The weekend passed, and slowly but surely Maria began to feel somewhat better. Nobody had seen them, and they were two consenting adults. The policy was in place to keep everything running smoothly and professionally at the firm, and as long as the incident did not affect her work, there would be no problem.
When Maria walked into work on Monday, her mind was entirely on her case. She sat down at her desk, and got immediately to work. She reevaluated her tactics, and oriented herself more toward listening and gathering information. With that in mind, she set to fine tuning the details of her presentation for the court. It would take a lot of initial work, and then a lot of revising and editing, but it was work that she knew must be done.
By the end of the day Maria had made significant progress. She was content to go home and take a nice, relaxing bath. The next day, Maria made similar progress, but she was beginning to be unsure of herself. She wondered where she could go if the defense, or even the judge asked certain questions. She entertained the idea of going to Daniel, but was filled with anxiety at the mere idea. She resolved to work out her problems on her own, no matter how difficult they were.
On Wednesday, though, the option was taken out of her hands when she heard a knock at her office door.
“Come in,” she said unthinkingly, still focused on her work.
“Hello Maria,” Maria sat bolt upright as she heard Daniel’s familiar voice, teasing as always. She fought the panic that had risen within her and struggled to maintain a calm exterior.
“Hello,” Maria gave him a small smile, and he chuckled lightly.
“I just came by to see how you were doing on the case,” he said easily, coming to lean on her desk.
“Oh, it’s coming along just fine,” Maria said unconvincingly, and Daniel raised a brow.
“May I take a look,” he asked, and held out his hand for her materials.
Maria nodded and handed over her documents. She was horrified that he was here, but at the same time, she was relieved and grateful that he could help her out with the case. She watched him as he read over her new work, and waited silently for his response.
“Excellent work Maria,” he said, looking up at her, his expression no longer teasing. “You are definitely going to make more of an impression this way. I’m very impressed.”
Maria couldn’t help but smile brightly at the praise. She may be embarrassed by their actions with one another, but at the end of the day he was the best in her field, and to be praised by him was a very high honor.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” he inclined his head.
Maria took her documents back, but she was aware of Daniel’s eyes lingering on her. She looked back up, and felt her stomach clench as she saw that his eyes did not dance with their customary humor, but were instead sober and contemplative as he looked at her.
“Is… that everything?” Maria asked tentatively, beginning to feel nervous.
“Actually, I had hoped to discuss something else,” he said, and Maria swallowed.
“I know what we did was unprofessional,” Maria began. “And I am going to do my best to keep it in the past where it belongs, so that it won’t impact the quality of my work.”
Daniel frowned and cocked his head.
“Is that really what you want?” he asked, his voice darker and softer than usual, and Maria felt a shiver travel down her spine. Maria could say nothing.
“I wanted to invite you to dinner at my apartment on Friday,” he said, moving to pace about the room.
“Oh,” Maria blinked. “I don’t…”
“Don’t answer me now,” he held up a hand to stop her from speaking. “Think about it. I will understand your answer whatever it is. I know about the policy, and you know how I feel about it. I don’t want that to influence your decision. There is something about you that intrigues me, Maria. I have known many women, and I have never been so… fascinated.”
Daniel stopped speaking for a moment, and merely looked at her. His brows were furrowed in concentration, and his eyes searched her face for any emotion. This was hardly the playful, teasing Daniel Boone everyone wrote about in the media. This was a different man before her completely, and Maria was at a loss for words.
“Think it over,” Daniel said at last. “Come to my office on Friday. I want to see what work you have done on your case, and I want your answer. I’ll see you then.”
Without another word, Daniel left the office, and Maria let out a pent up breath. Her head was spinning, and she had no idea what she was going to say to him. The sane part of her mind begged her to say no, but another part of her was full to the brim with excitement that he had even noticed her.
Then again, Daniel had a reputation with women, and maybe this was just his tactic to get her into bed with him. After all, he was a lawyer, and he could certainly lie convincingly. Maria logged that into her brain, and tucked it away. She was still at work, and she still had a case that required her attention.
And Maria did try to focus on her work, but she couldn’t help that her mind always managed to drift back to Daniel. She remembered his words, and she wondered if he was sincere. It seemed that the harder she tried to push the thoughts away, the more she thought of him.
This was even worse on Thursday. She knew that the next day, she would have to approach Daniel and give him an answer. She was horribly worried that continuing such an affair would lead to her demise. He didn’t care about the policy because he was all but famous, and he could easily get another job. She, however, could not afford to lose this job, and she wasn’t sure he was conscious of that fact.
At the same time, though, Maria couldn’t deny the fierce attraction she had to Daniel. She had been attracted to men before, but there was something else with him. He ignited a part of her that she had never even known existed. And along with that, there was something more tender as well. The emotions warred within her, and only served to confuse her.
Friday came before she was ready to give Daniel an answer. She was, though, ready to discuss her case. So, she gathered her courage, and decided to go to his office. She would just have to wing it.
She moved through the hall to his office, and he answered the door as soon as she knocked.
“Good morning Maria,” he smiled.
“Good morning,” she offered a smile in return, ignoring the frantic beat of her heart.
The two immediately moved over to her desk, and Maria wasted no time handing him the case files. Daniel read over them, and she asked him all the questioned she had amassed over the week. Daniel offered his opinions, and Maria took careful notes.
“Again, I have to tell you that this is very good progress,” Daniel shook his head.
“Thank you, and thank you for all your help,” Maria said gratefully.
“Of course,” Daniel smiled pleasantly. “I haven’t seen such talent in a recruit in years, especially in prosecution. Most don’t last, but I have a hunch that you’ll be just fine.”
Maria smiled, again eager to accept his praise.
“Now, on to a different matter,” Daniel leaned back in his chair. “Dinner tonight?”
Maria stiffened. She still did not have an answer. She decided, instead, to respond with a question of her own.
“Is this just standard protocol for all your conquests?” she said, making sure to keep an air of humor about her voice. Daniel, however, was not amused.
“No, actually, it isn’t,” he said, his voice short and clipped. “This is an invitation, not a proposition.”
Maria was not entirely convinced.
“You have to understand,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Your reputation precedes you, and I’m not stupid. I’m not eager to fall into a trap.”
“I’m not trying to trap you,” he said, his voice more gentle. “I know it must be hard to believe me.”
“Considering your line of work, yes,” Maria nodded.
“Yes,” Daniel chuckled. “And I suppos
e that’s a call you have to make, but my invitation stands, and I need an answer.”
Maria looked down into her lap. Her thoughts raced, and she did several calculations at once.
“Yes,” she answered, almost before she realized it.
“Excellent,” Daniel smiled broadly, though not in the victorious manner Maria was expecting. “I remember where you live. I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.”
Maria nodded and gathered her papers off the desk. She moved toward the door, but Daniel waited to open it.
“Thank you,” he said to her, as she approached. “I am grateful to have this opportunity when you would have every reason to say no.”
Maria swallowed against the lump in her throat.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he said, and opened the door.
Maria hastily made her way back to her office, and wondered what she had just gotten herself into.
The rest of the day passed all too quickly, and Maria soon found herself at home, getting ready for her date. She decided on a nice, dark blue dress, and a set of matching heels. It was classy and elegant, and definitely not too revealing. She wore a simple set of pearls and matching earrings. She applied a layer of subtle makeup, and allowed her hair to hang in waves about her shoulders, opposed to the updo she usually wore for work.
Before she knew it, it was seven twenty, and she knew she should head downstairs. She applied a light layer of perfume, and took up her purse. She locked the door behind her as she left her apartment, and headed down the elevator. By the time she made it down, Daniel was waiting for her in the lobby.
He was dressed in a dark charcoal suit and tie, with a white shirt. As usual, the fine suit was tailored perfectly, and served to accent every inch of his form.
“You look stunning,” he greeted her, and gestured toward the door.
Daniel led Maria out to his car, and held the door for her as she took her seat. He took up his place in the driver’s seat and they headed toward his apartment, which was about a twenty minute drive.
Once there, Maria was immediately astounded by the opulence of the place. Even the lobby was marvelous, with marble flooring and modern decoration. Daniel led her to the elevator and swiped a card, in no time the doors opened into Daniel’s apartment.
Maria was awed. It was everything one would expect. Sleek leather couches were arranged in a stylish manner. A dining area was defined by a large, dark table, and the huge kitchen was separated by a bar. Maria did not have time to take everything in before Daniel led her to the table.
“I’ll be just a moment,” Daniel told her.
Maria watched Daniel move into the kitchen. He gathered up several bowls and plates, and then returned, laying them out on the table in front of them.
Maria salivated as the aroma of baked chicken, rice and vegetables met her nose.
“It smells wonderful,” she said politely. “Did you cook this?”
“I did,” he answered, smiling.
Daniel put several portions of each dish on her plate, and then on his own. Maria took a bite, and nearly groaned at the flavor.
“Where did you learn to cook like this?” Maria asked.
“Well, I’ve spent a lot of time in restaurants,” he answered. “My dad was a chef, and I worked in restaurants. So I picked up a few things.”
“When did you ever work in a restaurant?” Maria asked him, intrigued.
“I worked all through high school, and then I worked all through law school,” he said. “Harvard doesn’t pay for itself.”
“I had no idea,” Maria blinked.
“There’s a lot people don’t know about me,” he winked at her. “But, you don’t advertise your struggles, you advertise your successes.”
Maria thought on that statement as Daniel poured them each a glass of wine. She was becoming more and more curious about the man in front of her.
As the dinner progressed, each of them spent time telling one another about themselves. Work never came up, which surprised Maria to no end. She had always pegged Daniel as a workaholic, who bought things and slept with women in his leisure time. He was slowly revealing another side, one that enjoyed art and literature, as well as camping and hiking. All in all, he seemed much more… human.
Even after they finished eating, they moved into the living room, and took their wine to continue their conversation. Maria, too, was revealing her history to Daniel. She let him in, telling him about her tastes and interests, and even about the unfortunate events of her childhood. He was gentle with his response, but Maria had been quick to change the subject. She had never told anyone about that, and she had no idea why she was suddenly letting Daniel inside.
The conversation lulled, and the two sipped their wine as they looked out at the city through the large window that made up Daniel’s living room wall. Maria looked over at Daniel. She was feeling the effects of her wine, and she couldn’t help but notice Daniel’s strong body. She remembered how he had felt as he pounded into her, and she couldn’t help but squirm a little on his couch.
Daniel felt the movement, much to her embarrassment, and he turned to her. She saw his eyes darken as he took in the way her body was reacting, but he looked away as he met her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he shook his head. “I didn’t ask you here to sleep with you.”
Maria could not help the slight feeling of disappointment. Silence spread out between them.
“I really enjoyed your company tonight,” he said to her.
“Thank you for having me,” Maria smiled softly.
“Let me give you a ride home,” Daniel stood, setting his glass on the coffee table.
He moved over to Maria and held his hand out to help her to her feet. From where he stood, though, Maria could see his erection through the fine material of his slacks. On impulse, she leaned forward and nuzzled her face against his member.
Daniel hissed at the sensation, and his hand promptly moved to the top of her head, holding her away from him.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice strained.
“I want you,” Maria whispered, her eyes looking up at him from where she still sat on the couch. Her hands moved to his thighs, and she began trailing them up closer and closer to his entrapped erection.
“Please,” Daniel seized her wrists in one hand. “If I sleep with you, you’ll think that’s all I want from you.”
Maria blinked, taken aback by his words.
“What exactly do you want from me?” she asked, frowning in her confusion.
“I invited you here so we could get to know each other,” he said, frustrated. “I… you’re… you’re different from other women. I don’t know what it is but… I don’t just want you for sex.”
Maria frowned. This revelation was making her head spin, but her body was still throbbing with desire.
“I don’t just want you for sex either,” Maria said aloud as she realized it. Over the course of their evening, Maria had felt her feelings develop toward Daniel. She found herself wanting to move forward, get to know him even more. She wanted to have a real relationship with him.
“Good,” Daniel laughed, though his voice was still strained.
“But that doesn’t mean I want to throw sex out the window,” Maria explained.
“Maria…” Daniel said, his tone warning.
“Daniel…” Maria said, her voice heavy pleading. “Please… I want you…”
Maria nuzzled her head against Daniel’s hand, which was still hold her away from him. She saw his thoughts warring in his eyes, and she could still see the outline of his thickness against his pants.
“I want you too,” he said softly, gently pulling her to her feet by her wrists. “Come with me.”
Maria’s stomach fluttered as he took her by the hand and led her to a door of the apartment. He opened it to reveal his bedroom, which was complete with a fireplace and a bed with light grey sheets and comforter. The room featured mahogany furniture, and dark red carpeting.
>
Maria did not have long to take it in as Daniel led her over to the bed and sat her down on its edge. She felt her breath catch as he knelt on the ground in front of her and carefully removed her shoes. His hands cupped the backs of her calves, and he placed a kiss on her knee.
Maria took a shuddering breath as Daniel slowly traced his hands up her thighs, placing kisses along the inside. She felt him drag her panties down his legs, and off her feet. He took hold of her hips between his hands, and she jumped as she felt his warm breath against her center. Maria looked own at him, and their eyes locked as he lightly ran his tongue over her clit.
Maria gasped, and she dug her fingers into the bedding beneath her as Daniel drew his tongue over her sex. She moaned as his tongue entered her and began to slowly move in and out. He moved his hands, and parted her folds, gently rubbing at her clit with his thumb. Maria closed her eyes and sighed as he placed a soft, sucking kiss over her sensitive nub.
Daniel slowly withdrew and stood. Maria watched with rapt attention as he shed his jacket, tossing it haphazardly onto the floor. He started to undo the buttons of his shirt, and Maria could no longer sit still. She helped him with the task, and Daniel slipped the shirt off, tossing it in the general direction of his jacket.
Daniel made to press Maria back into the bed, but she was not content to do so. She quickly undid his belt and unzipped his pants, and jerked them down his legs with his boxers in tow. Daniel’s length bobbed in front of her, and Maria wasted no time taking it into her mouth, wrapping one hand around the remainder of his shaft. She bobbed her head up and down along his length, and softly worked him with her hand.
Daniel took hold of the hair at the nape of her neck, and pulled her back. Maria looked up at him, confused, but her mouth was promptly covered as he kissed her. He lowered himself over her as he laid her back on the bed, kicking off his shoes in the process. His hand traced up her side, taking her dress with it, and he pulled the garment up over her head.
Maria laid still as Daniel’s eyes traveled over her body. She took the liberty of removing her bra to save him the trouble, and she saw his eyes darken even further. He kept eye contact as he lowered his head and took a nipple into his mouth, and Maria arched her back, holding his head tightly to her breast.
Romance: Abducted for love ( Bad Boy BBW BWWM Romance) Page 11
