“You didn’t return any of my calls.”
“I—I was busy this weekend.”
“Did I scare you, Leah? That was never my intention. You’re the one in control.” His full, kissable lips moved closer. She never felt less in control. “I missed you.”
God help her. “Mr. Hawkins—”
“As much as I hate it when you call me that, I have to say, it turns me on.” He showed her exactly how much when his erection pressed against her belly. Even with the layers of clothing, she felt his heat, his need. “You drove me crazy in that gown on Friday night, but you all covered up like that has my imagination on overdrive.”
He tossed the notepad over his shoulder and reached for her waist, his thumbs caressing her belly. She sucked in her breath, his touch sending waves of need straight to her core. Then his hands slid down, spreading over her hips. In spite of the fear coiling through her, she wanted him—more than she did at the auction. Her body throbbed at the thought of him buried inside her—that long, thick length driving her to a shattering climax—
“Mr. Hawkins.” She barely heard her whisper. “Please let me go.”
He must have heard the fear she fought to hide, because he backed away.
“Leah—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—damn it.” He ran one hand through his hair, looking as frustrated as she felt. “I know about your former fiancé.”
Heat scorched her face, and she was so mortified she could barely speak. “How?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Tell me. Please.” She had to know who to protect herself from, who was spreading the story behind her back.
“I overheard two of my employees. They understood by the time we finished our discussion that no one else will know about it. Ever.”
“Oh, God.” Panic shot through her. “You threatened them, didn’t you? Marcus—”
“I would have done the same for anyone who works for me. Privacy is sacred, and our personal lives are not fodder for the gossip queens.” Those two words told Leah exactly who he overheard. “It was a pleasure to put those two in their place, and have a damn fine reason to do it. Leah.” His deep voice caressed her name, as gentle as the fingers tracing her cheek. “You deserve so much more than a former playboy, but I want you. In my life, any way I can get you. I can’t promise I won’t hurt you, but I do promise I will do everything in my power to keep you from being hurt. Give me a chance.”
She stared into his dark blue eyes, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it. After a few shaky breaths, she managed to pull herself together enough to answer.
“I want that, too,” she whispered.
Marcus took the rest of her breath away by kissing her.
His hands slid under her ass and he lifted her, groaning when his erection pressed into her heat. Leah wanted him—God, how she wanted him—but she gradually eased herself out of the kiss that was melting her brain, and fought to catch her breath.
“Leah—”
“Not here. I have my one night, Marcus.” He smiled, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “With clothes on.”
“I remember the condition, gorgeous.” He kissed and licked his way up her throat, and she was throbbing by the time he reached her ear. “It has to be tonight—I can’t wait any longer than that. I have plans. You have no idea just how creative I can be when presented with a challenge.”
Oh, she had a good idea. He had her panting, on the edge of an orgasm, and she was fully clothed, his hands nowhere near bare skin.
“Tonight,” she whispered. “I’m good with that.”
“Thank God.” With a frustrated growl he captured her lips again, rocking against her, his tongue sliding over hers at the same teasing, erotic pace.
A knock on the door stilled them.
“Mr. Hawkins?”
God—it was Kyle, the security guard from the lobby. The security guard Leah had to walk past every day. Marcus eased back, leaned his forehead against hers, and took a few deep breaths.
“What is it, Kyle?”
“Sorry to disturb you, but there’s a huge delivery downstairs, and they won’t leave it without your signature.”
Excitement lit his eyes. “Tell them I’ll be right down.” He waited until Kyle’s footsteps faded, then kissed her, with enthusiasm, before he lowered her to the floor. “My new toys are here.”
“Wait—not the gaming computers?”
“Yes.” He kissed her again, and tangled his hands in her hair, ruining her neat bun with his clever fingers. “Come down with me, Miss Frane, and help me check the inventory.”
She smiled up at him. “It is my job, Mr. Hawkins.”
His laughter rumbled through her. After a last kiss he took her hand, detouring to grab his glasses off his desk. When he slipped them on her heart did a flip—he looked so damn sexy. She could almost forget he had more money than God, and was her boss.
That was a detail they’d have to talk about. Tonight.
She shivered at the thought of what might happen. What she wanted to happen.
Marcus led her to the door, and let go of her hand to pull it open. He looked a little more rumpled than usual, but none of the other women in the office would notice. While he made his way across the waiting room, Leah took the time to redo her bun. That would be noticed—and she didn’t need any enemies. The women here were already jealous that she was his assistant; any whisper of scandal and they would make her life hell.
When she bent down to retrieve the now creased notepad, she saw Marcus at the elevator, his fingers tapping the plate above the call light. He glanced over his shoulder, like he knew she was watching him, and winked at her. She swallowed, warmth spreading through her, centering around her heart. Lord, was she in trouble.
He stepped into the elevator, and braced his hand on the door frame. “Coming, Miss Frane?”
“I’m on my way, Mr. Hawkins. Did you need the invoice?”
“No.” A smile spread across his dangerously handsome face. “I have an eidetic memory.”
She fussed with the notepad to cover the blush heating her cheeks. By the time she reached the elevator she was a bit more composed—until the door slid closed and Marcus trapped her against the back wall.
“Is this going to become a habit, Mr. Hawkins?”
“God, I hope so.” He tossed the notepad over his shoulder—again—and leaned in to nibble her earlobe. “I have a vivid imagination to go with that memory, Miss Frane.” The way he said her name made her shiver. She felt him smile against her cheek. “And I have imagined you in so many different scenarios. All with your clothes on.”
“Oh, God,” she whispered. What had been meant as a deterrent had become a challenge for him.
He captured her lips before she could say anything else, kissing her until she couldn’t think straight. Only the weight of his body kept her upright, her legs as steady as rubber. He must have been counting floor dings—by the time he freed her and they made themselves presentable, there were two floors until they reached the lobby. Marcus picked up her notepad and handed it to her, the gleam in his eyes leaving her jittery.
“I plan on bringing the packing material home with me. So many things one can do with bubble wrap, and packing tape.”
Her knees nearly buckled.
Smiling, Marcus strode out of the elevator. “Coming, Miss Frane?”
Any second now.
She clutched the notepad and followed him toward the pile of boxes. It was going to be a long day.
Tonight. She could last until tonight.
One night with Marcus Hawkins was worth the wait.
END
~ * ~
Thank you for joining Marcus and Leah on their first eventful date. One Night, part 2 of The Hawkins Brothers, is now available here:
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Excerpt from One Night
Marcus couldn’t remember the last time he had fun with a woman.
Most of the women he dated wanted to show up to the latest must-be-there event on his arm, be fawned over—with expensive gifts whenever possible—and end each long night with sex. After several years of meaningless dating, it was like checking off a to-do list. He expected to eventually marry one of them, because that’s what was done in his family. So far, he’d been able to put it off, especially with the explosion of his tech company.
The hobby had become his new obsession, pushing him to the forefront of the fast and furious tech world. He didn’t want anything else, not until he reached the lofty goals he set for himself.
Then Leah Frane walked into his life.
She was a puzzle, an intriguing one, and he meant to unravel her secrets. Slowly, with both hands. He couldn’t wait for tonight—especially with her challenge of keeping their clothes on. He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet on the desk, sorting through the options he had already thought up to get around that little barrier—
His phone rang, startling him out of sexy thought of Leah, and him, up against a wall. With a silent curse he reached forward and grabbed the phone. It was probably his brother Graham, with some other way to irritate him.
“Hawkins.”
“Marcus? Oh, thank God! You have to get out, now—she coming for you—ˮ
“Leah?” He sat up, cradling the phone. She sounded hysterical, and Leah Frane was anything but. “What happened, sweetheart?”
His voice seemed to calm her. She took a shaky breath, her voice more even. “Tanya jumped me.”
His heart skipped. He forced himself not to shout. “Where are you?”
“On the side of the building, near the parking garage.”
“Get inside, stay with the attendant. I’m coming to get you—ˮ
“She told me not to see you again—that she would—ˮ
“Fuck her, Leah.” He used his language to shock her out of her panic. “She tried to control my life once. I’m not letting her do it again. Get to the garage and wait for me.”
Before she could object he hung up.
He shoved out of his chair and grabbed his jacket on his way out of the office, wishing he had his pistol here and not in his desk at home. From this point on, he’d been carrying it, until that crazy woman was out of his life for good.
Threatening him was one thing. She crossed the line when she went after Leah.
She’d pay for that.
***
Who is Lily Marie?
I love to tell stories – everything from shifters and love in space to pure fantasy.
Add some strong but tender heroines, throw them together with tortured or bad boy heroes, and heat is bound to happen.
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***
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I Need A Bad Boy: A Collection of Bad Boy Romances Page 115
