Chapter Five
Go with him? To his sex den?
Oh...holy...
Yes.
No!
And when will I ever get another chance like this?
Want pulsed at Avery’s weakening resistance. His offer was so tempting, as was he. All rugged professionalism topped off by the dark secrets she was now privileged to know. His web was working its way around her, drawing her closer. Teasing her, tempting her down paths she’d never considered before. Making her want the taboo when she’d shunned it before.
She crossed her legs to suppress the sexual ache that’d only grown stronger since she’d sat down. God, she wanted him along with what he was offering.
Could I? Really?
She reached for her wine, surprised to find the glass empty. Was that why she was even considering his offer? She could play this cool, right? Not like the floundering innocent she was currently projecting.
“What’s the catch?” she asked him, propping her chin on her hand, eyes narrowing in her hunt for a lie or any sign of falseness from Carson. Her thumb stroked over the small mole on the underside of her jaw, the motion absentminded and soothing.
His gaze darted to her thumb, lips compressing slightly. “There is no catch.” He motioned to her empty glass. “Can I get you another?”
She stared at the wineglass, thoughts spinning from wants to shoulds. Her head was already woozy, her inhibitions a bit too free. Yet, she wasn’t ready to leave. Carson was...interesting. Magnetic. Handsome.
Her body hummed with an awareness that dared her to take a risk.
“Sure,” she finally relented. She didn’t have to drink it all.
He motioned to the bartender, and Avery didn’t take her eyes off Carson. He commanded attention but didn’t seek it. He only spoke in meetings when needed, never one to drive the conversation. Always courteous, yet slightly elusive.
And he’d been totally focused on her since she’d walked into the bar, even after she’d signed the contract.
She’d caught more than one woman eyeing him up. He could’ve had any one of them, but his attention was solely on her. The thrill of that sizzled over her skin and hummed with the sexual current running through her veins.
The bartender set the fresh drink in front of her, and she mumbled her thanks while still studying Carson. What was his game? There had to be a hidden loophole she wasn’t seeing.
His brow lifted when he caught her staring at him. “What?”
Her lips quirked for some unknown reason. He was beyond sexy with the light shadow of his beard stubble darkening his jaw. His hair had that end-of-the-day finger-combed look, yet he was still in control, which upped his danger level by about a hundred notches.
“Why would you offer me that?” she asked, jumping back to their conversation.
A half smile lifted the edge of his mouth as a dark heat filled his eyes. “Because I think you’d enjoy it.” He turned slightly, his body opening to hers. His leg grazed hers, the silky linen of his slacks caressing her skin. An instant flash of goose bumps raced up her inner thigh. Her pussy clenched, need pulsing.
She sucked in a breath but didn’t move. His eyes danced with confident knowledge, and she couldn’t condemn him for it. She’d done—was doing—a sucky job of hiding his effect on her.
He shifted toward her, and she found herself mimicking him as he dipped his head to speak into her ear. “The sight of that woman spread on the table, lost in passion, the guys focused solely on her pleasure turned you on,” he said, his low words a caress. “You imagined what it’d feel like. You wanted to be her. You were fascinated by the eroticism. The taboo.”
She closed her eyes, breaths shortening into small gasps. The visuals sprang to life, her body responding stronger than when she’d stood in the doorway seeing them for herself. Her nipples were throbbing pinpoints of desire linked to her pussy. Her neck tingled with every breathy wisp of heat and the awareness of how close his lips were.
“Let me show you that,” he urged. A slow line of heat blew from her shoulder to her ear to ignite another wave of goose bumps down her chest. She tilted her head, giving him better access, the silent action saying so much. She couldn’t stop it, though. Didn’t want to. “Let me share it with you. Show you the beauty of watching the passion unfold. It’s not just sex, Avery.”
The low rumble of her name was intimate, almost possessive. She should object to that—to him. She didn’t. No, she wanted more. So much more.
“Then what is it?” she whispered, opening her eyes to find his. Longing and lust stared back at her. Dark yet somehow freeing. His obvious desire made her own okay.
His lips parted, and she couldn’t stop herself from imagining them on her skin. Kissing. Sucking. She inhaled, his woody scent layering over her.
“Passion. Connection. Trust,” he murmured. “A shared give-and-take with the freedom to let go. No judgments. No stereotypes. No societal inhibitions.” He blew another line of warm air up her neck. His eyes were closed when he eased back. Hunger lined his expression even then.
She shivered, her craving simmering outward. Yes. She wanted everything he described. But... She lowered her gaze, swallowed. The prominent outline of his dick was clearly displayed up the crease of his thigh. Oh, God. He did want her.
She pressed her thighs together in a futile attempt to stop her reaction. Her pussy contracted, abdomen clenching. How wet would her panties be when she stood? She was so turned on—and he hadn’t touched her. She might combust on the spot if he did.
Heat rushed up her neck for the thousandth time that day. Would she ever stop blushing around him? “I—” She cleared her throat, met his gaze. Could he really want her that badly? For the night, no doubt. And would that be so wrong?
“What?” he asked when she didn’t continue. “You what?”
“I don’t know if I could,” she finally finished, honesty spilling out. “What if I didn’t enjoy it?” The porn she’d seen usually ran the too-blatant line for her. Yet last night hadn’t been like that.
“Then we leave.” He stated it like it was simple. Could it really be?
“And after,” she pressed. “What happens then? When we go back to work?”
He looked away, his gaze traveling the bar for a long moment. Some of the heat was gone from his eyes when he turned back, and she realized her question had shattered their bubble.
The cold splash of reality jolted her out of her lust-filled haze. Regret mingled with the practical logic that’d plagued her entire life. That was good, she tried to convince herself. She couldn’t get lost in him.
But she so wanted to.
“We work,” he answered at last. He sat back, taking a drink from his glass.
That’s it? She copied him, her hand a little jittery when she picked up her glass. She held it tighter, darting a glance at Carson. Had he noticed?
Her blood still hummed with the energy he’d set to life. The spell might be broken, but his effect on her remained.
“Work is separated from the Boardroom,” he stated. “If you can’t keep it that way, then this discussion is done.”
Wow. She stared at him. His bluntness erased any notion that his interest might run deeper. This wouldn’t be a romantic adventure, just a sexual one. Could she do that? Separate the two? Especially when she was so attracted to him? “But I signed the contract,” she said, just to dig at his sudden withdrawal. “I can’t say anything now.”
“True,” he conceded. “But words aren’t the only thing that can damage.” He studied her, thoughts flashing over his expression before she could decipher them. She followed his logic, though. No one was a hundred percent safe, ever. Especially in the world of digital everything and instant social media. One accusation or picture could damage his reputation forever.
“Then why do you do it?” She truly wanted to understand. “Why take the risk when you could easily get a woman?”
His smile was slow and almost predatory. “Why did you stay when you could’ve turned right around and left?”
She sucked in a breath, trapped. A subtle triumph flashed over his expression, and she had her answer. He did it because he enjoyed it. He wanted to and he could.
But could she? Intentionally?
Probably not.
Some values were too ingrained—at least for her.
She rolled her eyes, head shaking as a defeated puff of laughter shot free. “I don’t think it’s for me,” she told him, sliding from her seat. Her leg grazed his again. Everything in her urged her to climb into his lap and let him carry her away.
But would she be damning herself for a few moments of pleasure?
She snaked her coat from the back of the chair, stepping away before she gave in to impulse.
He stayed seated, expression neutral. She couldn’t think about what that meant. She grabbed her bag from the floor and turned to the door.
“The offer’s open if you change your mind.”
She froze, eyes squeezing shut. Her grip tightened around her bag, want demanding she turn around. That she take the risk—just this once.
She gave a single nod before she strode from the restaurant. Risk had its limits, and she had reached hers. At least, that was what she told herself.