* * *
At last Alex led his guest into the kitchen, its surfaces sparkling in the warm light. The appliances were older, more in keeping with the traditional dark wood decor of his kitchen, but there were enough modern touches to make her happy, at least he hoped. "Can you work with this?"
"Oh yes," she said, her voice breathy, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, like his cock in his pants.
Down boy. She's not for you.
"There's additional room in here if you need it." He opened a door to show her the pantry and waited while she ducked inside to examine it.
"It's empty," she said, her voice showing surprise.
"Yeah." He shrugged. "I don't do much cooking. Mostly order in."
Lila nodded as she made her way back to the center of the kitchen. "Everything seems to be in order. I'll do most of the prep at my own place, then bring things over here for the finishing touches. As the party starts at 8, I should come in around 3, with the wait staff arriving closer to 6."
Alex nodded. The details didn't matter. "I've got an appointment that afternoon, so I'll make sure to send over a key." His appointment, a fitting for his wedding tuxedo, seemed to be a hardship now that he realized Lila would be here and he wouldn't be.
"Was there anything else you wanted to show me?"
Her innocent words struck a chord with him. Oh yes, there's plenty I want to show you.
Alex briefly closed his eyes to get his wayward thoughts under control. He opened them and met her golden gaze. "There is one matter I'd like to discuss. About the test dinner..."
"No need to bring that up," she said, waving her hands around in front of her. "It was unprofessional of me, and I think it would be better if we pretended it didn't happen."
Here she was, offering him the easy way out. No need to apologize, to let her in on his own personal missteps. Still, her straightforward brush-off of the situation irked him.
"Lila," he said, moving closer. He could smell her faint floral sent, could see the way her breath grew heavy. The words snuck out before he could stop them. "I haven't been able to think of anything else since that night."
She gasped and he took advantage, pulling her into his arms. Alex stared down into her face, her golden eyes wide, her plump mouth framed in a surprised "O." Thoughts of doing the right thing fled before he could remember them.
His lips claimed hers, touching off an explosion inside him. His hands cupped her cheeks, angling her head so that his tongue could penetrate her soft mouth. He felt her relax into the kiss as his tongue chased hers. Felt her surrender.
Alex was again amazed at the strange blend of innocence and hunger in her kiss. It was as if she had the motions of inexperience but the lust of a passionate woman. This intriguing mixture fired his blood, made him deepen the kiss, made his hands tighten, pulling her closer.
"Drake," she moaned when he pulled his lips away and began kissing a trail down to her neck.
"Alex," he growled, nipping lightly at her shoulder.
"Alex."
He groaned at his name on her lips, bringing his mouth back to hers to once again devour her.
"Cupcake, I can't help myself, I want you." He stared down into her eyes, eyes that were glazed over, unseeing in their desire. She clearly felt the same.
"Let me taste you," he whispered.
His hands were pulling off her shirt and unfastening her bra before she seemed to realize it. Then his face was buried in her beautiful breasts, licking, sucking, teasing. Lila moaned, her hands tightening on his head, as he nibbled at her nipples.
"Alex!" she cried at his teasing bite, prompting him to lift his head.
"Put your hands on my shoulders."
She did, her dark eyebrow rising in question.
Alex put his hands on her wide hips and lifted. He felt her gasp as he picked her up and settled her on the kitchen counter, then moved between her legs.
"What are you...Oh!" Her question disappeared in a gasp as he quickly unzipped her jeans and tugged them down. They were caught at her shoes so he pulled them off, then the pants, until her legs were blessedly bare.
When his fingers moved to pull down her baby blue panties, her hands stopped him. "Wait," she said. "We shouldn't be doing this."
"Fuck that," he growled. "You tasted me and didn't give me a chance to return the favor. There's no way in hell we're stopping now."
He gave the panties a tug and she relented. They joined her other clothing in the pile on the kitchen floor. Then he looked at her and his cock sprang to painful attention in his pants.
She was naked, positioned on the cold marble of the countertop, her legs slightly splayed, her round belly quivering. At the apex of her thighs, a small patch of dark hair sat above her pussy, the rest bare. Alex marveled again at the mixture of innocence and experience. What inexperienced woman had a shaved pussy?
He could see the coating of moisture on her pink nether lips and it sent a jolt of longing through him. She was beautiful, and he had to touch her.
His hands slid between her thighs, spreading her wide, before they pulled her open to his gaze. "Goddamn," he whispered, spying into her wet pink interior. Then he blew over her clitoris and her entire body shook.
"Let's see if you taste as good as you look."
Her hands were back on his shoulders, gentle pressure pushing him away. Was she still against this? He risked a glance at her face. Her cheeks were flushed, her mouth open to allow her deep breaths, her eyes wide. He knew she wanted this, so why was she fighting it?
He resisted the pressure, moving lower until his face was right before her opening and he could smell the musky sweetness of her. Restraining a groan, he probed her gently with his tongue. And those hands which had been pushing against him slid to the back of his head, pulling him closer.
Alex needed no further invitation. He dove into her, his tongue sweeping up and down along her warm slit, gathering her delicious essence. His tongue probed her, sliding inside, fucking into her as if it were his dick.
"Fuckin' fantastique." He gave her another swipe. "Oh cupcake, you taste divine."
Her moans were driving him crazy, as were the little shakes her muscles were giving. But still he could sense that she was holding back. He licked upward, toward that tiny nub of pleasure, and drew it into his mouth.
"Oh God!" she nearly screamed, coming apart under his mouth. He sucked her clit and was rewarded with a release of more musky essence. She was close, he could feel it, but still she wouldn't let go.
"Come on, baby," he whispered, then placed his index finger into her. Her pussy was tight and hot, almost scalding him. "Give it to me."
She was shaking all over, her fingers like vices in his hair, her head thrashing back and forth. He probed deeper as he scored her clit with his teeth. That action finally got the response he wanted.
She exploded under him, her cry echoing in the empty kitchen, his finger soaked with another release of moisture. She was the wettest, most responsive woman he'd ever known, and it was driving him wild.
His body was no longer under his mind's control. He undid his pants and pushed them to the floor, stepping out of them and his underwear, taking his erect cock into his hand. He was just positioning it at her entrance when Lila sat up.
"Wait!" she cried, and he froze.
What am I doing? his mind screamed at him.
His body ignored it.
"Right, I'll get a condom," he said, backing up.
"No," she said, hopping off the counter and to her feet. Then she was on her knees in front of him, her hand replacing his on his cock.
"Lila," he said, "I want to-- Ahhh!"
Her lips were on his dick, her tongue swirling around the sensitive head, making him moan, making him forget all about his desire to be deep in her tight heat. Her mouth around his cock could make him forget his own name.
Her motions were frenzied and he couldn't last under the onslaught. It seemed only a moment later that he was crying out his climax, blasting his release into her throat. She made a mewl of satisfaction as she swallowed his essence, a fact that kept his cock hard even as it should have been receding.
Alex pulled Lila to her feet, bringing her back into his arms and pressing kisses all over her neck and face. "Bedroom. Now."
"What?" she asked, pulling away to look at him, confusion evident in her expression.
"I need to be inside you." Shit, he couldn't control his words when this woman was in front of him. Especially this naked woman with killer curves and breasts that made him want to--
"I can't," she said, scrambling to pick up her clothing and dress.
Alex stood there, chest heaving, his breath like a wild horse, uncatchable. "Why not?"
She'd pulled on her jeans and was fastening her bra, then pulling on her top. "Mr. Drake, we shouldn't have even gone this far--"
"So it's Mr. Drake again? I told you to call me Alex."
She nodded but didn't correct herself. "This is supposed to be a business relationship. Instead we keep getting it mixed up with pleasure."
He'd pulled on his pants while she was talking but left them unzipped when he reached for her again. "Damn right, pleasure. I'd like a chance to show you just how pleasurable it can be."
"I have an idea," she said, pulling away from him. "And I appreciate the offer, but I can't accept."
"Dammit, Lila," he grumbled. "Fuck the professionalism. It shouldn't get in the way of--"
"It should," she countered. "Look, you're my first real client, and I'm trying to build a business here. All of that gets sidetracked if I let you persuade me into your bedroom when I belong in your kitchen."
"We've been getting along fine in the kitchen so far, cupcake."
Lila laughed, and the sound sent a shiver through him. Damn, why did this woman get to him so?
"You're right. But that's going to change. I don't have time for...whatever this is. I've got a party for fifty to cater."
Alex bit back a retort, instead zipping up his pants. The mood was shot. And he couldn't contradict her reasoning. He'd been ready to argue the same himself, before he'd seen her again. Before he'd smelled her delicious scent, like dark chocolate and strawberries.
How had everything gone so wrong?
It had felt too right in the moment.
"Sure," he said. "I apologize."
"No need," she said, gathering up her bag and making her way toward the hallway.
Alex followed, wanting to say a million things but coming up empty. He stuck his hands in his pockets to keep them from touching her. One hand came across something and he pulled it out.
"Wait," he said, catching up to her before she could open the front door. "I meant to give you this."
Lila took the envelope and opened it, peeking at the cash inside. "What is this for?"
He thought he saw a trace of anger across her face. What did she think it was for?
"I thought you might need a little more capital. My assistant said you didn't ask for a check, and I know that wine can be expensive, so..."
"Thanks," she said, her expression blank, her words clipped. "See you on Friday."
"Yes," he said, then opened the door for her. He shut it behind her after watching her walk down the drive, then leaned against the heavy door.
He'd intended to explain his mistake to her, to ask forgiveness and swear not to repeat his transgression. And yet, he'd done worse than that, had almost had himself inside of her.
His hands scrubbed at his guilty face. What a fuck-up tonight had been.
And yet, he couldn't bring himself to regret it. Tasting Lila had been the most erotic experience of his life. He licked his lips, her essence still present, and his cock still throbbing.
Despite his good intentions, his desire for Lila was an obsession. He wished he could take her into his arms, show her pleasure like she'd never dreamed.
Instead, he was going to show her what an ass he was come Friday.