The Job

by Doris O'Connor

  Alex jumped when Nathanial put his large hands on her shoulder. He slid them slowly upward until he framed her face and tilted her head up. The gentle pressure he used was strangely comforting.

  “Breathe, Alex.”

  Her pent up breath burst forth with such force that she ruffled the stylishly unruly dark lock of hair that fell over his forehead. His amber eyes crinkled up at the corners in seeming amusement.

  “That’s better. You were in danger of passing out on me then, girl. As much fun as being the cause of that can be, I do need you sentient tonight. Later on, well, we’ll see…”

  A shiver of apprehension crawled up her spine at his murmured voice, even as her breathing sped up, as all sorts of erotic scenarios bombarded her brain. Really, what was wrong with her? Think, dammit.

  “I told you already, I won’t sleep with you, or are you going to blackmail me into that too?” Alex immediately regretted the words, when his brows drew together in a frown. His hold on her tightened imperceptibly, and she couldn’t bring herself to hold his gaze.

  “I realize that you may not have the highest opinion of me after the way we parted back then, but—”

  He stopped speaking when she couldn’t help her most unladylike snort of derision. Grasping her chin, he forced her to look up at him. Alex wasn’t small, but even in her killer stilettos she was still a head shorter than him. It made her feel all sorts of dainty and feminine, which was definitely a new sensation. Her stomach churned anew at the disapproval that was edged in his features.

  “Has no one told you it is rude to constantly interrupt? If you carry on like this, I’ll be forced to put you over my knee to teach you some manners, girl.” He smiled when her mouth fell open in surprise.

  Alex automatically clenched her thighs together to stop the hot flood of arousal creaming her pussy at those mental images.

  “You try anything like that, and I’ll have you up for an assault charge.” Her reply lost all of its intended sting thanks to her voice doing its best to imitate a breathy porn star, but dammit, could he read her mind or something?

  Alex liked a little, or should that be a lot of kink in the bedroom. Someplace she was so not going with him.

  “You have bought my escort services for the evening, Sir.” She meant that intonation as an insult, but the way his eyes flared in heated awareness and his breathing sped up, told her what she was beginning to suspect. Nathanial would indeed be more than capable of fulfilling her needs. That meant she couldn’t let him near her. He would break down her barriers and she was not prepared to risk her heart—not again.

  So instead, she pushed him away. Alex breathed a sigh of relief when he let her go.

  “But that’s all you’ve bought. You can’t force me to do anything sexual, and—”

  “Dammit, Alex.” His frustrated growl and the way he ran a hand through his hair, as he started to pace the floor in front of her stopped her from saying the rest. She hugged her arms around herself and bit her lip instead.

  When he eventually stopped in front of her again, he indeed looked ready to put her over his knee. She stopped breathing when he reached out to her, stopped halfway, and curled his hand into a fist, dropping it to his thigh instead.

  “Do you really think that little of me?” he asked. When she didn’t respond, he swore under his breath. Nat pulled something out of his trouser pocket.

  “I guess it doesn’t matter what you think. I’m just another client tonight, so do your job and we’ll be fine. We’re going to the charity ball held here in the hotel rooftop ballroom. You’ll need to look the part, so bearing that in mind, please turn around. Lift your hair out of the way.”

  Her eyes widened when he opened his palm and she caught sight of the sparkling diamond necklace he’d held crushed in his hand as though it was mere baubles.

  “Is that…?” She didn’t finish that question, too aware of the way he stiffened. He twirled his free hand in a clear unspoken demand to present her back to him.

  “You know damn well it is. Now, for the love of god, do as you’re told, and let me put this on you. Believe me, it’s the only time the likes of you will get their hands on my mother’s diamonds.”

  The implied criticism stung. She would have given him a dressing down had it not been for the expression on his face. He wasn’t looking at her, but at a spot over her shoulder, swallowing hard as though he was trying to keep a hold of his emotion. In truth, Alex, too, felt a bit choked. She couldn’t imagine life without her mother, and Nathanial’s had died only a few months ago. It was obviously still painful for him. Her heart went out to the boy he had once been. In truth, she had fond memories of Mrs. Longton herself. Both Nathanial’s parents had only ever been kind to her and her mother when she was growing up. After all, Nat’s father paid for Alex’s mother’s stay in the nursing home after her stroke last year, much to Alexandra’s relief, as she would have never been able to afford it. Mum had been frugal over the years. She had saved a considerable amount of money, but not enough to provide the care she had needed. While Mum was doing much better these days, she wasn’t capable of living on her own.

  “I’m sorry, about your mother, I mean,” she murmured the words.

  When his gaze connected with hers, the moisture she saw briefly in his eyes, before he blinked it away made her reach out to him. A spark of awareness traveled up her arm from the contact she made with his hand. His fingers tightened briefly around her digits in silent acknowledgement, before he released her, and she dutifully turned around, lifting her hair off her nape.

  The necklace felt cool and heavy on her skin as he slid the expensive jewelry around her neck, fastening it. He left his hands on her shoulders, his thumbs stroking the sides of her throat. The action left goose bumps in its wake. Alex gasped when he steered her so she could see them in the mirror. His mother’s diamonds sparkled in the overhead lighting. With her cheeks flushed, her breathing labored, she looked just like she felt—on edge and…

  “Beautiful.” The one word delivered in his husky voice made her insides tighten in need. When he pulled her back into his large frame, bending his head to drop a kiss on her exposed shoulder, it felt the most natural thing in the world to let him.

  “Why?” she whispered.

  Nathanial stiffened and pulled away. “Why what?”

  Alex glanced back at the mirror, touching the necklace briefly. When he didn’t answer her, just strode to the door to hold it open for her, she sighed.

  “Please, Nat, talk to me.”

  He blinked at the use of his childhood name. His mouth set in a grim line. Alex could almost see the walls going up around him, as he shook his head.

  “We’re already running late. I’m not in the habit of explaining myself to my escorts. Just do your job, pretend to be my doting girlfriend, and once we’ve made an appearance, you’re free to go, as you find my company so abhorrent.”

  “I don’t…”

  Nathanial held his hand up to interrupt her.

  The icy disdain on his face made her stiffen her spine. This, right now, wasn’t the Nat she remembered. Picking up her clutch bag, she threw her head back and forced herself to walk toward him.

  Nat took her hand once they rounded the corner to the lifts, making her jump slightly. All the air left her lungs when he snaked his arm around her waist and left it there.

  “Smile, you look as though I’m leading you to your execution. You’re in love with my money, remember.”

  That brought her head up. She glared at him, but her snarky comeback died on her tongue, as the lift door opened, and a smiling bell boy waved them in.

  “Good to see you again, Mr. Longton. Heading up to the ballroom, I take it? I must say it seems very well attended.”

  Alexandra tuned out the rest of the conversation, as the lift made slow progress up to the roof. By the time they reached their destination, several couples had joined them. The air was stifling with the combined scents of perfume and cologne. Alex breat
hed a sigh of relief, when the doors slid open and they stood in a marble foyer, which led out onto the enclosed rooftop space, where the ball was being held. Live classical music floated toward them. When they gained admittance after Nathanial had flashed his invite, she inched closer to Nat’s protection, as they were immediately engulfed by folks.

  Mindful of her role she fixed a smile on her face. It was going to be a very long evening.

  Chapter Three

  Nathanial had to give it to her. Were it not for the death grip she had on his hand, he never would have guessed how uncomfortable Alex appeared to be. Her polite smile stayed in place throughout the interminably boring and unavoidable round of introductions. While he bristled inside at the way folks ignored her, talking over her head, she took it on the chin. Then again, this was her job, so why shouldn’t she?

  Still, a sliver of doubt had planted itself in his chest. The longer he observed her the more that unease grew. He’d have expected her to lap up the attention, but in the unguarded moments, when they were briefly left alone, something about the way her shoulders sagged made him wonder. It was that same flash of hurt he’d glimpsed in her eyes when he’d thrown that off-hand comment at her about loving his money. Fuck only knows what possessed him to do so, but she’d looked so goddamn beautiful. It had felt so right putting his mother’s jewelry around her graceful neck, he’d had to do something to stop himself from acting like a lovesick fool.

  The realization that this woman still had the power to bring him to his emotional knees didn’t sit easy with him, and it made him lash out.

  “If you don’t need me for a second, I’m gonna go powder my nose.” Alex’s whispered words into his ear got his attention. He reluctantly released her, and forced a smile on his face.

  “Sure, you know where they are?”

  Alex rolled her eyes. She screwed her nose up in disgust, and his dark mood lifted.

  “I think the big signs give it away. Contrary to what you’re so clearly used to, I can read.” She fluttered her eyelashes up at him in such a way, that the sip of champagne he’d just taken almost went down the wrong way. Sassy minx.

  “I would even go as far as to say I’m intelligent. Something that seems to be sadly lacking in this room. Tell me, do all of you big business moguls pick your arm candy for looks and the ability to stay mute?” She put her hand over his mouth to stop his response. Heat rose in her cheeks when he couldn’t resist the temptation and licked her palm. Her pupils dilated. She groaned under her breath in such a way that he hardened in his pants. He’d been semi-hard ever since she’d opened that damn door, and he’d first spotted her in that clingy dress, but this close to her, with her flavor now on his tongue… fuck.

  He needed to get them out of here, to enable him to take this thing between them to its natural conclusion. Despite her protestations to the contrary, she wouldn’t resist him for long. Once he’d fucked her, he’d get her out of his system for sure. Nathanial ignored the little voice in the back of his head that told him it would never be that easy. She was the one that got away, that’s why he felt so discombobulated in her presence. That was all. That was all it could ever be.

  Alex turned on her heel, and fled so fast the click clack of her heels on the marble floor was a mere blur. Nathanial grinned to himself, as he took in the sway of her ass cheeks lovingly outlined through the silk of her dress.

  His smile slipped when he saw another face from his past advance on him. Trust his ex-wife to pounce on him the minute he was on his own. He drowned the last of his champagne. Having handed his empty flute to a passing waiter he shoved his hands in his trouser pockets. Nat readied himself for the onslaught that was Angela Whiney. Never had a surname fitted a woman better.

  “Ah there you are. I heard a rumor you had arrived.”

  Angela rose on her tiptoes to plant a kiss straight on his lips. Were it not for the interested audience they were already attracting, Nathanial would have shaken the infuriating woman off like the piece of vermin she was. That restraining order his lawyer had advised him to get looked more and more appealing right now, but that would give her the satisfaction of knowing that she was getting to him.

  Instead he slowly brought his hands up. Placing them on the woman’s shoulders, he pushed her away from him with a tight nod in her direction.

  “Angela, I might have known you’d inveigle an invite somehow. Who did you sleep with to get one?”

  She threw her head back and laughed. The sound was so forced it was ridiculous really, but it had the desired effect, as more people turned and stared.

  Damn the woman and her propensity for needing to be the center of attention. The wannabe model was flawlessly beautiful, but whereas Alex’s inner beauty shone like a beacon, Angela’s was enhanced by cosmetics, and her smile never reached her eyes.

  “You are too funny, darling.” She leant in closer, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m your wife. Of course I got an invite, silly.” She dragged her red tipped fingernail up his neck and tapped his lips. Her smile faltered slightly when he growled at her. Angela hastily dropped her hand.

  “Ex-wife, Angela. No one is supposed to know about that five minute shambles of a wedding you tricked me into, or you, dearest, will find your payments stop faster than you can say whore.”

  For a second her mask dropped, revealing the ugly, money grabbing person she was underneath all that polish. He dusted his hands off of her in a metaphoric manner.

  “I haven’t said a word, but I have as much right to be here as you.”

  He quirked an eyebrow at that. She had the good sense to lose some of her overinflated confidence, even as she tried to hang onto it with a flick of her long brown hair over one bony shoulder.

  How he could have ever been even remotely interested in her was beyond him right now. Then again he had been grieving, and drunk out of his skull at the time, but still. The whole episode left a sour taste in his mouth. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Alex approach in his peripheral vision. She frowned as she took in the other woman, squared her shoulders, and fixed a smile on her face. Next to him Angela stiffened, sniffing the air.

  “Really, that’s your date for the evening. Nice baubles, mind you.”

  Alex had clearly heard those venomous words, because she put an extra swing in her hips on the last few steps of her approach. She grasped hold of his hand, snuggling into his side with her head resting on his shoulder. Fuck him, if that didn’t feel way too good.

  “Nose all powdered, baby?” he asked. Alex giggled, and straightened up. He missed the contact instantly and inwardly rolled his eyes at his besotted puppy act.

  “Oh yes, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

  The intonation she put on that one word made it sound like an insult. Angela bristled, but stuck her hand out for Alex to take. When his girl did so, Angela went pale under her makeup, and wrenched her hand back with a frown.

  “I would, baby, if I saw any friend, not just a money grabbing whore.” Alex gasped at his words, whereas Angela looked ready to slap him, but forced a grin on her face instead.

  “Ah, such a strange sense of humor our Nathanial has. Well, I must be off.” With that, the blasted woman teetered away.

  Nat forestalled any questions Alex might have thrown at him, by swinging her around in his arms, as he tugged her along to the dance floor.

  “Dance with me, girl.”

  Before she could as much as voice an objection he pulled her close. Nat swung her into the slow steps required for the intimate piece of music the orchestra had just started.

  “I’ll step on your toes.” He smiled at her murmured protest, as a shiver went through Alex’s frame when he pulled her so close that her breasts were squashed against his chest. Nathanial could feel every sharp intake of breath she made as they moved in perfect sync.

  “You won’t. Shut your eyes and just follow my lead.”

  She stiffened against him, when he said that.
For one horrible second he thought she was going to cause a scene, leave him standing on the crowded dance floor like Billy-no-mates, before she relaxed and went pliant in his arms.

  He shut his own eyes, simply enjoying the intimacy of the moment. They might be in a crowded ballroom, and no doubt the gossipmongers would have a field day speculating as to who Alex was, but right here, now, none of that mattered. All that did was the feel of Alex in his arms, swaying to the music, as their connection shimmered between them as though it was a living, breathing entity. A soft moan escaped her, when he shifted her slightly. His erection rubbed across her belly. The sound made him grow even harder as he bent his head, to nuzzle into her neck, where the silky fragrant skin called him. Alex missed a step when he licked along her rapidly beating pulse point, and bit down lightly on her earlobe.

  “Nat, please, don’t.”

  Her groan sounded more like a plea for more. She gasped when he trailed the hand on her back lower to cup her ass, pushing her even closer into his body. His damn cock jerked against her belly, and Alex let go of his hand. Linking her hands behind his neck, she rose up on tiptoes to look at him.

  The concern and pure physical need in her expressive eyes, which had darkened to the color of moss, took his breath away. Not thinking of the consequences, he lowered his head to close the last few inches between them and claimed her mouth in a kiss.

  The insistent strokes of his tongue along her lips forced a soft moan from Alex, and Nat deepened the kiss with a grunt of his own. Her sweet essence exploded on his taste buds, when she kissed him back, hesitant at first and then with ever more bold flicks of her tongue, breaking his tenuous control.

  He broke the kiss with a deep growl. Lifting his head briefly, he swung them off the edge of the dance floor. Nat caught her squeal of surprise in his mouth when he picked her up. He kissed her, satisfied to see her catch onto his idea, when she brought her legs around his waist. Alex hung on for dear life, as he spirited them away from prying eyes, and round the corner onto the open bit of roof.