entire conversation off once she walked out, but desire flowed through her veins, all of it inspired by the man in front of her. That doesn’t mean I have to let him know I’m wavering. “It sounds like a wonderful setup, but it’s not that simple. Rose petals and champagne don’t erase animosity.”
“No, but sometimes passion just needs to be redirected.”
Passion. The word spiked her anticipation. Her body warred with reason every time he said something new. “Redirected like this?”
He reached behind him and locked the door. The audible click lit her nerve endings on fire with unspoken promise. He closed the remaining distance between them, and dipped his head. His lips hovered millimeters from hers, before he dove in and claimed her.
The sensation was so light, she wasn’t sure she felt it. She leaned in, mouth opening, and a whimper escaped when he traced his tongue over her bottom lip. This didn’t even begin to resemble resisting his suggestion, but her body craved more. Begged to find out what else lay buried under the kiss. His hand rested at the base of her neck, holding her in place. He deepened the kiss, going from gentle to hungry in an instant.
His tongue twisted around hers in a desperate dance, and desire blossomed in her gut. God, this was incredible. Had it been like this before? No, neither of them had been so experienced. She rested her hands on his chest, heat searing her palms. Dampness grew between her thighs, and her pulse tore through her body. It was familiar and entirely new at the same time. Safe and simultaneously terrifying.
She fumbled to find her breath when they finally broke apart. His finger caressed her swollen lips, dancing over the sensitive flesh.
“What are we doing?” She managed.
He nudged her back, hands on her hips, guiding her until she bumped into the desk. His soft growl echoed in her ear as he kissed along her lobe. “Possibly the smartest fucking thing we’ve done in a decade.”
He was as lost in the moment as she was. The realization made her slick with need.
Hands still on her hips, he lifted her to sit on the edge of the desk. She draped her arms over his shoulders, fingers interlocking at the base of his neck, and then pulled him in for another kiss. His slacks scraped along her thighs when he forced her legs apart with his knee. Her denim skirt crept higher when he slid between her legs. She wanted him closer. Why were there so many clothes in the way? Nothing but a door stood between them and an office full of gawking and gossip, and she didn’t care.
He traced a line with his lips across her jaw down to the base of her throat, and kissed the hollow immediately below her choker. His voice rumbled through her chest. “A collar. Fantastic.”
“Don’t read too much into it.” A sigh cut off her laugh when he slid a hand under her shirt and up her spine. This wasn’t the seduction he’d mentioned, but fuck it if that mattered. Her breasts ached to be touched. Her nipples pinched.
She scooted closer, wrapping her legs around his waist. The bulge of his cock behind fabric pressed against her mound, making her pulse scream in anticipation. What would it feel like to have him buried inside her?
A sharp knock echoed through the room, followed by Scott’s insistent, “We need to talk.”
Rae’s already hammering heart almost tore from her chest. Disappointment crashed over her at the interruption. They broke apart, and she rested her forehead against Zach’s chest. Her thoughts still ran rampant, and her nerves felt like electricity in a puddle. Frazzled but continuously sparking.