Strictly Business (Mixing Business With Pleasure Series Book 1)

by Ace Gray

  At least Dr. Brown isn’t stalking through the dining room after me.

  In the relative safety of the restroom, I checked my phone then my eye makeup. The stitches had been gone for two days, and I could finally cake on concealer. Once touchups were complete, I checked my phone again. I’d burned over fifteen minutes.

  Laura is going to kill me.

  I hurried out of the door and made the mistake of looking down into my clutch. It was the second time I almost smacked into Nicholas Bryant. This time he was in a navy three-piece suit, still perfectly tailored. It had clean lines and a narrow silhouette that framed him perfectly. The vest coordinated with the lapels, both a soft black. His navy tie popped against his crisp white shirt and his tortoise cufflinks highlighted the different shades in his dark leather shoes. He was enough to jumpstart my heart.

  “Do you know how many men watched you walk across the room this evening?” His crooked smile pulled on his left cheek.

  “I’ve become quite the zoo attraction of late.” I tried to match his humor, but it came across bitter. “On a date, Nicholas?”

  “Of course not,” he said sharply. “I’m taking time from a business dinner to speak to you. Why would you assume I was on a date?”

  “You told me to wait. It could very well be to get someone else out of your system.” I was trying not to raise my voice.

  “There’s no one but you. Why the fuck won’t you believe me?” He vibrated with frustration in front of me.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

  I was quiet as I looked down at my fingers to fiddle with my ring. I never meant to, but seemed to have a knack for provoking him. He lifted his hand to my chin and gently pulled my eyes back to his.

  “Look, I know you just got here, but I came to ask if there’s any way you’d leave with me now?” The familiar storm raged in his eyes but his tone was soft, almost pleading.

  “Why?” I breathed as he stroked my uninjured cheek; even with the makeup he’d remembered.

  “Because I can’t do it anymore. I can’t wait. I’ll find a way to be with you if it kills me.” My heart stuttered and my stomach dropped. Even my nipples raised against the sheer fabric. He looked down and smiled.

  Bryant bent close against my ear and whispered. “It’s good to know the idea excites you, and that you can’t hide it, either.”

  He purposely nudged his rigid cock against me. My cheeks heated and eyes brightened. My body’s response screamed a decision my mind wasn’t ready to make.

  “Do you just want to fuck me and send me on my way?”

  I didn’t know whether it mattered, but I was stalling, trying to decide if the inevitable hurt was worth it. My phone vibrated in my purse, rattling against the compact I’d been digging for moments ago. It was no doubt Laura wondering where I was.

  “No.” He was blazingly sincere.

  My heart leapt, and my wayward body leaned in even closer to kiss him. He set one of his hands on my shoulder to keep some distance.

  “I have associates here. I can’t.” He picked up my hand and kissed my palm to ease the rejection. “Believe me, I desperately want to, but this is business.”

  I was sorely disappointed but couldn’t be offended. His crooked smile returned.

  “Go give your apologies and meet me out front in five minutes.”

  For some inexplicable reason I let him order me around. As I turned, a server approached, waving Bryant’s check. She beamed at her obvious above and beyond service.

  “As you requested, Mr. Bryant, directly to you.”

  He nodded curtly but paid little attention, even as her tongue wagged. I smiled at his lack of interest as I hurried to the table where our group had been seated. As I approached, Malik and Dr. Brown stood. Laura gave me a knowing eye roll.

  “You’ve been gone quite some time. We were all the worse for the lack of your company.” Dr. Brown’s voice was making my skin crawl. I moved even faster.

  “I’m sorry. I got a phone call and have to get back to Vesper immediately. There was a problem with our security system.”

  Dr. Brown, obviously indignant, replied, “Surely you pay someone to take care of things like that?”

  He was too much to handle; I’d make Laura pay for this.

  “I do, but as it turns out, I actually give a damn about what I built with my own two hands. If there’s a problem, I want to be there. I want to make decisions firsthand.”

  I shot him a look that should have shut him up. “Sorry, again,” I added to Laura and Malik.

  “If you insist on leaving, I would be happy to escort you.”

  Oh, God. What a nightmare.

  “No.” The word was out before I had time to soften it.

  I ducked around Dr. Brown, hugged Malik and kissed Laura on the cheek. She whispered, “You’re up to something, but I’m going to let it slide.” Then she winked as I pulled away.

  She didn’t expect a full explanation. Yet.

  I walked as calmly as possible to the front of the restaurant. Inside I was giddy, everything in me twisted and turned, my heart rate rose. I stepped out of the front door to flashes again. The blaze of bulbs was more intense than before and I couldn’t figure out where to wait for Nicholas. My shoulders climbed toward my ears and my teeth pulled on my lip. I couldn’t force a calming deep breath past the lump in my throat.

  That’s when strong fingers clasped my hand; instantly I knew it was Nicholas. My shoulders relaxed, my breathing steadied and goosebumps crawled across my skin. For the first time I didn’t focus on the shimmering bulbs or the invasion of personal space. In that moment, my world revolved around the hand holding mine.

  The paparazzi’s did too. The second they noticed, the real uproar began. Nicholas shifted to block me from their lenses with his sculpted frame. Despite the gesture, I knew what would be plastered across Page Six tomorrow.

  As soon as we made it to the the curb he grabbed the door of a waiting Bentley. For just a moment his hand left mine and my shoulders flinched infinitesimally. Tingles returned with his hand, this time at the small of my back as he guided me into the open door. I landed on plush, soft leather seats and slid over to make room for him. My heart raced as he and his rigid muscles coiled into the seat next to me.

  “I’m sorry about that. Please forget about them.”

  He reached for my hand again and pulled it up to kiss my palm. Warmth spread throughout my body and pooled in my chest.

  “This isn’t the first time I’ve been photographed,” I replied, playing it off with a warm smile that lazily spread across my face.

  His brow crinkled as he studied me. He pursed his lips, the corners turning down, but I focused on his eyes, noticing more blue than gray as his fingers began to trace the hem of my slit.

  Wordlessly, he pushed aside the fabric to reveal a scandalous amount of leg. I leaned my head back against the seat and tried to slow my breathing. Warmth spread like honey through my belly and in between my thighs. My traitorous nipples beaded at the whisper of his touch. Then he travelled beyond the slit to caress my hip. The tiny circles he was tracing were driving me insane.

  “Kate.”

  Oh God, the way he says my name.

  It rumbled in his chest and was equally soft, sharp, and seductive. He reached across my body to pull on my far hip. He deftly rolled me onto his lap so I could face him. The slit in my dress easily allowed my knees to slide onto either side of his muscular legs. His circles shifted to my inner thighs. I threaded my hands into his styled hair, pulling myself to his lips.

  “No.” He continued stroking my legs, getting ever closer to the apex of my thighs. “I won’t hurt you again.” The refusal stung.

  My hands slid down to his broad shoulders.

  “Rejecting me hurts pretty badly.”

  “You may have others fooled with the amount of makeup on your face, but I know how badly you were bruised. How badly my touch hurt.”

  He was still teasing me
with his fingers as he stared at my face. Need pulsed in my veins, an untamed and unruly animal that was slowly overwhelming me. I couldn’t let him get me off again without his lips on mine. I wanted every part of this man. No, needed it.

  I did the only thing I could think of. My hands left his shoulders and pulled his from my leg. I lifted his palm and went to press it to my face, right where the stitches had been. He fought me gently.

  “No.”

  “Please. I’m not above begging.”

  Not with him. Not for this.

  I smirked, and against his better judgement he relented. Tension melted from his hand and he let me take control. I pressed his hand to my injured face. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch. It stung slightly, but not kissing him would be far worse. I didn’t have to force a sigh of contentment. My hands returned to his hair, and this time he let me pull his lips to mine.

  A spark shot through me when our lips met. Nicholas gasped then kissed me with even more urgency. His hand dropped from my face to cup my backside and the one on my leg renewed its assault on my inner thigh. As my hands roamed his gorgeous hair and perfect face his fingers climbed all the way up my thigh. He growled when he realized I wasn’t wearing underwear.

  “You’re trying to kill me,” he breathed as his head rolled back to the seat behind him.

  I kissed his neck and jawline slowly, adding nips and licks along the way. His thumb started stroking me and I couldn’t help the small moan that escaped. His finger got slick as it traced every inch of my sex; his gentle flicking was driving me wild.

  A ragged groan slipped from my lips and I had to arch away from him to better angle my hips. My mind was consumed with his touch and I couldn’t even manage to keep kissing him. He looked up from his seat when I leaned back. His eyes were blazing and flashed with determination. He started working even harder with his skilled fingers.

  He continued fondling me until the car slowed in front of One Madison and the sidewalk where I’d seen him days ago. Nicholas’ fingers slowly moved away from my arousal and returned to the innocent circles as we idled.

  “You’re coming up, right?”

  “Of course. Unless you’re asking me to go.” I barely finished my sentence before continuing. “Please don’t ask me to go.”

  “Never,” he said fiercely. His words accompanied the quickest flash of brilliant blue in his eyes. “Sorry to leave you hanging, but come with me.” He smirked as he gently rolled me off his lap. He ran his hands through his hair and straightened his tie.

  I couldn’t collect myself. My body was busy lamenting the loss of him between my legs. Nicholas opened the door and gracefully unfolded from the car. He reached back to offer me his hand. He took my clutch when I held it out then moved to help me out of the low vehicle.

  “In the future, it would be best if you wore underwear with such a scandalous dress. I won’t always be here to guard you from prying eyes.”

  “Believe it or not, Nicholas, this isn’t the first time I’ve done this.”

  With grace that surprised even me, I stepped out, revealing nothing. He offered his elbow and we walked into his building. The stuttered beats of my heart kept me from noticing whether there were cameras.

  “Mr. Bryant, shall I keep the car out front?”

  His driver was trying to be discreet but I heard him anyway. Nicholas shook his head.

  “I’ll call if one is needed.”

  Nicholas ushered me into the building then to the farthest elevator. I watched as his long finger pressed the call button, excited for what that finger would do to me. My skin goosebumped when he shifted and let his hand wrap around my waist. When he escorted me into the elevator he flexed and dug into my hipbone.

  Nicholas pulled away to slide his keycard and enter a pin in the elevator. Despite the energy that thrummed between us, he leaned against the far wall and slid his hands into his pockets. He was the picture of power and sex, even in his casual stance. His eyes slowly looked me over; a corresponding wave of jittery anticipation moved through my body. I was almost shaking up against the brushed metal.

  “You truly are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”

  He lifted one hand to his chin and tapped his lips in thought, appraising me. When I remembered where those fingers had been I blushed ferociously.

  I wasn’t used to being at a disadvantage like this. It was uncomfortable to be anxious, breathy, out of control, and striped naked. The pure, unadulterated lust that overshadowed everything made it only just bearable.

  The elevator beeped and the door opened right into his apartment. He took two powerful steps toward me and returned his hand to my waist. He pulled me inside with his fingers flexing into my hip again. We turned the small foyer corner, and my breath caught in my throat.

  Oh. My. God.

  9.

  The only thing that could pull my attention from Nicholas was his view of the Manhattan skyline. I was dumbstruck by how beautiful his apartment was and how beautiful he was in it. The space had similar tones to my apartment and office; dark woods and leathers, white walls and gray upholstery. Artwork and photographs covered the few walls that weren’t floor to ceiling windows. The penthouse triplex of One Madison was well known—the photos had been splashed across the papers when it first hit the market—but Nicholas had made it personal and far warmer than I imagined possible.

  I loved it immediately.

  “Make yourself at home. I’m going to grab some champagne.”

  He kissed my shoulder then walked away. If it weren’t for the massive windows before me, my body would have forced me to follow. Instead, I traced my finger over the furniture as I walked toward the view of the MetLife Tower. His vaulted ceiling made the windows thirty or so feet high, and the 58th floor made for completely unobstructed views of the twinkling city.

  “I heard this penthouse was selling to someone else.” I would have said anything to take my mind off the sexual tension alive in the room.

  “It was. The previous bidder lost a bet and I was allowed to purchase instead.” I heard the smirk in Nicholas’ voice even with my back turned.

  “The view is incredible,” I murmured.

  “It’s even better from where I stand.”

  I turned to see him holding two flutes and a bottle of Dom Pérignon. He filled both glasses before setting the bottle on the bar. I accepted the offered glass and took a deep drink before turning back toward the windows.

  MMMmmm.

  I couldn’t help the purr of pleasure that escaped my lips. I always loved the bubbles and crisp taste of champagne; Nicholas had picked the perfect vintage. The sound was barely out of my lips before he was close behind me. His fingertips grazed the skin of my neck and he pushed my hair to one side.

  “I can’t help myself when you make that sound.” He kissed the nape of my neck then continued. “I was intrigued when I met you, but entranced when you made that sound at dinner.”

  His kisses slowly moved toward the strap of my dress. He pressed his lips to the silk then reached up to trace it with his fingers. He gently slid the fabric off my shoulder making the neckline of my dress dangerously low, my nipple just staying covered.

  Without thinking I downed the glass of champagne.

  He switched my hair to my naked shoulder and started to trail kisses down the other side. Deftly, he grabbed my glass and set it down with his. He returned and ran his fingers over the skin his lips had caressed before hooking a finger under my remaining strap; my breath caught in my throat and I closed my eyes.

  Ever so slowly he skimmed the second strap down my arm. With every inch my dress lowered, more of my naked body was revealed to him. When he reached my elbow, he let go and the chiffon fluttered to a pool at my feet.

  “Kate,” he groaned.

  Up close his reflection was faint but want was as obvious on his face as it was in his barely contained voice. I was confident in my body, but in front of him I was fidgety. His hand stroked down my spin
e and I moaned at his smooth touch.

  I had to see his eyes, see their color. I had to kiss him, and my body turned of it’s own accord, but he stopped me.

  “Wait, not yet.” His words were a soft rumble.

  He moved his hands to my arms. He rubbed gently, sending a tingling sensation shooting throughout my body. His fingers wandered up and down every inch and made small circles on the inside of my elbows.

  “Ahhhh,” I shivered; those circles made everything in my stomach contract.

  Nicholas stepped closer and a combination of fine suit fabric and firm musculature pressed against my backside. He continued leisurely exploring my body, tracing circles wherever he went. When he circled one finger around my belly button I leaned my head back onto his shoulder.

  Even though I was naked, he hadn’t reached for my sweet spots. And it hadn’t mattered; my heart raced and my skin singed all at the same. The slickness between my thighs kept growing and I kept shifting.

  Without warning, his torture stopped. He turned me around to face him. When I saw the way he looked down at me I almost came. Before I could get lost in his covetous gaze, he kissed me. Hard. His face pressed to mine, stinging my nose and eyes. I was far, far beyond caring. He tugged and pulled on my lips and tongue until I had to gasp for air. His stroking began again on my backside forcing me to moan into his kisses.

  Nicholas shuffled me back toward the windows. He shifted his hands, one wrapped around my waist while one moved to his zipper. A moment later his cock sprung free. He was gifted to say the least. My greedy sex clenched at the sight.

  He pulled a condom from his pocket and opened the wrapper with his teeth before expertly rolling it on. He kept holding me close; his hand splayed gently on my back for support. My fingers wrapped around his lapels to pull him closer and steady myself.

  Nicholas shifted his hand from his erection to my leg. He reached behind my knee and hitched it up to his hip. As I wrapped it around him, his perfect penis slid between my thighs. My golden heel dug into his back. He moved his hand to the window and pressed me back against the cool glass. The temperature on my sensitive skin made me cry out. Nicholas used the moment of shock to press into me. It was so unexpected it made me scream.