“Don’t look at me.” Harriet’s knitting needles flashed silver in the stream of sunlight coming through the bank of windows. “I’m too old to test condoms.”
“Ask Richard. He might want to test some with the mystery woman,” Joseph said.
“Leave me out of this,” Richard snapped.
“The way I look at it,” Katarina’s voice was firm, “there’s only one sensible solution. We need to keep this in-house. James and Alice can test the condoms for us.”
Chapter Six
A rusty bark of laughter escaped from Ben. “Better shut that mouth, girl. A fly will happen by and will think it’s an invitation to come inside.”
Heeding the warning, Alice snapped her mouth shut, her teeth meeting with an audible clack. They didn’t really expect… She scanned their lined faces. The expressions ranged from grim to determined. They did. They expected her to agree to help test the condom Good Vibration. With an inward eye roll, she glanced at James and found him observing her closely. His expression told her nothing. She didn’t know him well enough to tell if he favored the idea or not.
“Alice, we wouldn’t suggest the idea but it’s obvious there’s chemistry between you and James,” Katarina said.
Joseph nodded emphatically. “You didn’t get those swollen lips from sucking lemons.”
“I hear the two of you left The Thirsty Cricket together last night,” Ben said.
Alice’s cheeks burned. Was nothing sacred at Fancy Free? “I don’t think—”
“It’s a good idea.” Rodney interrupted before she could voice her objections.
Harriet paused in her knitting to nail her with an intense stare. “The thing is, we will lose our shirts if we don’t take drastic action. Alicia drove this company and it seems to me we’re drifting a little at the moment without her.” She paused to wrinkle her nose. “Like a rudderless ship. We need you. No offence meant, James. We need you too.”
“Stop the pressure, guys.” James’ eyes rested on her for an instant. “Alice and I will discuss it later. Meantime, are you all in agreement about the development of a new condom model?”
“Take a vote,” Rita suggested. “All in favor raise your hands.”
Alice chewed on her lip and watched the hands go up one by one. Officially, she was still almost engaged to Steven. He’d made his views fairly clear about condoms and hadn’t returned her calls. Perhaps she should attempt to ring Steven again and ascertain where their relationship stood. And she’d better arrange for extended leave from her job. She’d sort of put that off because it felt as though she were closing the door on the security she knew in exchange for something else entirely. Yes, there might be money in the future, but there were so many risks along the way.
Scary risks.
“Alice, are you voting?” James cocked his head, his bright blue eyes full of questions and something else more difficult to discern. Alice had difficulty breathing while she stared back. “If we go ahead, we’ll stretch our financial resources close to the wire, but I believe we can get through this rough patch.”
Risk. Huh! The idea of losing her inheritance, after walking away from her accountancy job, made her stomach roil. But what were the options? Now that she’d told the lawyer she agreed to the terms of the will, she had to give one hundred percent of her support. Alice was fresh out of options. Time to join the tea party or leave the rabbit hole.
Slowly, she raised her arm.
“That’s all of us. Okay. We proceed.” James stood. “Rita and I will start with the budgets and the bank. I suggest we meet tomorrow morning at nine. I should be able to update you then.”
Rita and the board members dispersed to take care of their daily activities leaving Alice alone with Rodney and James.
“I have several of the prototypes ready to test,” Rodney said. “Should I go and get them?”
“Please.” James smiled.
Rodney scurried from the room.
The oxygen seemed to leach from the room with him. Alice swallowed, aware of her body’s heightened reaction to this man. She gasped to fill her lungs with air. A bad boy, her mother would have said. She agreed. This man was a bad boy and she should keep her hands off. Except after one taste she didn’t want to stay away. Every instinct inside demanded she move closer and take everything he had to offer. So, he’d leave eventually. But at least she’d have memories to drag out when she moved into her own home. She’d learn about sex and passion and how to run the company.
“You don’t have to do this. It’s a stupid idea. I don’t mind doing the tests—it’s a good plan since it cuts down on the possibility of information leaks. But you don’t have to.”
No. Her reaction came instantaneously. Pain layered with a good slice of jealousy pierced straight through her heart. The idea of James testing the condoms with another woman…
No! If anyone tested condoms with James, it would be her.
“I’m up for this crazy scheme.” Her voice sounded husky.
“Well, let’s hope I am.” James gave one of his sexy, bad-boy grins. “We’ll be in all sorts of trouble if I can’t get it up.”
Alice imagined him up. After this morning, it wasn’t difficult. Long. Thick. Blunt-tipped with a reddish crown on full arousal. Her body tingled and she wished she were brazen enough to undo the row of brass buttons on the denim blue shirt he wore and slide her fingers beneath to touch warm flesh. Even better, she’d like to strip all the clothes from his body and explore him with great attention to detail. She’d search out the tender places—his flat masculine nipples, the soft skin just below his ear, his belly. Oh yeah. Alice fought a smile. She’d work out what made this bad boy tick.
“Earth to Alice!” His hands curled around her shoulders and he shook her lightly. “Are you sure you’re okay with this damn-fool idea?”
An imp of humor broke free. She leaned closer until a whisper remained between their lips and the tips of their noses touched. His blue eyes widened, the irises deepening in color until they reminded her of mysterious rock pools she’d played in at the beach as a kid. “Tick-tock,” she said seconds before she leaned right in and kissed him.
At first, he didn’t react. His lips remained slack beneath hers. She hesitated. Okay, so she was still an almost virgin, but she did know a thing or two about kisses. Time to put all that experience into practice. Alice opened her mouth a fraction and let her tongue dart out to moisten his lower lip. She nibbled delicately where she’d moistened before sucking. James tightened his grasp on her shoulders, a silent acquiescence for her to continue with her kisses. She gave his top lip the same attention, a nibble at the upper right corner, a nip and the touch of her tongue to soothe the sting.
James growled under his breath, the sound vibrating right down to her breasts. Her nipples abraded against the plain, super-strength cotton bra she wore. Each breath felt like an exercise in torture. She wanted to rip off the hateful garment and rub against him like a cat, letting him torture her at will.
Alice pushed her tongue slowly into his mouth before retreating. Push and retreat. Her tongue slid across the smooth enamel of his teeth and cozied up with his tongue twining together briefly. She wound her hands around his neck and sank her fingernails into the delicate flesh there. Her breasts brushed his chest with each breath, each move. She needed…she wanted…
With trembling fingers, she slid several of his shirt buttons undone and slipped her hand inside. Her nails scraped across one of his nipples. The flat disc reacted to her touch and she teased it to prominence. James growled again, his hands traveling down her body. They came to rest on her butt when he gathered her closer.
Slowly Alice ended the kiss and the little imp inside came out again. “You have an erection. I didn’t think you’d have a problem.”
James chuckled, the sound rich and sexual. It seemed to pull at her breasts, making them harden while other parts of her softened. Suddenly she craved his touch on her naked skin. She lowered her hands to run them
across his chest, pressing her fingers into his smooth muscles.
“Touch my breasts. Please. I need…” Hard to sum up the strength of her needs in one or two concise words. Her nipples were hard. Tight. Achy. Alice yanked at the buttons on her shirt and wrenched them from the buttonholes, baring her plain white bra to his eyes. She tugged her bra cup aside. “Now. Touch me now,” she demanded. The sound of her voice gave her pause but she didn’t pull back or stop. Weird. The inheritance seemed to make her focus on sex, her needs and all she’d missed in the past. Alice thought about that and nodded inwardly. Sure, some people might think her a good girl but they’d be wrong. In truth, she’d lacked opportunity, too busy with study and then work to experiment. Time to experiment now since it dovetailed with her inheritance. She inhaled deeply, cocked her head and smiled shyly with encouragement.
“You’re a bossy little thing,” James murmured. Laughter underscored his words and echoed in his eyes. “God, you have the most beautiful breasts I’ve ever seen.” He brushed a delicate finger across the upper curve of her breast.
Alice shivered. His touch helped assuage the need coursing through her body but she wanted more. “Your mouth.”
“Your wish is my command.” James bent his head to nuzzle her breast. She cradled his head, savoring the moist magic his mouth worked as he kissed the pale globe. Her womb clenched, pulsed when his mouth moved nearer to her taut nipple. She trembled, her legs rubbery, as though they would no longer hold her weight. Alice clutched at his upper arms, holding her breath, anxious for the moment when his hot mouth would close over her flesh.
James paused, raised his head, and she wanted to commit murder.
“Don’t stop!” Her heart thudded in time with her pussy.
“I was about to say—”
“Don’t talk,” she said, forcibly returning his head to her breast. Thankfully, he took the hint because finally, finally his mouth connected with her nipple. Or at least his tongue did. It seemed the bad boy wasn’t very good at taking orders. He had to do things his way. His tongue circled her areola in slow, tantalizing movements. James used his fingers to massage while he teased and drove her to distraction with his tongue.
Alice decided to stop issuing orders. Her eyes drifted closed, the better to concentrate on the sensations that coursed the length of her body. Each rasp of his tongue sent a darting sword of pleasure to her pussy. Her feminine folds moistened, and she ached for fulfillment, something to fill the emptiness. She felt James shift a fraction and finally his hot mouth closed over her entire nipple. Alice shivered with delight. He drew lightly and a shooting star of sensation rippled through her. Her pussy clenched again.
“Harder,” she whispered.
Thankfully, he didn’t argue this time or try to torture her. He sucked on her breast and the pleasure finally spilled over to intense ripples in her womb.
“Here they are.” Rodney burst into the boardroom, laden down with a cardboard box and two clipboards. “Oh sorry. Were you warming up for the trials? Don’t let me stop you. Carry on as you will.” He glanced at Alice, clearly curious, but James moved quickly tugging her shirt over her naked breast and moved to stand in front of her.
“Tell us what we need to do and give me instructions of how the new condom should perform,” James said.
Mortified didn’t begin to cover her thoughts when she struggled to put herself to rights. In the middle of the boardroom. What was she thinking? One taste of an orgasm and suddenly her hormones acted as if they were on steroids, clamoring more, more, more. More!
She was vaguely aware of James and Rodney discussing the technical side of condom testing and knew she should listen but she suffered with her concentration. The second episode with James and still no penetration. Surely the third time would be the charm? Alice’s mouth firmed as she forced the final button on her white shirt through the buttonhole. It would have to be. After a deep breath, she peeked from behind James.
Rodney gaped, his hazel gaze going from her to James and back again before dropping to stare at her breasts. “Ah, I could come back later.” His eyes remained glued to her chest.
Alice looked down and gasped. She’d buttoned up her shirt all wrong! She slapped her hand over the gap that broadcast her abundant curves and glared at Rodney.
James wanted to laugh but didn’t think now was the time. Alice looked delightfully disheveled and male pride roared within. Damn, he liked this woman. Her bravery, her courage, her common sense and the curvy body beneath her one-size-fits-all suits combined into one sexy package. She presented a real change for him. Normally he went for the obvious when it came to women, mainly because they knew the score and didn’t push for more than he wanted to give. Looked as if Alice might be an exception.
“Thanks, Rodney. Is there anything in particular you want me to look for?”
“I’ve used a different type of latex, something I’ve experimented with recently. I want to make sure the condom fits properly and doesn’t come off with vigorous thrusts. Don’t want people to have accidents and sue us.”
“Shit!” James turned to Alice. “I don’t suppose you’re on the Pill?”
Her cheeks reddened as she shook her head.
“Make an appointment with the doctor today. No, wait. I’ll do it and come with you.” He wanted to make things easy for her. “We can discuss our plan of attack while we wait.”
“The Good Vibration comes in gold, silver and bronze. Each model differs in the amount of vibration and the features are slightly different. Gold is lubricated and strong. Silver is flavored. Bronze has surface adaptations designed to hit a lady’s sweet spot.” Rodney pumped his hips to emphasize, and James couldn’t help a grin at the expression of distaste on Alice’s face. It seemed prudish might be a new turn-on for him.
He hid a grimace. “Sounds good, Rodney.”
“If you can think of any new variations, we can add platinum or jewel categories as well.”
“That’s a good idea.” Accomplishment filled James. Great idea. “The boxes could match the model inside.”
“Early stages yet,” Rodney reminded them. “This model might not pass the tests.”
Alice frowned. “We don’t have any other options, I suppose? What about a special promotion? Maybe we can shift more units at a slighter lower price. Undercut the competition.”
James picked up the box of condoms. “Yeah, I’d already thought of that. Rita and I will work on costings when we go over the budgets this afternoon. Anything else, Rodney?”
“All right,” Rodney said. “Make sure you read my notes first. I’ve tried to think of everything. Ring me if you have problems with use. I can come over and help.”
James shook his head in a brisk manner. He had no intention of inviting Rodney to ogle Alice. Alice was private business, for his eyes only.
* * * * *
An hour later, James ushered Alice into the doctor’s room. It was full to capacity. Probably not surprising given that James had needed to twist the receptionist’s arm to squeeze in a visit. In the end, she’d granted an appointment after he’d lied and implied emergency. Every adult in the waiting room turned to watch when they entered. The visit to the doctor was meant to protect Alice from an unwanted pregnancy should the vibrating condom not meet expectations. Instead, it seemed as though he’d opened the door for gossip.
Too late now.
Suppressing a sigh at the predictability of Sloan’s residents, James headed for the reception desk. “Hi, Joanna. Alice and I are here for our appointment.”
“Sure. Take a seat. Shouldn’t take long since the doctor’s on time today.” She cast a curious glance at Alice before turning back to him. It wasn’t difficult to see that she wrote off Alice straight away, judged by appearances.
James smiled. He knew better.
“I don’t care what you say,” an elderly woman said to a younger one. “The Children of Nature cult is up to no good. I bet there’s drugs involved.” She nodded wisely. “Ther
e’s always drugs involved where there is a cult.”
“They’re good parents. They care for their kids,” the young woman replied. “They can’t be that bad.”
“They do have a lot of children,” the elderly woman agreed.
James scowled. They had kids all right. No way could anyone accuse them of using Fancy Free’s products.
“There are two free seats down the end.” Alice squeezed past a blue pram and a toddler scooting between chairs and legs. He followed and stepped carefully over the kid.
“James, what are you doing here?”
He hesitated briefly. His sister. Just great. He inclined his head while maintaining a blank face. “Melissa.”
Melissa’s gaze wandered briefly to Alice. She’d found her lacking. The narrowing of her eyes and the nose lift, a fraction higher in the air, gave it away. “You don’t look sick.”
James knew his sister. She’d push until he answered. “It’s a work matter.”
“I don’t know why you call what you do work. It’s peddling sex. You could do so much more with your life and work with the family law practice. But no. Instead you waste your chances and all your training.” Melissa’s perfect nose rose even higher in the air.
“I love you too, sis.” James shrugged. Old news. Nothing changed—not the words or the subject. He kept walking and threaded his way through the crowded room until he reached the spare chair next to Alice. He dropped into it, trying to ignore the shaft of pain. Why couldn’t his mother and sister just accept that he chose to walk a different path than the one they thought he should? That their way wasn’t the only one.
Alice cast a curious glance at Melissa but thankfully didn’t ask any questions. She leaned close. “How do we go about testing? What do we do first? Where will we do it?”
Good point. He could hardly spend another night at the bed and breakfast. They needed to find a place to do the tests without creation of gossip. Any more gossip. Difficult in a small town where everyone knew everyone else’s business. “I guess we’d better go to my place.” Not that he was sure about that either. He didn’t want Alice to get the wrong idea because he would leave soon. He’d promised Alicia he’d stay for six months. Although he loved his job at Fancy Free, he wouldn’t stay any longer. Besides, he didn’t really want to. It was difficult to ignore his mother and sister, pretend their attitudes didn’t hurt. A man could only take so much. Nothing to hold him here in Sloan.
Fancy Free Page 7
