My stomach was full of butterflies. This week had been long and very trying. Carter and I’d had to keep our distance. Neither one of us could be trusted to keep our hands to ourselves. Each time I saw him, I felt that familiar stirring in my belly that took me back to last Friday night in his office.
The stolen kisses weren't enough. Both of us were ravenous. Our hunger was not satiated with a kiss here and there. On a good note, we had managed to find a way to work together, which allowed me the chance to get to know Carter a little better. He was gruff and a hardass, but he was also fair. He wasn't mean, but he didn't go out of his way to praise his team if they didn't deserve it.
We had managed to find a way to work together, both of us learning to respect boundaries and not force our way on the other. There were still plenty of arguments and disagreements over what was best, but it didn't leave me feeling like I wanted to quit. It made me want to try harder and do better. With the deadline looming, I was starting to feel the pressure.
I needed to blow off some steam, and apparently, Carter did as well. Yesterday, after one of our rather explosive arguments, he asked me to go out with him. It had taken me by surprise. Typically, I would have told him to get lost or pulled out my “I don't date coworkers” line, but I didn't. I wanted to go out with him. I wanted to know who Carter was outside of the office.
Now, the nerves in my belly were in anticipation of tonight. Would we get along or would it be more arguing and wanting to scratch his eyes out?
“Hey.”
I looked up to see Carter standing in front of my desk. “Hi.”
“Can you give me your address so I can pick you up later?” he said in a low voice.
I nodded, quickly jotting it down on a piece of paper and handing it to him.
“Thanks. I'll see you at about seven?”
“Yep. I'll be ready,” I said with a smile that I felt all the way to my tiptoes.
By the time of the end of the day rolled around, I was a bundle of nerves. I raced home, showered, and dressed. I had spent last night deciding what to wear and ended up going with the classic LBD. You couldn't go wrong with a little black dress. It was one of the dresses I had been given as part of my payment for modeling for a local chain of boutique stores.
It had a flirty skirt that fell above the knees, long sleeves with shoulder cutouts and a fitted waist. I loved it and it was practical, comfortable, and sexy. When the buzzer rang, I grabbed my purse before quickly pushing the button on the intercom and letting him know I would be right down.
I knew if he came into the apartment, we would never leave. While that certainly sounded amazing, I wanted to go out with him and get to know him beyond the office and quick but passionate sex.
I walked toward the glass door, and our eyes held as he watched me move toward him. When I pushed the door open, he enveloped me in his arms and passionately kissed me before I made it outside.
“You're stunning,” he breathed, pulling away.
I reached up to rub my lipstick off his lips. “You're not so bad yourself,” I winked.
He was wearing what he typically wore to the office, but his collar was unbuttoned, and he looked a bit more casual. Smoldering is the term that came to mind. Like one of the men you saw emblazoned on the cover of a romance novel. Tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome.
“You ready?” he asked, taking my hand in his and walking down the street.
“I am.”
He hit the button on his key fob, and I saw the lights on a black BMW sedan blink. He opened the passenger door for me, and I climbed in, settling into the buttery leather seats that were obviously heated.
“So, what restaurant are we going to?”
He smiled. “It's a surprise.”
I laughed. “If it's McDonald’s, I feel like we may be a little overdressed.”
“Definitely not McDonald’s.”
When he pulled up to the valet of one of the swankiest restaurants in town, I raised an eyebrow. “How did you manage to get in here on such short notice?”
Another one of those sexy grins. “I know people.”
We were escorted to our seats in the upscale restaurant. The ambiance was very romantic with dim lighting and tables that were positioned far enough apart to allow for some privacy. The menu prices blew my mind, but he didn't seem to be fazed at all.
We ordered our meals and drank our glasses of wine.
“I'd love to have more, but I am not leaving my car here,” he said, waving away the waiter who asked to refill his wine glass. “But feel free to have another glass.”
I smiled. “I'm fine. Thank you. This was really good.”
“Want dessert?”
The way he said it sent a chill down my spine. I had a feeling he wasn't asking me if I wanted to split the chocolate mousse on the menu.
“I do,” I said in a husky voice.
His blue eyes darkened a shade as he intently stared at me, waiting for me to say the words.
“I have wine at my place. We could open a bottle,” I said in a soft voice.
He nodded. “I'd like that.”
Neither of us could look away from one another. My stomach filled with molten lava in anticipation of him going into my home. I knew what would happen. We both did, and we both wanted it.
Carter raised a few fingers, silently asking the waiter for the check. I could feel my pulse beating faster. I was a little nervous about taking him into my home after only knowing him for two weeks, but it felt right. I felt as if I had known him for much longer. I was desperate to have him and looking forward to being truly alone with him without fear of prying eyes disturbing our time together.
We walked out of the restaurant together. The excitement was making me a little giddy. The drive to my apartment was silent, both of us lost in thought.
He parked the car but didn't move to get out.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked in a gentle voice.
It was very sweet and very contradictory to the Carter Frasier I knew from work.
I put my hand out to touch his. “I am.”
He nodded and jumped out of the car, running to open the passenger door for me. He was the consummate gentleman. Despite his very hard exterior, he was a thoughtful man. As we walked to the entrance of my building, we held hands. He squeezed mine in his, and I squeezed back. The subtle gesture said so much. I knew I had to guard my heart.
It wasn't like me to get all gooey and starry-eyed over a man, but Carter was different. He challenged me. Most men were interested in sex with a former model. They wanted arm candy. They weren't all that interested in what I had to say or putting my writing talent to use. Carter had a way of making me feel valued and not only for my body.
“Come in,” I said, pushing open my front door and flipping on a light. “I'll grab the wine. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.” I gestured toward my couch.
I suddenly had a case of the nerves. I had invited men home—not often, but it wasn't a first. I grabbed a bottle of white wine from the counter and two glasses and prepared to go find him, but I didn't have to go far. He was standing right there in my kitchen.
“I don't need wine,” he said in a husky voice. He reached out took the bottle from me and then the glasses before setting them on the counter.
I nodded, “Okay,” not sure what else to say.
He kissed me, slow and gentle, unlike our passion-filled, fiery kisses shared in the office. Something had changed. I could feel it and knew he did as well. I let him lead the pace, willing to take some time enjoying the moment even though I wanted to rip his clothes off and mount him. I could wait.
Chapter 10
Carter
I knew she was nervous. I was too. I couldn't put my finger on the reason why, but I knew I wanted to be here with her. Our time in the office had been different. It had always been a frenzied coming together, and after a week of stolen kisses and a fire that had been stoked instead of squelched, I needed her. I needed her so bad it kind of
freaked me out, which was why I felt so nervous.
Kissing her in her kitchen felt right, but I knew we both needed more. I wanted to give her the slow, thorough loving she deserved. I wanted to fulfill every fantasy I had about her. This past week, I had been left hard and horny as hell each night I went home. I planned to slake my lust and satisfy my every need as well as hers.
“Bedroom?” I said, pulling my lips away from hers to say the one, loaded word.
She grabbed my hand. “This way.”
She kicked off her heels as she walked. I followed suit. As we walked, I unzipped the zipper on the back of her dress. She let go of my hand, shrugged her shoulders, and stepped out of the dress, leaving it in a fabric puddle in the hall.
I untucked my shirt and unbuttoned it as I took in the sight of her. She was stunning. Her perfectly round ass was cradled in a pair of lace panties that clung to her hips in a wide band. She had on a strapless red bra that matched. I fought the urge to slam her into the wall right there. I could wait.
She pushed open her bedroom door and waited for me. I looked at the large four-poster bed in the room and then back at her before quickly discarding my pants. She stepped toward me, running her fingers down my arm before moving to my chest. My erection strained beneath the fabric of my boxer briefs. I waited, letting her take the lead—for now.
Her fingers ran over my chest and then down my other arm. I stood there, trying not to move a muscle while she perused my body in a gentle exploration. When her hand went between my legs and cupped me through my underwear, all semblance of control was lost.
I groaned, my mouth dropping to her neck to feast upon her silky skin. My hands ran up her ribcage to cup her breasts. The wire and lace were in my way. I deftly unhooked the bra with one hand, freeing her breasts, and then my hands were there in place of the underwire. I had to know what she tasted like, so I crushed my mouth over the top of her nipple. Her back arched, pressing her nipple deeper into my mouth.
My idea of taking it slow vanished in that instant. Her body was pressed against me, one of her bare legs wrapped around mine as she struggled to get closer. I lifted her with ease, her legs wrapped around me and her face buried into my neck as I walked to her bed.
With her sprawled out before me, I dove in. My mouth moved over her neck before moving to her breasts and then down her stomach. I stood, my legs supported by the mattress as I worked her panties down her legs. There she lay naked on her bed, her legs slightly spread. I stepped between her knees on the edge of the bed and used my legs to spread her wider.
She gasped at the vulnerable position she was in. I wanted to feast upon her, but more importantly, I wanted to be inside her. I promised myself I would take the edge off and then use my tongue to bring her to orgasm.
I leaned forward, crawling over her before lying beside her, one hand going between her legs and the other to run through her hair. I kissed her. It was a slow perusal of her mouth before I nuzzled her neck. I slid one finger inside her without warning. She arched and cried out. I moved my finger in and out, pushing deeper each time, making her wetter with each stroke. Her hand moved to my shoulder, tugging me over. I knew what she wanted. I wanted it to.
I rose over her and slowly slid my cock inside her. She opened her legs, making room for me to go deeper. I pushed in to the hilt, pausing to relish in the feel of her. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me in a bit more. I could feel her ready to come and jerked my hips forward. She used her legs wrapped around me to lift her hips up. We found a rhythm that she clearly enjoyed. Her nails scoured my back as she began to climax. I drove in harder, ripping the orgasm from her before I rose to my knees, flipped her to her stomach and penetrated her from behind.
Her arms reached out in front of her, her slender back arching and pushing her hips up high in the air. I pounded into her with such force, she slid up the bed. I growled, pulled her back, and held onto her hips with both hands. Then, I drove my dick high and hard into her. Her hands fisted in the sheets, her head began to thrash back and forth, and I knew she was on the verge of another orgasm.
I released one of her hips and slapped her bare ass. It was the trigger she needed to climax.
“Carter!” she said a second before burying her face into the comforter on the bed.
I pulled back, fighting back my own orgasm. I wanted to make her come again. Once I felt I could fuck her without blowing my wad the moment I slid inside, I grabbed her hips, preparing to plunge in. She crawled a few inches away.
She rolled over and sat up, reaching a hand out to me. I took it, and she tackled me. I landed on my back, which is clearly what she wanted. She climbed on top of me, dropping her head down to thoroughly kiss me before moving backward to impale herself on me. She moaned and sat up, sliding her hips forward and leaning back, pushing me against her clit. She rotated her hips, using one hand to support herself and ran another one up her stomach.
When she grabbed her own breast and moaned low in her throat, I could feel myself losing control. I reached up and grabbed her other breast, pulling another sound from deep in her stomach. Her movements were slow and purposeful. I was close to climax but wanted to take her with me. I reached my other hand to where we were joined and tickled that little nub she was trying to reach with her movements.
A few rubs and a final, gentle pinch drove her over the edge. She bucked and shouted out incoherent words. Her response was extremely visceral and erotic. My climax hit me like a ton of bricks. I bucked into her, nearly knocking her off me with the violent upward thrust. She fell against my chest, clearly spent. My arms wrapped around her, and I squeezed her close against me.
“Wow,” she mumbled.
I chuckled. “Yeah, wow.”
She rolled off me and snuggled into my side. We lay there for a long while, basking in the afterglow of some pretty amazing sex.
“Hey,” I said, getting an idea.
“Hey, what?”
“Would you like to go with me to the company Christmas party next Saturday?”
She didn't say anything for a second, and I began to think maybe I had read the situation wrong. Maybe this was a fling for her, and she had no intention of seeing me again.
“I'd love to!” she said with excitement.
“Really? I mean, great!”
“Is it black tie?” she mumbled, suddenly sounding worried.
“It's formal. Whatever you wear will be perfect.”
She laughed. “I doubt that. I'll talk to Donna and see what everyone else is wearing.”
The mention of Donna's name snapped me out of the moment. I wondered if I had made a mistake. She wasn't a permanent employee, so there shouldn't be a conflict of interest, but I hoped it didn't cause any problems with my other employees. I didn't want them thinking I hooked up with the people I worked with, especially my subordinates. As much as I liked her, and I wanted to spend time with her, I knew we weren't an actual couple. What we had behind closed doors would have to be enough for now.
She leaned up and kissed my chin before moving to my neck. I smiled. She was ready to go again. This woman was insatiable, which made me very happy. I rose up to my elbow and kissed her, muttering compliments into her ear as I licked and sucked her neck. I inhaled deeply, never wanting to forget her scent. I wanted to commit this night to memory.
Chapter 11
Arianna
I felt like I was bouncing into work. I didn’t want to be so obvious, but I couldn’t help it. I felt like there was a tattoo emblazoned across my forehead announcing I got laid. Not just laid but I’d had mind-blowing sex. Repeatedly.
It was more than sex. Neither one of us openly expressed feelings of love, but I felt it. I could tell by his touch. His kisses were gentle at times, telling me there was a tender side to him. The passionate, demanding kisses told me how much he wanted me. He spoke without words, and I did my best to respond in the same way.
When he had left on Saturday morning, there hadn't been a promise to call
. He didn't need to. I knew I would see him Monday, and that was good enough for me. I had only caught a few glimpses of him, but each time, he gave me that look that made my toes curl.
“Hi,” Donna said, popping her head around my cubicle wall.
“Hi!” I said with a genuine smile.
“Have you heard?” she asked, a glimmer in her eye.
“Uh, I don't think so,” I tried to pretend innocence. Did she know about me and Carter?
She clapped her hands together and leaned down. “I heard through the grapevine the company wants to offer you a permanent position. It would be backdated to include this new campaign. Since this campaign is coming along so well, our department is expecting a bonus.”
One Hot Winter Page 5
