by Alison Aimes
His fingers slipped beneath the thin lace of her panties and ripped, the flimsy barrier between him and his prize disappearing with ease.
Another bout of lust hit hard, the smell of peaches and honey even stronger now. “I’m going to consume you.”
She reared up and twisted her fingers in his hair. “Not if I devour you first.”
White-hot lust tinged his vision red.
She never stopped surprising him.
“She was in here a few minutes ago.” The nervous male voice sounded through the door. “I’ll just go check and see if she’s still there.”
Her palms hit his chest so hard he stumbled back a step.
Then she was off the desk and rushing to the door, her body a near blur. As opposed to him, who couldn’t move. His entire blood supply currently utilized by his dick.
“I’m here. I’m here.” Her voice was ridiculously chipper, her hands moving a million miles a minute as she retucked wild strands of hair back into that ridiculous, uptight hairdo she’d had before.
Swinging the door open a few millimeters, she peered out, keeping her body, wrecked clothes—and him—out of sight. “Thank you for the heads-up, Jim.” Alexi couldn’t see her, but he could hear the strained, fake smile all the same. “I was practicing my presentation and didn’t realize how much time had passed. I’ll be out in a sex—ah, sec.”
The pause that followed was all kinds of awkward. “Ah, sure…you okay, Lily?”
“Great. Fine.” Her grip on the door tightened. “Be out in a moment and ready to rock it.”
She eased the door shut before turning and falling against it, her eyes sinking shut, a big breath shuddering through her.
Another wave of lust slammed through him. With her hands pressed back against the door, her hips out, she looked like some kind of exotic offering. One who was naked beneath that skirt—since he held her ripped panties in his hand.
He crushed them tighter in his grip.
She’d never looked so fucking beautiful. Or so far from the aloof creature he’d first laid eyes on.
Until her eyes flared open and stared with cool, prim control. “That was a mistake.”
“Not from where I’m standing.”
Her cheeks flushed brighter. “Well, you’re not standing in a skirt, surrounded by an old boys’ network that already sees a woman as less and expects her to deliver one hundred times more and behave a thousand times better.”
Good point.
“I’ll take care of it.” He gestured for her to move aside. “A few well-placed words and you can hold off presenting until tomorrow.” Then he could spend the rest of the day fucking her as he should have done from day one.
She stayed where she was, her back going ram-rod straight, all slumberous, heavy-eyed traces of lust disappearing fast. “Are you actually offering to run interference between me and my own board?”
“I’m responsible for what happened here. I’ll fix it.”
“Really? ’Cause I could have sworn I was right there with you.”
He stifled a groan. Just thinking about what she’d done made him hard all over again.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “And I’m fairly certain I’m also the one a breath away from begging you to slide those thick fingers inside me and make me squirm all over again.”
That’s it. Game over. The board could wait. He reached for her again.
She slid to the side, eluding his grasp. “Still want to label me the little victim?”
He froze. “Are you purposely pushing me?”
“Yes.”
Then it dawned on his horny, little-blood-to-the-brain, slow-thinking self that she was throwing his earlier words back at him—and, for the love of all that was holy, it only made him want to fuck her more.
She pushed off the door. “I don’t need you to shoulder all the responsibility for this insane lack of judgment on those wide, manly shoulders. I erred. I’ll deal with the consequences.” Her eyes narrowed further. “And I definitely don’t need you to pretend that beneath all that seething asshole bravado is a white knight willing to ride to the rescue of the little woman.”
Now that was below the belt. And not in the good, touch-me-there way he wanted from her nimble fingers. He’d stopped riding to the rescue long ago. “You’re playing a dangerous game by taunting me.”
She jammed another strand of hair back in place. “I don’t play. I win.” More of his earlier words tossed back in his face.
He curled his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her.
He liked his life simple. Neat. Ordered. This woman was anything but.
“If you think”—still talking, her drawl growing thicker by the vowel sound, she shoved her blouse into her skirt until she was once again all tucked in—“you got me so rattled I can’t give my presentation, think again. I can always take care of business. You may kiss like sin, but I am still going to kick your behind twelve ways to Sunday.” She swung the door open wide, pausing only to shoot him a defiant glare over her shoulder. “Next time, let yourself be satisfied with the nice-girl act and don’t push. It’s smarter for us both.”
She slammed the door shut.
Right in his face.
Which should have been the end of it.
Because he had no interest in complicating his life, his business objectives were firmly in place, and it was clear Lily Bennett was never going to be the simple screw he favored.
But none of that stopped him from gripping her torn, lace panties in his hand and wondering how soon he could have the smart mouth pressed one more time against his.
Chapter Eight
“In summary, you’ve seen the projections. It would be a serious mistake to oust me before I can show what I can do.” Hands flat on the table, back straight and proud, Lily took a moment to stare down every board member gathered around the oval table.
So what if she was bare-ass under her now slightly wrinkled skirt? What did it matter if she’d just made a colossal mistake after six years of good behavior?
She was a scrapper. She always got back up after every knockdown. Even the ones she delivered herself.
“Russell had a vision of where he wanted this company to go, and he entrusted me with that dream. A dream I can make into a reality, gentlemen.” No need to add “ladies” to her sentence. There wasn’t a woman on the board. “Continue to give me your support, and I will take this company to a level of brand synonymous with the most exclusive and lucrative of hotel investment firms.”
Silence fell. Then, a smattering of applause. A few scowls. One smile, and Tyson’s almost-grin. But since no one screamed Paul should be head, or shouted she should be at the spa, or asked just what the hell she’d been doing in that conference room with Kazankov, she’d take it as a win.
“Thank you, Ms. Bennett.” Don Pierson, the head of the board, spoke first, his lawyer bones cracking as he pushed to standing from the main seat at the table, his lined face and white beard making him appear like a distinguished, skinny Santa without any of the jolly. As Russell’s closest friend and contemporary, he’d been on the board longer than anyone else there. He’d also known her longer than anyone else there. But he was far from an ally. “That was…excellent.”
“Thank you.” If he hadn’t sounded so surprised, she would have been over the moon.
“I’ll see you out,” he decreed.
She didn’t recall anyone “walking” Kazankov out. “That’s very kind, but you don’t have to—”
“I’ll see you out.”
“Great.” Fixing her half smile in place, she started gathering up her notes while over in the corner, Jim stared with a wounded, accusatory look that needed no interpretation at all.
Their silent walk to the board meeting had been awkward at best. He wasn’t 100 percent sure about what she’d been doing in that conference room, but he had his suspicions.
Now, on top of that, she’d have to deal with Don Pierson and his condescension. Karma de
finitely could be a bitch.
“You did amazing.” Jessie popped up on her right, the first genuine friendly face to make an appearance. Today, her pretty assistant’s raven locks with red tips were a cool complement to her dark red pantsuit.
“Thanks.” She gathered up the last of her stuff. “Your research on potential profit numbers was a huge help. It really sold our plan.”
Her assistant’s wide, proud smile lightened Lily’s mood. Her sister had looked like that when she’d ridden that rusty two-wheeler they’d “borrowed” from the dump or when she’d brought home her first good grade from school. She’d looked young and hopeful and fearless—before the world told her she couldn’t be any of those things.
Which was why seeing that expression on the face of another young, smart, capable woman who started out poor and now had every opportunity meant the world.
“Don, no need to tax yourself. Though I’m sure she’s capable of finding the door, I’ll see her out.” The deep voice came from her right, pulling Lily from her thoughts of the past. Good ole Reid Finn. The one true smile she’d received from a board member—and, though younger than most of the men by a good forty years, one of the few whose influence was almost as great as the man at the helm. “You stay and discuss what a terrific presentation this was,” he all but ordered their board head. “I’ll return in three minutes tops to offer my agreement.”
“Thank you, Mr. Finn.” Hiding a smile, she put out her hand for a quick, cursory shake. All blond and blue-eyed Viking prince, he was a sight to behold as he towered over her. Beside her, her assistant let out a soft sigh.
“Before he died, Russell told me he wanted you to have this job because he knew you would take this company to a new level.” Finn was talking to her as if they were the only ones in the room, his hand light on her back as they started toward the door, but his voice was raised loud enough for all to hear. “The reason for his trust was more than obvious from your presentation.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
“And I appreciate all you’re doing for this company, stepping up even during your time of grief and mourning.”
You tell ’em, important board member.
They were near the exit when she realized Jessie wasn’t with her. She looked back to find her assistant still rooted to her original spot, her gaze locked on Reid Finn’s behind. “Jessie, you coming?”
“What? Sure.” Her assistant’s face flushed as red as her tips.
Not that Lily didn’t get it. Reid Finn was not only sinfully rich and well-known in the business world of mergers and acquisitions, he was a handsome man.
Still, she could only hope his sudden show of support was purely business motivated. A chance for the young blood to show its growing mastery over the old and nothing more. Especially since she seemed to have developed a momentary, self-destructive thing for ruthless, arrogant, dirty-talking, beautiful men trying to steal her company.
I’m going to fucking devour you.
She stifled a shiver. Nope. Not going there.
She’d been damn lucky it had been Jim who’d interrupted. If it had been a board member, nothing would have saved her from losing even the meager amount of respect she’d managed to earn these last two weeks. All of Russell’s generous efforts would have been for nothing.
Russell…another stab of guilt.
Her late husband would definitely not thank her for getting it on with Kazankov in the side conference room. Yes, he’d told her to find someone who could love her right this next time around, but he wouldn’t have chosen his old nemesis.
A wave of shameful resentment hit.
Because the fact was Russell wasn’t around anymore to like or dislike.
And, damn it, for a few blissful moments in that dinky conference room, she hadn’t been the young, pitiful widow who spent her nights alone or the measured CEO with the toe-pinching pumps who tailored every action to prove she was up for the task or the scared, trailer trash faker with dirt under her fingernails, haunted by a past she couldn’t escape.
For those brief moments with Kazankov, she’d been free. Bold. Utterly unconcerned with what anyone else thought.
The door closed behind her, Finn, and Jessie, blocking out the board and its oppressive solemnity.
She let out her first deep breath.
Hand still on her back, her vocal board ally leaned down and whispered. “You did good, woman.” His warm breath tickled her ear. “Ignore Don. You kicked some serious ass.”
Relieved laughter bubbled to the surface. What a day. “I sure hope—”
“Why is your hand on her back?”
At the sound of that new voice, her skin crackled to awareness. She didn’t have to turn her head to know who stood just off to the side. Even if her blood hadn’t surged hard and fast, the awed look on Jessie’s face was a dead giveaway.
“Kazankov.” Beside her, Finn had gone stiff. “Why are you still here?”
“Why are you still touching her?”
To her surprise, the offending hand dropped away, her Viking warrior shrinking three sizes. “I thought you’d be back at your office by now.”
Kazankov’s tone was chilly. “I thought you’d be meeting with your lawyers to see if there was a last-ditch way to save your company from takeover.” He stepped closer. “There’s not, by the way. That company is all but mine. Unless you keep your word and offer me something else I want.”
Finn’s sheepish look said it all. Kind words to her aside, he was going to vote for Kazankov to head her company—or else lose his shirt.
She took a deep breath and swiveled to face the new arrival.
Her breath skittered. Gorgeous as ever. Dark and brooding, chiseled and arrogant, the promise of raw sex radiated from every Kazankov pore. His tie and suit were intact—except two buttons were missing from his crisp white shirt and his dark, tempting hair looked more rumpled than usual.
Heat singed her cheeks. It wasn’t easy to tell, but if someone looked closely…
“What are you still doing here, Kazankov?” She purposely used his last name. Some lines needed to be redrawn right away.
Ice-blue cobalt eyes narrowed at her. “I wanted to give you something back, of course.” His tone was formal. The precise inflection of each faintly accented word giving the words a menacing cast.
He reached into his pocket.
Her heart stuttered.
She’d never felt as bare under her skirt as she did in that second.
Off to the side, Finn and Jessie stared intently, their gazes shifting back and forth as the tension in the hallway ratcheted up several hundred degrees.
Her eyes locked with her rival’s.
He’d promised her Armageddon and here it came.
“Okay.” She held out her hand, embarrassed to notice the small tremor. “Give it here.”
She wasn’t about to cower.
It had been both of them in that damn conference room—and if he’d waited all this time just to hand back her pink underwear in some disappointing display he thought would lead to a white-flag surrender on her part, he was in for a surprise. She’d suffered through worse betrayal in her life and survived.
And the silver lining? Such bastardry would cure her of her lust for him forever.
A sharp corner pricked her palm.
Brow wrinkling, she looked down to see two index cards stacked one atop the other in her hand.
Her head snapped up.
“You dropped those in the conference room.” He stalked nearer, the faint scent of clove and command filling her lungs. “I knew you’d be fine without them, but I couldn’t resist the urge to help. Don’t ever think it’s a sign of disrespect. I know you can handle anything I throw at you and more. Far more.” The flare of lust in his gaze almost dropped her to her knees.
Before she could even formulate a response, he disappeared around the corner, taking his sexy scent, revealing words, and all the thrill from the room.
“Wo
w. He’s a lot more formidable—and even hotter—in person.” Jessie’s awed voice broke the silence. “But that was a hell of a long explanation for returning some office supplies. Do you think he has a thing for you?”
“Guy’s a shark,” snapped Finn, returning to brave now that a certain someone had departed. “Don’t let the replacement of a few index cards make you think he’s some kind of hero.”
But Kazankov had done far more than deliver a missing item.
Off to the side, Jessie and Finn were still talking, but Lily heard none of it. Her attention caught on the bold, block letters scrawled across the top index card.
I don’t expect what’s between us to change how hard we go after the CEO position, but you and I will happen. Count on it.
PS I’m keeping the panties.
PPS I know who’s behind the reporter ambush. Call me to discuss.
Curling her fingers around the card, she willed her heart to steady—and fought her lips’ stubborn determination to tilt upward.
A few simple words and the lust was stronger than ever.
Worse? After this, a tiny, traitorous part of her might actually like the man.
Chapter Nine
“What the hell happened today with you and Kazankov?”
Lily’s office door bounced open, slamming against the wall, sending her pen jerking across the page of the contract she’d been reading.
Paul lumbered inside, Jessie right behind him.
“I’m really sorry.” Her assistant’s voice was tight with nerves and frustration. “I told him he couldn’t just barge in.”
“And I told you,” Paul loomed over her, “this is my family’s company. No two-bit, rainbow-haired assistant gets to decide where I can and cannot go.”
“Paul,” Lily’s hand hovered over the call button, “as of now, I’m still in charge. If you have any interest in saving yourself the embarrassment of being thrown out by security, you’ll not only apologize to my assistant but refrain from speaking to her like that again.”
His eyes narrowed while Jessie’s went wide.
Satisfaction surged. It was past time for her to stop letting guilt rule. And, after the call she’d just received from Don Pierson, she was a little more confident about flexing her CEO muscle.
