When they’d discovered who he was, the hotel management had gone all out to make up the mess of Cara’s clothes. Sounded like they’d fired the schmuck at reception too. When he called room service half an hour ago, he went straight through to a special staffer who arranged a Valentine’s banquet fit for, well, someone with a serious sugar addiction.
“It’s a bit sweet for me,” he said, trying to shake his hands at his sides without her noticing. It might have been an old habit, but it calmed him.
“I’m sure,” she said and all but rolled her eyes at him. Was she flirting? Joe looked at her and realized that the hot flush from the shower would have faded by now. The rose tint to her skin was embarrassment, or maybe, arousal?
Just then there was a knock at the door and Joe cursed who ever had decided to use this moment to interrupt. But Cara practically flew to answer it.
“Wow,” she said as the concierge handed her a stack of shopping bags.
“You said you’d get me a dress, not a wardrobe,” she said to Joe when the door was closed again.
He shrugged then saw her trying not to look inside. “Go on, try them on,” he said, waving at the bathroom. “Take your time, this isn’t going anywhere. But when she’d closed the door behind her, he wasn’t sure whether he’d meant the food, or himself. Pulling out his phone for distraction he noticed a series of texts from Richard. His eyebrows rocketing, he dialed Richard’s number.
“So when you say it wasn’t her, what do you mean, exactly?”
Richard was equally to the point. “The DEA made a couple of arrests. One guy in the factory at our end, another in the Chicago distribution warehouse. They’re pretty sure they’ll get the supplier too.”
“And no links to Ms Reynolds.”
“None at all.”
Joe rubbed his face. “Did I get it wrong about her?”
“I couldn’t say sir. I wasn’t working for you five years ago. But it seems that Ms Reynolds is entirely above board now. I’m not one to speculate on what might have happened.” There was a pause and Joe realized that for once, Richard would speculate if he asked him to.
“Go on. If I ask you to venture an educated guess, then it’s on me. I won’t act on it.”
Richard cleared his voice. “Well then, I’d say Ms Reynolds is mostly what she appears to be. Nice girl. Animal lover. Passionate professional. Odd that she ran from New York right after the incident you’ve told me about, so…”
“So?”
“If I were a betting man, I’d put odds on there being a connection between Ms Reynolds and Brook Pharma.”
“There was. She used to work there.”
“A bigger connection than that.”
Joe’s skin prickled. “Come on man, you can’t leave it like that. Are you looking into it?”
“I am. Leave it with me.”
“But she’s off the hook?”
“For the African shipment, entirely. For the previous incident, I’d say you should at the very least give her the benefit of the doubt.” Richard hung up and Joe stared at his phone. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and for the first time in he couldn’t remember how long, he was dumbstruck. First that he’d been so wrong about Cara, and second that Richard had broken his code and speculated. “If it had been anyone else…” he muttered.
“If who had been anyone else?”
Joe looked up and his mind was wiped clean of rational thought. Cara had on one of the dresses from the shopping his PA had arranged.
“Is it a bit tight? I sort of felt like it was, I’ll try another.”
“It’s not tight,” said Joe. And made a mental note to give his PA a bonus when he got back to Austin. The dress was pale green, like Chinese tea. A sheath that hugged Cara’s hips like it had been painted on, and the paleness of the green only made her eyes look brighter.
“You should have told them to get me something more casual. I can hardly wear this home on the plane.”
“You should,” he said simply.
“With a trench coat, an umbrella and a pair of snow boots maybe,” she said with a laugh but her eyes danced with his compliment. He saw them there, warming her from the inside and it only made him want to add to her glow.
She stood there, and Richard’s words echoed in his ears. Nice girl. Animal lover. Passionate professional. She was all that, and–he looked her up and down–and a whole lot more. He’d always been attracted to how tall she was. How tall she was and how she carried it off. Many tall women stooped to hide their height, especially in a corporate environment when the men in charge were shorter. But Cara never had. She was an Amazonian goddess, especially in that dress, and every fiber of his being wanted her to know that.
“So,” she strode back over to the food, clearly looking for distraction. “Where was I?” Grabbing a strawberry she slid onto the bed, looking like a spread from a men’s magazine. “I love chocolate as much as the next girl, but I can’t go past fresh strawberries, can you?” She held one out to him and he took it, relishing the crunch of it between his teeth.
“I mean strawberries, in February! Even for you that’s impressive.” She reached for another just as he did and her hand brushed over his. Looking up, his world was suddenly full of brilliant green. Her eyes were wide, focused entirely on him, and the compliment from earlier had made them sharp, sparkling.
He picked up the strawberry she’d dropped and lifted it to her mouth. Neither of them broke eye contact as she took a bite and he watched the juice run over her lip. Tracing it with index finger, he licked the juice from its tip.
If she looks away, then this is not real. He was used to getting what he wanted, but only when the other party was willing, or at least could be convinced to be willing for a large amount of cash. Sex, however, was the one thing he’d never bought. Sure, some of the women he’d been with had been attracted to his bank balance, most of them probably. But Cara had never cared, and he didn’t imagine that had changed.
She didn’t look away.
What are you doing? He was giving her the benefit of the doubt. He picked up another strawberry and ran it over her lips, making her teeth chase it before they snapped off the tip in one bite. That was enough to sweep any thought of ignoring their tension out of his mind and he was up out of his chair before he could let reason interfere, pushing her back onto the bed and demanding a taste of her sweet strawberry mouth.
She gave it, gladly, and when her tongue danced with his, he lost himself in the familiar sensation. Because that was how it felt, like coming home. When he’d kissed her on the plane it had been a taste of what they’d shared years ago, but now, with no passengers around him and a giant luxurious bed beneath her, he wanted to see if every part of her tasted the same.
Tracing the rise of her breast against the silky green fabric with the palm of his hand he relished the way her back arched and her breath came out in a short gasp. Sliding his hand up to the thin strap on her shoulder he trailed his fingers over her skin. Her skin…he’d always loved touching it. Soft was too small a word for it, it was luxurious, delicate, delicious. Dipping his mouth to the hollow between her collar bone and her throat he took a bite and she whispered his name.
“Joe.” Hearing her call to him like that was a stronger aphrodisiac than twenty pounds of strawberries.
Running his hands down her arms, the straps of her dress came away and the fabric slithered off her, revealing a bra that was the barest whisper of lace. “Very nice.”
“It’s not my usual style.”
“Well it should be,” he said and put his mouth to her nipple, making her gasp again as he almost tore the lace clean away to bare her flesh.
Aching to have her skin cover his, he stood back and shucked his shirt over his head. Standing over her, watching her watch him, his brain suddenly kicked into gear. It remembered that she’d run into the night, that she worked for him, that there was something unknown about her connection to Brooks, then she shimmied out of her dress compl
etely and his brain shut the hell up.
Dropping his pants he crawled up her body, kissing his way to beneath her thighs. She was wet. The silk of her panties soaked through. Leaving his hand cupped over her sex, he moved up until he could lay his chest next to hers, then he stroked her through her panties till she opened her legs. “You still like that?” he said into her ear.
Taking a handful of his hair, she pulled his head back and nipped at his throat, before saying. “I like a lot of things now. Time you learned what they were.”
And grabbing hold of his hand she pulled it up, rolling herself on top to straddle him.
The sight of her, naked, on top of him, sent his cock into over-drive and he let a little groan escape as the hardness of his length pressed into her thigh. He loved a woman who took charge, but today he wanted to be the one to make her come apart. Whether as an apology for believing she could be a drug smuggler, or whether for the five years he’d missed out on he wasn’t sure, but he didn’t care, he just wanted to watch her come. “I think it’s time I found out just what they are,” he said and with a push, had her back under him, her arms pinned over her head with one hand.
“You always get what you want do you?”
“Today…” he said, sliding his hand down her front to stroke her over her wet silk, “…yes. And watching you scream out my name is at the top of the list.” Tearing her panties away he slid his finger along the seam of her body. The nub of her clit was hard, eager for his touch and when he circled it, he watched Cara throw her head back and her pupils dilate. When he drew his finger in another languid circle she moaned, a sound that came from the very core of her being and he knew he could easily make her come right then and there. But he didn’t want it easy. “I could make you fall apart right now.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “Yes, please.”
“I’m not going to. I’m going to make you see stars, and then when they’re still spinning in your sky, I’m going to make them explode all around you.”
He slid two fingers inside her with no other introduction and she gasped as he stretched her. Taking her breast into his mouth he circled her hard nipple and at the same time rubbed the base of his palm on her clit. Just as he’d promised, he watched her face, her eyes closed now, her bottom lip held in her teeth as she arched her body into his hand. God she was beautiful. Always had been. Curling his fingers inside her he pressed against the spot he knew would make her come under his hand and her teeth let go of her lip, a groan escaping her lips. Green eyes fluttering open she sought him out. “Take me,” she begged and he smiled. “I’m going to take you, don’t worry,” he said and sped up his rhythm.
Her hand gripped his wrist so hard he felt the sharp points of her fingernails but it only made his cock throb harder. He’d never wanted to be inside anyone more in his life. But first… her muscles started to clench around his fingers and she cried out his name. Her body shook, her hips writhing against his hand as she came. “Oh my god, oh man, oh yeeees.”
Waiting until she’d stilled, he left his hand on her, only withdrawing when she’d stopped shuddering. Her eyes opened and her pupils were immense, dark, drowning with lust. “That was…” she said then trailed off.
“Good,” he said.
She grabbed for his pants and pulled a condom out of his wallet.
“How did you know…”
“You’re a creature of habit,” she said and stopped any further discussion by rolling it onto him, slowly but firmly. “My turn,” she said and straddled him again, positioning herself over his rock hard cock.
“Already?” he asked, but didn’t bother with the rest of the question as she lowered herself onto him, the two of them both sighing as their bodies joined.
She was…fucking perfect. As she started to ride him, he held back as much as he could, gripping her hips and pulling her towards him in long easy strikes. But all too soon he felt her rubbing herself on him harder and he couldn’t help it, he rose his hips up to meet her, burying himself so deeply in her, he thought he might lose himself inside.
Their pleasure grew, circled and stretched till he wasn’t sure if he knew which way was up anymore, and then, just as he thought he’d never hold on a moment longer, he felt her clenching around him. “Now?” he managed.
“Oh yes. Right there, right now.”
He let go and it was him seeing stars as he exploded into her, the world collapsing in a black hole of lust and spent passion.
She collapsed off him, and as he pulled her into his chest, she whimpered, saying his name so quietly he wasn’t sure he’d heard it. But when he went to question her, he found her already blissfully, dreamily, asleep.
8.
She should have tossed and turned all night. Maybe it was the relief that the Valentine’s campaign was over. Maybe it was the million thread count sheets in the Penthouse suite, or maybe it was the epic sex-a-thon she’d had with Joe. Seriously? Okay, it was definitely the epic sex-a-thon.
Sex had always been knee-squeezingly good with Joe, but this…this was Out Of Control. Her five-years-older body was lying there, thanking her five-years-older mind very much for not getting in the way and over thinking things last night, when Joe came out of the shower. Jezussss. She looked at him a moment, just gazed, and as a stray droplet of water rolled from his hair onto his shoulder and rolled down his pecs, across his abs, down to the edge of the towel…
“Morning sleepy head.”
Cara snapped her focus back up to his eyes and was relieved to see them full of a smile. “What time’s our flight again?”
“Not till twelve.”
“Ohmigod, yeay.” She snuggled under the cover and let the air out of her lungs in a satisfied sigh. It was like she’d gone back five years to before their break up, but with the addition of five years of knowledge, of confidence, of strength. Everything between them was the same, only better, stronger.
He laughed and came over to slide onto the bed next to her. “You’re not having withdrawals from checking your phone every minute?”
“Hey. You should be pleased I take my work seriously.”
“I am.”
“I mean, national television coverage of our promotion? You should be showering me with gifts. I still can’t believe that’s happening. Perhaps I should check my phone.”
He laughed and pushed her back into the covers. “A network showing the viral videos is fantastic, yes. Have I not told you that enough times?”
“Nope.” She gave a fake pout.
“You did great. You are great.” He leaned over and kissed her and just like that, she was lost. This time there was no rushing to shed their clothes. There was no rushing, period. His hand slid the covers back and smoothed the sheet away from her shoulder, her breast, her stomach. He sat back on his heels. “Did I say you were great?”
She smiled and he bent down to kiss her, to let his tongue languish over her body, till slowly, luxuriously slowly, they opened up to each other and he slid inside her.
Holding his gaze as he brought her to climax, Cara felt like she might fall into it and never be able to crawl back. How had things gone so horribly wrong? She couldn’t quite remember.
Aching in the best way possible she smiled as they uncoupled and he enfolded her in his arms, tugging her closer. Her thighs might complain about it later, but right now, Cara was going to lap up everything this impromptu sex-fest had to offer.
“Thank the lord for bad Chicago weather. I haven’t done this in forever.” The words came out of him as a growl as he nibbled at her throat.
She laughed and relished the sound in her ears. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
He shrugged. “Believe what you want.”
Turning her head she frowned at him. “You’re serious?”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy to spend some of your hard earned squillions on a lazy morning in a hotel room?”
“Those squillions don’t make themselves.”
&nb
sp; Letting her head roll back on the pillow, Cara stared at the ceiling. “True. But what about in your down time. What have you been doing the past five years?”
“Working.”
“No, I mean for fun.”
“Working.”
“Really?”
He chuckled. “Yes, really.”
“What on?”
Now it was his turn to roll towards her. The stare he gave her was two parts Spanish Inquisition and one part Yoda mind-bend. Then, as if he’d decided something he nodded. It was a tiny gesture, but lying so close to him, she saw the change in his eyes. “I’ve had a pet project for the last ten years. It’s been successful. And now we’re in full clinical trials.”
“Wow. That sounds good. Is it big? Like curing cancer big?”
“Not quite curing cancer. But it is a cure for something else. Something close to my heart. It’s going to change life for a bunch of people.” He checked her again, then added, his eyes sparking with energy, “It’s already changed my life.”
This was the Joe she had been with five years ago. This caring, compassionate, wildly ambitious man. Then, as if it was already evening and someone had flicked a switch, a light bulb flashed in front of Cara’s eyes. “You were sick. That’s what the whole thing between us was. You thought I told someone at Brook Pharma that you were sick and now you’ve cured yourself.” She looked at him wide eyed and waited for his reaction.
He nodded. Slowly.
“Wow.”
“Pretty much.”
“It wasn’t me,” she said. “I didn’t steal anything. I didn’t break your trust and I won’t now. I swear it.”
“I believe you.”
“But you didn’t then?”
“No.” He sighed, long and deep. “There wasn’t anyone else to blame. And I was so hurt. And angry. All my life I’ve had to look out for myself. To fight for what I wanted. If it were up to my family I’d still be in Mexico, working in a chicken factory.”
“And instead you’re creating cures for debilitating conditions. I bet they’re proud. My mom would be bursting at the seams wanting to tell people about it. It must have been hard for them having to keep it a secret.” When he didn’t react, she asked, “You’ve told them right?”
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