by Julie Cannon
“I’m fine,” Riley said. “Nothing dramatic, just a little close contact on the basketball court.” Dana’s eyes were piercing, searching for the truth or a well-practiced lie.
“Does it hurt?”
Not when you touch it, Riley wanted to say. She hadn’t wanted to step out of the game two nights ago to put ice on it, so her eye was swollen and the kaleidoscope of purples and reds caused more than a few heads to turn. And it did hurt like hell.
“I’ve had worse.”
“I didn’t realize basketball was such a contact sport,” Dana said, her hand still on Riley’s cheek.
“Only when you’re not paying attention.”
“Why were you not paying attention?” Dana’s voice was soft, her eyes piercing again as if challenging Riley to tell the truth.
“I was trying to,” was all Riley could say. She was, once again, caught in Dana’s mesmerizing eyes.
“You don’t seem to be the type who’s easily distracted.”
“I’m usually not.”
“Why now? Looks like a painful result.” Dana stroked the back of her fingers over the painful bruise.
“It’s nothing.” Riley wasn’t sure if she meant the black eye or if she was trying to convince herself that her reaction to Dana’s assault on her senses was nothing.
“Tell me,” Dana said simply.
Riley sensed the sincerity in Dana’s words, her gaze pulling her deeper and deeper into an unknown abyss. Warning bells should have been clanging in her head, but there was only the low-voltage throb low in her belly that was intensifying by the second. Her voice sounded nothing like normal.
“I can’t seem to concentrate on anything these days.” Dana didn’t reply, the tilt of her head encouraging Riley to continue. “My mind wanders…to other things. Things it shouldn’t,” she added tentatively.
“Why shouldn’t it?”
“Because it’s not smart.”
“In what way?”
Riley never voiced her concerns to anyone, not even Ann. She was a private person, preferring to deal with her own issues herself. And certainly not someone who was almost a stranger and her employee. But somehow, for some reason she didn’t want to think too hard about, she trusted Dana. Her touch was too tempting and Riley stepped away, turning her back to her. “I could be hurt by it.”
“Physically?”
Dana had moved behind her and Riley felt the heat of her body and the breeze of her breath as she spoke.
“Professionally.” Riley tried to remember why that had been the only thing that mattered. Her thoughts were jumbled, her legs suddenly unsteady.
“How so?”
“I have a reputation to uphold. People depend on me. Thousands of people, shareholders, the board of directors.” God, she sounded like a jerk—or an egomaniac.
“When did all this start?”
Riley closed her eyes, grateful Dana couldn’t see her concentrate to memorize the timbre in her voice, the sound of her name, the woody scent of her.
“A few months ago.”
“What happened a few months ago?”
Dana moved even closer, the tips of her breasts just touching Riley’s back as she breathed. Riley’s hands started to tremble. She started to slide down a very slippery slope.
“I met someone.”
“Someone, as in someone?” Dana’s meaning was clear.
“Yes.” Riley’s voice was a whisper.
“And?”
“And she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever known before.”
“How so?”
Riley struggled to find the words to describe Dana. She’d seen more of Jess than she had of Dana, way more. Jess was constantly on her mind, invading her work space, intruding in her dreams. Riley had seen Dana once or twice since their lunch, passing in the hall or in the cafeteria. They’d nodded politely like colleagues do, but didn’t speak. It was Jess. It was all about Jess. She didn’t even know Dana. She was pathetic. She’d fallen for a stripper.
“How so?” Dana asked again, interrupting her thoughts.
“She’s younger.”
“Is she over twenty-one?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s not a problem.”
“She has an,” Riley hesitated, searching for the right word, “unusual job.”
“Is it illegal?”
“No.”
“Immoral?”
“Some would think so.”
“Do you?”
“No.”
“And all of this is a bad thing?”
Riley’s body zeroed in on the word bad. Oh yes, Dana was very bad for her. “Yes.”
“Because of this professional thing?”
“Yes.”
“What about personally?”
Dana had moved closer, their front to back connection complete. Riley felt Dana’s erect nipples through her thin shirt. “I’m not sure.”
“Do you find her interesting?”
“Yes.”
“Attractive?”
Riley felt her body relax into Dana’s. “Yes.” Her answer was barely more than a whisper.
“Do you want to get to know her better?”
“Yes.” It frightened and exhilarated Riley that that was the only word she seemed capable of saying. What would Dana ask next that she could only reply yes to?
“Do your feelings for her scare you?”
“Yes.” That was her answer, but this close to Dana, Riley felt safe saying it.
“Is she aware of how you feel?”
“I didn’t think so.” Dana moved even closer, erasing all doubt.
“And now?”
“Yes.”
“What’s changed?”
Riley hesitated, preparing to step out on a very thin limb. “Me.”
“How so?”
“I’m here.” Might as well step out with both feet.
“Do you want to kiss me?”
Riley’s breath hitched when she heard the change in pronouns. “Yes.” The word was almost breathless with desire.
“Put your hands on me?”
“Yes.” Riley spiraled closer and closer to the edge of her control.
“Do you want me to touch you?” Dana asked, her mouth next to Riley’s ear, her breath sending chills down her spine.
“Yes,” Riley managed to choke out, her breathing rapid.
“In warm, wet places?”
Riley felt her body mold into Dana’s. She could only nod.
“Do you want me to dance for you?”
Riley was only capable of shaking her head.
“No?” Dana asked.
“No, I only want you to dance for me. Only me.”
“For your eyes only?”
Dana nipped her ear, sending rockets of shivers down her spine. “Yes.”
“Are you frightened of me?”
“No.” She was more afraid of herself.
“Fearful of what I may do to you?”
“No.” Somehow, she knew Dana wouldn’t intentionally do anything to hurt her.
“Afraid of how I’ll make you feel?”
“Yes.”
“Am I worth the risk?” Dana asked.
Riley started to speak but Dana stopped her.
“Don’t lie to yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Then what’s stopping you?”
Chapter Fifteen
Riley spun around and kissed Dana like she’d never kissed anyone before. She didn’t have to try too hard because Dana was all over her as well. Dana’s hands were in her hair, pulling her impossibly closer, molding her body so tightly to hers Riley couldn’t breathe.
The kiss pulled all the air from her lungs and the strength from her legs. She wrapped her arms around Dana’s neck to stay upright, but what she really wanted to do was drag her to the bed and never get up.
Dana’s hands moved insistently up and down Riley’s back before cupping her ass and pulling her closer. Riley felt Dana’s nipples through he
r thin T-shirt and she desperately wanted to touch them, pinch them, suck them, drive Dana as crazy as she was driving her.
Riley dragged her mouth away, gasping for air. Her head was spinning, her desire for Dana almost overwhelming her senses. Dana’s lips were on her neck, kissing and biting with equal intensity. Riley let her head drop back, giving Dana permission as well as access to anything she desired.
Their initial coupling was frantic, their climaxes crashing. Impatient hands hurried to touch. The quick graze of fingers across skin heated with desire before it might somehow slip away. Frenzied was replaced with patience and tenderness, yet it was no less feverish. It drove Riley crazy with need. Slow and methodical, Dana worshiped her. Her body begged for more, screamed for release, but Dana ignored it. She looked at every inch of Riley, then touched the same places before her mouth finally followed the same path. Riley was seared with sensation. Every nerve was overwhelmed, the anticipation of Dana’s touch, every cell in Riley’s body reacting to her caress.
Riley knew she should reciprocate, wanted to, but was helpless to do anything other than feel. Dana’s hands and lips and breasts cast a spell over her, and she was powerless to break it.
Somewhere after her fourth or fifth orgasm, she stopped counting. She’d always been a one and done girl, but obviously Dana hadn’t received that interoffice memo. With what little strength she had left, Riley pushed Dana away. “I can’t.”
Unlike the other times she said it, Dana listened, but when Riley turned her back to her, Dana gathered her into her arms. Dana’s body was warm against her back.
Breathless, they lay, legs entwined. Every breath sent tingles through Riley’s sensitive skin.
Neither one of them spoke for a long while, the silence unbearable. Riley untangled herself and sat on the edge of the bed. Her clothes were scattered around the room, her bra and panties near the foot of the bed. She needed to get dressed and get out of here. Back to her well-organized, well-thought-out life. She started to stand up, but Dana took her hand.
“Riley.”
Dana’s voice was warm and inviting.
“Look at me, Riley. Please look at me, Riley,” Dana said again when she ignored her.
Riley wanted to do more than just look at her. She wanted to get lost in Dana’s eyes, her touch, the sensations that made her forget about everything that didn’t matter. Everything except Dana.
Riley turned and faced Dana. She expected to see smug satisfaction, but didn’t. She expected to see triumph, but didn’t. She expected indifference, but that too wasn’t there. What she did see was tenderness, kindness, and understanding. But through it all Riley saw her future.
“What do we do now?” Riley asked, afraid of what the answer might be.
Dana’s eyes burned with desire with each passing heartbeat.
“We do it again.”
Opportunity of a Lifetime
M. Ullrich
Chapter One
Today was the day. Luca Garner stood in a large conference room on the first floor of LGR Financial and waited to hear the biggest assignment of her career. LGR was bringing on their next five forensic accountants, and Luca Garner was excited to be one of them. Even if it meant starting out as someone’s assistant.
“Good afternoon, everybody,” said Marvin Howell, the temporary head of the internship program, from the front of the room. Not one person was sitting, even though the long conference table was surrounded by empty, cushy chairs. It spoke volumes of the nerves passing through each of the five new hires. “As you know, LGR brings on the top five interns from the previous cycle and gives them the opportunity to prove themselves as an integral part of our successful firm.” Luca looked at the eager faces beside her and then back to Mr. Howell. The difference in enthusiasm was drastic. He let out a huff before speaking again, never looking up from the notepad in his hand. “Just like everyone else at this firm, you’ll start from the bottom as someone’s assistant and have the opportunity to work your way up from there. Any questions so far?” Mr. Howell bristled noticeably when someone raised their hand. “Yes?”
Luca noticed Charles, the biggest brownnoser in the group, was about to ask a question. Not surprising. “How does the selection process work?”
“Your internship was basically a six-month-long aptitude test. Anyone else?”
“How were we graded?” Charles added. Mr. Howell dropped his head, and Luca was willing to bet he hated how the responsibility of the introductory process fell on his shoulders this year. The administrator in charge of the interns was forced into maternity leave early, which left everyone ill-prepared and expected to fill in the blanks.
“The president and his top five accountants reviewed all the data from the cases the interns had input, then sent out a firm-wide survey. Moving on,” Mr. Howell said, looking down at his notes. “The pairings will go as such: Andrew Jarvitz will be assisting Emmanuel Cortes, Candice Gibson will be with Howard Montgomery, Krystof W-Wy—”
“Just Kris is fine, sir.”
“Thank God.” Mr. Howell paused while the room filled with laughter. “You’re with Karen Levy, and Charles Franklin…” He took a deep breath and adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses on his bulbous nose. “Charles Franklin and Marvin Howell.”
“It’s an honor, Mr. Howell,” Charles said. Luca rolled her eyes.
Luca waited a beat for her name to be announced, but nothing more was said. Mr. Howell closed his notepad and appeared ready to start the rest of his day. “Okay everyone, you know where the reception area is. Head there and you’ll find out where to go next.”
“Mr. Howell?” Luca spoke up timidly. Of course she’d be the one to end up in this awkward spot. She felt like a kid again. The one who managed to lose their class schedule on the second day of school and not have any idea what class she should head to for first period. “Mr. Howell?” she said more loudly.
“Yes?”
“Where do I go?”
“To reception, like I just said.” His patience was waning and Luca couldn’t blame him.
“You didn’t give me a name, the name of who I’d be working with—working for, sir.” Luca tilted her head down and clamped her eyes shut, unsure of whether the words she just vomited made any sense. She heard the rustling of his notepad again.
“Who are you?”
“Luca Garner.”
“Right.” He tossed his notepad onto the table, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a folded note. “I got your assignment five minutes before you all arrived.” Mr. Howell read slowly, his left eyebrow shooting up. “You will be assisting Stephanie Austin.” A round of gasps filled the room.
Stephanie Austin was revered as the top accountant, the number one consultant in the firm, which was why she occupied the vice president suite on the top floor. But for every successful fact that floated around about her, there were less than pleasant rumors as well. She was rarely seen, usually locked away in her office or working on location with a client. Very little was known of Stephanie Austin, except her exceptional success and frigid demeanor.
“Get to work.” Mr. Howell’s voice broke Luca’s trance.
She waited for everyone to file from the office before she asked, “How did that happen?”
“Like I just explained to my newest ulcer, data was collected—”
“No, I mean…” What did she mean? Luca wasn’t sure of a tactful way to ask what she was wondering. Compliments usually worked. “From what I’ve heard, Stephanie Austin doesn’t need an assistant.”
Mr. Howell gazed out one of the large windows overlooking a small lake at the center of their corporate campus in Princeton, New Jersey. His face was lit up with a strange smile. When he looked back to Luca, she wondered why he looked so amused. “I have no doubt Ms. Austin feels the exact same way.”
Luca felt his ominous tone in her gut. She swallowed her need for more information and nodded politely. “Thank you for your patience this morning, Mr. Howell. Best of luck with Charles
.” Luca rushed from the room and tried her best to catch up with their small group before they reached the reception desk.
“Hey,” Andrew said, popping off the wall where he was waiting for Luca. “Are you okay?”
Luca gave Andrew’s shoulder a gentle nudge, her way of silently thanking him for caring. They had clicked the moment they started their internship together, which was unusual amongst the cutthroat group. She knew Andrew harbored a crush for her at first, but after several mentions of the ex-girlfriend she left behind in Portland, they fell into an easy friendship. Luca was grateful to have his support.
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” Luca said, tucking a strand of her chestnut hair behind her ear. The tendril fell back out and into her face. She blew it away in frustration. Why she tried to give her pin-straight hair a curl that morning was beyond her.
“Stephanie Austin? No one works with her, Luca. Did you know most of the office calls her Stone Cold Steph Austin?”
“Like the wrestler?” Luca asked. Andrew nodded and her hands started to tremble. “I’m professional and very good at this job. No matter who I’m assisting, they’re lucky to have me.” Luca nodded resolutely. She’d been confident all morning, and no one was going to shake that.
Luca’s confidence carried her from reception to the elevators, where she gave herself another pep talk. The calendar of motivational phrases she’d received from her mother for Christmas was paying off all in one day. Once in the empty elevator she said, “I’ve got this. Everyone loves me. I was the preferred teacher’s pet throughout school, and even someone as eager as Charles can’t change that about me.” Luca straightened her posture and gave the reflection of herself on the elevator door a firm nod before the doors opened. She stepped out of the elevator and followed directions to stand just outside Stephanie Austin’s office. You’re hard working and a people pleaser, the perfect combination to be an outstanding assistant, she thought. Luca took a deep breath and raised her hand to the hard wood of the impressive office door. “Here we go,” she said before knocking.
Her knock went unanswered.
“Are you looking for someone?” a frazzled older woman said to Luca, who stood awkwardly close to the door.
