As they walked up the staircase to the bedroom suites on the fourth floor his thoughts strayed. How would she feel in his arms, his mouth claiming hers, his hand caressing her curvy ass? How would she taste,everywhere? How could he bring her on board and keep his mind, and his body, off her? Well, he’d have to figure out a fucking way or he’d be forced to hire someone else. And after seeing her presentation, he had to haveher. What he couldn’t stop thinking about was all the ways he imagined.
Not one for filler talk, he walked down the hallway in silence. Colton didn’t invite women into his private quarters, but he wanted to end the tour in his sitting room, overlooking the scenic view of the back of his property. And he wanted complete privacy, something he could control here.
“After you,” he said, pushing open one of the two doors to his spacious suite.
She glanced inside. “Uh, no thanks. I’ve seen bedrooms. In fact, I have one of my very own.”
Squelching his smile, he wanted to tell her to get her ass in there. “I’ve arranged for wine in my sitting room. Unless you want to scale my home and climb over the balcony, you’re going to have to walk through that door.”
With an expression he could only surmise was frustration—though it might have been amusement—she stepped over the threshold.
Having Brigit in his bedroom felt right. Until the image of her riding him on his sleigh bed sent a punching jolt through him. But they quickly passed through and into his sitting room, where the late afternoon sun bathed the room in streaming rays of autumnal light.
A fruit and cheese platter along with an open bottle of Chianti awaited their arrival. She popped a cheese square into her mouth.
“Wine?”
Her expression lightened and she nodded.
As he handed her the glass, their fingers brushed. He could warm her soft, chilly skin within minutes if she lay beneath him, then ravage her until she lay boneless and begging for more.Exercise some damn control.
“Please, have a seat.”
She moseyed over to his built-in bookshelves. “You can read?”
He smiled. He could do so much with her sassy mouth. “Those are for show. They’re hollow, like in a movie.”
Her burst of laughter surprised him. Finally, she sat, poised on the sofa’s edge. Her ruler-straight back and stilted pose made him want to laugh. She could have balanced that cheese platter on her head. Was she skittish in his private quarters? Well, he wasn’t going to jump her. Even he had more couth than that.Not happening. No sex. No sex.
He wanted her in the absolute worst way.
Settling into his oversized upholstered chair across the cozy room, the welcomed distance allowed him to breathe something other than the coconut lotion he swore she’d slathered over every inch of her sweet body.
“Cheers.” He raised his glass. “Best presentation I’ve ever seen.”
Her vibrant green eyes grew dark, like storm clouds masking the sun. “That means more to me than you could know.”
“Tell me about your business philosophy.” He leaned back and propped one leg on the corner of the ottoman.
As she sipped the wine, her eyes brightened. “Mmm, this is excellent. Just a touch of bitter herbs.”
Her sultry whisper floated in the air and he clamped down on his imagination, which was headed nowhere good, fast. “I’m glad you like it. Are you a wine connoisseur?”
“When it comes to wine, I trust my expert taste buds.” She cozied into the sofa cushions.
Much better. See, I don’t bite. Well, not yet, anyway.
“Now about that business philosophy,” she said. “Why don’t you tell me about yours?”
She deflected my question.Rather than force the issue, he’d make an exception and play nice. “Winning is theonlyacceptable outcome.”
“Yes, it is. So, in light of your reservations, why extend me an offer?” When she crossed her legs, the skirt rode up her thighs. Pausing for a split-second to appreciate her shapely gams, he flipped his gaze back to her eyes, but she’d seen him.
Busted.
She didn’t break eye contact nor did she blush or squirm. For several tantalizing seconds, the air grew electric with their energy.
“It would be a calculated business decision that would outweigh the inevitable headaches you’re likely to cause me,” he said. “I like to win. You like to win. That’s good for business. Don’t you agree?”
