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Selfish thoughts slipped past her defenses as if proving a point. Samantha’s warm brown eyes that saw too much. That irresistible mind and thirst for knowledge. The way she challenged Natalia kept her guessing and off-balance.
Being with Samantha felt dangerous in a way Natalia hadn’t experienced before. Dangerous because she made Natalia want. Made her wish for more than hurried nights of passion that ended with Natalia stealing away before dawn.
Samantha made her imagine a different kind of connection. One where she didn’t feel the overwhelming desire to bolt. One where she could linger in strong arms that didn’t judge or try to possess. What the fuck was she supposed to do with that?
Her office phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“Natalia,” a small voice squeaked from her speaker. Toni. The new receptionist. “This woman is here, but she doesn’t have an appointment and I was going to send her away, but Adriana said you’d want to know she was here and am I fired?”
Instead of making sense of Toni’s sniveling, she opened the security software on her computer. In a few clicks, she accessed one of the cameras in Dominion’s public spaces. Adriana’s instincts were always on point.
Leaning against the reception desk with a hand in the pocket of her tailored trousers, Samantha was adjusting her glasses. Natalia’s attention lingered on Samantha’s arm. If she closed her eyes, Natalia could visualize the tattoos hidden beneath the white fabric of her Oxford shirt.
“Shall I prepare the conference room?” Toni asked, tone wavering under the weight of uncertainty.
“No, I’ll see her in my office,” she said, her finger on the button to bring down the navy blue shades.
Natalia Flores didn’t get nervous. She didn’t get childish butterflies or allow her pulse to quicken in her throat. Certainly not in a situation like this. Not over a woman. She reminded herself of that before she pulled off her reading glasses and turned off her computer monitor.
Seconds crawled. Natalia debated getting up and meeting Samantha by the door. Had she been too quick to lower the shades? She wouldn’t see Samantha’s approach. Her attention flashed to her screen. She could check the security cameras.
She imagined Samantha and her confident stride reaching her office door. Unsure of how much time she had, Natalia pulled a contract from her to-do stack. Putting her glasses back on, she picked up a red pen and flipped to the middle of the document seconds before Samantha pushed open her door without knocking.
“Oh, shit. Excuse me.” Samantha exaggerated her tone as if she’d walked in on an unexpectedly naked stranger. “The girl up front must have called a different Natalia Flores and told her I was coming.”
Natalia leveled her with a look. One that turned her amusement into an icy death-ray.
Brimming with arrogant self-indulgence, Samantha strolled in and closed the door behind her. “Quite the nice spot you have here,” she said while pointing to the uncovered view. “I’m surprised you ever climb down from your perch to mingle with the unwashed masses.”
Leaning back, Natalia crossed one leg over the other. Predictably, Samantha’s attention flittered to her bare legs and dropped over the curve of her calf. Her pleased smirk disintegrated.
Upper hand regained, Natalia tipped her head to the side. “If you’re here, who’s minding your ivory tower?”
Samantha’s full and infinitely kissable lips bloomed into a smile. “And here I thought you’d be curious about what I’m doing here.”
“And unannounced.”
“You love that, huh?” Samantha did a terrible job of biting back her grin or looking contrite. “Well, despite what you might think, I didn’t stop by with the intention of distracting you.”
“Good to know my productivity was collateral damage.” Natalia pinned her with her unwavering gaze, but Samantha never receded from it.
Samantha chuckled. “And before you ask, no, I do not want to talk about the book.”
Natalia leaned forward and waited for Samantha to continue, refusing to reveal a hint of curiosity.
“I came to collect on your offer from the other night.” Samantha ran the tip of her tongue across her canine like she was one of the vampires in her myth. “For a date.”
Natalia flicked the end of one eyebrow. “Date?” She recalled the weight of Samantha’s lips, the crush of her body against hers. “Your memory must be compromised, Professor.”
“Oh, I must have misunderstood your breathy whispers while you were mauling me. I thought you wanted to see me again.” Samantha shot to her feet, her movements athletic while she went for the door. Moves that reminded Natalia of how confidently she’d handled her all those nights ago.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Natalia said before Samantha’s fingers wrapped around the door handle. She wasn’t going to fall victim to such an amateurish negotiation tactic. “I would think you’d hate the concept of dating.” When Samantha turned around and sat down again, she continued, “I’m sure the whole thing has its seeds in women being chattel.”
Wearing her pleasure at being stopped from leaving on her face. In the color on her cheeks. In the amber of her eyes. Samantha plopped down, wearing amusement like a mask. “There’s almost nothing we can’t take back and make our own.” She crossed her ankle over her knee, exposing her Dior socks. “Do you want to go out on a date with me? A romantic one where the aim is to get to know each other. Maybe after that, I’ll invite you to my place for a nightcap.”
Natalia stopped short of smiling, her heart kicking up dust as it raced into her throat. “I’ve already had your nightcap, Professor. Have you forgotten?”
“I’ve not thought about anything else,” she shot back without hesitation.
