Authors: Jennifer Probst
His warm breath teased her nipple as he lowered himself over her and opened his mouth fully over her breast. Throaty moans escaped her lips as he bestowed pleasure, bringing her to a fevered pitch of longing, knowing there was more. She became sensitized to the scrape of his teeth, the stroking of his tongue, the touch of his lips. A throbbing ache settled between her thighs. Overwhelmed by the sensation of being totally possessed, she sank into a place where only pleasure ruled. All her seething emotions and erotic desires, long hidden, suddenly burst free.
When Logan swept her up into his arms and carried her to the sofa, there was no thought in her mind to protest. He pressed her deep into the cushions, fully removed her blouse, and further pushed her bodysuit down to her waist. His leg lay heavily over hers, causing the slits in her skirt to fall open to mid-thigh.
“Touch me.”
His softly spoken demand made her tremble as she tugged the turtleneck out of his waistband and pushed the material upward, sliding her fingers beneath. She lingered over his hard stomach, tracing the swirling pattern of dark hair that covered his torso. He groaned when her nail brushed his flat nipple, causing her to pull back, unsure. When he remained perfectly still, her fingers retraced her path with wonder. His chest rose as he dragged in air. The crisp hairs tickled her palms as her gaze followed the dark line past his stomach to pause at the edge of his belt buckle.
His evident arousal made her ache to reveal more of him, so she let her hands coast downward to explore.
Logan muttered a curse, captured her wrists and pinned them above her head in one swift motion. His other hand slid up her calf, and stroked the sensitive skin behind her knee before he ventured higher and encountered the edge of her stocking. He let his fingers slide on the bare expanse of skin at the top of her thigh. Slowly he unsnapped her bodysuit between her legs and played with the line of her panties, letting one finger slip under the elastic, then moving away.
His mouth took hers in a hungry kiss, and Chandler fought for breath. When he finally raised his head, his gaze locked on hers. With deliberate motions, he settled his palm over the apex of her thighs. A rush of damp heat burned through the fragile black lace.
Slowly, he pressed.
Chandler arched upward and cried his name. Instantly his mouth was back on hers, kissing her without restraint as he continued the rotating, stroking motions of his palm. He drank in the tiny gasps that broke from her lips.
“Tonight I’m going to teach you how good we are together, Chandler. Give yourself to me and I swear you won’t regret it. I’ll take care of everything.”
His husky words had the effect of dumping a bucket of icy water over her. She froze, her mind frantically going over the implication of his last statement.
He would take care of everything.
With dawning horror, she realized how close she’d come to making another terrible mistake. Logan Grant wanted to take her to bed to prove a point. He’d deliberately planned to seduce her, using his coldblooded logic to justify his actions. Her seduction gained him more control, which would be an advantage in their business dealings. His ego also benefitted by conquering her objections to corporate executives. Once he accomplished his goal he’d tire of her, and then terminate their contract.
One night of passion could cost her the career she worked for all of her life. Nothing was worth that.
Not even the pleasure she found in his arms.
It took a few moments for Logan to realize the woman beneath him wasn’t struggling to get closer, but to free herself from his embrace. Those emerald eyes once sparked with passion now filled with growing panic. Her body stiffened, and the arms that had clung to his shoulders now pushed him away. Logan took some deep breaths to try and clear the fog from his mind, annoyed she now seemed to fear him on some level.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me.” He tried not to focus his attention on her lush mouth, swollen from his kisses. “I’d never do anything you didn’t want. I think you’re afraid to admit you want me. I don’t fit the image of your perfect lover.” His gaze took in her abandoned figure, naked to the waist, ruby nipples wet from his mouth. His voice dropped. “But your body betrays you.”
“Please let me up.” She crossed her arms in front of her. His gaze clashed with hers in a battle of wills before he slowly rose from the sofa. She pulled her bodysuit up with clumsy hands and turned to face him. “I apologize.”
One dark brow shot up in question. “Excuse me?”
Chandler began talking. Fast. “I think this is just a communication problem. I mistakenly made remarks leading you to believe I’d never be attracted to an executive. You subconsciously tried to prove me wrong, and you did. I admit defeat."
He watched her with interest. Her shoulders sagged with relief; she had his attention. Surely, once she presented the complications of getting involved with her, his normal, logical thoughts would take over. He’d agree to put the entire episode behind him. She needed to show him some concrete reasons to avoid an affair.
“Now, I think our best solution is to admit we had a brief attraction which originated from your desire to prove a point, and my surprise at your sudden actions. We both got a little carried away but we stopped our mistake in time. I think we can put this behind us and continue with our working relationship. Keeping distractions to a minimum is crucial for this project to work. Don’t you agree?”
She took his silence as agreement; he seemed to listen intently. “We’d have some difficulty keeping our personal lives separate from business, which could affect the result of the program. Second, the reaction of your employees could be detrimental. They could decide you weren’t serious about the workshop and only implemented it to satisfy your current lover.” Her tongue stumbled over her last word before forging on.
“So, I think it’s in our best interests to stick to our original agreement.” She laughed nervously when he remained silent. “We would have been a disaster, anyway. We’re much too different, and I’d never be able to handle a casual affair. Not that you have casual affairs all the time, but you’re probably much better at them than I am,” she stammered, trying hard not to blush at his pointed stare. “Well, I think we settled the problem. I’m glad we talked, and again I apologize if I led you on in any way.”
Chandler began to walk him politely to the door when she suddenly realized Logan Grant was furious.
Over six feet of coiled muscle towered over her. Dark brows drew together in a fierce frown, and icy gray eyes held her spellbound. Waves of raw, primitive energy radiated from his body in a swirling mixture of anger, frustration, and desire. Her breath caught in her chest. Her body swayed. Her nipples rose to meet him. Liquid heat pooled and throbbed between her thighs. She wished she felt fear. She wanted to be afraid. But her body dared him to take her.
Horrified by her own response, she took a step backward.
He closed the distance between them. She gazed up and knew he glimpsed every naked emotion she attempted to hide. Confusion. Defiance. Desire.
He reached out and roughly caught her chin with his hand. His thumb caressed her swollen lips and gently parted the tender flesh as he watched her struggle to contain her body’s reaction. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, as if he knew what she was feeling and thinking; as if he knew the game would be played by his rules and she was helpless to stop him.
“Good night, Chandler.” He abruptly released his hold and walked out the door.
Chandler stood and stared at the closed door. She struggled against a burst of panic threatening to overwhelm her. Logan Grant would not give up until she was in his bed. She’d made a mistake the moment she responded to his first kiss. He sensed a weakness and was going in for the kill.
Just like any ruthless businessman. Except this time she wouldn’t let him win.
She gave her bodysuit a firm tug, scooped up the two snifters, and made her way to the kitchen. How long had it been since she let her guard down with a man?
Chandler cursed her stupidity. She believed in total freedom, and had been careful not to tie herself down to anyone who threatened her lifestyle. She took each moment life offered and enjoyed it to the fullest. But she always shied away from sexual encounters. She enjoyed dating, but when she considered taking the relationship a step further, something within her balked. She never lost sleep over her decision. What she really wanted was a man who set her blood on fire. One who wanted a family. A man whose soul burned for honesty and openness. A man who would make her the most important part of his life.
A man who was definitely not Logan Grant.
Chandler undressed as she walked into her bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes on her plush, pale daffodil carpet. She stepped into the shower and let the stinging jets of water soothe her muscles. Her body still tingled from his caresses, and an empty ache throbbed between her thighs. How could she face him Monday and continue as if nothing had happened? She groaned in despair. It would take all of her will power not to blush when she met those charcoal eyes and smug smile. How dare he put her in this position? How could she have let herself respond so wantonly to a man who was practically a stranger?
She scrubbed her skin until it glowed, hoping to wash away the feeling of his hands on her. She’d never reacted to another man that way. Even when she thought she was madly in love with Michael she never wanted him with the same feverish longing.
The faint memory tugged at the fringes of her mind. Chandler cringed at the innocence of the girl she’d been, of her foolish dreams of love and romance, and the cruelty of her awakening.
The floodgates burst open, and a swirling array of images flowed before her. Being introduced to Michael Worthington at one of her father’s business dinners. Overwhelmed by deep blue eyes and golden hair; by her father’s booming acknowledgment that he was a rising star in the company; and by his charming, witty demeanor. He’d escorted her home with Alexander Santell’s blessing. With a brief kiss, he asked her if she’d see him again. She agreed.
As their courtship continued, she was wined and dined by a handsome man who flashed dazzling smiles and whispered words of love. Suddenly, the pieces of her life fell into place. She’d graduate from college and take her position in her father’s company. She’d marry Michael and have a family.
And through every step her father would be there, with his silver hair and sharp green eyes, watching and guiding her in the right path as he had done since she was a little girl.
On the night Michael proposed he presented her with a diamond ring on bended knee. She felt like a princess from a fairy tale, so when his kisses became more insistent she gave herself up to the moment. He led her into the bedroom, and she ignored the tiny seed of warning that flashed to life, chalking it up to nervousness.
Afterward, he held her in his arms while she cried, telling her it would get better because her virginity made it difficult. When he left he promised they would tell her father the news of their engagement in the morning.
Chandler stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel. As she sat on the edge of the lacy Victorian comforter, the years faded away as the memory of her ultimate betrayal played in slow motion before her closed eyes.
She saw herself arriving at her father’s office, filled with excitement. Breezing past his secretary’s empty desk to the partially closed door. Stopping short as she heard Michael’s voice say her name. Listening in horror to the conversation enfolding, trapped in a nightmare of her own making.
“It’s all taken care of,” Michael said. He threw a bunch of documents on the desk. “Chandler was ecstatic. I did my part old man, now it’s time you sign the papers.”
Alexander Santell chuckled. “Not so fast, dear boy. The agreement was the delivery of the contracts after the wedding ceremony. I didn’t hear a set date.”
“I’ll convince her to speed up the normal process. She’s eager to marry me, and I see no need to wait more than a couple of weeks.”
“I knew you’d be perfect for her the moment I laid eyes on you, and my daughter’s reaction proved me right.” A booming laugh rang out. The sound echoed and bounced off the paneled walls of his office. “Three months ago I thought the Walterson contract would be impossible to close. The most prestigious investor in the city almost ran for the door when he heard my daughter wasn’t settled down. Can you believe such outdated crap? He actually told me he only felt secure investing in a firm that showed values and stability, which he translated as family.”
Chandler huddled at the door. Her stomach lurched as Alexander Santell’s words drifted up to her ears. “That’s the first man I’ve dealt with who didn’t care about my profits. He was concerned that if I dropped dead Chandler would inherit control and not have a husband.” Alexander snorted. “As if my daughter needed one.”
“Then why me?” Michael asked smugly. “If you’d been certain she didn’t need a husband you would’ve convinced Walterson she could handle the company. Instead you offered me a full partnership the moment I put a ring on her finger.”