“What about the poetry?”
Darci’s expression flinched ever so slightly, and Shane found himself tensing.
“That he recited in bed,” Berkley prompted.
“To each his own,” she said smoothly. “Personally, I’m fond of champagne, candlelight and long walks on the beach.”
Berkley looked into the camera. “Take note of that, Chicago bachelors.”
The music came up, and the camera panned away. Shane rocked back in his chair.
“I’m forwarding a link to Beaumont,” said Justin, punching buttons on his phone.
“Why would she do it?” asked Shane, more to himself than to Justin.
“Because it wasn’t fair.” Darci’s voice came from behind them.
Shane turned to find her standing at the edge of the alcove. He instantly rocked to his feet. She still wore the tailored dress, along with the sexiest black pumps he’d ever seen. Her hair was swooped up, her makeup perfect, and her face was framed with dangling crystal earrings and a matching necklace.
“Why did you do it?” he repeated.
“What she did to you wasn’t fair.”
“Lots of things aren’t fair.”
He struggled to see her angle. Did she think he could help her? Did she think he wasn’t already helping her? Did she assume he was holding back and this would tip the balance in her favor?
Darci took a couple of steps forward. “I couldn’t let eight hundred people lose their jobs.”
“It wasn’t your problem.”
She shrugged her slender shoulders. “I don’t know how—”
“Why are you grilling her?” Justin demanded. “She just saved us.”
“It doesn’t feel right,” said Shane, approaching her at an angle, still working it through in his mind.
“What? You’ve got spidey senses now?” asked Justin.
“What would feel right?” Darci asked, stopping in front of him.
“The truth.”
“Maybe I’m just an ethical person.”
“Nah, that can’t be it.” But he couldn’t help smiling.
“It’s the best explanation you’re going to get.”
He found himself desperately wanting to believe her.
Justin brushed past them. “I’ll try to set up a conference call with Beaumont. You okay to get up on European time tomorrow?” he called back to Shane.
“Whatever you need.”
“I’ll phone you later.”
Shane was vaguely aware of Justin disappearing around the corner, but his gaze was tunneling to Darci.
“I owe you,” he told her.
She gave a sad smile. “There’s only one thing I want from you.”
He knew that. “I wish there were two.” The words were out before he had a chance to censor them.
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, but he moved forward, deciding to step right into the risk.
“Is there nothing else you want from me?” he asked in a low tone. “Nothing at all?”
“Shane.”
“Tell me no.” Then he was terrified she would. “Or tell me how bad it would be. On a scale of one to ten, how bad would it be for us to give in and make love again?”
She opened her eyes, those beautiful, crystal-green eyes that seemed to reach right down into his soul. In a blinding flash, he realized how desperately he’d missed her.
“Eight,” she whispered.
Eight. That was a very high number. But he wasn’t willing to give up. “Scale of one to ten, how bad do you want to do it anyway?”
She hesitated. “Ten.”
“Eleven.”
Humor warmed the color of her irises. “You just had to beat me there, didn’t you?”
He reached out, gently taking her hand, twining his fingers around hers. “I’m definitely ahead of you on that score. Because if you wanted me as badly as I want you, we’d already be in my bed.”
Her chest rose with an indrawn breath. “I’ve never seen your bed.”
“It’s a great bed. I bought the best.”
“I bought a mismatched floor demo from Frugal One Warehouse.”
“You should probably try mine.”
“I might get spoiled.”
“We can only hope.” He took another half step, and his thighs brushed hers.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “This is a really bad idea.”
“This is a ridiculous idea.” He cradled her face with his palms. “But for some reason I’ve stopped caring.”
He leaned in slowly, forcing himself to take his time, giving her plenty of opportunity to bolt.
She didn’t, and he kissed her.
He deepened the kiss, and as his hand sank into her hair, he reveled in its soft texture and the subtle scent of wildflowers.
She drew him closer. It felt so natural to be holding her. She belonged here in his embrace.
A voice sounded in the far reaches of the mansion, and he was reminded they weren’t completely alone.
“Come on,” he whispered against her lips, using his hand on the small of her back to urge her toward the staircase.
Wordlessly, she went with him, crossing the great room, then mounting the curved oak stairs.
Halfway up, she put a palm on the rail, slipping it along the polished surface. “We’re really doing this.”
He bent his head down to brush a kiss on her temple. “Yes. We are. It’s right.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“I know.”
“I’m still out to get you.”
“I know. But I also know you’re scrupulously fair.”
“Are you?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“So when we find the proof?”
“Darci?”
“Yes?”
They continued up the stairs until they reached a a landing. He gestured to an open pair of double doors. “This is my bedroom.”
“Oh.”
He placed his hands on her waist and guided her in. “Everything else can wait.”
“Oh, Shane,” she sighed. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“Life doesn’t usually make sense.”
On impulse, he lifted her into his arms, and she gasped in surprise before relaxing against his chest.
He kissed her mouth as he strode across the deep carpet. There was no need for a light. Twilight shone dimly through the paned windows, and he knew every inch of the room.
He set her down slowly, marveling that she was in his bedroom. He cradled her face, and she smiled up at him. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly parted.
“You are astonishingly beautiful,” he said.
She reached up to cover his hands “You are amazing. How do you do that?”
A fan whirled lazily above his authentic four-poster bed, which was piled with a steel-gray quilt and matching black throw pillows.
He kissed her with all the passion he was feeling, then he circled his arms around her, lifting her from the floor. He wanted their kisses to go on and on.
He’d lain awake in this room countless times, wishing her here, willing her here. And now, she was. And she was his once again.
Her hands went to the buttons on his shirt, working her way down, her fingertips leaving a trail of heat on his skin. Her hands were so small, caresses so delicate. He reveled in her touch, closing his eyes to focus on the pads of her fingers, the graze of her nails.
Growing impatient, he found the zipper at the back of her dress, drawing it down, savoring the satin of her bare skin. He encountered the strap of her bra. He couldn’t wait to see it, to remove it, to strip off the rest of her underwear and see her totally naked, feel her
naked. His muscles hardened to iron in anticipation.
She tugged his shirt from the waistband of his pants, pushing it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Then she feathered her hands along his bare chest. Her expression was playful as she raised her arms. He tugged the dress up over her head, leaving it to one side.
He drew back, taking in her tanned shoulders, a lacy white bra, high-cut satin panties, and those delectable high heels.
“I can’t believe you’re finally here.”
“Am I late?” she teased.
“Yes. Yes you are.” It was the truth. “I’ve been waiting my entire life.”
Her expression sobered. “Oh, Shane.”
He slipped the strap of her bra down her arm.
“Darci.” He kissed her bare shoulder.
He released the catch and left the bra with her dress. His hand enclosed one rounded breast, and he felt the tight nipple bead beneath his palm.
She groaned and leaned in. She kissed him hard, her tongue tangling with his, while her hands fumbled with the button on his pants.
Keen to help her, he kicked off his shoes, stepped out of his pants, and in seconds, they were naked, falling to the bed, his bed, fulfilling his wildest fantasies. But this was better than any of his fantasies. She was truly here.
He positioned himself on top, drinking in her beautiful face as he settled between her legs. Their lips met and he felt at once as if he’d found his home. Yet his heart was soaring, a sensation he’d never felt with any other woman.
Soon, kisses were not enough, and his hands roamed her body, reacquainting him with all of her secrets. She moaned at his touch, even as her hands began an exploration of their own. In minutes, need was throbbing through him.
He found a condom and then he reached beneath her, canting her hips upward.
“Yes,” she whispered.
She grasped his shoulders tightly, her legs instantly wrapped around his waist. Her heat cradled his length, and the world seemed to achieve perfect harmony.
“I’ve missed you,” he rasped. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’m addicted,” she said, before kissing him deeply.
His passion rose so quickly, it was almost frightening. He had to slow things down. He had to make this last.
He rolled to his back. But that was worse.
He sat up, her astride him. His gaze caught hers, her moss green eyes bright with need.
The world stopped, his motion, his breathing, his very heartbeat.
“Shane?” she asked in confusion.
He couldn’t let her go. No matter what happened, he could never let her go. She belonged with him and nowhere else.
“You okay?” she asked.
“I’m perfect.”
He moved again, and her eyes fluttered closed.
“That is so...”
She didn’t need to finish the sentence. He cupped her breast again.
“Oh, yes,” she said, matching his rhythm. Stronger and stronger she pressed. “Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.”
“I’m never stopping. Not ever, ever, ever.”
She hugged him tight, as if she were holding on for all she was worth.
It felt good.
Everything felt good.
He knew he was losing the battle for control. And then she cried out, and he let go, and release cascaded through him.
Their hearts were thudding, their lungs dragging in oxygen. The room came back into focus around him, while her supple body turned limp in his arms.
“You okay?” he asked.
She gave a slow nod against his shoulder.
“You’re incredible.” He gathered her close.
Her voice was breathy. “That really was an eight.”
He wasn’t sure how to take that. “Only an eight?”
She must have heard the worry in his voice because she chuckled, her body vibrating against his. “The idea was an eight, an eight on the scale of smart to stupid.”
“So, not the sex,” he confirmed.
She lifted her head to look at him. “The sex was an eleven, Shane.”
“Twelve.”
She rolled her eyes. “You just had to beat me.”
He pushed back a wisp of her hair. “You beat me.” He kissed her. “You blew me away. I don’t even know what to do about this.”
* * *
Darci awoke in Shane’s bed, her back curled against him, his arm draped across her stomach. His breathing was deep and easy. From the light beyond the windows, she guessed it was about six.
She hadn’t paid much attention last night, but the bedroom was enormous. The king-size bed was directly across from a white stone fireplace. The details and furnishings were ornate, the style masculine. At one end of the rectangular room, a bank of bay windows and a set of French doors overlooked the grounds. The doors opened onto a small balcony.
Shane’s arm tightened around her, and he kissed her shoulder.
“Morning,” he said in a sleepy voice.
“Morning.” She shifted around to face him and met his gaze. “Nice bed you’ve got here.”
“Are you spoiled yet?”
“I am.”
“Good. Stay.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Sure. Why not?” She waited a beat. “Wait a minute. There’s a long list of reasons why not.”
“I’m going to help you,” he said.
“Write the list?”
“Look for the drawings.”
“I thought you were already—” She sat up, twisting to face him. “Have you been holding out on me? Do you know something—?”
“I haven’t been holding out on you.” He sat up beside her. “Calm down, Darci. I still think you’re wrong.”
She frowned.
“But I’ll leave no stone unturned. I’ll show you anything you want to see, take you anywhere you want to go. And when we don’t find your proof, you’ll have to believe me.”
“You look like you’re expecting me to say thank you.”
“I’m not. That’s not what this is about. This is about finding the truth.”
“I already know the truth.”
He looped his arm around her waist and pushed her back onto the bed, looming over her. “You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met.”
“And you are the most hardheaded man in the world.”
But she liked being in his arms. She felt good in his arms. And when he leaned in to kiss her, she kissed him back. It took only seconds for the kiss to grow passionate.
Unexpectedly, he stopped. “We have work to do.”
“Huh?”
“I have to call Justin about the French, and you have more file boxes to search.”
“Oh, yeah. I know that. I just thought...”
A self-satisfied smile grew on his face. “We’ll get to that, too. Later.”
“Later?”
“I assumed you’d want to sleep in this decadent bed again tonight.”
It felt as if she ought to object to his assumption. Then again, only seconds ago, she’d leapt to her own conclusion that they would make love again. It was hard to know which of them was more presumptuous. It was likely a wash.
“Sure,” she agreed. “I probably won’t be through searching.”
“I hope I don’t have to go to France.”
“You think you might?” She’d be disappointed, but she’d learned a lot about Colborn Aerospace over the past few days, and she understood how important the contract was to the company.
“Let’s find out.” He sat up and reached for his phone, tapped the screen and put it to his ear.
“You should come with me,” he said as the call ran
g through.
It was tempting. “I’m not going to France.”
“Why not?”
“I have work to do.”
“It’s not like you have a job. I was there when you got fired, remember?”
She hit him with his pillow. “I quit.”
“You lied to the boss.”
“The boss is a fraud.”
Shane spoke into the phone. “Hey, Justin.”
He paused, his gaze sliding to Darci. “I am cheerful.”
She felt her cheeks heat. It wasn’t going to take much for Justin to put two and two together.
“They did?” Shane’s voice was serious again.
Darci held her breath. No matter what happened between her and Shane, she didn’t want to see any jobs lost. She’d met quite a few Colborn employees while she was there. They were great people, and they didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle.
“That’s a surprise,” said Shane. He reached out and squeezed Darci’s hand.
“Later,” he said to Justin, signing off.
“They didn’t cancel?” Darci guessed.
Shane shook his head. “They’re signing.”
Her chest tightened. “For sure?”
“For sure.”
“But you’re still retooling for the private-jet market? Because diversification is never a bad idea.”
“You do know you’re off the payroll, right?”
She gave a self-conscious smile. “I still have ears.”
“You’re also naked. I’m getting business advice from a naked goddess.”
“You’re not a sexist, are you?”
“Not at all. I’m just wondering where my life went wrong that this conversation we’re having in my bed. Am I getting old and staid?”
“You want to go back to eighteenth-century poetry?”
His expression faltered, and for a second, she thought she’d gone too far.
“You’re definitely not Bianca,” he said softly.
“I’m assuming that’s a good thing.”
He set the phone aside and slipped his arm beneath her waist again, leaning her back, a calculating expression on his face. “Everything about you is good, Darci Rivers.”
“I thought we were getting back to work?”
“Later.” He kissed her long and hard. “Much later.”
Sex, Lies and the CEO Page 16
