Summer Heat: A Steamy Romance Boxed Set

by Carly Phillips

  He opened his eyes to find Lexie staring at him in silence. Her makeup had smudged beneath her eyes, and she’d twisted her hair back into some sort of messy knot, but she’d never looked more beautiful.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, that perceptiveness he loved about her returning now that they’d had a few minutes of quiet.

  “I am now.”

  She stepped closer. “Why, Kade?”

  He figured she was asking why he was here. “Luke and Derek wanted to come out after dinner.”

  She shook her head. “No, why not just leave me alone? You could be having drinks with your friends, but instead you’re interrupting my night. Why?”

  She’d inched into his personal space, was pushing for answers he didn’t want to face, let alone give.

  Her luscious breasts were rising and falling, so close he could reach out and touch. Her scent permeated the space around them, a fragrance he couldn’t get out of his head or his dreams.

  “Tell me what you want,” she said, frustration tingeing her tone.

  Frustration he felt as well. “I. Want. You.” No sooner had he said the words than she launched herself against him, and his mouth came down hard on hers.

  He expected her to fight him, but she gave in willingly, her lips softening beneath his, and suddenly Kade had everything he wanted at his fingertips. The churning he’d been experiencing inside himself ever since Julian had targeted him and he’d deliberately pushed Lexie away faded into the background. Gone because she was in his arms.

  He slid his mouth back and forth, devouring the lips he’d been so focused on earlier, nibbling, tasting, sliding his tongue deep inside. She moaned, meeting him halfway, tongues tangling, breath mingling, bodies grinding against each other as if they couldn’t get enough.

  God knew Kade couldn’t. He broke the kiss long enough to give her instructions. “Jump up. Wrap your legs around my waist.”

  She pushed her skirt up and complied with his request. He pulled her roughly against him, turning them so it was her back against the wall, his body thrusting against hers, grinding into her until she was panting and groaning in his arms. He wanted to bare her sweet pussy to his gaze, slide his fingers over her slick lips, and coat his fingers in her wetness.

  She rotated her hips against him, her feminine heat pulsing against that hard-as-stone part of his body. He clenched his jaw, needing so much more. He wanted to take her hard, fast, and now. But he retained enough awareness to know where they were, what they could and couldn’t do. He also knew she deserved more than an outside fuck against the wall of some club. Even if they were simulating the act now, her hips rotating around and around, his body thrusting against hers.

  Which meant this impulsive night had to come to an end.

  He was about to lower her to the ground when she arched her back and let out a shuddering moan. “Close, Kade. I’m so close.”

  He gritted his teeth and wondered what the fuck to do. As her boss, he couldn’t screw her and face her afterwards as if it meant nothing. As if she meant nothing. And he still owed her an apology for how badly he’d treated her almost from the beginning. Kade didn’t apologize to anyone. He’d spent his childhood doing too damned much of that to his mother. But he’d damn well do it for Lexie. Then he’d consider fucking her, like he wanted to.

  “Please, Kade. Make me come.” Lexie was so far gone she trembled in his arms. He couldn’t leave her hanging on the edge like this either.

  He slipped his hand beneath her skirt, coming into contact with a barely there, soaking wet thong. Jesus, he thought, this was the ultimate test of restraint. He slid his fingers over her slick lips and found her clit, rubbing with his thumb.

  Her thighs tightened around his hips, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, riding his hand as he worked one long finger inside her. Her orgasm hit immediately, and she rocked against him, her tight body clasping around him. Leaving him to imagine it wasn’t his finger but his cock that she was milking dry.

  He pressed his thumb hard against her clit, letting her ride out her climax until she was spent. He held her afterwards, his hard body protesting every second.

  Eventually she relaxed in his arms, and he removed his hand, slid her down, helping her fix her skirt and shift her tight top until she was comfortable.

  “I don’t…”

  He placed a finger over her lips. The same finger he’d had inside her seconds before. “Don’t. We both needed this.”

  “But you didn’t—”

  “I got what I needed for now,” he assured her, even if his aching dick disagreed.

  She nodded, her cheeks flushed, her hair in complete disarray. She was flustered and so fucking sweet he wanted to devour her all over again.

  “Let me take you home,” he said, needing to see her safe.

  “But what about Tessa and Becky?” she asked. “Won’t they wonder what happened to me?”

  “I guarantee you, Derek and Luke will explain.” Just like he’d have to deal with their shit come morning.

  But, Kade thought, thinking back on the last few minutes, he could take whatever they dished out. Because the time with Lexie had been so fucking worth it.

  * * *

  Lexie woke up to a pounding headache and a mixed bag of memories from the night before. What the hell had she been thinking, letting Kade take her outside, climbing him like a jungle gym and… Oh my God, she didn’t want to remember any more. Except her body tingled in all the right places, her sex completely on board with what had happened last night.

  She turned and buried her face in the pillow. How was she ever going to face him on Monday? At least he’d told her there was no dry cleaning this weekend so she didn’t have to face him today.

  Before she could dwell on that awful possibility, she heard a knock on her bedroom door. Time to face her sister. “Come in!”

  Her twin walked in carrying a cup of coffee and set it down on the nightstand. “I heard you come in late last night. I thought you could use a pick-me-up.”

  “Bless you,” Lexie said, surprised her sister was being so sweet to her. Lately things had been strained.

  Kendall sat down beside her in bed, curling her legs beneath her. “Did you go out and have fun?”

  Lexie felt her cheeks burn at the innocent question. “I was with two girls from work. We went to a nightclub and … yeah, I had fun.” More than she’d had in a while.

  If she took Kade and the fact that she’d begged him to make her come out of the equation, she’d acted more her age than she’d been able to in years.

  Of course, she couldn’t take Kade out of the equation because she thought about him constantly. She’d been drunk early in the evening, but by the time he’d arrived, she’d just been high on life and enjoying herself. When she’d asked him to dance, she’d been trying to get him to do the same. And, of course, to break up the tension from his confrontation with Casey, her dance partner, who she hadn’t been interested in, but he did have the moves and she’d wanted to dance.

  But Kade hadn’t been comfortable in the club, something she’d realized too late. He’d been uptight and had barreled for an exit like a man possessed. Once outside, the relief on his face had been apparent. There was more to Kaden Barnes than she could put her finger on. More that she wanted to understand, but after her brazen behavior, she doubted she’d be around long enough to find out anything more.

  “What’s wrong?” Kendall asked, watching her over her mug as she took a sip of coffee. “You look worried.”

  Lexie narrowed her gaze at her sister’s concern. Not that it wasn’t in character. Deep down, Kendall was a good soul. She just had issues that often took over. Which was why Lexie cherished the times Kendall was … Kendall. Her sweet, caring, fun-loving twin.

  Lexie leaned her head back and met Kendall’s gaze. “I’m thinking about my boss. He’s … different.”

  “Good different?”

  “Sexy different,” she admitted. “But he’
s also difficult and demanding and he’s my boss. You don’t mix business with pleasure and still have a job the next day.”

  “Is that what you did?” Kendall placed the mug on the nightstand and moved in closer. “Did you sleep with your boss?”

  “No!” Lexie was quick to dispel that thought, and she wasn’t going to elaborate on what she had done with Kade.

  “You just want to. Got it. What does he look like?” her sister asked.

  “His name is Kaden Barnes, and he’s been in the news for his app, Blink. You can Google him later.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard of him! He’s rich. Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to think about money?” Kendall said wistfully.

  Lexie rolled her eyes. “It’s not like we’re exactly hurting. We have parents who make sure we don’t starve.” It was on the tip of Lexie’s tongue to ask about the shopping bags she’d seen in Kendall’s room. And to bug her about getting at least a part-time job, something that let her put one foot back into the real world. But that would cause an argument, and she’d lose the peaceful calm she was experiencing now.

  “Do you want to go out for pancakes?” Kendall asked, unaware of Lexie’s thoughts. “I have a craving for them.”

  As if in reply, Lexie’s stomach growled, and she laughed at the timing. “Let me jump into the shower and I’ll be ready soon,” she said instead of picking a fight by putting Kendall on the defensive with intrusive questions.

  Lexie followed her heart, not her gut, and decided to cherish this precious time with the sister she loved during one of her more stable moments.

  After a weekend to dwell on the fact that she’d begged Kade to make her come, she showed up at work and waited for him to arrive. Her sister had gone out with a friend again Saturday night, and she was looking for a job in retail, giving Lexie even more hope she was making progress. Add in the medicine change, which would kick in soon, and possibilities were endless. She couldn’t even bring herself to temper her expectations this time. She was too invested in things going right for once.

  She sat at her desk, her eyes and ears primed for the old elevator, when Becky walked over to her desk. “Hey! Are you feeling better?” she asked.

  Lexie wrinkled her nose in confusion. “Why do you ask?”

  “Derek said you weren’t feeling well and Kade made sure you got home safely.”

  Oh. “Oh! Yes, I’d … had a lot to drink and I was dizzy. Kade took me outside for fresh air—” And an orgasm. “And then he had his driver take me home. I felt much better the next day. I’m sorry if I worried you, but I really did have a great time with you and Tessa.”

  “Oh, good.” Relief flooded the other woman’s expression. “I had fun too. We’ll have to do it again soon.”

  “I’d like that,” Lexie said. Before she could speak further, the elevator mechanism sounded, and it beeped loudly when reaching their floor. She popped up from her seat. “Coffee calls!”

  Becky shook her head, her red hair falling over one shoulder. “Your boss is a slave driver. I don’t think I could deal with the demands,” she said, keeping Lexie company as she walked to the Keurig.

  “I don’t mind,” she said honestly. The coffee was the easy part of her job. Facing him today was going to be the most difficult.

  Becky shrugged. “Well, I’ve got to get back. I’ll talk to you later.” She smiled at Lexie before turning and heading across the floor to her desk.

  Lexie finished stirring the two sugars into the coffee, drew a deep breath, and forced her legs to move toward Kade’s office, unable to cross the threshold. She stood in the doorway, observing him unnoticed.

  Thanks to his splint, he couldn’t shave, and he’d grown a healthy beard. Instead of hiding his handsome face, the scruff defined his features, giving him an even edgier appearance. Her sex, already primed by him on Friday night, tingled at the sight of his raw masculinity.

  Her high school/college boyfriend had been just that, a boy, in comparison to Kade, her feelings juvenile in contrast to the overwhelmingly female, adult sensations and emotions Kade inspired in her. But she didn’t have time to dwell on those differences now. Not here.

  She shook her head, reminding herself she was at work and needed to do her job. And to do that, she had to put their night behind them.

  “Good morning,” she said in an effort to capture his attention.

  He jerked his head up and met her gaze, his green eyes almost emerald this morning, and they brightened at the sight of her. That was a first, but she’d be lying if she said the heat in his gaze didn’t thrill her.

  “Lexie,” he said, his voice rough, as if he hadn’t yet used it today.

  “I have your coffee,” she said stupidly, because why else would she be standing in the doorway with a mug in her hand?

  “Come in.”

  She stepped into the room, pretending just looking at him didn’t have her stomach doing back flips.

  “I thought about you this weekend. Wondered how you were feeling.” He tipped his head, studying her.

  She could say she was fine and let things go or choose the more difficult path and get the awkwardness out of the way by being up front.

  She placed his coffee onto the desk and forced herself to meet his gaze again. “You mean was I hungover after my big night out? Or did I spend the weekend mortified that I jumped my boss in a back alley?” she asked, being up front and honest. Because Lexie always had to choose the tougher path.

  An amused bark of laughter escaped his throat. “And here I thought you’d try to avoid me this morning,” he said, admiration in his gaze.

  “Well, cowering isn’t my style.” She clasped her hands together in front of her, doing her best not to fidget. “I figured I should give you the opportunity to fire me if you want to. I know you said you wouldn’t, but Friday night was completely inappropriate and—”

  “One hundred percent mutual,” he informed her, taking her off guard, as did the suddenly sexy smile on his lips.

  She rocked back on her heels, nearly losing her footing in surprise. “Kade.”

  “I’m not firing you. You keep me on my toes, and that’s not an easy feat.”

  He had her on her toes now, completely off-kilter and aware from the look in his eyes that something between them had changed. And that something both drew her in and made her wary at the same time.

  Especially when he continued to stare at her, devouring her as if he hadn’t had a meal all weekend. And considering he hadn’t kissed her since Friday night, maybe he hadn’t.

  She shivered at the so-very-sinful path her thoughts had taken. He was her boss. The man whose moods changed on a whim. And he hadn’t broken eye contact, which had her entire body lighting up with desire only he managed to ignite inside her.

  Wrong. It was so very wrong. Which didn’t stop her from wanting him badly.

  Chapter Seven

  Kade stared into Lexie’s wary blue eyes and knew he should take heed of the warning there. She wasn’t all in. She was obviously confused by what had transpired between them.

  He wasn’t.

  He’d had a long weekend to think, and he hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything except Lexie and what she’d felt like coming apart—around his finger and in his arms. She invaded every conscious and unconscious thought he’d had. He’d even dreamed about sliding his cock inside her and finding heaven in her slick, warm, wet pussy.

  The more rational part of him knew he shouldn’t have let things go as far as they had on Friday night, but he hadn’t been able to resist. The sexy woman at the club had revealed another facet to the able assistant who had no trouble going toe-to-toe with him by day. Her confidence and fearlessness, at least when it came to dealing with him, was refreshing, and it turned him on.

  Everything about her turned him on.

  She was different from the women in his past—from her honesty to her caring nature, Lexie was unique. Yet he couldn’t allow himself to believe it would last.

 
He had his past breathing down his neck, a reminder of what kind of betrayal the females in his life brought him and a threat to his future. As a result, he’d tried to convince himself that getting involved with Lexie further wasn’t a good idea.

  None of which stopped him from both thinking about her constantly and deciding it was time to do something about it. Which was what he planned to do now.

  She watched him from beneath hooded eyes, waiting for him to make a move, and he did. He strode determinedly around his desk and came up beside her, her sweet scent a reminder of that endless kiss in the alley. The combination of tart, like her personality, and sweet, like her taste, just did it for him.

  He stepped closer, forcing her to look up at him despite her sexy-as-sin heels.

  “You’re not firing me?” she asked, breaking into his wicked thoughts.

  He smiled, something that seemed to come easier around her. “No, I’m not firing you.”

  “Then what are you doing with me?”

  “This.” He hooked an arm around her waist, pulled her close, and sealed his lips over hers.

  She stilled, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders, and like the other night, he braced himself for a hard shove. Instead she curled her fingers into his shirt and kissed him back, her tongue gliding over his lips delicately in a sweet caress.

  He groaned, nipping her lower lip until she parted and let him inside. He swept through the luscious depths of her mouth, losing himself in her sweetness. His tongue tangled with hers, thrusting in and out, drinking in her shuddering moans.

  He wanted more. Needed to possess her. He grasped the back of her neck with his good hand, buried his fingers in her thick hair, and tilted her head for deeper access, sliding his tongue farther inside, getting more demanding with every sweep.

  Her nails dug through his shirt, into his skin, arousing him beyond belief. He backed her against the desk, until her ass settled on the metal surface. Then, removing his hand from her hair, he slid his fingers up her silk blouse until he cupped her breast in his palm, her hardened nipple pressing against him.