“You need to come, Draven,” Rose murmured.
He picked up the box and used it as a shield to cover his straining erection.
“Later. We need to work now.” Each word had been hard to utter.
“But—”
He shook his head. “No, not now, baby. As much as I’d love to sink into your sweet pussy and fuck you senseless, I can’t. I have work to do. So do you.”
It shocked him that he was the one being professional when just yesterday she’d been making sure they both stayed on track. He walked past her, placed a kiss on her temple and moved toward his desk. “I’ll set up the food. You tell me what you guys came up with.”
He expected a sigh or protest. Instead, his answer was silence. The soft thud behind him said she was still there. A glance back showed her forehead scrunched up, while she chewed on her bottom lip. “Problem?”
“Why—” She stopped, shook her head and then tried again.
“What’s wrong?” He put the food down and went to her. “Talk to me. I want to know what’s bothering you.”
“Why didn’t you want me to…?” Rose still didn’t look at him. She turned her face away.
She didn’t have to finish the sentence. He knew what she was asking. Slipping a finger under her chin, he pulled her head toward him and tilted it up. Concern, confusion, and doubt swirled in the coffee colored depths that stared back at him.
“Honey, I am harder than a diamond here. I want to fuck you so badly, but I also want to take my time. As tempting as it is to bend you over my desk or take you against the wall, we have things to do.” He bent down and brushed his lips against hers. “Besides that, we still have our picnic dinner, and I think I’ve developed a new outlook on nature.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, hell no. I’m not fucking you in public. What we do is private.”
He grinned. “And it will be. I know of a very secluded spot for us.”
Moving in closer, he wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her to him. She went willingly, much to his relief. The doubts were gone from her eyes, replaced by a simmering heat that made him want to chuck his schedule out the window and spend all day with her. “But I’m going to remind you that this isn’t just about sex for me. I want to get to know you, understand?”
“I remember what you told me. I was just hoping…” She turned away. Her embarrassment floated in the air, and he smiled.
“Say it.”
“I wanted to suck you off. Give you the same pleasure you gave me.” The soft, huskiness of her voice rippled along his skin like a heated caress.
He bit his bottom lip and tried to hold back the groan that had started to form in his chest. It came out anyway. He shuddered. His cock twitched in his pants, demanding freedom. Taking a few moments, he shut his eyes and concentrated on anything but the image of her on her knees as she took his hard length into her mouth inch by inch. He gritted his teeth to keep from making a sound. Taking in big breaths through his nose and blowing it out through his mouth was the one thing keeping his self-control in check.
“You’re testing me, honey, and that will be punished,” he managed to force out through clenched teeth.
“You asked,” she replied sweetly before stepping out of his arms. “And you’re right; we have work to do. I’ve never been so horny on the job before. Never. Can vampires turn people into nymphos?”
“Don’t blame me, darling. I’m just as fucked as you are in this. And I’ve got the more obvious equipment.” He palmed his cock through his slacks and allowed the groan to slip out as pleasure shattered and burst through his body at that small touch.
“You better take care of that in the bathroom. Otherwise I may be tempted to…”
“Don’t,” he warned. “Just don’t say it. Goddess knows how much I can handle right now. Start on the food. I’ll be back.”
Taking her advice, he headed into the bathroom. Once the door was shut, he felt some of his control return, only to have it slip away when the door opened. A glance over his shoulder showed Rose with a skewer in her hand leaning against the doorjamb.
“You didn’t think I’d miss the show, did you?” She took a bite of the meat and lifted an eyebrow.
“Baby, I can’t—”
“You need blood?” She reached up and traced her jugular with the tip of her finger.
“I’ve already fed. Don’t need it.” But it tempted him. Saliva pooled in his mouth at the thought of tasting her blood again.
“You fed already? From who?” A flash of jealousy dotted across her face.
“Blood bag. Can you just turn around please? I’m not going to jerk off in front of you.”
She pouted. “Why not?”
“Because, sweetheart, I can’t right now. A cold water compress should help.”
“Such a waste.” She shrugged one shoulder then turned and left, shutting the door behind him. “You will show me later,” she called out.
“Good Lord, she’s trying to kill me.” He turned on the cold water tap and let it run, while taking off his shoes, socks and pants. After wetting a small towel, he squeezed out the excess and ran it over his cock and balls, hissing at the icy temperature. Latching onto the uncomfortable sensation, he used it to push back his need. After a few minutes, his arousal had ebbed away to nearly nothing, and his cock was flaccid. The throbbing of his balls had lessened. He dried himself then got dressed and headed out to the office to find Rose sitting at his desk, a plate of food set before her. In front of his chair was a stack of files neatly arranged next to her.
She didn’t look up. “This lamb is divine. It melts in my mouth. Where’d you get this food? I made you a plate. Hope you don’t mind.”
He grinned. “Not at all.”
Walking toward his desk, he felt a sense of calm. The atmosphere in his office buzzed with sexual desire. It was time to work. Normally he hated having anyone in his office unless they needed to be there, but she seemed to fit. He slid into his seat, picked up a fork and dug in, savoring the spices and sweetness.
“Try the stuffed eggplant. You’ll love it. So what is the plan for the Ball? Anything?” He pulled a file toward him and opened it.
“We’re thinking of making it like a traditional Vampire Court setting. The food, we haven’t figured out yet.” She pushed a few pictures toward him. “Like that, but a bit simplified. I highly doubt I can find a place with a fountain indoors or such elaborate chandeliers.”
Draven shook his head. “Baby, I’m going to have to take you around some time. We have a place like that. A castle actually. I’ll get you a meeting with the owners. A nice vampire family had their castle shipped to the States brick by brick and rebuilt here. You’ll love it, and I’m sure they’d be willing to donate the castle to the Ball for the night. As for the food, I’d suggest buffet, international style to display the talents of our local chefs.”
“Wow, I’d love to get a look at it, and I like the idea, despite the formal atmosphere, to keep it relaxed while displaying some of the best food the town has to offer. If we can use the castle, then we can set up some of the spaces to look how we want for the Ball and use it in the ad campaign, give our target audience a taste of what to expect. What about music?”
He looked over the pictures of the Vampire Balls. The rooms looked so elegant and plush, decorated to the hilt in opulent fabrics. A table depicting an elaborate spread of food made his stomach grumble. He shoveled another forkful into his mouth.
“Can castle walls dampen the sound of music? I was thinking we audition some local bands and have the orchestra in the main room. Oh, these dumplings are so good. You have to tell me where you got them.” He watched a look of satisfaction and pleasure dawn on her face. Draven fell in love with that look and wanted to see it every day of her life.
“It’s a secret. One day I’ll take you to the restaurant. And yes, the walls can dampen the sound. The owners had the castle modernized, so the music should be no problem. I love it. Now what about how you’re going to highlight the town? Not the usual stuff, please. We tried the beauty shots and highlight reel. Didn’t increase our tourism one bit.” He sighed and shook his head. A heaviness began in his chest and sunk down to his stomach.
The touch of her hand startled him. He glanced down to watch her fingers curl around his. “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll figure out how to get more tourists here. Just let me work my magic.” The earnestness in her eyes moved him.
“You haven’t really seen the town and yet… Thank you.” He squeezed her hand and let himself fall a bit in love with her in that moment.
She shrugged. “It’s what I do.” When she pulled away, he refused to let go.
“Uh, I can’t eat one handed.”
He laughed, allowing the lightness of that statement to slip into the darkness and break apart. “Fine, but I can assure you, I can drive one handed.”
“Oh my God, so filthy.” She pulled her hand back and made a face at him.
“I meant I don’t need both hands on the wheel.” He shook his head and watched her back up her chair.
“Stop, just stop. That is so wrong.”
He grinned. “Baby—”
“Don’t baby me, you pervert. To think I was trying to be nice to you.”
The look of outrage on her face was too adorable. He chuckled. “Would you please come closer? I meant I could hold your hand while I was driving, geez. Whose brain is in the gutter now?” He raised an eyebrow and watched her lips twitch.
“Is that a euphemism for something else? This holding hands you speak of?” Slowly, she pulled her chair closer.
Shaking his head, he dug into his food. “No. Now tell me your ideas for showcasing the town.”
He listened as she rattled off a list of the hot spots.
“We can use those and aim it at the young and hip, while using the secret niches and nooks of the town for those that want to discover this place for themselves. But I want to highlight the Ball. I looked up the list of interior designers in the area and found none.”
“There used to be a few people who did that, but they moved to the big cities. Why interior designers? Why not party planners?” He couldn’t understand her logic.
“Because I want the spaces to look homey, more like they’re kept like that every day of the year.” She flipped through a few of her files and showed him some pictures. “I like this feel. Do you think those are party places or if the house is like that all the time?”
He studied the photos. The rooms she showed him didn’t have the sleek artifice that he expected, a place where a hot party happened; it looked too cozy, too comfortable. There was an intimacy and personality displayed in the spaces that made him feel comfortable. “I see your point. I would have thought this was in fact part of a person’s home rather than a hot spot. I like it.”
“We want the people to loiter or drift from room to room, feeling comfortable. But only the floor where the Ball is taking place would be decorated like this, not everywhere.” She took back the pictures and checked her watch. “My lunch hour is almost over.”
“Damn, I wish you could stay. I like having you here, working in my office.”
“But you get me for dinner. That didn’t sound right.” She shook her head. “Anyway, I have to go home and change. I’m going to wear jeans and a sweater, since it’s outdoors. No, I won’t change my mind for you. This was awesome. Can you bring some of this food with you for the picnic?”
He watched her come around the desk, kiss him on the cheek, and steal a bite of his dish before heading to the door.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Bye, honey.” Draven sat there in shock at her actions.
“Later.” The door closed behind her, leaving him to wonder what had happened. It didn’t feel like they had just started dating. It was as if they’d been together centuries. That one action spoke of comfort she hadn’t had with him when they’d first met. He wasn’t sure whether to be scared or pleased.