“Easy, fierce one, your fight is already won.” His voice rumbled in her ear, with a mixture of amusement and admiration.
Indeed, the mugger was already staggering from the scene. She turned to face her new-found ally and found that he was the beautiful man she had caught staring at her with open appreciation. It was pausing in the doorway, giving him a chance to approach her, which distracted her enough to walk into the mugger.
“Hell, maybe it was worth it.”’ she thought as she turned in the circle of his arms and saw him up close for the first time. He seemed reluctant to release her from his embrace, but she didn’t mind. He took a half step backward to look her over for injuries but left his hands burning at her waist while he did.
“Are you all right?” he asked, with an accent she hadn't heard before. His voice had a deep resonance and an almost musical quality that was pleasing to the ear. The vibration of his voice struck her like a tuning fork, vibrating through her body, which responded with an enthusiasm that left her stammering.
“I'm fine, really,” she said, somewhat breathlessly. She was more than willing to let him believe it was from the exertion of defending her belongings. “Thank you so much for your help, I thought for sure I was going to lose it there at the end.”
“You were admirably ferocious,” he said with a smile on his face and admiring gleam in his eye. “Most people would not have fought so well! Are you sure you are not hurt?”
“I seem to be all in one piece, though my hand is a little sore.”
He reached down to examine the reddened appendage, lifted it to his chest and manipulated each of her fingers. “It does not appear to be damaged.” He said as he lifted her hand and pressed her knuckles lightly to his lips.
A warm tingle suffused her at the contact. He did it so casually that it was impossible to be offended by the forward act. He stood looking at her and said in that warm voice of his, “I am Jay,” and then stood simply holding her hand to his chest, looking at her quizzically.
His eyes were so mesmerizing that for a moment she lost track of everything else. They were rich amber with flecks of gold, ringed by brown the color of melted milk chocolate. She had never seen anything like them. It finally dawned on her that he had spoken to her. “Oh, yes! I’m Kathryn,” she blurted out apologetically. “I really should get to work; I'm going to be late.” She was internally kicking herself for even suggesting there was any place in the world she would rather be. “Thank you so much for your help. This city is famous for people just watching things like that happen. Or recording them on their smart phones,” she added wryly.
“I am sure you do not require defending very often, but how could anybody stand by and watch such a beautiful woman in such a situation without wanting to play the hero?” he said seriously.
She blushed prettily at his compliment. It was not unusual for her to draw male attention, even cat calls from a distance, but seldom did men approach her at close quarters. Most were just too intimidated or had to augment their courage with alcohol, and she wasn't interested in drunks or men who weren’t confident enough to go after what they wanted. As she struggled to find something coherent to say, he seemed to come to some decision.
"Miss Kathryn, it would be my pleasure and honor if you would join me for dinner this evening.”
How could she possibly turn him down, especially after he had come to her aid? “I would love to,” she said, “but please, allow me to take you to dinner as a thank you for your help.”
He beamed a huge smile at her, and replied, “I would be happy to.”
They exchanged information and promised to finalize the details for the evening later in the day.
“I really do have to run now though,” She said regretfully, “but I look forward to seeing you again.”
Jay once again lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed the back of her hand both more formally, and more firmly, leaving the impression of soft, full lips that warmed her and created an aching, liquid desire in her loins. She had to resist the urge to clamp her thighs together and squirm to quell the throbbing his attentions were causing in her pelvis.
“Until tonight then,” he crooned. He watched her turn and disappear into the mass of pedestrians, craning his neck to watch as long as possible. She tuned, just before she was lost in the crowd, to see him standing in the same spot watching her walk away. Again with that awed expression on his face. She smiled, inside and out, and with a buoyant feeling carrying her forward, she gave a small wave and continued on her way.
Chapter Four
“Good lord!” Jay exclaimed to himself, turning to re-enter the coffee shop. He was surprised at himself. He was a true lover of women, but none that he could remember could hold a candle to this one. It was as if she was created just to tempt him. He tried to remind himself that he was here on business, and that he couldn't afford the distraction from his duty to his family. He purchased his bagel and coffee mechanically; just enough of his brain was functioning to count out the money for his transaction. He couldn't stop thinking about Kathryn with an anticipation that was making his cock ache; a mental picture of her stretched out, with her hands grasping a headboard, large breasts thrust upward and exposed to his view, squirming as he dipped between her generous thighs and pleasured her with his mouth…
“Holy shit! Get hold of yourself man, you cannot walk around the streets of New York with a hard on threatening to tear its way out of your pants!” He did his best to keep such carnal thoughts out of his mind as he continued to his destination.
He found the address he was looking for, entered the building, and looked for a wall directory. He found the office he was looking for: Ross, Ross, & Sharpe, and entered an elevator to make his way to the twelfth floor.
Upon exiting the elevator, Jay found a receptionist sitting primly behind her desk; he approached her and told her he had an appointment with Ms. Sharpe.
“Certainly, Mr…” She said as she uncrossed and re-crossed her legs, leaning forward toward her appointment book and looking up at him expectantly.
“Contee,” he supplied.
“Mr. Contee, Ms. Sharpe is expecting you,” The pretty brunette chirped. “Her office is the third door on the left. I’ll let her know you’re on your way in.”
“Thank you, Miss…” He paused for her to give her name.
“Leanne, please,” she said.
“Thank you Leanne,” he said with an earnest smile, and turned to find the door he was looking for. He didn't notice Leanne fanning herself with a sheaf of papers and staring after him. She reached forward to hit the intercom button that would allow her to warn Ms. Sharpe that her client was on his way in, but there was no answering ping when she pressed the button. “The intercom system must be malfunctioning again,” she thought, and began to dial the number to a repair man that they had used in the past.
Jay found the door he was looking for and, expecting to walk into a foyer, he simply turned the knob and walked right in to what was evidently Ms. Sharpe’s office. What was even more surprising was the scene that unfolded before him.
He was astounded and confused to discover Kathryn, the woman he already thought of as his fierce goddess from the bagel shop, but she wasn't alone. A fairly large man, probably in his early thirties and sporting a slight paunch, had her backed into a credenza that struck Kathryn just above mid-thigh. The man had his hands low on her waist, and appeared to be leaning in for a kiss. Jay thought he had interrupted a private moment until he realized that Kathryn had both hands planted firmly on the man’s chest and she was leaning backwards over the credenza to avoid contact with the man as much as possible.
“Todd, STOP!” Anger surged forth in Jay's chest as it became obvious that Kathryn was fending off an unwanted advance which spurred his protective nature into full gallop. Before either one of them had enough time to do anything but widen their eyes, an animal growl erupted from his chest, and he charged the three or four steps required to reach the desk separating
him from the pair. He reached across and gripped the offending male by the scruff of the neck, jerking him backwards until he was laying on his back looking up at Jay, who towered over him. The look on his face and the ease with which Jay had lifted the 250 pound male off his feet made it clear that Todd was in a fight he couldn’t win. So he did what cowards always do when not pawing at unwilling women, he put his hands up to block his face and cringed. Jay lifted his hand in a claw to strike the man, which in this position was likely to break his neck, only to have Kathryn leap forward and lock both of her hands around his wrist, preventing him from completing the blow.
“Stop it! Just STOP!” she commanded, causing Jay to freeze in place, hand still raised to strike.
Jay focused on her face, quickly checking her over visually for any sign of injury. When he saw none, he relented and lowered his hand, though he maintained his grip on Todd’s coat collar.
“Are you all right?” Jay asked, “I saw this man accosting you…”
“Yes, I'm fine,” she said, "You can let go of him now."
Jay reluctantly let go of Todd’s coat collar, but not before shaking him like a wet rag as a warning not to do anything stupid. As the man stood, stammering apologies, Kathryn shut him up, saying “That was the last time you pull your shit, Todd! I'm reporting this to the partners, and you’ll be lucky if I don't sue you for sexual harassment.”
Todd tried to summon up some dignity to cover his retreat but failed miserably. He quickly exited the door, slamming it behind him. Jay and Kathryn stood staring at the door as if expecting Todd to storm back in. After a few seconds it was obvious he wasn't coming back.
Almost simultaneously, they turned to look at each other. Both of them paused, unsure of what to say for a moment. Kathryn asked the first question,
“What are you doing here?” It was great to have her own personal guardian angel, but if he was stalking her, that was just creepy, no matter how gorgeous he was.
“I have an appointment with Ms. Sharpe” he said, “I did not expect to find you here.”
“I’m Kathryn Sharpe” she said with a smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you my last name earlier. You must be Mr. Jelani Contee? But you introduced yourself as ‘Jay’,” she accused.
“That is what my friends call me, and I was hoping to be very good friends” he said with a warm, only slightly suggestive smile.
There it was again, that warm rush that passed through her as she imagined what it might be like to kiss him. “We’ll have to see, won't we, though you’re well on your way already, coming to my rescue twice in less than two hours?”
“Are you so often in need of rescue?” He asked with a raised brow.
“Not normally, no... You just happened to catch me on a good day.”
Jay noticed that her smile, though still radiant, had a slightly tremulous quality to it, showing the strain of the adrenaline that was still pumping through her system. “Please sit,” he said, as he ushered her toward her chair, “is there anything I can get you?”
He took her hand and guided her to her seat, and again he stood waiting for her response while not relinquishing his comfortable hold on her hand. Her hand felt good in his, it was warm and gave her something to focus on as the worst of the adrenaline surge passed. His hands were large, much larger than hers. She was not a small woman, so it was rare that a man could make her feel delicate, like he could wrap her in his arms and protect her. She had the crazy thought that he could scoop her up and hold her to his chest like a child. It was something the feminist movement would deny, but most women liked the feeling that a strong man could sweep them off their feet. It didn't mean she needed him to, she was a modern woman, and had been taking care of herself without the assistance of a man for quite some time, but she couldn't deny the appeal of feeling petite compared to him.
“Have you had anything to eat yet this morning? You look a little pale, and I saw your breakfast on the sidewalk outside the coffee shop.”
“Now that you mention it, no, I haven't, and I am feeling a little out of sorts. Would you mind conducting our meeting over a late breakfast?” she asked.
“Not at all, after our chance meeting this morning, I only had time to grab a bagel and coffee. I feel like I could eat a zebra!”
That struck her as an odd saying. “Wasn't it supposed to be “horse”? Maybe it was an African thing.” she thought with a silent chuckle.
“There is a great diner a couple of blocks away, if that's ok?”
Jay nodded his assent.
“Perfect, just give me a few moments to straighten myself up a bit, and notify my secretary. I'll be right back.”
Kathryn exited the office and went straight to the receptionist. Leanne's eyebrows rose when she saw her disheveled look. “What on earth happened to you?” She asked. “You didn't claim Mr. Contee as yours ALREADY, did you?” she said with a devious glint in her eye.
“Remember the hunk I told you about who helped me out this morning?”
Leanne nodded an affirmative.
“Well, that's him.”
“Oh, you lucky bitch,” Leanne whispered loudly, “can I have him when you're done with him?”
Kathryn laughed and shook her head. “Listen, I need you to schedule an appointment with the partners as soon as possible. Todd finally went too far. Mr. Dreamy in there walked in on it, and almost decapitated him.”
"I saw him run out of there like his ass was on fire.”
“I'm sure he's running to try and get some plausible explanation in front of Roy and Gus, before I make my complaint. There's no way he's getting out of this one though. Let me know when they can see me. I'll have my cell with me; I'm taking Mr. Contee to breakfast.”
“Will do, boss.”
With that, she turned and made her way to the ladies room, straightened her clothing, and refreshed her makeup. She paused in front of the mirror, considering. She decided that losing the top button of her blouse didn’t make her look slutty, but it showed a tantalizing inch or two of skin that she hoped Jay would find appealing enough to want a closer look. She couldn't believe she had just met this man and she was already, not just considering sleeping with him, but actively planning his seduction. She wasn't normally so forward, nor would she be considered promiscuous by most standards, but it had been a while since she'd gotten laid, and she saw no harm in indulging herself.
Chapter Five
On the way to the diner they made small talk, mostly about inconsequential things. They weren’t really having difficulty making conversation, but came to some unspoken agreement to keep things light after the drama of the morning’s incidents. Eventually, Jay’s curiosity got the better of him though. He asked Kathryn, “So, what is going to happen now, with Mister Grabby?”
“Well, if I know him, he’s on his way to our main office to talk to the senior partners. He’ll most likely fabricate some story about how I came on to him, in an attempt to keep his position with the firm.”
“Aren’t you worried that they will believe him?”
“Why would they? It’s pretty well known that he has problems with women in authority, and this won’t have been his first offense, I’m sure. And I have your eye-witness statement, if you’re willing to give it.”
“Of course I do not mind. Any filth that feels the need to force himself on a woman deserves to face the consequences of his actions.”
Jay’s obviously protective statement warmed her heart, and added to the already glowing coal burning deep in her belly. “Could this guy be any more perfect?” she asked herself. He was tall, strong, handsome, sexy as hell, and obviously wealthy. All in all, he was one hell of a catch, so much so that a sudden worry crossed her mind. Many wealthy men who traveled for business were less than scrupulous when it came to portraying themselves as single men, and he was of an age that marriage, or at least a long-term relationship, was likely. She surreptitiously checked his hand for any sign of a wedding ring, looking for the tell-tale impressio
n of a removed wedding band, and found none. “Maybe in Africa, they don’t wear them.” she thought. She decided that she wanted to know for sure, so she asked. “Are you married Mr. Contee?”
Jay was surprised by the question. His species rarely ever married. For one reason, they lived much longer than the average human, and for another, they were unable to sire children with anybody but their one ordained life mate and those were exceedingly rare. His father had found his mother, but in their generation, they were one of the few mated couples of the family. His uncle was almost 120 years old and had still not found his mate. Nor was he likely to, at his advanced age, yet another reason that the pride was not more prolific. According to his mother, there were signs that you had found THE ONE, that were impossible to misinterpret or ignore. Of course, none of this meant that he couldn’t enjoy the company of beautiful women, so he was content for now.
He answered her honestly, pleased with the sign of her interest, “No, I am not married,” he said, “and before you ask, I have no woman either.”
She smiled up at him with inner relief. As much as she wanted this man, she wouldn’t stoop to taking him from someone else. “Good” she said, confident that he was telling her the truth. There didn’t seem to be any dishonesty in the man, and she considered herself an excellent judge of character.
They made their way to the counter of the small diner and took seats next to each other. They laughed and joked through breakfast, lingering over their meals in order to enjoy one another’s company for as long as possible. They were shoulder to shoulder throughout the meal, both enjoying the physical contact, but not wanting to be too obvious about it. Eventually, they were pressed together from knee to shoulder, leaning on each other comfortably. The sexual tension was unmistakable, and extremely strong. Kathryn looked at her watch and was shocked to see that over two hours had passed since they sat down. Not once had there been any awkward conversation or lengthy pauses. He made it very easy to hold a conversation, asking plenty of questions, and actually seeming interested in what she had to say. It was a nice change from the men who constantly talked to her chest; not that he hadn’t looked. She had seen him drinking in the sight of her on more than one occasion, but not in an offensive way. She actually enjoyed him looking, it made her feel sexy and desired. She had spent her fair share of time perusing his fine form as well.
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 90
