Dazzle her: Laws of Seduction Book 3 (3 page)

“I didn’t know it could be like that. I don’t know what came over me.”

James gives me a languorous smile. “Don’t overthink it baby. You just let your inner wild cat out.”

CHAPTER 3

I wake to the feel of James softly kissing my stomach. Sleepily, I run my hands through his soft hair. He kisses his way up my chest, lavishing special attention on my breasts before pulling up to look down at me with a sexy smile. “Good morning,” he says, sliding his hard arousal into my welcoming warmth. I sigh with pleasure.

“You are so fucking hot in the morning. Your sexy little body just waiting there for me to fuck.” His words set my blood on fire. He turns onto his back, and I follow so that I am straddling him. “I would like to wake up to those beautiful tits every morning.”

He grips my hips as he thrusts his hips up, making me groan with pleasure. We are both slick with sweat as we grind into each other trying to reach the ultimate pinnacle. The sound of a vibrating phone interrupts our concentration. “Ignore it,” James grits out.

The phone stops and I lean back, rocking back and forth on James’s hard cock. He extends his hands up to my breasts and tweaks my nipples. I hear myself scream as pleasure sears through me. In a distant corner of my consciousness, I hear James shout as he follows me over the precipice. The buzzing of the phone starts again. “Goddammit.” James grabs his phone off the bedside table and looks at the display before declining the call.

“It must be important if they are calling this early in the morning. Maybe you should answer it.”

“It’s not important,” James growls, his good humor from moments ago gone.

With a feeling that I already know the answer, I press, “Who was it?”

James falls back against the pillows, looking like a Greek God with his firm pecs, tousled hair, and jaw darkened with stubble. I am beginning to think that he is going to ignore my question. Then, not meeting my eyes, he says a name through clenched jaws. “Elizabeth.”

I jump up from the bed and frantically look around for something to put on. Spotting James’s dress shirt lying on the floor, I drag it on over my shoulders and button it up. “I knew it.” I escape to the bathroom before I am tempted to say anything more.

When I come back out, I find a bare-chested James in the kitchen. His dark pajama bottoms hang low on his hips. I resent the fact that he looks sexy as hell as he stands there with his five o’clock shadow and his hair all ruffled, while I must look like something the cat dragged in. My dress from the night before lies across a chair. Unbuttoning James’’s shirt as I walk, I cross over to the chair and exchange his shirt for my dress. I do my best to ignore James, who follows my every move with his eyes. Dressed as well as can be expected under the circumstances, I join James in the kitchen, and he pours me a cup of coffee.

James regards me with no expression for a few seconds before breaking the tense silence. “Lainey, I swear there is nothing between me and Elizabeth.”

I remember the text messages I found on his phone yesterday. “I find that a little hard to believe when she is calling you at 7 a.m. Put yourself in my shoes, James. What would you think if another man told you he was in a serious relationship with me, exchanged texts with me daily, and called me first thing in the morning?”

His brow draws together. “I know it looks bad. No matter how many times I tell you that nothing is going on between me and Elizabeth, what it really comes down to is whether you are going to trust me. We have not been together that long, and the trust between us hasn’t had a chance to grow, but I am asking you to trust me. Can you do that?”

Could I give him the blind trust he is asking of me? He is right. The trust in our relationship has not had time to grow naturally. I recall the times when he has broken my budding trust. My mind flits back to the morning after our one-night stand and then to the week after our first weekend in the Hamptons. Both times James blew me off without explanation, and it had hurt. Sure, the circumstances are not the same, but if I trust him implicitly like he is asking, then I would have to let down the walls that are protecting my heart. Then I think of our lovemaking the night before, and how he had tied me up. That had led to the best sexual experience of my life. I had trusted him with my body. Couldn’t I do the same with my heart?

I am startled when James’s empty coffee mug slams down on the counter, and I jump back in surprise. James rakes his fingers through his hair in a gesture that I am beginning to recognize as him at his most agitated. “Lainey, if everyone at the office knew that we were in a relationship, this Elizabeth thing would blow over. I am sure of it.”

Guiltily, I remember that I had promised to think about revealing our relationship. The idea still makes me cringe inside, but maybe he is right. Sneaking around doesn’t seem to be doing our relationship any good, and coming out as a couple would put us on firmer footing. I would just have to deal with the gossip. Besides, we would be the talk of the office whether we were open about our relationship now or later. There was no point in delaying it. I want to be in a relationship with James, and my fear of being pitied after he dumps me no longer seems like a valid concern compared with the damage it is doing to our relationship now.

I set my coffee down next to his empty mug and take a few steps, closing the distance between us. When I am close enough to touch him, I reach up and brush my fingers through his unruly hair and slide my hand through the silky strands until I am cupping his cheek. “I don’t want to fight. You’re right. I need to trust you more. I can’t promise that it will happen overnight, but I will try harder.” I watch as the tense, worried expression leaves his face and is
With
d by a look of relief.

“Baby, that’s all I ask. What about the office?”

“Can we wait until tomorrow? I need a little time to prepare myself mentally. Plus, with all the chaos from yesterday, I would like to have a day to get settled.”

He looks down at me with a pleased glint in his eye. “Just 24 hours, and then everyone will know that you are mine.”

“Possessive much?”

“Baby, you have no idea.” He reaches down and grips my ass tightly. He slides my dress up with his fingers until his hands touch the bare skin on the back of my thighs.

I gasp as he slides his hands higher, but I fight to keep my voice steady. “That reminds me. Have you seen my panties?”

James’s stubble scrapes the side of my neck, and a frisson of pleasure ripples through me, making my nipples tighten in anticipation. His hard arousal presses into me. “You don’t need them. I like you better like this.”

The roughness of his voice against my ear is like a lightning bolt to my system, but with my last thread of sanity, I ask, “Won’t we be late for work?”

“l can skip shaving… and we can be fast.”

Unable to argue with that logic, I give myself over to James’s ministrations. His soft lips move over my skin until his mouth covers mine. Our tongues meld together in a sultry dance that mimics the touch of his fingers on the bare skin of my behind.

“Fuck, I want to see this ass. It feels so damn good.” James pulls me over to the couch and leans me over it so that my ass is pointed in the air. He moves his hands over my bare skin, and I feel the soft touch of his lips. My heart races as he gives my ass a playful slap, and I rear up in surprise. “Is this what you want?” he says with his cock prodding at my entrance. I can’t hold back a moan as he uses his hand to guide himself in and drives into me with a quick thrust. Gripping my hips to keep me steady, he pounds into me. “This tight little cunt is mine. Do you hear me? Mine.”

My groans of pleasure seem to be all the response he requires. “I can’t get enough of this hot cunt. That’s right baby. I’’m going to make you come so hard.” My internal muscles start to clench, and I scream my release as James explodes into me. His weight settles against my back as we take a few seconds to recover. James helps me to stand. Turning to look up at him, I know that his satisfied expression is an echo of my own.

CHAPTER 4

We have to race to make it to the office on time. James has Gary stop at my apartment. I suggest that James go on to the office, but I am not surprised when he insists on waiting. He assures me that he has no meetings and will be able to make some calls from the car. Even so, I rush to get ready. After quickly showering, I throw on my light pink skater dress and apply mascara and lip gloss. I leave my damp hair down with the intention of fixing it in a ponytail later. Although I am breathless as I climb back into the car, I at least feel put together and ready to face the day.

James rolls his eyes when I ask to be let out a block before we get to the office. “Thank god this nonsense can stop after tomorrow.” I give him a bright smile and hop out of the car. Even the thought of my burned-out office cannot put a blight on my buoyant mood. I guess a morning that starts with two orgasms will do that to you. Hearing someone calling my name from behind me, I turn to see Alex. He falls into step beside me as we hurry toward the office.

“I see you’re running late this morning too. Hot date keeping you out late?” I tease.

Alex gives me a sidelong glance. “I wouldn’t be the one to talk, if that car you just got out of is any indication of the kind of company you’ve been keeping.””

My good mood plummets. I look up at Alex worriedly.

Catching my expression, he reassures me. “Don’t worry. Who you spend your personal time with is no concern of mine.”

Does he know that I was with James? Or is he referring to people who arrive at work in town cars in general. I am afraid to ask. We reach the lobby of our building, and I see James waiting for me at the elevator banks. My heart trips a little when I see the warm light in his eyes. Although he saw me just moments ago, I watch as his eyes trace me approvingly. Afraid that he is being too obvious, I latch onto Alex’s arm. When his eyes narrow, I realize that this wasn’t the smartest move.

Alex also seems surprised by my sudden grip on his arm. I let go and mumble an excuse. “I was a little unsteady there for a moment. Sorry about that.”

“No problem. Anytime.” Alex treats me to his most charming smile, and I want to roll my eyes, but I stop myself at the last moment. On the elevator ride, I berate myself. How can things go to hell in such a short timespan? James, I notice, is deliberately ignoring me. We might as well be perfect strangers. I resort to pulling out my phone so I can send him a text message.

Alex saw me getting out of your car. I panicked. I’m sorry!

I am sitting at my desk worrying about his lack of response when he walks up to my desk. Glancing at Nora and Patti, I watch their eyes widen in surprise. Anxiety creeps up my spine as I wonder what he will do.

“Come on. We have a meeting with Mills.”

“We do?” I ask in bewilderment.

“Yes, Lainey. We do.” His jaw his clenched tight, and I realize he is still upset about earlier.

When I continue to sit and gape at him, he huffs in exasperation. “Do you want to do this now… here?” His eyes wander over to Nora and Patti.

That sounds ominous. Hoping to avoid a scene, I jump up and join him. He reels around and starts walking towards Mills’s office. I hurry to keep up with him. “Slow down, James. Do you want to tell me what this is all about?””

He stops mid-stride, and turns to face me. “What this is about? This is about the fact that your friend Alex saw us together, and if one person knows about us, it won’t be long until everyone knows.”

“Alex wouldn’t say anything. Besides, I am not even sure if he knew who…”

James cuts me off. “It just takes one slip of the tongue. I want to be the one to tell Mills. I don’t want him hearing it from a third party.”

He is right, of course. We were going to tell Mills tomorrow anyway. I put my hand on James’s arm. “Okay, let’s do this.”” Courage swells up inside me as I see James’s look of warm approval. “Does he know we are coming?”

“Yes, he said he had a few minutes.” With that, James strides off again, but this time at a slightly slower pace.

Mills has left his door open. We walk in and James turns to close the door behind us.

“I didn’t realize this had to do with Hart too. Is this about the Rothschild account?” Mills asks while waving us to the chairs in front of his desk. James sits down and leans back, looking perfectly relaxed. I, on the other hand, perch on the end of my chair, looking nervously from one to the other. “Well, is someone going to tell me what this is about?” Mills says impatiently.

Words completely fail me, and I just hope that James is not left in a similar state. I am flooded with relief when I hear James clear his throat and begin. “We would like to inform you…” James stops to regroup before beginning again. ““I would like to inform you that Ms. Hart and I are in a relationship.”

We both look at Mills expectantly. Mills stares back at us uncomprehendingly. James clarifies, “A romantic relationship.”

A look of dawning understanding spreads across Mills’s face. After looking back and forth between us, he folds his hands together and rests them on his desk. “This is not something that I like to hear, because as you know office relationships can often be quite disruptive. There is, however, nothing that should preclude two employees from seeing each other so long as one does not hold a supervisory position over the other. How long may I ask has this relationship been going on?”