Chapter Seven
Zoe wasted no time taking off her soaked clothing when she entered the room. It lay in a sodden puddle on the bathroom floor, and Zoe didn’t care about the state of her suit at the moment: she was freezing. She needed to grab the robe she remembered seeing casually flung on the bed as she had hurried through the bedroom a moment ago. Picking up the robe, she felt another presence in the room and looked up to see C J watching her.
“How’d you get in here?” she asked.
“It is my room,” C J responded, “and the concierge was kind enough to give me a second key card. Plus he’s sending up complimentary champagne and oysters. He said room service could be busy, meaning slow, and I get the feeling he wants us to keep quiet.”
Slipping the robe over her naked body instantly started to warm her, and then his scent hit her again. Damn it. C J’s cologne enveloped her.
“I think I’ll take a quick shower just to warm up,” Zoe said, turning to head back into the bathroom.
“In the meantime, I’ll just go sit in the living room and think about your offer in the bar of a continuing business friendship,” C J said with a straight face.
Not bothering to answer him, Zoe continued to the shower and turned it on to get the water steaming hot. C J was slipping his shoes off when he heard a knock at the door. Damn that was fast, he thought. When he opened the door, he was delighted to see champagne chilling and a dozen oysters sitting on a bed of ice. As soon as the waiter showed him the room service menu, C J ordered for both of them and then the man was out the door. C J downed two of the oysters and decided the champagne could wait, considering he had just had two drinks in the bar.
Not giving it a second thought, he stripped off his clothing while walking through the bedroom and entered the bathroom. Zoe stood in profile as she let the water run over her body. Despite his intentions, C J started to grow hard as Zoe turned to put her back to the shower and his view went from good to great. Her breasts were pink from the hot water and a steady stream cascaded between them to run straight between her legs. His intent had been to just get in the shower and hold her but at the moment he wasn’t sure he could manage it.
Zoe opened her eyes, spread her arms wide and opened the shower door saying, “Your room, your shower.”
C J entered the shower, put his arms around Zoe and enveloped her body with his. Even though Zoe had seen C J’s arousal she sensed that at this moment he just wanted to be close to her and nothing more. They stood like this for several minutes, and then Zoe turned off the water and faced C J. She still sensed that intimacy, and not sex, was his desire, so she placed her hands on his chest and rested her head on his shoulder, inviting him to put his arms around her again. C J crossed his arms around her back and placed a kiss on her forehead. When the warmth of the shower started to dissipate, C J opened the door and handed the robe to Zoe while he grabbed a towel to dry off with. Stepping out of the shower, Zoe marveled at his body as she looked for a second robe. Finding the robe, she handed it to him just as he stood up and flashed a grin at her.
“Thanks but I will be fine without it,” C J said.
“If we are planning to order room service and eat before they shut down for the night, you had better keep it on,” Zoe said seriously, then reached up and kissed him lightly.
C J told Zoe he had placed their order for dinner, and then turned to see Zoe had walked into the living room and was staring at the oysters. As he started to open the champagne she said, “Looks like you got a head start on the appetizer.”
“Considering your appetites, Ms. Alden, I felt it wise to get a head start,” C J said teasingly.
Zoe laughed, scooped up an oyster and said, “My appetites are starting to wake up, Mr. Fairchild, so I suggest we make quick work of these.”
C J poured two flutes of champagne, and Zoe took one from his outstretched hand. “Merci, monsieur and now for the oysters.”
Zoe and C J quickly finished the oysters. Making a game of the process, they tried the shellfish with or without the accompanying sauces on the side, just to prolong their enjoyment. The champagne bottle was emptied about the same time they heard a knock on the door. Motioning to Zoe to pull her robe more tightly closed, as it was gapping open, giving an ample view of her breasts, C J moved to open the door. The waiter, careful to avert his gaze from the room’s occupants, rolled in the cart of food, C J signed the bill, and then the cart with the empty champagne bottle and bed of ice was pulled out of the room efficiently.
Zoe immediately jumped to her feet and started to lift the stainless steel covers from the plates to see what C J had ordered. While she was checking out the selections, C J opened the wine and watched her reactions. The aromas alone were driving him crazy with hunger, as they wafted into the air every time Zoe lifted a new plate cover. When she came to the plate holding a huge piece of chocolate cake, she looked at him and her eyes lit up. They agreed that the best plan was to share the dishes, making the meal a grand buffet.
“Oh, I feel so much better,” Zoe said, placing her fork on the empty plate and then stretching arms raised over her head.
C J also felt much better, with the view presented to him as Zoe’s robe once again gapped open. He leaned forward to set his wine glass on the coffee table and looked around, a bit bemused. “What happened to the cake?”
Zoe stood and started to back innocently toward the bedroom. Then, just as she was disappearing into the room, the plate holding the chocolate cake appeared from behind her back.
“If this is the cake you mean, it’s being served in here,” she said with an accompanying inclination of her head.
“Oh really,” C J said as he got to his feet, “desserts in bed are my favorite way to end an evening.”
Zoe’s eyes were glued to C J as he rose and started walking toward her. From what she was seeing she was not sure if it was going to be cake first or not. Hurriedly setting the cake on the dresser, and then leaping for the bed, Zoe was hoping cake would be second. Just moments later C J entered the room, bypassing the dresser and cake, with his sights squarely set on Zoe atop the bed. He watched her move off the bed, slide suggestively out of her robe and then pull back the comforter and sheets before she lay down and motioned with her index finger for him to join her. C J stood for a moment, enjoying the view she presented before he approached the bed. As he paused next to the bed, dropping his robe beside Zoe’s, she rose to her knees and pulled him down to her. C J was kneeling on the bed with his feet precariously perched over the edge but he still managed to balance their combined weight and draw Zoe into a passionate kiss as his hands caressed her back and then slid down to grasp her buttocks. This move left their bodies meshed so closely together that she could feel the hardness of his penis and feel it pulsing against her belly.
C J lifted his head and was about to start caressing Zoe’s breasts when she sat back on her heels and scooted to the center of the bed. He moved to follow her and almost toppled forward, which made them both laugh.
“Sit down and let me come to you,” Zoe said.
C J sat down and spread his legs wide. As promised, Zoe came to him and knelt in front of him with her breasts near his face. C J lowered his mouth to her left nipple and started to tease it with his tongue while his right hand moved from her waist lower to stroke between her legs.
“Oh God,” Zoe said, moving his hand and easing her body onto his waiting penis. She wrapped her legs around his waist to increase body contact and sighed with pleasure.
“What now?” C J asked in a strained voice.
“Give me a second to enjoy this and I will come up with an answer,” Zoe responded, a bit breathless.
As promised, Zoe did have an answer, and it was all C J could do to let her move as she willed. His body begged for release and C J fought the urge to move Zoe onto her back and thrust his body into hers greedily. Zoe began gyrating, purposefully drawing out each stroke as her body slid on his penis. Looking at his face, Zoe knew C J wa
s enduring this heavenly torture for her and oh did it feel phenomenal. Sensing she was about to erupt with pleasure, Zoe leaned back and settled into the bed, inviting C J to move to the rhythm he sought. Zoe was expecting C J to hungrily enter her body but instead he moved slowly, prolonging each stroke of his penis. Arching her hips to meet his movements, she unknowingly dug her nails into his back as she reached her orgasm. C J leaned over Zoe, breathing hard, and then kissed her lightly before he moved to lie at her side.
Zoe rolled onto her side to look at C J and asked innocently, “Chocolate cake or more oysters?”
“Hard choice,” he said, “no pun intended. You don’t need any more oysters tonight, my dear, so we can have cake in a few.”
Zoe chuckled and nestled into C J’s side as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled the covers over them with his other hand. Neither one of them seemed to care that they still lay on the bed crosswise. Exhausted, emotionally and physically, they both fell silent.
C J left the room moments later and reappeared with a fork in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.
“Afraid there’s no milk in the mini fridge to go with the cake,” C J said.
Zoe sat up in the bed and pulled the covers around her body. “It’s chilly in this bed. How about you come back over here and share that cake.”
C J eased under the covers and leaned against the headboard. Zoe moved next to his body for warmth and then inclined her head to see where the cake had gone. C J picked up the plate and offered her a bite. Zoe chewed it and pronounced, “Not as good as Matt’s but not bad.”
The cake was gone quickly, and C J finished the bottle of water after offering some to Zoe. Moving to get comfortable, he then opened his arms and Zoe took the invitation to snuggle up against his body. Ah, she thought, I feel warm and loved. With that thought her eyes opened halfway, but she was too tired and comfortable to question her emotions now.
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C J had not felt this peaceful in who knows how long and that was in spite of the blow up that had occurred earlier this evening in Zoe’s office. He was amazed at how this woman captivated him and how much he wished to cherish and protect her. These emotions had never existed with any woman he had dated, and this was exciting and unsettling at the same time. C J heard his sister’s words again, “Be careful what you wish for.” He thought to himself, I can handle this and anything else. Moments later, he quit trying to think about it and let his eyes close, falling asleep almost instantly.
Chapter Eight
Sunlight streaming through the uncovered window shone brightly on Zoe’s face, waking her. She rolled over and closed her eyes, making an effort to be still and not disturb C J. After a few minutes she knew going back to sleep was futile, so she lay in bed looking at C J, thinking about her attraction to him. A few days ago she would have said it was purely physical, pretty damned good and not have complained about it. Now Zoe had to admit that last night had made her realize she was drawn to C J by more than just physical attraction. When he had stormed out of her office, Zoe had not expected the surge of emotions that gripped her or how furious she was for that stupid outburst. How will I deal with this, was the thought running through her head, when she noticed C J’s blue eyes were open and staring at her.
“You’re deep in thought,” C J said.
“Have you asked yourself why we seem to be uncontrollably attracted to each other?” Zoe asked him.
“No, but I am enjoying it.”
Zoe sat upright, not aware that the sheet and bedspread had both fallen away, leaving her bare to the waist. “Seriously, C J, what are you thinking when you see me?”
“From where I am right now I am thinking that your breasts are gorgeous and that they’re begging for attention. If you wish to talk, then you’re going to have to cover them so I can concentrate,” C J answered, making an effort to drag his eyes upward to look at Zoe’s face.
Zoe immediately threw back the covers, turned and got out of the bed. She then started looking for clothing to put on. When she could not find anything she started to walk to the other side of the bed where she knew the robes lay on the floor.
C J was speechless but his body wasn’t. “If this is supposed to be helping, it isn’t, Zoe. Your walking around the room in the nude is making it impossible for me to not get a hard-on. Thus also making it difficult for me to want to have a discussion of any type,” C J said.
About the time Zoe was picking up a robe to put on, C J’s head fell backwards onto the pillow. He groaned in agony while pulling the covers completely over his head.
Zoe started, “Now C J,” but stopped when she saw his clasped hands emerge from under the covers in a pleading gesture.
“Zoe, please give me a couple of breaths to calm my libido, and then we can talk,” C J’s muffled voice said from under the covers.
Zoe grinned and sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed in total silence, waiting for C J to emerge from under the covers. When he did emerge, he pushed backward and sat propped against the headboard, a pillow behind his back. This naturally forced the bedding to pool very low on his torso. In fact it was so low that Zoe could see his navel and picture all too well what was just below there. She rolled her eyes, swallowed and turned her head momentarily to focus her thoughts. As she turned to open her mouth, the sight of C J barely covered was too much.
“Will you please pull the covers up a bit higher?” Zoe asked.
Grinning, C J said, “How about if I stand up and put my robe on?”
“No, I don’t think that'll be necessary. Just please pull the covers up a bit,” Zoe said, a slight plea in her voice.
C J complied with her request and looked back at Zoe with mock innocence. “Better?”
“Yes, now back to what I was saying. What do you think of when you see me?” Zoe asked again.
“I see beauty but it’s not all physical. You, Zoe, have a beauty that comes from inner strength and this enhances the woman I see. It makes your intelligence, sharp wit and sense of adventure all the more alluring. To be honest I can’t get enough of you, and I’m good with that,” C J answered.
Zoe just stared at C J, amazed at how comfortable this man was no matter the situation. He was seriously one of the most confident, not vain or cocky, men she had ever known. Considering how drop dead gorgeous and wealthy he was women were drawn to him in droves, but he said he wanted her. Jean had stoked Zoe’s passions for life and her work but his unpredictable nature had never left her with a feeling of well-being. With C J she had passion and excitement but there was also an underlying current of steadfastness. C J was a man of his word. Jesus, Joseph and Mary, Zoe thought, I am falling prey to the knight in shining armor syndrome.
“So, Ms. Alden, what are you thinking?” C J asked.
After a pause, Zoe answered, “I’m thinking that I’ll call the office and tell them I won’t be in today, Mr. Fairchild. Then I’ll lose this robe and crawl back into bed, so we can plan our day. After all, I did tell you I would show you New York.”
“Your idea sounds good to me. Hurry up with the phone call part,” C J said.
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As Zoe headed to her purse to get her phone and call the office, C J thought about the fact that Zoe’s response had not given any hint of the emotions she was feeling about their relationship or him. Interesting, for now he would not push it. C J sensed Zoe wasn’t comfortable with her emotions yet, and his instincts told him to leave it alone right now. Did she realize that she had admitted her attraction to him just by asking her question? C J had known that Zoe’s appearance in the hotel bar last night had sealed the deal for him. He was ready to make her an important part of his life.
C J watched Zoe pace back and forth as she talked on her phone. With every step she took, the robe opened and he saw the length of her leg up to the top of her thigh. If she keeps this up, the robe will offer a tantalizing view very soon, C J thought, a hint of a grin on his face. Sensing his eyes on her Zoe stopped momentarily
to adjust the robe and tighten the belt. Getting the feeling that this phone call wasn’t ending soon, C J picked up his own phone to check his emails. Logan had arrived in Kenya safely, good to know. C J added a reminder on his calendar to call Jack Dupre and set a lunch date. It wouldn’t hurt to see what he had to say about Logan. He also noticed an email from his secretary that included several attachments. No, I won’t start that now, C J thought, knowing he would end up dedicating at least an hour to read through the contract updates.
Feeling a shift in the bed, he looked up to see Zoe slowly making her way toward him, and the robe was gone. Ah things are looking good, he thought. C J set his phone on the nightstand, never taking his eyes off of Zoe. From where he sat right now she was perfection, and he felt damned lucky to have her.
After the Interview Page 9
