Chapter Thirteen
“I think I want to hold off selling the Los Padres property.” Ryane paced across her office in front of her father and Patrick. She stopped in the middle of the room, opened her manila file folder and held up her carefully crafted document. “I have run some reports and with the value increasing every day, and the land in the area becoming more scarce, if we wait six months to a year, we will realize a much larger return. However, I do feel we should go forward with purchasing the extra land.”
With her statement out, she walked forward and handed a copy of her report to each man. “I also have a lead on pink file folders.”
Both men glanced down at their papers. Her father elbowed Patrick. “Did you do this?”
“Daddy,” Ryane protested.
Patrick shook his head. “No, this is the first I’ve seen of it.”
“I mean did you create this change?” her father asked.
She clutched her non-pink folder to her chest. No, Patrick didn’t create the change, Knight created it. She had to fight for her property and keep what she had with him. Tomorrow she would be seeing him and the mere thought made her whole body jolt with anticipation. What would the two of them do? How far would they go with Knight?
“I think Ryane was pretty sharp on her own.” Patrick crossed the room to her. He took her hand and kissed the back. “However, I do hope I am responsible for the blush on her cheeks.”
Since she walked away from Knight last week, she couldn’t stop the blushes, the flutters, her body aching with want. Rather than answer Patrick, she simply smiled one of those feminine smiles a man could take any way he wanted.
Patrick raised his eyebrows, no doubt deciphering her expression to suit him, and why shouldn’t he? Also since leaving Knight, she had been with Patrick, four dinners, a business meeting, a brunch and a movie. Without question they were a couple, but her heart was elsewhere. In short, she didn’t lie when she told Knight her life was a mess. A tiny bit of luck on her side, Patrick had to go on a business trip starting tonight, which would give her plenty of time with her other man.
Yes, she had turned into that woman.
“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with how everything is turning out.” Her father joined them, patted Patrick on the back then leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I say we have the acquisitions team go forward and secure the extra piece of that Los Padres property, and I agree with Ryane on postponing the sale. Good job, Princess.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She didn’t remember the last time her father was proud of her.
“I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to our Anniversary Ball.” Her father puffed out his chest a bit. “Ryane always has a surprise there. Perhaps you two can partner up on something.”
She made sure not to flinch, but in her dreams all she wanted was for Knight to escort her. In a tuxedo with his long hair and dark bad boy looks, he would be such a contrast to every other male there, but he would also be the most gorgeous one. Her heart ached for what she wished could be.
“Well, I better get ready to catch that plane.” Patrick kept his focus on her.
“Let me leave you alone to say your goodbyes.” Her father nodded and left the room.
Patrick pulled her in for an embrace. “I usually look forward to business meetings.”
“You are closing a big deal, you should be thrilled.” Unsure what to do, how to feel, she straightened his collar. Honestly, if she could only have the same sensations with Patrick that she had with Knight, her life would be much easier.
“I know, but I’m leaving you.” He leaned down and gave her a light kiss on the neck. “I still think we could have taken a little trip.”
“I think I would have been too much of a distraction,” she teased, though it was the truth. He wanted to make love to her, this much she knew. Only last night, he begged her to let him take her to the best hotel. Every day it was getting harder and harder to keep him at bay. She wasn’t not attracted to him, but she wasn’t head over heels, and until she knew what was truly happening with Knight, she couldn’t give in. While of course she had been with men before, she couldn’t and wouldn’t cheat, though technically she was doing just that to two men.
“You’re a distraction no matter what you do.” He pulled her flush to his body. “Perhaps I would be able to focus on work if I had a release.”
“Perhaps good things come to those who wait.” At her play on words, she let out a little laugh.
“That is exactly what I’m trying to do.” He hooked his fingers under her chin, tilted her head up and kissed her.
Like every time their lips touched, she willed the same sensations to swirl around as they did with Knight. In the last couple of weeks, she got to know Patrick and he was a great man, he simply wasn’t magic.
She closed her eyes and there was Knight. The man who occupied her dreams, and her thoughts, the man who, when he kissed her there wasn’t one part of her body that didn’t react, didn’t crave him.
His touch was light yet powerful, he knew exactly how to ignite every one of her nerve endings. She moaned as their tongues touched. He bent her back and deepened the kiss.
She lost herself, her arousal grew and she reached up and tangled her fingers in the hair at the nape of Knight’s neck.
Wait. With a gasp she pulled back. “Knight.”
“Yes, spend the night with me.” Patrick continued to hold her. “You’ve never kissed me like that.”
She swallowed and tried to catch her breath. No, she never kissed him like that because in her mind’s eye she was with Knight. “Mr. Allen, you need to catch a flight.”
“You are going to make me earn everything I get.” He gave her another kiss. “We are going to be quite the couple to contend with.”
Her body still tingling from her visions of Knight, she had to get Patrick out of there. “Right now I want you to go buy that company. Take no prisoners.”
“I think for the first time in my professional career, something is more important than getting the deal done.” Once more, he took her hand. “Be good and I’ll bring you back a present from my trip.”
Not able to promise anything, she smiled.
“Oh, you are a tease.” Once more, he kissed the back of her hand. “I’ll see you in three days.”
“Three days.” She wiped a bit of lipstick off his lip then went behind her desk.
At the door, he turned back to her. His gaze spoke of everything he wanted.
For a second she thought he would return. How long could she keep him at arms’ length? If she let things continue he would be the man she married.
She rocked her chair back and continued to stare at him in challenge. What would he do next? Be responsible and leave for the airport or throw caution to the wind and charge back in here and make love to her?
Instead, he smiled, blew her a kiss and closed her office door on the way out.
With a shake of her head, Ryane closed her eyes. Knight would have returned. No, he would have never left her in a state of need. He would know what she had to have, even if it were here and now.
The mere thought made her body tingle. All week she was on edge and needy. Patrick’s kisses did nothing to quell her urges. There was only one man who could satisfy her.
For the millionth time since she left the forest, the image of Knight’s kisses filled her mind. Her heart sped, her core heated in that undeniable ache. No matter how she tried to cross her legs, apply just the right amount of pressure where she needed it most, she wouldn’t be able to think if she didn’t have a release. Without second-guessing her next move, she snuck her hand under her skirt.
Once more, the door to her office opened.
With a gasp, she sat up.
“Don’t stop.” Knight’s form appeared in the entryway. “Just tell me you were thinking of me.”
“I’m always thinking of you.” She licked her lips and rocked her chair back, lifting one leg up on her desk to give her man a full view.
Simply seeing him in his leather jacket and fitted jeans made her arousal worse.
He closed the door. “Show me what you do when I’m not here.”
Her eyes on him, she slid her hand down the waistband of her panties, arching her back as her fingertips grazed over the overly sensitized flesh. Already she was wet and ready for him.
“Do you use one finger or two?” He rubbed his hand over the growing bulge in his jeans.
“Two if I’m picturing you.” She let two of her fingers enter her and moaned.
“That’s right baby, move faster, get ready for me.” He pulled the fly of his jeans open. His erection sprung free, hard and thick. He grabbed his cock.
“Knight, join me.” In her seat, she squirmed, unable to wait much longer.
“Get close, I want you coming by the time I enter you.” Stroking himself, he stalked toward her. “Is this what you want?”
“I want you inside me. Now Knight,” she begged.
“Are you close?” In a sudden move, he turned her chair and tore her panties away, leaving her exposed to him. “Tell me.”
“I’m going to come.” Her breath hitched.
He swiped her hand away leaving her empty.
“Knight!” At being close and then having her pleasure taken away, she screamed.
“I need you now.” He stood between her spread legs and with one strong thrust entered her.
“Ah!” At finally being filled and satiated to her core, her body took off, the incredible pulses of her orgasm overwhelmed her and she couldn’t breathe.
“Come all over me.” He drove into her. “Come, Petals.”
Her climax continued, causing trembles. Stars formed before her eyes and she continued to writhe beneath him riding out every bit of bliss that came from Knight being embedded deep inside her.
“I need to fill you, Petals.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he slammed into her and cried out, grinding his hips to hers.
As Knight reached his end, the most incredible warmth radiated through her. They were one.
Their bodies relaxed and he leaned down and gave her a light kiss. “I couldn’t stop myself.”
“This is what I wanted.” She held him tight, wishing they were in bed , she could fall asleep in his arms, and she held on to him for fear he would disappear.
A knock at her door jolted her.
With a start, she sat up. Her heart still pounding, she looked around the room. No Knight. She was alone, completely alone, and she just fantasized about him in her office. “Yes?” Her voice came out shaky. Before she was caught with her hands in inappropriate places, she stood on weak knees and tried to straighten herself out.
“Miss Windsome, are you all right?” Beatrice called through the door.
“I’m fine.” Her head spinning, she dashed over to her closet and found the one and only coat she owned in California. She wrapped the trench coat around her and shoved her hands in her pockets.
“Yes, I’m fine.” The coat provided a sad excuse for Knight’s arms. Her whole life was a fantasy.