by Opal Carew
"Your demonstration was successful. You may…dismount." His eyebrows lifted.
That made her blush even more and she stepped down.
When her feet were back on the floor he moved closer still – so close she could smell his cologne – and ran the back of his knuckles down the front of her throat, stroking her skin as if he were admiring her. "Have dinner with me, we can discuss it in more relaxed surroundings"
The direct invitation surprised her. "Is that normal, I mean, for an employee to take a potential client out at this early stage in negotiations?"
He cocked his head. "Concerned about appropriate behavior in a given situation? I like that in a woman."
Naomi wasn't sure what he meant by that, but he was smiling a wicked smile and it did bad things to her. Was it right to be this turned on by a man who held the future of her business in his hands? No, it wasn't, but she couldn't help herself. The man was drop-dead gorgeous and he was flirting with her.
Moving quickly he fetched her jacket and clutch bag, handing them to her.
She pushed her feet into her high heels, straightening her dress as she did so. "My portfolio case…"
"Leave it, we can collect it later if needs be."
Naomi paused. She had a change of clothes in there. She'd arranged to spend a few days in London with an old friend from Art College.
He stood by, her jacket in his hand, encouraging her to leave with him. His free hand was lightly placed at the small of her back.
Her feet began to move of their own accord, in time with his.
"Please, don't be cornered about protocol," he added as they left the office. "I own the Eaglestone Agency. That means I make and break all the rules around here."
Realization hit her hard and fast.
The man taking her to dinner – the man with his hand so intimately placed against her back – was A. L. Eaglestone, owner of the Eaglestone Agency.
She met his glance, saw the humor in his eyes – and the seductive promise – and her knees almost went from under her.
Chapter Two
Never had such a vision of lush femininity walked across the reception of the Eaglestone Agency. Lucas could only be grateful he'd been there to witness Naomi Kildare's arrival, or she might have been turned away before he even set eyes on her.
That would have been a tragedy.
She'd been wearing her hair up, and he'd instantly wanted to see it down, preferably hanging loose over her naked shoulders. When she did her jogging stunt and it slipped free he couldn't have been happier.
Her figure was quintessentially feminine, and the outfit she wore showed off her hourglass curves to perfection. If he could have frozen the image of her walking into his office wearing that dress he was pretty sure Georgio could place her designs in every top store in London and beyond.
Her hair at first appeared to be a dark mahogany color, but when it caught the light it shone bright red. Her eyes were green and her skin pale, except when she blushed. It was akin to the coded color choices in her Highlands Inspired designs and he wondered if she knew that. How enticing it would be to have her as the face of her own range. She surely was an elegant beauty and she'd caught his attention. That hadn't happened for a long time.
With the sour taste of a broken relationship and an acrimonious divorce in his mouth no woman had sharpened his appetite for some time. When Lucas felt that rush – the need to know and possess – he acted on it immediately. Besides, he'd never felt the urge so quickly or strongly. Not even Clara, his ex-wife, had elicited such an immediate and powerful urge in him. Perhaps it was because it had been a while. On the other hand, Naomi Kildare was an exceptional woman. Creative, talented, and a confident business woman. Yet there was that underlying hint of vulnerability, the occasional flash of innocent curiosity that piqued his interest.
Was she a submissive lover? Would she open and blossom under a dominant hand? Lucas wanted to know. And he found his interest reflected in her eyes. The magnetic draw between them was strong. There was no ignoring it.
While looking across the dinner table at her Lucas anticipated tasting her, pleasuring her with his mouth until she cried out for him.
He was rock hard in an instant.
"Is the lobster good?" He reached for his wine glass.
She paused and dabbed her full lower lip with her napkin before answering. "Delicious, yes, thank you."
In the elegant surroundings of the best restaurant in Piccadilly she looked like a gem in the perfect setting. Lucas noticed she drew the attention of other men, and he could hardly blame them. Her eyes sparkled. The wine he'd ordered had mellowed her. During the car journey to the restaurant she'd seemed nervous and he was concerned he'd pressured her into accompanying him. Now that she was relaxed and enjoying herself he knew he'd done the right thing.
"Do you come here often?" She smiled as she asked the question. "The waiters appear to know you well."
"I do. I'm afraid I don't cook and I've been living alone for the past ten months or so." He dropped that in deliberately. He still didn't know if she was single. She didn't wear any rings and she was flirting with him. It didn't necessarily mean she was unattached, but it was important to him that she was. He wouldn't go there otherwise. "My working hours are long and unpredictable and I rarely get to shop or think about food until it's too late. Which leaves me the option of grabbing take out, or stopping by one of my favorite restaurants – and I'm not big on take out. "
"Ah, now I do succumb to take out if I'm working late. We have some great international food in Edinburgh. I enjoy cooking though, but I've been so busy working on the range and the shop, well, it's rare I get a chance to cook."
Her accent was soft, lilting. He wondered if it was a regional thing or whether her time studying in London had altered it.
"Anyone special to cook for?"
Her lips curved. "Are you asking me if I'm single?"
"Yes, I am. I'm pretty sure you have plenty of friends to cook for."
She chuckled. "Yes, I'm single."
"I'm glad we have that established. I don't like to take it for granted. I should've asked before I invited you to dinner."
"How very proper of you." She looked at him accusingly from under lowered eyelids. Her smile lingered. "But I thought this was a business dinner?"
"It's whatever we want it to be." He looked at her deliberately, letting her feel the weight of his intentions.
Her eyes widened. How quickly she responded to him. It was a compelling symbiosis they had. It made him wonder if the instant trigger would be reflected in a more sexual encounter. He was willing to bet it would. He intended to find out.
"Don't you think you should've informed me that you were the owner of the company before I presented my designs?" The look in her eyes was challenging but tempered with humor.
"I didn't want to intimidate you in any way."
She laughed aloud. "Oh, my. You don't need a fancy job title to intimidate people with. You do just fine without the add-on."
"You find me intimidating?"
She pursed her lips, acting as if she was giving it some thought. "You're a self-possessed man, imposing." She paused, as if choosing her words carefully. "Yes, I suppose you did intimidate me, but not in a bad way… in fact it was kind of exciting…"
Her chin lifted and she met his gaze directly.
He inclined his head, acknowledging the intimacy of her comment. "That makes it so much better."
His gaze lingered on her. He was going to enjoy every moment of Naomi Kildare.
"Is it something you've heard before, the intimidating thing?"
"Oh yes, many times. I've been accused of that and a lot more. Arrogance, pig-headedness, you name it. Usually when I'm telling people things they don't want to hear."
The sound of her laughter made him feel warm and mellow. Like a slug of good brandy it hit the spot.
"Were you neglecting your own clients to deal with me?"
"I put my ca
lls on hold. I don't often do that."
"That was considerate of you."
He shrugged. "It's good to know it's possible. I like to be available to my personal client list and our retail contacts around the clock."
"What kind of product designer do you work with yourself?"
"More techy stuff. One of my clients is a gadget inventor. He wants to remain freelance and not have to worry about patents and marketing, but it's a competitive field and if he has a new item to market it has to be done fast to keep the edge."
"That must be demanding."
"It is. There's always something that should be chased up and done faster, or else there's a disaster to be averted." He smiled. "I certainly haven't had time for much else, recently." It was the honest to god truth, and he'd liked it that way for a long while. Until he saw her. Then he wanted his desk clear – preferably so he could fuck her on it.
"Did you build up the Eaglestone agency yourself?"
He nodded. "I wanted to avoid the family business, that's how it happened. Sounds rather dishonorable, doesn't it? My father had my whole life planned out for me. He's in retail. The agency angle was close enough for him to agree, and it let me be my own man."
"It's important to you, being the one in charge?"
Did she say that because he'd taken charge of her? Her eyelids were lowered and she was pretending to look at her plate.
"I like to win. It's important for me to succeed in everything I do. If I'm in charge that's the best way to ensure I make it happen."
"You still need to rely on other people though, those who are…under you." She chuckled.
Had she used a double entendre on purpose? Lucas didn't think so, but she'd realized what she'd said after the event.
"Well now, how can I put this?" He lifted his wine glass and took a sip, eyeing her over the rim. "I make sure the person...under me…has everything they need for their…satisfaction, then everyone's a winner."
She stared at him, her lips slightly parted, her eyes dark with interest.
"Are we still talking about business?" she asked.
The nature of the conversation was turning her on, he could tell, and he was pleased she went with it and bounced the ball back into his court.
He pushed his plate aside, rested his arms on the table and leaned in, so he was closer to her. "I find the same rules and benefits of power exchange apply in more intimate circumstances."
"You're argument is persuasive," she offered cautiously, her full lips lifted at the corners.
"That's good to know." He was about to say more when her expression suddenly morphed.
"Oh, dear." She glanced at her watch and pulled a phone out of her bag. "I'm going to have to make a call. I was supposed to be meeting Sam."
Lucas frowned. Sam? Who was Sam – a guy or a girl?
"I'm so sorry," she said, "I'm staying with her for the weekend. I'd better let her know."
A girl. Lucas nodded then checked his email on his phone while she called her friend.
"Sam, hi. I just wanted to let you know I've been invited out to dinner by my…" Her lashes fluttered up and she looked at him as she sought the right word, "…contact at the Agency."
The voice at the other end of the phone grew loud and excited. Definitely a woman's voice, Lucas decided, relieved.
"Yes, thanks," Naomi responded, blushing.
The pink hue on her cheeks made Lucas think of sex. It made him think about her skin taking on a rosy hue under his hand. She was listening to her friend and looking a little awkward. The woman was obviously attempting to grill her for details.
Reaching over, Lucas drew the phone from Naomi's hand. "Hi Sam. This is Naomi's contact at the agency. I intend to keep her entertained for as long as possible. In other words, don't wait up."
He ended the call and handed her back the phone. "She'd asked a question and put you on the spot, hadn't she?"
Her surprised expression broke and she laughed. "Yes, she had rather."
He noticed how soft she was, elegant but somehow vulnerable. Her red hair shone under the lights. He wanted to touch it, to discover its texture under his fingers. Instead, he reached out and drew her hand into his. She didn't resist. "I've enjoyed your company immensely. I don't want it to end. Will you come home with me?"
Her eyes revealed intelligence, consideration. "Are you asking me to sleep with you?"
"Yes." He gestured to the waiter for the bill. "Are you surprised I asked?"
She paused before responding, as if she were choosing her answer carefully. "There's an attraction between us, a powerful one. And you've flirted and alluded to your sexual preferences throughout dinner." Her glance was teasing. The corners of her beautiful, lush mouth lifted. "It's just…I wasn't expecting you to be quite so straight to the point."
"I'm a direct man."
"You are. But we've only known each other…what, four hours?" Humor flashed in her eyes. Interest, too. She wanted him as much he wanted her.
"Four hours, and I haven't yet tasted you. What an incredible waste of time, especially since I wanted to taste you as soon as I saw you."
There was a flush of color on her cheekbones again, the response that made him wonder what her naked body would look like with a similar flush on it – a flush of physical and sexual pleasure.
She met his gaze, and a mutual understanding passed between them.
"Ready to go?"
She nodded.
Lucas smiled. Being direct rarely failed to get him what he wanted.
"In that case, let's not waste another moment."
Chapter Three
As soon as the door to his apartment clicked shut Lucas closed on her, pinning her up against the wall in the hallway, caging her there with his body.
Naomi trembled. She wanted him, but he'd flagged up some pretty intense sexual preferences, and she was flying blind on that score. Apart from some playful spanking she'd never played with a real Dom before. Everything he'd said had intrigued her and turned her on, big time, but she was stepping into the unknown.
Then he locked his hand around the back of her neck, his fingers moving beneath her hair, and ducked his head, kissing her hungrily.
The kiss, at last. She'd been thinking about it all evening, wanting it and imagining it. His mouth on hers melted her doubts away, instinct taking over.
She let go her bag and it fell to the floor. Her hands locked around his head as responded to him. With his free hand he hitched up her skirt, cupping her bottom in his hands, pushing aside her lacey underwear so he could touch her skin. She gasped at his forthright touch and her head fell back against the wall. When she did, he ducked his head to kiss her throat. His teeth grazed her throat.
"I want you so much," she murmured. She felt delirious as she said it. "Lucas, please... I really want this, but I'm a little afraid."
He drew back, pausing. "Don't be. I'm here to look after you."
She clung to him, swallowed, then nodded. There was no turning back. After she'd given way to her doubts and agreed to go home with him, she had to know what it would be like to have sex with a man like Lucas.
"Come on, let's get properly inside."
He gestured down the hallway and led the way.
Naomi was grateful for the short reprieve, and tried to gain a measure of her surroundings as she followed him. She was fully expecting his home to be identical to his office, all male and minimal. He flicked a light switch as they entered the sitting room. To her surprise it was quite different to the geometric black shapes of his office. The building was a conversion from an old Georgian manor house, by the looks of it. His was a ground floor apartment and although it wasn't vast, there was an ostentatious feel about it that came from the considerate renovation of the original features. White pillars and tall windows gave the place grandeur, while shutters and an original fireplace gave comfort. Oddly, it looked as if it had been furnished in the style of a hotel suite with matching taupe sofas and numerous cushions in
autumn shades. It didn't have a personal touch, but it was luxurious and comfortable.
Lucas watched her as she glanced around, and he looked like a big cat assessing its prey, and she was that prey. It made her feel light headed.
"Tell me why you're here," he said.
"I'm here because I wanted to know what it'd be like, to be alone with you."
He nodded. "Show me how much you wanted that."
Naomi's pulse raced. She wasn't sure what he meant.
"Strip," he added, with a quick nod at her clothing.
The command fell from his lips so easily, as if he was asking her to take a seat. But the effect it had on her was devastating. Can I do this?
It's what she'd come there for, to get intimate with him, and he was taking control of her, as promised, but she hadn't expected the simple but stunning one-word instruction.
The answer was that she couldn't walk away – she couldn't not do it.
Bracing herself, she kicked off her heels and took off her jacket, throwing it onto a nearby sofa. Mercifully she'd worn her best undies to give her confidence. She'd had no idea they would be exposed in any way, let alone to a gorgeous, masterful man who had her weak in the knees. She reached around to undo the zipper on her dress, but her hands were shaking. Calm down, she told herself.
Stepping out of her dress, she threw it on top of the jacket. She was down to matching black lace bra and panties, and sheer black stockings. With one hand she unclipped her bra and let it slip away down her arms. Her nipples were taut with excitement and she shivered when the fabric left them and they were bared.
He was forcing her to be brave, asking her to undress for him. She risked a glance at him. She could see the concentration in his eyes.
They were learning about each other. That's what it was all about.
Beneath his zipper she could make out a bulky erection. It was such a turn on to know he wanted her, that he was ready. It urged her on.
