My body sizzled with electricity. The coil in my belly tightened further, pushing me closer and closer to release. I struggled toward it, sweat sticking the hair to the back of my neck. My exposed breasts rose and fell with our movements, and Oliver sucked on them again.
I rose and rose, curling my toes tightly in my shoes. I was nearly there. So goddamn close.
Oliver bit down on my skin again and an orgasm finally crashed through me. I couldn’t help it; I screamed.
My body forgot how to move. I became a ragdoll with the force of my release, falling limp against him as he continued to drive up into me. I kissed everywhere I could, so thankful for the pleasure he’d given me. My lips traced his jaw, his lips, his neck. Anywhere I could reach without moving.
Then Oliver groaned, holding me against him. His fingers bit down into the flesh of my hips and I gasped, falling further against his shoulder.
His heavy breaths buffeted my neck, a rhythmic pattern that helped return me back down to earth. Only as that happened did I realize how exposed I was. What I’d just done.
It still felt so unlike me, but it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it might. There was still nobody in the lounge, and I doubted anyone from the dance floor could see me at this angle.
And hell, it was worth it.
Our eyes met. Oliver smiled.
“Kitten,” he said. “You’re full of surprises.”
If my face wasn’t already flushed from sex, I’m sure it would have reddened. I turned away, making a show of looking for my phone in the clutch I’d discarded next to us. I don’t know why I felt so suddenly awkward again, but something about the rawness of the moment scared me. Sex had never been that good.
Was it simply the forbiddance of the encounter, or something more?
“I’ve got to go,” I said, reading the texts on my screen. “Cressida’s looking for me.”
Apparently, things had not gone as well for Cressida as they had for me. She was waiting for me outside.
Oliver nodded, releasing me from his grip. I stood and rearranged myself, turning away while he did the same. What was I supposed to say now?
Lovely to meet you and thanks for the dick? See you around?
Oliver saved me the embarrassment. He pulled me into his arms and gave me one last kiss. I could taste the finality of it on his lips, the way he held me against him like he’d never see me again. And he wouldn’t, in all likelihood. Probably for the best. Guys like him were the reason I’d stuck to the safe side of the dating line. Only someone who can bring you up so high can drop you with enough force to break you.
“Lovely to meet you, Elizabeth,” Oliver whispered in my ear.
I pulled away and smiled at him. “Yeah. Thanks for the sex.”
I turned from him so he wouldn’t see me grit my teeth and screw my eyes shut in embarrassment.
One of these days I’d meet someone and not make a complete ass of myself.
6
Oliver
“Mr. Bentley,” Todd called into my study. “The interior designer is here.”
I looked up from the paperwork in front of me. “I’ll be out in a minute,” I replied.
“We’ll be in the library.”
I listened to his footsteps receding before taking off my reading glasses, rubbing the bridge of my nose between thumb and forefinger. I’d forgotten that the interior designer was coming today. While I wasn’t used to forgetting anything, it had started becoming the norm.
I tossed my glasses down and they skittered across the wood.
Damn it all to hell.
How could I still be distracted by the thought of that girl from Repeat? I never got distracted by any woman, so why wasn’t I able to forget about this one?
It wasn’t her beauty, although she was breathtaking. But beauty alone hardly made her stand out from the crowd of my sexual past. More likely it was her innocence, combined with the smoldering sexuality underneath it all. Something about those contrasting qualities drew me to the idea of her and how different she was than any other woman I’d ever met.
Truth be told, it was probably also just the thrill of the moment. An adrenaline memory that would take time to fade. Still, it wasn’t worth fixating on anymore. I’d never see her again, so what was the point? I needed to move on.
I rose from my desk and rolled down my sleeves, buttoning them again at the wrist. It was for the best that our paths never cross again, I reminded myself. A woman like her was exactly the type I needed to stay as far away from as possible. Even if I wanted to see her again, I couldn’t.
Not without losing everything.
I tugged my blazer back on and rubbed out the creases, forcing my head back into the moment. I liked to make a strong first impression. So much in a relationship depended on the first encounter, both personally and professionally. I needed to show this designer that I was the boss here, and that I meant business. Making her wait for me was an easy enough first step toward that, but I’d stalled long enough.
My shoes clicked off the hardwood, announcing my arrival to Todd and whomever he’d hired for the project. I had conceded to my friend and trusted advisor that the place needed renovations, but I wasn’t anxious for the change. The old mansion still reminded me of my grandfather, stately and classic. If this designer woman thought to tear it all down in place of some modern monstrosity, she thought wrong. I accepted that the place had to change, but they had to be the right changes.
I rounded the corner to the library and strode in, hands thrust in my pockets. The back of the auburn head sitting at Todd’s desk looked familiar, but I didn’t quite place it until she turned around.
Holy shit.
“Mr. Bentley, this is Elizabeth Paulson,” Todd introduced.
I didn’t so much as hitch my stride. I’d had a lot of practice at masking my emotions over the years. She, on the other hand, clearly did not.
“Oh.” Her mouth dropped open. She slammed it shut a second later, turning back to Todd. She probably didn’t want me to see the blush rising on her cheeks. Too late.
As I rounded the desk, a sliver of pleasure ran up my spine at seeing her. I just hadn’t yet decided if it was welcome or not.
I was of two minds about how to handle this unexpected situation.
Part of me wanted to kick Todd out and have my way with her again, right over the desk. But then I’d be breaking my biggest rule. And what was I supposed to do after that? Either she’d quit or I’d have to fire her. Giving into that baser part of me would only end negatively for both of us.
Which left option two. Pretend nothing was wrong.
But that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun with the situation.
“Lovely to meet you, Ms. Paulson,” I said, leaning against the bookshelf behind Todd’s chair. “Todd seemed to be very impressed by your ideas. I look forward to working with you. Is it true you want to essentially strip the library bare?”
“Uh, yes,” she said, trying to recover her composure.
“It’s important to me that the person in charge of the renovations isn’t averse to getting their hands dirty,” I continued, stone-faced. “I know some designers prefer to be more passive, but I’m hoping you’ll really dig your teeth in. I want someone with desire for my big… project. Someone unafraid at letting loose, but still able to take direction.”