by Nana Malone
A smile tugged at his lips. “Okay. Yeah. Someone might have mentioned that.” She resumed watching the microwave pop the popcorn. He assumed it was a snack for the development team. “I would have liked a heads up about that kind of project myself.”
He just went for it. “Seriously, I thought we could, you know, talk. After LA I just figured—”
“Busy, that's all. And I emailed you this morning.”
He shook his head slowly. “I thought—”
Dave Cover, one of the sales guys, sauntered in and grabbed some snacks out of the refrigerator. They exchanged pleasantries and Dave's gaze slid over Kyra with interest. Bryan clenched his teeth to keep his hands and his opinions about guys looking at her to himself. When they were alone again, he lowered his voice. “I thought we'd buried the hatchet and shit in LA.”
“We have. We're fine. Everything is fine.” Her normally raspy voice went extra high pitched.
He crossed his arms. “It sure as hell doesn't feel fine. Did I do something wrong? I was under the impression we were trying to be friends or … something.”
Or something was right. He'd told her he wanted to kiss her. And she was running.
Her gaze darted to the door. “Can we just talk about this later? I can't really …”
He'd freaked her out. “You're freaking out that I said I wanted to kiss you.”
A hint of pink tinged her cheeks. “Would you keep your voice down? It's better ... ” Her voice trailed.
He frowned and shifted on his feet. “Better that what?”
She sighed. “I—” She licked her lips. “Maybe with that fun guy who interviewed me, I felt something. I know it wasn't real. But to me, it felt like something. But then you are who you are and I wanted this job. I needed this opportunity. You don't know me. What I left behind in Florida. I'm looking for a clean slate and you and your reputation and the way you look at me. Not a clean slate. So, I'm not really looking to ... you know.”
It hurt. More than he anticipated. She had written him off before even giving him a chance. Not like you could have a chance with her after all. But it still stung that she didn't take him on his own merits. That she believed the rumor mill. Not that she had any choice. She's seen you get head as you call out her name.
Okay, yeah. So that was what she was talking about. It was her silent acknowledgment that she'd seen him. He straightened his back and squared his shoulders as he picked up his coffee. “I understand. Just one thing. I'm not sure what happened in Florida, but I do know that I'm taking you at face value. Might be nice if you could do the same.” Okay, that shit was enough. No more torturing himself lusting the two halves of a woman he couldn't have.
He had to go cold turkey. He needed her. And he certainly wasn't going to fire her. But he had to hire her new boss ASAP because like she said, this couldn't go anywhere. This flirtation that happened after hours. Over email. Via text. It couldn't happen and he was already risking so much with everything on the line already. He'd been in a cloudy haze of lust since she showed up here and it was time he got his shit together. The sooner he found that position, the sooner he could keep a nice, safe distance between them.
* * *
You can do this. Just go inside for your meeting and pretend none of this is real. The offer at Brennan was starting to look very good. Damn. No it wasn't. She knew what a happy development team looked like and they didn't have one. But she couldn’t keep doing this. During the day ignoring him, then at night trying to stop herself from emailing him. It was ridiculous. She'd drawn the line. The man had a penchant for dating supermodels. He was bored. Maybe a little intrigued because of her emails, but he wasn't trying to date her.
She was just attractive because she was off-limits. When the elevator door opened on the 5th floor, she tried to steel herself. She could do this. It was fine. They worked together in a professional capacity. Except he's held you so gently and let you cry. Barring that, they had a purely professional relationship.
She rounded the corner to Bryan's office in time to see a leggy brunette storming down the hallway. The woman could have been Monica Belucci's twin. But it wasn't until they passed each other in the hallway that Kyra realized she knew her from somewhere.
Head on she couldn't recognize her, but in profile she knew her all right. It was a little hard to recognize without Bryan's cock in her mouth, but yeah, that was her rooftop blowjob chick. But what was she doing in San Diego? More importantly in Bryan's office? Not that it mattered to her. Or should anyway. Fantastic. Well, it turned out he was real torn up about her turning him down. She knocked on his door and on the other side he shouted a terse, “Yeah?” When she opened the door, he was busy wiping lipstick from his lips and he scowled when he saw her. “Jesus, this is fucking perfect.”
“I'm sorry to interrupt. But you said you wanted these burn rates tonight before I went home, so here they are. My laptop's still down. I can use my personal one when I get home but I wanted to make sure you had these.”
She placed them on the corner of his desk then turned to leave. “The team is behind schedule as you'll see. That week in Los Angeles didn't help. But I've outlined a plan to get us back on track.”
He slapped down the folder. “Fuck. You're not going fast enough.”
She raised a brow. “Well, I’m pushing my guys as fast as they can go. Everyone is working their asses off for you. A thank you would be nice.”
His sexy mouth opened and then he shut it. When he tried again, his voice was low. “That's not— she's not— it's not what it looks like.”
“None of my business.” Kyra put up her hands. “This. Whatever screwed up scenario this is, it's not my business.”
He ran his hands through his disheveled array of hair. “Fuck, Kyra, it is your business. Because since I met you, I haven't been particularly interested in anyone else. And you're prickly as fuck. It's impossible to get close to you without a laptop between us. I broke it off with her.” He stalked around his desk, stopping in front of her.
“Don't do that on my account. If you want to traipse around getting public blow jobs from her that is not—”
His lips crashed down on hers effectively shutting her up.
What she should have been doing was pushing him away. What she should have been doing was telling him to stop. What she should have been doing was dragging her lips from his and walking out. Never to come back again.
Except, she did dig her hands into his shirt and drag him closer. He tasted like mint and coffee and chocolate.
With a muffled growl, he splayed his hands over her back and dragged her closer as he smoothed them over her ass. His tongue took full command of the kiss, knowing how to coax, command, and drive her crazy. When he sucked on her tongue, she shuddered, unable to control her response.
* * *
Her tiny gasp was a booming echo in Bryan’s head and he had zero fucking control going back for more. He kissed her again, deeper, sliding his tongue over the seam of her lips. Thinking was impossible at this point over the rushing of blood. When she parted for him he was a goner.
Sliding his tongue into her warm depths, he took full control of the kiss and exploration, taking as much as she would give him. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. Needed—
She wound her arms around his neck and he backed her up against the door, licking into her mouth, trying to devour her. Trying to consume every inch of this woman with the warm, bright eyes and the big smile. His erection throbbed and pressed into her belly, begging to get better acquainted with her. To get closer. To have her touch him.
Fuck. So good. And the best part? She made these little breathy, whimpering sounds like she couldn't get enough. Like she was just as keyed up and turned on as he was. Like she’d been waiting for this moment. Like she wanted him, like this, all over her, in his office hallway. And she didn’t give a shit where they were or who might walk in.
* * *
Kyra couldn't help it. Her body melted into his as h
is erection throbbed against her belly. The heated pulsing only intensified between her thighs as his tongue owned hers. Jesus, all he'd done was kiss her and she was wet. Already ready.
Suddenly, the sound of another man had her jumping back and whipping around. “Bryan, are you in your office? I wanted to go over the documents you still need to sign.”
Her head whipped around. What the—no, they were still alone; the voice was on the intercom. But the spell was broken.
He watched her warily as he spoke, his voice hoarse when he pressed the intercom. “Hi, Tom. Yeah I'm in here. It's going to be a long night.”
“Cool. I'm headed right up.”
When Tom hung up, Bryan's voice was barely above a whisper. “What are the chances that you'll answer my call if I call you tonight?”
Hell yes, I'll answer. But now that he wasn't touching her, now that he wasn't so close that his scent messed with her senses, her brain was more functional. “Slim.”
Eighteen
Any day now, Kyra was going to kill Bryan. Sooner or later, one of them would have to go, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be her.
She seethed as she stood across from him. It had been a week since he kissed her, and he was acting like it never happened. Like he hadn’t just lit her whole world on fire. But she couldn’t stop thinking about him. His hands, his tongue, his dick pressing into her. She hated him. And given his narrowed eyes and set jaw, the feeling was mutual. Well, more like he wanted to fuck her and he hated himself for it.
They’d been arguing about resources for her project for the last several weeks. Now, energy crackled around them like a brewing storm, and she half expected a lightning bolt to singe her desk. How the hell he expected her to push her team to complete the next game in time for release, without the manpower they needed, was beyond her. He thought she’d just get it done as if she had a magic wand. Moron. He’d give into her eventually. She was just that stubborn. But she hated having to beg for every development resource. Especially from him.
As their harsh breaths mingled across the desk, his gaze dipped to her lips. Instantly, his pupils dilated. As if her body was on autopilot, she responded with a racing heartbeat, wobbling knees, and a pang of lust at her center. Don’t be stupid, Kyra. You know better. Sleeping with him might be unforgettable, but it won’t get you what you want.
Palms flat on the desk, Kyra spoke softly in an attempt to rein in her response to him. “You have a choice to make. You can cut the scope of the game, or you can add more time. I can’t create miracles out of thin air. You can also give me the additional resources I asked for weeks ago. And news flash. Having you for a couple days isn't enough.”
Bryan scowled and pushed himself to standing. His taut, athletic body prowled around her office. “You’re a project manager with a background in lean development. We’re a startup. Our other resources are taxed. I thought you were supposed to be the best. That’s what I need from you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m the best project manager you have, and you know it. I’m sorry the last girl sold you a bill of goods.” He thought he could simply issue a command to get what he wanted, but what he wanted took work. It meant more nights that her team wouldn’t see their families, or girlfriends, or the light of day, and she wouldn’t have that. Determination hardened her voice as she added, “You’ll have to find another way. What you’re asking for is killing my team.”
He raised a brow. “Don’t you mean my team?”
Just what she needed, to piss off the boss. They'd been doing good … until he'd kissed her. But it was her job to protect her guys at all costs. Even if it cost her.
Drawing up to full height, she crossed her arms. About to step in a mud pile so deep she probably would regret it later, she spoke the truth as she knew it. “No, Bryan, I mean my team. You may sign the paychecks, but they work for me, because they genuinely like me and know I have their backs. Can the same be said about you? Sure, you jumped in to help in LA, but since we’ve come back, you’ve piled on the work. You’ve been crabby, pushy. You’ve acted like an ass. They are killing themselves for you.”
He glared at her. Those blue-flecked hazel eyes bore into hers. Convinced she was about to be fired, Kyra held her breath. For a long moment, he didn’t say anything, just stared at her. His gaze eventually dipped to her lips again, and a shiver stole up her back. If she stopped to think about how good he tasted, she’d burn up.
When he spoke, it was like someone poured warm chocolate over her body. Too bad he was telling her something she didn’t want to hear.
“I’m making the call, Kyra. Deadline stands. Now, either you have the stuff to do it on time, or you don’t. And if you don’t, I’ll find someone who does.”
When he stalked out of her office, she considered going after him, but that could only have an ugly end. Either they’d end up screwing like rabbits in the hallway—she wished—or she’d kill him with her bare hands. She also wished. Ever since that kiss, things were worse than before LA. When she gave him a little push back about company processes, a fight erupted. At this rate, she wasn't sure how much more she could take.
Nineteen
An hour later, Kyra finally ventured out for coffee. She had to attend the all-hands meeting in less than an hour, and she needed to be properly caffeinated before she saw Bryan again.
A low wolf whistle echoed along the long corridor, and Kyra whipped around to give whoever it was a piece of her mind, assuming it was a member of her immature development team. When she spotted Megan, she rolled her eyes. “You know, you came this close to a verbal takedown that would have scarred you for life.”
Megan grinned, revealing two dimples. Combined with her freckles and lively green eyes, the look just added to the whole I’m-cute-and-adorable vibe her friend had going.
“I couldn’t help myself. You’re one sexy mama strutting around here in your tights and flirty skirt.”
Kyra chuckled. “Well, for your information, I have a date after work tonight. It’s a blind date. Thanks to Micha. But given the mood Boss man’s in, I likely won’t get out of here to make my date on time.”
“Tell me the truth—you were a little excited for Bryan to see you in your sexed-up attire.” She waggled her eyebrows.
Yes. “What? No.” She’d sort of wanted to bring him to his knees. She’d lost it. It was official.
Megan shrugged. “I mean, honey, you look good. Like, make-that-man-screw-you good. And are those the shoes I saw Micha wearing at dinner?”
Megan was obsessed with all things fashion and had more clothes than a New York socialite. Too bad her fashion sense was wasted at X2. These guys were more impressed by the latest Sci-fi flick or Hobbit movie than Megan’s rocking pair of heels, but it didn’t matter.
Kyra shrugged. “Yeah, these are hers. I needed the boost of confidence when dealing with Mr. Dickhead.”
“We could do a whole death by seduction thing with you and Boss man. Killing him slowly with your hotness. With all that smooth, caramel skin, you look like you’ll forever be preserved at eighteen. It’s extremely irritating that you don’t even need make up. And the curly look for your hair is totally in now. Everyone’s going natural.”
“Glad to know the rest of me passes muster,” she muttered.
“Seriously though, you do look hot. Bryan is going to lose his shit.”
“Oh, God, can we stop talking about him?”
Megan rolled her eyes. “I guess the two of you have already been at it today.”
“Yeah, he thinks I’m not being aggressive enough with the team. Blah, blah boring, boring.”
“And let me guess, you bristled and told him to back off your team, and he got all, I’m the boss, do as I tell you?”
Kyra widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Oh, my God, it’s like you were there.”
Megan chuckled. “I swear. It’s the same broken record with you two. He acts like a kid on the playground and pulls your braids. You respond by throwing sand at h
im. Ah, young love.”
“Would you shut up? I do not have a thing for him.” Liar.
Megan’s brows went up, and she didn’t meet Kyra’s gaze. “Yeah. Okay. Whatever you say. He’s circling around you like he’s a starving man and you’re a juicy piece of … veal.”
“Not going to happen.” Anywhere other than in Kyra’s imagination. He was too insufferable to deal with on a daily basis.
“Bullshit. As much as he might be a prick to you, you’re not immune to the Bryan Ross packaging. No one is.”
Kyra hated to admit it, but douche bag or not, he was her personal brand of kryptonite. Dear God that body. She’d seen him and some of the guys playing pickup basketball at a park down the street once. When he’d taken off his shirt, Kyra had lost a whole chunk of time she couldn’t account for just staring at his six-pack.
Kyra tipped her chin up. “He’s pretty, but honestly he’s a dime a dozen. And I don’t share. With a guy like him, I get the feeling I’d have to get used to being one of many.”
From the kitchen, she heard a deep, rumbling laugh that made her insides melt. Damn. Freezing like a cockroach in daylight, she willed it to be her imagination. But no. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
“Danger, Kyra Benson. Danger. Boss man, ten o’clock,” Megan whispered.
From their angle, she could see just his profile. Probably best to avoid him until their follow-up meeting. But her body cemented her to the spot. Unable to move, she stood frozen. Should she turn and hide? Should she stay where she was? She wanted to see him. Wanted him to see her. No, stupid. You stay put, he sees you, and your hell begins just a little bit earlier.
Megan tugged at her sleeve. “Kyra, I for one don’t want to be witness to you two sparring this morning. So c’mon.”
Just as Kyra let Megan direct her down the hallway on the right, Bryan turned. For a hint of a moment, their gazes met. Heat suffused Kyra’s body as his eyes narrowed. It was like he could see past every item of clothing she had on to her red lace bra and matching thong.
