“Are you listening, Pearl?”
Clay’s voice brings me back to the present, and I jump slightly.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he chuckles softly as he leans forward, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
I lick my lips, my eyes flicking toward his lips before moving back up his face and meeting his gaze. I want him to kiss me, to quench the burning desire coursing through my entire body.
“Just deep in thought,” I whisper as I shift slightly, trying to calm the ache between my legs.
I need to get my body under control, or I’ll get fired before my probation period is over.
Wanting to focus on the task at hand, I turn the conversation back to our proposal. “If we outsource some of the work at a flat rate, we should be able to cut cost by about ten percent.”
“Pearl,” Clay grasps my chin between his fingers and turns me toward him, his eyes focusing on my lips before meeting mine.
“Yes?” I lick my lips in anticipation, wanting him to lean in closer and claim my lips as his own.
My eyes slide shut as his lips brush against mine, but the moment is ruined as an image of Colleen’s smiling face flashes in my mind.
“We can’t,” I gasp, both of my hands coming between us and pushing against his chest. “What about Colleen? I know what it feels like to be cheated on, and I refuse to be the other woman.”
I push up from the couch, attempting to put some space between us, but he grips my elbow tightly, pulling me back on the couch and into his arms.
“Let me go!” I protest as I try to stand up again, but he wraps his arm around my waist.
“No, I won’t let you go,” he growls into my ear as he nips at my earlobe, caressing the edge with the tip of his tongue.
I shiver slightly as I feel his cock harden beneath me, showing his desire for me in a very physical way.
“There is no Colleen and me. We’re just friends.”
My eyes widen in shock as I realize how my insecurities have bled into our conversation.
“Shit,” I mumble, dropping my head onto his shoulder and squeezing my eyes shut.
His chest vibrates as he laughs. “No need to be embarrassed. You’re not the first person who thought there was something more going on between the two of us, but it’s never been anything more than a close friendship.”
He lifts my chin. “Now that we’re done talking about her, I’m going to kiss you.”
Unable to find words to respond, I nod before our lips connect for the first time. My entire body tingles as he presses his lips against mine, timidly at first, increasing the pressure with each pass. I’ve been kissed before, but it never felt like this. It feels as if my body is on fire, and the need to be closer to Clay is almost too much to bear.
“More,” I moan as I sweep my tongue against his bottom lip.
He groans, pulling me tighter into him, as he takes control and claims my mouth again with a hungry and intense need that I’ve never felt before. I slide my hands into his hair the way I’ve imagined doing for days, tugging gently on the silky strands to ground myself.
I feel the fabric of my shirt against my skin as he untucks it from my waistband, and his fingers glide across my skin. I gasp as a combination of pain and pleasure ignites through my veins when Clay rubs my hardened nipple through my bra before pinching it between two fingers.
I want—no, I need—more. I need to feel his lips caressing every part of me, claiming me in a way that only he can.
The spell is broken by the shrill ring of a phone across the room. My cheeks flush from embarrassment as we break apart, our chests rising and falling rapidly as we fight to regain our composure.
“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way,” Clay brushes his lips against my forehead before resting his head against mine. “I’ve wanted to do that since you walked into my office and told me you were divorced. If I’m being honest, I’ve wanted you since high school.” He pulls back slightly before leaning down and staring into my eyes. “It’s always been you. I knew it then, and I can tell you now. You, Pearl Beauregard, are the only woman I have ever and will ever love. You’re it for me.”
My entire body recoils from his embrace, pushing back against his arms, but he pulls me toward him, unwilling to let me escape. I never imagined that Clayton Matthews, one of the most influential men in Toronto, had spent the last fifteen years pining for me.
“I’ve been dreaming about you. Wondering if you were thinking about me or if you wanted me as much as I wanted you,” I admit.
The phone rings loudly for a second time, making us both laugh.
“Why don’t you find out who that is and call them back?” he suggests. “We can continue this conversation and other things at my apartment.”
Clay groans as I slide out of his lap and head toward his desk to grab my phone.
I scoff as I see two missed calls from my mother. “I’m going to freshen up, and then I’ll be ready to go.”
“I’ll be here.” He gives me a mock salute as he rests his ankle on his knee and spreads his arms out across the back of the couch.
I spin on my heels and head into the bathroom, dialing my mother’s number as I flick on the light.
“Are you all right?” she answers on the first ring, not even bothering to say hello.
“I’m fine, Mom. Just working late. We have a proposal going out soon and we want everything to be perfect,” I tell her as I look at my reflection in the mirror.
My cheeks are flushed and my lips swollen. My fingers brush against them as I remember the feel of his lips against mine.
“Okay. I was just worried since you haven’t gotten home yet,” she harps.
I love my mother, but sometimes she needs to remember that I’m an adult and can take care of myself. I roll my eyes as I unbutton my skirt and shove my blouse back inside.
“I’m an adult, Mother. I’m fine. Just working.”
Although I have every intention of picking up where Clay and I left off a few moments ago, there’s no need to tell my mother that.
“We still have a few things to get done, so I’ll probably stay at a co-worker’s house. I don’t bother you and dad coming in too late.”
“Okay. Will we see you tomorrow?” she presses, but I shut her down.
“I don’t know, Mom. I really need to go. Give my love to Dad, and I’ll let you know if I won’t make it home tomorrow either.”
“Okay. Love you, honey.”
“Love you too, mom.” I quickly hang up the phone and stride out of the bathroom.
“Ready to go?” Clay leans against the edge of his desk, the epitome of cool and collected. The exact opposite of how I’m feeling right this moment.
“Yeah. Just my mom checking in to see if I was all right.”
Shit. Could I sound any more pathetic?
“I’m living with my parents until I get back on my feet. I tried going on my own at first but finally came home for a fresh start.”
“I, for one, am glad you came back. It led us back to each other.”
He cups my face, and I nuzzle into his palm. How is it that with one simple phrase, he can make all my worries and insecurities disappear?
Because you love him.
“Let’s get out of here.” Clay kisses the tip of my nose before striding out the door.