Chapter Four
Carson glanced around the room from his seat at the end of the bar. The low ceilings and dim lighting provided a cozy atmosphere that was countered by the upbeat music piped through the sound system. The hipster after-work crowd was peppered with middle-aged couples catching dinner, which offered a nice, upscale balance.
His location gave him a direct line of sight to the front door and a good perspective of the entire room. He didn’t recognize anyone. Good. He’d picked this place because it was far enough from the office to avoid their after-work crowd without being completely inconvenient.
He checked his watch, took a sip of his scotch. Would Avery show up?
The line of booths along the wall would’ve given them a more secluded space to talk, but he didn’t want this to be intimate. He was potentially fucked enough as it was. He didn’t need to add harassment to Avery’s list of complaints.
The door swung open. A fading swatch of daylight shot in. He blinked as his smile spread. Avery stood in the entry, scanning the room. Her cheeks were pink, most likely from the chilly breeze that’d kicked up with the setting sun. But she flushed easily, at least around him. It screamed of an innocence begging to be explored.
He stood, nodding to her when she spotted him. A subtle shift went over her from relaxed to guarded. He could almost see her armor slapping into place. She pressed her lips tight, chin lifting, stride determined. Her black trench coat was cinched around her waist, a red bag clutched over her shoulder in a flash of hot color.
She was on a mission, and he was pretty certain it varied from his.
“Avery,” he said, greeting her. “I’m glad you came.”
She frowned, her brows pulling together beneath her bangs. “I didn’t have much choice, did I?”
He pulled the bar stool out for her, taking her coat as she removed it to hang it on the high back. “You always have a choice,” he leaned in to tell her, nudging the stool forward.
A light peppermint scent drifted over him to drown out the wet bar smell. He inhaled again, held it. Goodness and Christmas. He hadn’t picked the scent up when he’d been at Gregory’s office, but it’d been there when she’d come to his. “I believe I clarified that earlier.”
Her sigh was long and weighted. She shot him a glare as he took his seat. She set her bag on the ground, then twisted to face him, hands clasped on her lap. Her eyes were narrowed with intent.
Damn, she had spunk.
“Look—”
“Can I get you a drink?” he interrupted. Her mouth snapped shut, eyes darting to his half-full glass, suspicion glaring. “No strings. I promise.” He lifted his scotch. “Nothing that is said tonight has strings. Another promise.” He took a drink, letting the peaty heat sit on his tongue before he swallowed it.
How would it taste licking it off her neck, her breasts? Would she squirm or purr?
A tense pause stretched while she searched him. He didn’t look away. Hell, he had no desire to look away from her stunning eyes. A mix of blue and green that ran closer to blue. Did they change based on her clothing color?
It took more strength than it should have to keep from reaching out to see if her cheeks were warm or chilled. The tinge complemented the shade of her lipstick, a light pink that meshed with her porcelain skin tone.
“And,” he went on when she remained silent, “this has nothing to do with work. Not this meeting or anything that is discussed.” He signaled for the bartender. “No one will ever know of it—unless you tell them.”
Her eyes widened at that. She shifted her focus to the bartender, compressed her lips. “A glass of red wine, please. House is fine.”
Carson’s relief eased out on a low exhale. Maybe this wouldn’t go too badly.
He remained silent until her wine was set before her, then he lifted his glass in a toast. “To a productive conversation.”
Her burst of laughter was clipped and sharp, but the remaining smile took the edge from her stiffness. She shook her head, eyes closing briefly. Her shoulders dropped and she clinked her glass against his. The wine was dark against her pink lips when she took a sip. He couldn’t take his eyes away from the common act that became sexy with her.
“Okay.” Her glass clicked on the wood bar top when she set it down. “I’m here. I already told you I won’t say anything about last night.” She winced, looked down. “I’m sorry I walked in on...that. It wasn’t intentional. I swear.”
“I never thought it was.” Her surprise reaction had been proof enough of that. He pulled a folded paper from his inner pocket, smoothed it out. He retrieved a pen next, twisted it open and set them both before her. “I need you to sign this non-disclosure agreement, though.”
She stiffened. “Why?” Panicked defensiveness sprang from her tone.
He eyed her and weighed his options. “Because you saw some very intimate things. An act that could ruin many lives if you choose to talk about it.”
Her head was shaking before he finished. “I won’t. I’ve told you that how many times now?”
“And I believe you.” He did. “But this—” he tapped the paper “—is for the others who were in the room. They don’t know you. I need to ensure they’re protected.”
She sat back, her soft laugh heavy with sarcasm. “And what about me? What if one of them—or you—decide to twist the story and put me in it?”
“They’ve already signed this.” But damn did he love that she’d thought to protect herself as well. “They’ll never talk about anything that happened in the Boardroom.”
Her eyes widened again, the pupils enlarging this time. Her thoughts were telegraphed to him like they’d been spoken. Images of last night bloomed in his mind, of Avery watching the trio. Of her flushed and wanting, her hand inching toward her breasts.
She cleared her throat, took a sip of her wine. Fuck. He shifted his legs apart to gain more room for his too-interested dick. How could he not respond to her when her desire showed so vividly?
Her voice was husky when she asked, “Does that happen a lot then?” She waved her hand. “The boardroom thing?”
She was interested—not that she wanted to admit it. He contained the smile that spread within him and tapped the NDA contract again. Too much was at risk if she didn’t sign it.
And so much was possible if she did...
Her glare screamed her annoyance before she snatched up the paper and started to read. A sense of unearned pride burst in his chest when she didn’t blindly sign the document. That feisty edge of hers was as tempting as the blushing naïvety. Would she melt or fight? Cry out loud or hold it in?
He hid his smile behind his glass this time, emptying the contents.
She set the paper down when she was done and then turned her head to look at him. “Is there a catch?” She nodded to the NDA.
“Nope.” He motioned for another drink. “It’s exactly what it states. Don’t speak about anything you saw in the Boardroom to anyone. If you do, you’re liable for the financial penalty and open to lawsuits from anyone in the Boardroom.” Would she catch that “Boardroom,” as documented, meant the private group of men and women who participated in various acts of group sex, often in public spaces?
“And this?” She pointed to the capitalized Boardroom written on the first line as the disclosing party. “What does that mean?”
And she did.
He gave a small shrug, hiding his appreciation for her shrewdness. “Let’s just say it’s what you walked in on.”
“Really?” she asked. “In the boardroom?” He lifted his brow, and she laughed softly. “This is getting more confusing, but fine.” She grabbed the pen and signed her name. “There.” She set the pen down, sat back. “Documented proof that I won’t say a word, but...” Her eyes narrowed. “Where’s my proof that you won’t say anything?”
“And what would I say?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Seriously? You could get me fired!”
He jerked back, scowled. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I said the same thing, and my word wasn’t enough for you.” She brushed her bangs away from her eyes in an irritated shove that matched her scowl.
His admiration came out on a low chuckle. She was getting sexier by the moment. He’d assumed there were brains beneath the beauty, but seeing them in action added a deeper, more interesting layer to her. “You’re right.” He leaned in, that peppermint scent teasing him closer. Would she smell like that everywhere? Would it deepen when she was turned on? Would she taste as fresh? He retrieved the signed contract and placed it, along with the pen, back in his pocket. “I’ve already signed one of these. The same rules apply. Your privacy is protected under that.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Everything that happens within the boundaries of the Boardroom are protected. That included you the second you entered.”
“And what about outside of it?”
He had a whole hell of a lot of ideas of things they could do both within and out of the Boardroom—if only she was receptive. “You’ll have to trust me.”
“Of course,” she mumbled before taking a healthy gulp of wine. “So...” She shot him a side-eyed glance. “Are we done?”
Not if he had his choice. He crossed his arms and rested them on the bar. Her profile was soft, like her. The long line of her neck was exposed, daring him to drop kisses down the side. Did she have any idea how alluring she was?
He caught a guy staring at Avery, his gaze saying exactly what he’d like to do with her. Carson waited for the guy to notice him and smiled when the guy quickly turned away. Yeah, she was his for as long as she sat next to him. “Tell me, Avery.” He waited for her to look at him. The hesitation was back in her eyes, a wariness he wanted to displace. “Are you seeing anyone?”
Her brows drew together. “Why?”
That was probably a no then. “Have you ever seen anything like that before?” He watched her eyes go wide, breath grow shallow. So authentic. There’d been no need for him to clarify his question. Her mind was on last night, and she obviously wasn’t disgusted. Not even now, after the shock had worn off.
“Umm...” And there was that flush. Light this time. More pink than deep red. “Not like that.” She twisted the stem of her wineglass, her focus on her fingers.
“You were shocked.”
“Yes.”
“But interested too.”
Her head whipped around. “No!” The quick denial was automatic and too insistent.
He narrowed his eyes. “I’m not trying to embarrass you, truly.”
“Well, you’re doing it anyway.”
“Are you embarrassed by my questions or your response?” he countered softly.
She stared at him for a long moment before dropping her head back, eyes closing as her defeated laugh teased him over the din of the crowd. Her hands fisted on the bar, a grim smile curling over her lips.
He’d cornered her and had zero regrets about it. She’d liked what she’d seen—he’d bet his job on that. And he wanted to explore that interest with her. But she had to be willing, her own curiosity driving her.
“Why do you care?” she finally asked after taking another hefty drink of her wine.
Because you’re beautiful. And that was a shallow answer. The truth went much deeper. The tension drew tight between his shoulder blades, the importance of his response dancing on his awareness.
He could walk away right now. He should. And what would he miss if he did?
“Because I think you were interested. I think you found it hot even though your background said you shouldn’t.” He turned to her when she didn’t reject his words. Her lips had parted, want battling with denial in her eyes. “I think a part of you would love to let go like that, but you’ve never dared to before. Or maybe you’ve never had the opportunity.” He leaned in, tempted to steal a kiss but knowing she’d run if he did. “I think you want to see more. Do more. Try more.”
She swallowed, the action snapping at the energy that hummed between them. He had her, if he could just get her to admit to her desire.
To let go.
“You—” She cleared her throat. “You think a lot.”
His laugh was lost beneath his breath. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting that,” he said. “What you saw last night was between consenting adults.”
Her tongue snaked out in a slow glide between her lips. He clenched his hand to keep from touching her. A caress down her arm, a possessive stroke along her jaw. She was primed for persuasion, and he wouldn’t be that guy. “How does it work?”
Her breathy question tempted him closer. His dick was so damn interested he had zero chance of hiding it if she glanced to his lap. “What, exactly?” he asked, his voice lower and intimate, matching hers.
That alluring blush spread over her cheeks once again, but she didn’t look away. “The sex.” He lifted a brow, and her flush deepened. She fluttered her hand around in another encompassing motion. “I mean the group thing. How does it get arranged? Do you know everyone and them you? How do you face them afterward?”
His amusement rumbled out when her barrage ended. “Now who’s thinking too much?” Her lips pursed in a prim rebuff. “The scenes are about feeling, not thinking.” That was part of the draw for him. “A heightened escape that lets you safely explore what most of society scorns.”
“Safely?” A doubt wrinkle formed between her brows. “How is that safe?”
“The contracts. The select group of participants. The locations. It’s all defined to minimize the risk for everyone.”
“Until someone like me walks in,” she snarked.
Someone who longed to try it but was too rooted in her conservative boundaries to dare. “But you didn’t immediately run away.” He waited for her objection but got none. A passionate woman simmered beneath that demure skirt and high neckline, he’d bet his career on it. “Would you like to come with me next time? To watch...again?”