Part 6 (1/2)

He set the gla.s.s on the table and stood. She made him dizzy tromping back and forth so he stepped in front of her, halting her progress. 'You're just used to having flunkies surrounding you and kissing your a.s.s.'

Her eyes widened. 'What?'

'You heard me. And it isn't going to happen here, so you'd better get used to it. Out here you don't have twenty a.s.sistants fawning behind you and drooling over every word you say.'

'That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about and you know it. And I never have anyone fawning over me, you idiot.'

'Bulls.h.i.+t. You're a pampered princess and you just can't handle not having a Yes, Gina, whatever you say, Gina' adoring puppy following you around telling you how wonderful you are.'

Her eyes glittered with anger. 'You are such an a.s.shole. You know nothing about me!'

'And you're a prima donna. Would you mind getting the f.u.c.k out of my room? I've had just about enough of your mouth for the day.' And if she wasn't going to use it for something useful, like wrapping it around the thick, hard part of him that ached like a sonofab.i.t.c.h, he really wanted her gone.

'And I've had just about enough of your arrogant att.i.tude. I don't know why I bothered coming here.' She palmed his chest and shoved him, hard. He hadn't expected it and stumbled back. The towel came loose and fell to the floor and her gaze shot south, widening with distinct interest.

Ah, h.e.l.l. Instinct roared to life and he grasped her wrists, but instead of dragging her to the door and throwing her out of his room like he should have, he jerked her against him, wrapped one arm around her back, and crushed his mouth against hers.

He knew she'd taste hot and spicy, like carnal pleasures he wanted and shouldn't have. But he had no idea just how hot she'd be.

G.o.d, he burned. He should have never touched her, never tasted her. His c.o.c.k lurched between them now that he didn't have the towel to hold it back. She whimpered and tensed, almost as if she was trying to decide between shoving him again or melting into his arms. He didn't know which way he wanted her to decide.

She melted. He drew her closer, deepening the kiss, sliding his tongue inside to taste the whiskey that lingered there while he moved one hand over her back, jerking her dress up to her waist and balling the material in his fist. The other hand glided over her a.s.s, roaming casually over her soft skin.

G.o.ddammit, she didn't have any panties on. He groaned. She whimpered.

He was in deep, deep trouble here. He wanted this woman. Wanted her bad.

A roaring inferno reared up inside him. His blood churned and boiled, threatening to burst through his pores.

Her a.s.s was firm and hot, and he couldn't resist grasping one globe in his hand and pulling her closer. She raised her leg, wrapping it around his hip, positioning her s.e.x against his raging hard-on and rocking against him. He could imagine the heat of her smooth, moist skin surrounding him. One thrust and he'd be inside her. One d.a.m.n plunge and he could be buried deep in the fires of sweet heaven.

The scent of her drove him mad. Musky, aroused, coupled with a clean, citrus scent that was probably her shampoo or soap. He withdrew his mouth and dragged his tongue across her jawline and down her neck. Her pulse pounded erratically against his tongue, mimicking the crazy jackhammering of his heartbeat. He kissed his way down her collarbone and she shuddered when he dipped his tongue in the hollow there. He liked that, making her shudder.

And she didn't say a word. Not a d.a.m.n word. Thank G.o.d.

He traveled further, enjoying the exploration, listening to her rapid breathing, the way her body signaled response without her saying anything. He drew the strap of her sundress down to taste the swell of her breast.

Her heartbeat pounded against his lips. She panted as if she fought for breath, tangling her fingers in his hair, her nails digging in his scalp, not to pull him away, but to push him toward her breast.

Then she did speak. One word.

'Yes.'

Spoken in a harsh, desperate whisper.

Oh, yeah. He wanted her naked, spread-eagled, antic.i.p.ating that first touch of his mouth. He wanted it all and he wanted it now.

'Please.'

The deep, throaty sound of her voice penetrated the haze of his l.u.s.t. He felt the stroke of her hands at his shoulders and growled. This was going to happen. Right here, right now. He reached for the strap of her dress, drawing it further down.

'Derek, I knocked but you didn't answer. If you have a minute'

Sonofab.i.t.c.h! Lou!

He pushed away from Gina and s.n.a.t.c.hed the towel, wrapping it around his waist.

'Oh, I'm so sorry,' Lou said, his face turning a deep crimson. 'I've obviously interrupted.'

Gina jerked the strap of her dress back over her shoulder, shooting Derek a look of panic and regret before turning to Lou. 'No, no, it's all right. I was justleaving.'

'That's not necessary,' Lou said. 'I can go.'

'No. I should. Really, Really, I should.' I should.'

Without a backward glance toward Derek she dashed out the door and closed it firmly behind her.

His erection now sufficiently dead and buried, he grabbed a clean pair of pants from the floor, jerking the zipper up and turning around.

'I'm terribly sorry, Derek. I had no idea you and Gina were!'

'We aren't. It justhappened.'

'Should I come back later?'

He wished Lou hadn't shown up at all. 'No. Now is fine. What do you need?'

'I just wanted you to look at the results from today. I really can leave if you'd like to!'

'Lou, it's over, don't worry about it. Now is fine.' He took the paper Lou handed him and sat at the desk, motioning Lou to the chair across from him. He stared at the sheet of paper, but the stats on there were a blur. His mind was still fully focused on Gina and it was going to take a few minutes to wipe the remnants of her from his mind.

Whatever had been about to happen between him and Gina was lost now. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing he wasn't sure and didn't have time to think about.

Blowing out a frustrated breath, Derek stood and grabbed the whiskey, pouring himself another half gla.s.s, and sat down again. He stared at the amber contents, knowing it wouldn't help one d.a.m.n bit.

Talk about a ma.s.sive cl.u.s.terf.u.c.k. He had to get back on track and focus. Having s.e.x with Gina would have been a colossal mistake. s.h.i.+t was going to happen soon, and he had to remember he was here for one thing and one thing only.

s.e.x wasn't that thing.

He still tasted her, smelled her, his b.a.l.l.s were still throbbing with need; no amount of whiskey was going to make that go away.

'Okay, Lou, let's talk about these numbers.'

Chapter Five.

G ina sat in the middle of her bed and watched the sun rise, taking its sweet time cruising between the waving branches of the bushes outside her window. She cursed its appearance even as she was awed by its fiery beauty. The window was open, bringing with it the salty tang of ocean, a hint of balmy air that slipped through her unbound hair and swirled around her. Sadly, a short-lived relief from the heat that had clung to her throughout the night. ina sat in the middle of her bed and watched the sun rise, taking its sweet time cruising between the waving branches of the bushes outside her window. She cursed its appearance even as she was awed by its fiery beauty. The window was open, bringing with it the salty tang of ocean, a hint of balmy air that slipped through her unbound hair and swirled around her. Sadly, a short-lived relief from the heat that had clung to her throughout the night.