Heart Ache (Bound by a Touch Novels #1) (19 page)

“
Please feel free to call me, Miss Morris, if you have any questions. Goodbye, Gabby.” His eyes searched hers for a moment, full of painful knowledge then he tipped his head and disappeared out the door he’d entered. Gabby now recognized Vincent for who he really was, what he was.

She stared after him, feeling like a fool. How many other
people
had lied to her?

A faked cough brought her attention back to the annoyed girl waiting to take over the best part of Gabby’s life.

“
Have a seat and I’ll let Mr. Voinea know you’re here,” Gabby said in a cool, professional tone. Then, after taking a deep breath and smoothing her skirt, she opened the door to Nikolai’s office and stepped inside, closing it behind her. “Niko.”

The snap of his pencil cracked loud as a bomb, and he raced around the desk to stand directly in front of her. He reached for her, but seemingly thought better of making contact and shoved his gloriously large, strong hands deep into his pockets.

“
Gabrielle, what are you doing here?” He rubbed at his chest. “I thought I was … imagining things.”

Tears stung her eyes and she blinked violently while holding out the paperwork Vincent had given her. “It seems my replacement is here.”

“
No one could
ever
replace you, love.”

Gabby’s knees went weak and her heart stopped beating just for a moment. She grabbed hold of a chair to keep from getting up close and personal with the rug.

“
Yeah, well—” She forced a breath into her unaccepting lungs. “—it seems like you’re trying.”

His long fingers raked through his dark strands. A groan of frustration rumbled in his chest just before he turned to drive his fist into the desk. “Dammit, Gabrielle! I have a business to run!”

“
Of course you do.” All the weak, fluttery feelings left. Her spine straightened as did her shoulders. Forget jaded or jealous or hurt, Gabby’s anger would give her the strength she needed. “Unlike you, Niko, I believe in actually doing what I say. I gave you my two week notice and I fully intend on suffering through it.”

He whirled around. In a flash he crowded her, his large body forcing her backward. Her legs hit the couch which rested next to the window and, despite her efforts, she landed with an
oomph!
on her butt. Those large hands of his landed with thuds on each side of her head. Her eyes went wide as she watched his intense face getting closer and closer to hers.

When their noses nearly touched, he said, “Suffer, huh? You have no idea the amount of torture it is being next to you … and yet so damned far.”

“
Not my fault.”

The muscle in his jaw jumped. His eyes flashed silver. “And I have done everything I’ve said I would do, Gabrielle.”

She found it hard to breath, even harder to think, as she stared up into the onyx of his eyes. His broad chest expanded with each deep breath and each huffed exhale came out a growl.

“
It’s the stuff you haven’t done that pisses me off,” she whispered.

His lips were on hers in the next second. Soft lips, hard kisses. His knee lowered onto the couch between her legs, pushing her skirt up her thighs until it was almost obscene. His hot breath caressed her cheek. His lips tickled her ear.

“
Does
that
piss you off?”

“
Y- yes.” Damn, she sounded pathetic.

A trail of warm, slick fire spread from her ear to the point where her pulse beat hardest in her neck. His lips closed over it, his tongue stroking.

“
What about that?” he breathed.

“
To- totally,” she groaned.

He knew he had her, and
that
did piss her off. His lips returned to hers, their tongues wrestling for only a moment before he pulled away. Desire reflected in his eyes, turning them the most exquisite shimmering silver.

“
I would love nothing more than to take you right here, right now. To have the scent of your sex forever stained on the leather…” He groaned; a completely masculine, guttural sound. He ran the tip of his nose up her neck, sniffing as he went.

Her entire body reacted; her blood heated to molten lava and everywhere else turned liquid. She had to bite her tongue to keep from offering herself up to him.

“
But I really have work to do.”

“
Asshole.”

Nikolai chuckled softly and stood to his full height. Silver danced in his dark eyes and, despite his casual façade, his reaction to the situation was obvious. He sucked in a deep breath and offered her his hand.

She allowed him to help her to her feet. It felt too good—too comfortable—to be this close to him.

He kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t give up on me, Gabrielle, please.”

“
Two weeks, Niko. I leave in two weeks.” Gabby was proud of herself when she actually walked out of his office unscathed—for the most part.

Nikolai settled back into the leather chair behind the desk, arranging his pants for whatever comfort there was to be had. Which was none. His mind was on one thing—one very special thing—and he barely noticed as the blond with legs that went to her neck sauntered sexily into the office.

She was a pretty female, and the quickening of her heartbeat and sudden flood of arousal in the air were telltale signs she found him attractive. But none of that had anything to do with the smug smile of satisfaction lifting Nikolai’s lips. His eyes focused on the doorway the female had entered, on his female in the outer office tossing papers and cursing him under her breath.

Did Gabby really think he couldn’t hear every frustrated accusation? He almost laughed out loud when she went on a diatribe about damp kittens, teasing roosters, and braless gardening tools. She had quite a unique take on the English language, one he didn’t always understand.

“
Mr. Voinea,” the female in front of him spoke in a low, sexual tone, “it’s so very nice to meet you.”

He stood and shook her hand over the desk. “Yes, nice to meet you, too. If you’ll excuse me for just a moment, I have an important phone call to make. It’s a pressing matter. You understand?”

“
Of course.” She offered him an award-winning smile he only saw in periphery. Through the open door he watched Gabby none-too-carefully cleaning out her desk.

“
Please have a seat.” He motioned toward the matching set of leather chairs in front of his desk and picked up the phone. After punching in some numbers, he waited, smiling. This plan of his was going to work. It had to.

“
Flowers by Flo,” answered an elderly female voice, “Flo speaking.”

“
Flo, it’s Nikolai Voinea.”

“
Mr. Voinea.” She sounded pleased—and flirty. He could imagine her finger-combing gray stands back into the bun she always wore. “What can I do for you?”

He turned in his chair and spoke in a whisper, “I need a dozen roses. A large, beautiful arrangement. The cost doesn’t matter.”

“
What color?”

He paused, carefully sucking his lip between his teeth. “What color says ‘I love you’?”

“
Red says …
that
.”
Disappointment flooded the statement from the woman who had been happily married to the same man for nearly fifty years.

“
Perfect. Can you have them here, at my office, within the next ten minutes?”

“
Oh, well, perhaps fifteen.”

“
If you make it ten, I’ll pay you double.”

“
They’ll be there in ten, then.”

“
Thank you, Flo.”

“
Mr. Voinea,” she said hesitantly, “what do you want the card to say?”

The card.
The card had to be perfect. His mind tossed words around like balls in a lottery bubble.

“
My dearest Gabrielle,” he whispered the words with reverence, “I have loved you from the first moment you walked into my life and I will love you until I am no longer living on this earth. Let me love you. Be my heart. Nikolai.”

There was only silence on the other end of the line and Nikolai wondered if Flo had gotten his sentiments for the card. Then she sniffed.

“
Oh, Mr. Voinea, I wish Fred could write his feelings like that.” Another sniff. “I wish he
felt
feelings like that. Gabrielle is a lucky woman.”

“
I am the lucky one,” was his response. “As quickly as you can, Flo, please.”

“
Sure thing, Mr. Voinea. I’m here for all your needs.” She giggled with a slight hysterical edge. “Your
floral needs
, I mean.” Then the line went dead.

Nikolai turned to find female hazel eyes focused on him. She raised a brow muttering, “Pressing matter” under her breath. Nikolai knew he wasn’t meant to hear her and ignored the statement.

“
Sorry about that,” he said with a smile. “So, thank you for coming in, but…”

She leaned forward, resting her crossed wrists on her knees. Her blouse fell open and the pose offered an uninhibited view of her navel—and everything else in between. The girl really should have worn a bra.

He kept his gaze on her face.

“
I’d really like to discuss my qualifications, Mr. Voinea. Being your administrative assistant would be a position I would enjoy very much. And I’m sure you would, too.” She winked.

“
Yes, about that, Miss Ryan has decided to stay. She’s not leaving Voinea Enterprises.”
Or my life
.

“
Oh.” Sculpted blond brows pulled together in the middle.

Before she could question him, Niko said, “We’ll keep your resume on file in the event things change. I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”

He sent the command to be happy about what he’d told her. She smiled and stood.

“
Yes, please keep me in mind if things change.” She picked up her bag from the floor and exited out the doorway into Gabby’s working space.

Nikolai moved around the desk and leaned against the front of it. He crossed his legs at the ankles and folded his arms over his chest, a shit-eating grin on his face, and eavesdropped on the scene playing out in the room just beyond the doorway.

“
That was fast,” Gabby said as Ms. Morris stepped out. There was a feminine mumble to which Gabby shrieked, “
What!?
You have
got
to be kidding me.”

Nikolai grinned, knowing Taylor had just informed Gabby she wasn’t quitting. The outer door to the office opened and closed. He could hear Gabrielle sucking in and blowing out exaggerated breaths. A loud crash ricocheted off the walls, followed by a curse and the sound of Gabby hopping. She’d kicked the garbage can. He’d have to massage her poor toes later and her legs and her…

Niko composed his face into the most innocent expression he could muster just as Gabrielle stormed into the office, full of fury.

“
Who the hell do you think you are?”

“
What’s got you so stirred up, my love?”

Her face turned the cutest shade of red. “Don’t
my love
me!”

“
I’ve denied my feelings for you for far too long,
my love
. From this moment on, I plan to tell you that I love you so much you’re going to get tired of hearing the words.” He took a step closer to her. “I love you, Gabrielle Ryan.” He let his accent caress the words.

The outer door opened again and Gabrielle turned to retrieve what Nikolai knew would be yet another declaration of his feelings. But he stopped her. “Gabby, I’m going home. If you need me, you know where you can find me.”

“
Yeah, like I’m going to need you.”

“
Just in case.” He shrugged. “Good day, Gabrielle. I love you.”

She rolled her eyes and walked out to meet Fred, who played flower delivery male in his retirement. Nikolai heard her sigh.

“
Thank you.”

Fred mumbled, “You’re welcome.” The door closed softly.

Nikolai’s heart thumped wildly in his chest. He could sense Gabrielle even stronger when her emotions got the best of her. Moments of silence passed and he wondered if this had been a mistake, until he heard his name whispered past her lips.

Time to go.

And he evaporated into his kitchen.

Chapter Twelve

Candles lit? Check.

Strawberries covered in chocolate? Check.

Champagne chilled? Check.

Niko wanted everything to be perfect when Gabrielle came looking for him. Because she would. When she found him gone—even though he’d told her he was leaving—she would come.

His cell rang and he smiled as the number came up; Gabby’s direct extension at the office. It was difficult to let the call go to voicemail, but his plan wouldn’t work if she could simply thank him—or tell him to go to hell—over the phone. That particular exchange needed to happen in person. Just in case he needed to beg.