One-Click Buy: February 2010 Harlequin Blaze

by Betina Krahn

  That would explain her hallucination.

  As she approached the elevator, she realized preparations were already underway for the afternoon party.

  Carol squinted. But the party had already happened…hadn’t it?

  Red decorations of cupids and hearts abounded. Blowups of some of the company’s Valentine’s Day cards leaned against the wall, including the “take no prisoners” card she’d seen on her assistant’s desk. Cupid looked even more menacing at life-size.

  Thankfully, she didn’t see Luke among the volunteers…. She wasn’t ready to face him after their encounter during the party.

  She stopped and looked back to the party preparations, again disoriented. The workers threw her a look of distaste before turning back to their tasks. Well, even if other events were confused in her head, one thing remained true—everyone hated her for voting against giving the employee bonuses.

  On the elevator ride up, Carol did some mental calculations to try to clear her head. She counted backward from one hundred by multiples of nine…she recited the presidents of the United States.

  Everything seemed to be in working order.

  When the doors opened and she walked into her department, Tracy looked up from her desk where she was playing with her new computer. In fact, everyone was still preoccupied with the new equipment she and Luke had scavenged from the storage room.

  “I understand Luke Chancellor was up all night installing these machines for us,” Tracy said, her eyes dreamy. “When you see him, give him a big kiss for me, will you?”

  Carol blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “In the directors’ meeting,” Tracy said, then glanced at the clock. “You’re going to be late.”

  Carol massaged her temples. “Um, Tracy…what day is it?”

  Tracy narrowed her eyes. “Friday, February thirteenth. Are you okay, Ms. Snow?”

  “Yes,” Carol lied. In truth, a low, throbbing headache had settled into her crown. She stopped by the ladies’ room to arrange her hair over the reddened bump on her forehead, then proceeded to the room where the directors’ meeting was held. Before entering, she took a deep breath, then pushed open the door.

  Her fellow directors looked up and she could tell not all of them were relieved to see her. Luke Chancellor sat at the head of the table. It was the first time she’d seen him clothed since she’d seen him naked. She hoped it wouldn’t be awkward.

  He smiled up at her. “We were just getting ready to send out a search party for you, Carol.”

  She settled into an empty chair. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “We heard a Good Samaritan delivered new computer equipment to your department this morning,” Janet, the art director, said with a smile.

  All gazes slid toward Luke. He held up his hands. “It was Carol’s idea—I just…facilitated.”

  She set her jaw—how did he do that? Manage to sound humble and still take credit?

  And why wasn’t he acknowledging—in private glances, at least—that they’d recently shared some very good oral sex?

  “We were about to take another vote on the issue of bonuses,” Luke said, all business. “I think it’s pretty clear that anyone dissenting is following your lead, Carol, so I guess we can cut to the chase by asking if you’ve changed your mind on paying out a one-time bonus?”

  The weight of a roomful of stares shifted to her. Carol glanced from side to side to see if anyone else remembered having this exact meeting at…sometime.

  Luke looked hopeful, and Carol knew he was thinking of her previous comment that she might reconsider her position. But that was before he’d turned all her employees against her. Before he’d given her a blinding orgasm in the storage room and made her feel again. This might be her one and only chance…again…to put Luke Chancellor in his place.

  “No, I haven’t changed my mind,” she said carefully, feeling strangely like a doppel-gänger.

  Disappointment colored Luke’s face. His mouth flattened, then he shrugged. “I guess that’s that.”

  Carol clapped her hands. “Good. If that’s all, I need to get back to work. The party means I have only four hours to get done what I’d normally do in eight.” Then she stopped. “There is a party today, right?”

  “Right,” Luke said, his mouth tight. “And yes, that’s all.”

  Carol’s gaze roved over him, recalling the size of his erection, and the sounds the man made when he climaxed.

  Or had she dreamed the encounter as well?

  “Something else on your mind?” Luke asked.

  That little swirly trick you do with your tongue. “Uh…no.” She pushed to her feet and left. On the way back to her office, Carol massaged her temples, trying to alleviate the headache that had yet to ease. When she reached her department, she walked the gauntlet of angry stares from her employees and closed her office door. There she downed some aspirin and waited for the feeling of vindication to descend. She’d proved to Luke that her opinion still meant something around here…that there was at least one woman he couldn’t charm into submission.

  She squinted. But if she’d given him a blow job, didn’t that mean she’d already submitted?

  Regardless, sitting here in the wake of her power, the victory of winning the vote felt strangely hollow. She gave herself a mental shake, reasoning that she could hardly feel good about anything while nursing a headache. She would savor the success later, in private.

  When she was alone. Completely, absolutely, utterly alone.

  She stopped, certain she’d had that thought before—déjà vu?

  Carol pushed a button on the intercom and told Tracy she wasn’t to be disturbed, then spent the morning plowing through a mountain of paperwork that seemed amazingly simple, as if she’d done it before and already knew all the answers.

  But since her headache wasn’t letting up, she decided she’d skip the Valentine’s Day party and just go home, maybe tuck in with a good book, something she could suggest as a selection for the Red Tote Book Club.

  While she was thinking about it, she pulled out her phone and sent Gabrielle an update via text message.

  Seduction achieved. Details later.

  A couple of minutes later, Gabrielle replied.

  Surrender to love, Carol.

  Carol frowned at the message. Love? Who said anything about love? And surrender? Never.

  A knock sounded at her door, then it creaked open.

  “Tracy, I asked not to be disturbed,” Carol said without looking up.

  “Don’t get mad at her,” Luke said.

  Carol lifted her head to see the man of the hour standing in the threshold. He gestured behind him. “Tracy said you didn’t want to be disturbed, but I told her I’d take full responsibility for defying your orders.”

  He looked just as handsome in brown slacks and pale blue dress shirt, minus a tie, as he had…before. Carol’s pulse quickened, but she reminded herself that he wasn’t to be trusted. Along with her memory, apparently.

  “What do you want, Chancellor?”

  “I thought it would be nice if we walked into the party together, a show of solidarity.”

  She stood and began packing her briefcase. “I’m not going to the party.”

  He gave a little laugh. “Why not?”

  “Because I’d rather go home, that’s why.”

  “Go home to what?” he asked. “A book?”

  At his mocking tone, Carol bit down on the inside of her cheek. “What’s it to you?” She looked up and her anger surged to the surface. “I mean, really, Luke, as if you care.”

  He blinked and visibly pulled back. “That’s the thing—I do care…Although I’m starting to wonder why.”

  She rolled her eyes—it was a preposterous statement considering the fact that he’d compared her to an icicle that wouldn’t thaw. “Save it, Chancellor. Go.” She made a shooing motion. “Go be the life of the party, the sales hero, the company playboy.”

  Once again she’d spoken with more veno
m than she’d intended, but after the words were out…well, she couldn’t take them back…she didn’t think…

  “Exactly what did I do to make you so angry?” Luke asked.

  “Well, for starters, you told everyone I was the reason no one is getting a bonus.”

  “I didn’t tell everyone,” he said. “In fact, I didn’t tell anyone. There were eight other directors in that meeting. But, when it comes down to it, aren’t you the reason no one is getting a bonus?”

  Carol slammed her briefcase shut. “I voted no because I think there are better things to do with the company money.”

  “I know—you said your department needed new equipment, and I helped you get it. And you still voted no.”

  “That’s the other thing. All my employees think you’re a hero.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “At my expense.”

  He gave a little laugh. “Why didn’t you tell them that you helped me? You were the one with the wish list, the one who knew what kind of equipment everyone had and what they needed.”

  She shrugged. “I…I guess I didn’t want to feel like I had to toot my own horn.”

  “I give up.” He shook his head and started toward the door. With his hand on the doorknob, he looked back. “I hope you change your mind about coming to the party.”

  She walked over to her coatrack and shrugged into her coat. “I won’t.”

  “Then maybe fate will intervene.” He smiled, then strode out.

  Then Carol remembered—the blizzard! Maybe she could get out in front of it. She gathered her things and dashed out of her office. Only Tracy remained in the department, sitting at her desk obediently, although she glanced longingly at the clock.

  “I’m leaving,” Carol announced as she dashed by. “Here’s the memo you need to redo.” She tossed the piece of paper in the direction of her assistant’s desk.

  “You’re not staying for the party?”

  “No!”

  “Be careful driving home,” Tracy called behind her. “I hear a winter storm is blowing in!”

  Carol sprinted through empty departments toward the elevator. Everyone was already in the basement for the party. As she waited for the elevator, something in particular that Luke said came floating back to her.

  That’s the thing—I do care…

  Carol shook her head. She didn’t want him to care. She didn’t need the complication of a man in her life who cared. Because even if he cared now, at this precise moment, it would be short-lived.

  Frustrated that the elevator was taking so long, she opted for the stairs and took them as quickly as her high-heeled pumps would allow. She burst out of the stairwell into an empty lobby. When she turned toward the front entrance, a rumble sounded overhead. She knew that sound. Sure enough, a bulging purple sky burst open, sending enormous snowflakes to the ground, where they were swept up into a cyclonic wind. Within seconds, the outdoors was enveloped in a thick, impermeable blur of white.

  Another blizzard in Atlanta…impossible.

  Fate had once again intervened.

  10

  Carol stood mesmerized by the alien sight of snow falling in Atlanta until she realized that there would be no going home to snuggle up with a good, erotic book. She was stranded at the Mystic Touch office. And she had two choices: return to her office and massage more paperwork…or go to the Valentine’s Day company party.

  The low throbbing in her temples from the bump on the head she’d received this morning made the thought of scrutinizing spreadsheets unbearable.

  The party seemed to be the lesser of the two evils…if she could resist Luke.

  She trudged back to the elevator and rode down to the basement, unwinding her scarf from her neck. She could hear the noise of the party even before the elevator stopped. When the doors opened, the full force of music, laughter and voices blasted her. Her stomach churned—she didn’t want to be here, and she couldn’t think of a single person who wanted her here.

  She stepped off the elevator, feeling self-conscious in her winter coat, thinking once again that she should’ve returned to her office and dropped her things there. Instead she stood there holding her briefcase awkwardly while everyone else held a glass of pink punch.

  A few heads turned in her direction, but after a quick downturn of their mouths, they turned away. The blatant snub cut deep, but she kept scanning, looking for a friendly face.

  She landed on Luke. He caught sight of her and his expression turned from surprise to something else that accompanied a smile. He said something to the person he was talking to, then turned and walked in her direction.

  But he was not looking at her like a man who had intimate knowledge of her choice in underwear.

  “Snow,” he said with a grin. “What brings you back?”

  “Snow,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Huh?”

  “It’s snowing.” She pointed to the ceiling. Since the basement had no windows, everyone else was oblivious to the outside conditions. “A blizzard, actually.”

  “So you’re stranded. Let me take your coat,” he offered, reaching to help her out of the heavy garment. “In fact, let’s put your coat and briefcase in the storage room.”

  “Um…that’s okay…I’ll just hang on to them.”

  “Are you sure? Come with me anyway—I have something to give you.”

  The box of candy. And she really didn’t want their coworkers to see him giving her candy. Carol followed him slowly down the hall, dismayed that her body was already loosening for him, warming, softening. Desire struck her low and hard.

  He unlocked the door of the storage room, held it open for her, then allowed it to close behind them.

  “You’ve piqued my curiosity,” she offered.

  “It’s not much,” he said, reaching high on a shelf to remove a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

  She realized if she didn’t act hurt over the whole snowflake/cold as ice/Ice Princess connotation of the blue snowflake box, then he wouldn’t feel compelled to tell her that wasn’t how he thought of her, which would lead to her saying he probably bought candy for other coworkers, which would lead to him saying no, only for her, which would lead to the kiss that had been her undoing.

  When he turned back to her, he looked sheepish. “It’s silly, I guess. I saw this and it reminded me of you.”

  She opened her mouth to saw how much she liked the blue snowflake box, but stopped when she saw instead a pink satin box that read “Kiss Me.”

  “Kiss me?” she squeaked.

  He scratched his head. “To be honest, I’m not quite sure why I bought that one. It just seemed…right.”

  When his mouth lowered toward hers, she knew she should stop him. Instead, she met his warm lips, rejoicing in the familiar feel of his kiss…the connection…the shock waves. It had been so long since she’d felt these sensations…an entire twenty-four hours ago, at this same point in time. Her mind and body reeled from the raw power in Luke’s probing kiss.

  He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “Why do I have the feeling we’ve done this before?”

  “Kismet,” she whispered, then curled her hand around his neck and pulled his lips down on hers, hard.

  Luke moaned into her mouth and the vibration echoed through her body. He pulled her against him and their hands became frenzied, roaming over each other’s bodies. He smoothed his palms down her back, over her buttocks, and pulled her sex against the hardened ridge of his erection. The physical proof of what they were about to do…again…made Carol dizzy with lust.

  He stopped, his gaze bouncing around the room, looking for a suitable surface.

  Carol pointed to the nearby table. “Take me there.”

  He picked her up by the waist and set her on the table, then slid up her skirt so she could spread her knees.

  “Wait,” she said, then nodded to the door. “Can you wedge a chair under the doorknob?”

  He did, then came back to stand bet
ween her thighs.

  Carol’s pumps fell off with succeeding thuds. She leaned back on her hands to brace herself, then squeezed his hips with her knees. Her breasts, her sex, her entire body throbbed with anticipation, especially since now she knew what to expect.

  “Oh, no,” he murmured suddenly, then put a hand to his head. “I don’t have a condom. I’m sorry.”

  Her shoulders fell—damn, she’d forgotten that part.

  She pulled his mouth back to hers. “Then we’ll have to be creative.” There were still lots of things from the pages of the erotic novels she’d read for the Red Tote Book Club that she wanted to try.

  Luke’s response was fierce, his tongue stabbing into her mouth, a silent promise to be creative for as long as necessary. He kissed his way down her neck, then plucked at the buttons on her white blouse until it lay open, exposing her lacy bra. Impatient to have his mouth on her, she unhooked the front closure.

  One breast fell into his hand, the other into his mouth. He licked her nipple, then pulled it into his mouth, leaving her shuddering with pleasure. But they were both too frantic to linger. Luke pushed her skirt to her waist, then rolled down her panty hose and underwear to expose her sex to him. When he knelt and flicked his tongue against her folds, Carol’s toes curled. She couldn’t think…couldn’t speak…could only feel the amazing wonderfulness of having his mouth against her most intimate places. It felt like the first time all over again. The sensations pummeling her were almost overwhelming, leaving her languid and elastic.

  He suckled the tiny sensitive nub that housed her orgasms, instantly coaxing one from its hiding place. But instead of roaming languorously as it made its way to the surface, this one zoomed for air. The speed and intensity took her and Luke both by surprise. Carol bucked against his mouth to ride out a deep, powerful climax.

  Carol bit down on her own hand to muffle the sounds of her release, although the throbbing bass of the party music all but guaranteed that no one could hear them. Luke nuzzled her sex until she quieted, but she was eager to pleasure him, too. She pulled him to his feet, then loosened his belt and unzipped his pants to free his imposing erection.