Her New Boss: A Rouge Erotic Romance (13 page)

‘Where do you live exactly?’ Zoe leant to see out the window. His headlights illuminated the blacktop road as the houses became further and further apart.

‘I have a little spread a couple miles outside of town. Just up this hill.’ The winding road forked in two directions and he took the right. They passed through an open wrought-iron gate supported by two red-brick columns. Hanging lanterns lit up as they passed. The drive turned to gravel as they left the main highway.

‘Is this it?’ Zoe kept expecting to see the house. The gates looked as if they belonged to one, but the road kept going.

‘This is the driveway.’ Jackson grinned. He rested one arm on his open window, driving with the other hand on the wheel. She stared briefly at his strong fingers, squirming a little in her seat.

The full moon shone over the land in the clear sky. Oak trees lined the drive, spaced equally apart as if by design. Silvery moss clung to their limbs, giving the landscape an eerie feel. Swallowing nervously at the quiet isolation of their surroundings, Zoe said, ‘You’re not bringing me to a haunted house or something, are you?’

‘There have been rumors that the old place is haunted. It was built back in the 1800s. Of course, it’s said all of these old houses are haunted. It’s a Southern thing. We love it so much we don’t leave after we die.’ He grinned. It was an incorrigibly handsome look that made her shiver. ‘Why? You scared?’

‘It’s, ah –’ she wanted to say creepy, but instead finished, ‘– quaint.’

After about a mile, she saw the house emerge from behind the trees. ‘Little’ was not how she would have described the plantation-style mansion that greeted them. The driveway turned to bricks and wound around a central pedestal. Overhead lights came on as they drove up, illuminating a stone statue of a graceful naked woman that stood in the middle.

The red-brick façade matched the stone on the ground. In the center, a two-story section stood high over the drive. One-and-a-half-story wings came off of each side, perfect matches to each other in design and connected to the center part by covered walkways. A low-pitched roof showcased four tall chimneys, one coming from each corner of the main section. Long rectangular windows, arranged symmetrically around the main doorway, had decorative semicircular fanlights over the tops. The frames were painted a stark white with black shutters as accents. Two narrow windows bordered the front door, making it appear even wider than it already was. Over the door, on the second story, an arched Palladian window mimicked the shape of the door. Decorative molding jutted out from the roofline beneath the cornice.

Zoe had her hand on the handle, opening the door before the truck stopped. As it slowed, she stepped onto the brick drive. ‘This is amazing. You actually live here? By yourself?’

‘For about five years now. I bought it and restored it to its original state. There are some ruins from the old icehouse, dairy, meat house, barns and stables, but they were too far gone to restore. I thought about keeping horses, but I’m not home nearly enough and I don’t want to compete with the local ranchers.’ He walked around his
car
, looking over the house as if seeing it for the first time. ‘When I was a kid, we used to love to come out here and walk through the overgrown gardens. There’s an old graveyard out back, where the rich landowners who owned most of the land in Dabery used to bury their family members. In high school, we would take girls back there to scare them. Now the gardens are manicured, but sometimes I miss the run-down look.’

‘Please tell me you’ve outgrown scaring girls. I really don’t like to be frightened.’ Zoe looked at him, trying not to step too close. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

‘Possibly.’ He grinned. ‘I don’t really bring girls here any more. Well, except for Rachel and Rita.’

‘Rachel? Rita?’ Zoe’s voice went up an octave as she said the other women’s names.

‘The housekeepers. I’d be a slob without them.’ His feet made small tapping noises as he crossed over the drive to his front door. She followed slowly, unable to stop looking around. ‘The house is considered antebellum because it was built before the Civil War, but the style of architecture is called Federal. You can tell by the curved lines and decorative flourish. All the bricks you see are original, made on the old plantation in a kiln they kept on the grounds, and inside, the original wood framing came from trees on the property. The stone trim came from a local quarry. This house is pure South Carolina.’

He opened the door, letting her walk in first. She ducked past him quickly. An overhead chandelier illuminated the tall ceiling. At the end of the front hall, a wide staircase led up to the second story. She could see part of the landing. Beautiful dental crown molding lined the tops of the doors
and
archways. The white frames blended with the slightly off-white color of the walls, a perfect enhancement to the gleaming dark wood of the floors and oversized rugs. Aside from a couple of antique mirrors and a wooden table, there were no decorations in the room.

‘On your left is the parlor and behind that the dining room. A covered walkway with a bathroom leads to the south wing, where you can find the kitchen and laundry room. To your right are the living room and my office, another covered walkway and bathroom, the old library with some of the original books and the old servants’ quarters turned reading room. Straight ahead, if you pass the staircase on either side, you’ll find the back door and a stone porch leading to the gardens.’ He motioned to the left. ‘Would you like a tour?’

‘I would love one, but do you think it would be possible to take that shower first?’ She gave a sheepish glance down at her stained pants. ‘Please.’

He chuckled, nodding. ‘Right this way.’

Jackson let her walk up the stairs first. Zoe could just imagine the stains on the back of her pants and closed her eyes in mortification. Here she was in the most gorgeous mansion she’d ever seen and she smelt like she was homeless. This place was definitely a far cry from her crappy apartment back in New York. Hell, the bed and breakfast was better than her apartment.

The wood banister gleamed, but she didn’t touch it as she reached the top landing. More white walls and wooden floors covered in rugs greeted them. What little furniture she could see looked true to the period of the house – all wooden with finely carved details.

‘The upstairs is a little different from most Federalist
homes
, as far as the layout goes. There are four guest bedrooms named for different Southern cities and one master bedroom. Each has its own bathroom. The master bedroom has balcony access and a sitting room that joins it to what used to be the lady of the house’s bedroom.’ Jackson walked to the left.

‘Which room should I take?’

‘I’ll let you choose.’ He looked at her, his eyes narrowed as if they held some secret meaning. She had to look away. ‘But for now you can use my bathroom. Since I rarely have guests other than family, I haven’t had the housekeepers stock the other bathrooms with toiletries.’

The master bedroom had the same light walls as the rest of the house, with a dark wooden armoire, king-sized bed with four square posters and a giant wood fireplace. Logs were neatly stacked inside it, ready to be lit, and more were placed by its side. An antique mirror hung over the mantel. The blue-gray and silver comforter matched the thick, open curtains over the large window.

‘Your home is lovely,’ Zoe said. ‘It’s better than lovely, it’s amazing.’

‘It’s been a project. For some reason, I always have big projects going. I like having something to do to fill the hours.’

‘It seems to be working for you.’

‘Bathroom’s this way.’ Jackson crossed to a door, opening it for her. ‘I did have to modernize this room. I couldn’t resist a whirlpool tub and a big shower.’ The gray-and-white bathroom was understated in its elegance. Stacked black towels and washcloths sat atop a small rack, artfully displayed. Cabinets flanked either side of the large sink and not a single item looked out of place.

Jackson opened a cabinet. ‘Help yourself to anything. Extra toothbrushes are in here. Yell if you need anything.’ His dark eyes dipped down over her body.

Zoe self-consciously crossed her arms over her chest. ‘Thank you.’

‘Oh, here.’ He crossed to the shower and turned it on, testing the water temperature. ‘Or would you prefer a bath? I can –’

‘Shower is perfect. Thank you.’

He nodded once, hesitated and then left the bathroom, closing the door partway behind him.

Jackson breathed heavily, only feeling slightly bad about the fact that he was peeking through the crack left in the door at the shower stall where Zoe washed herself. He couldn’t see every detail through the thick, blurred glass, but he could make out her movements. Her hands massaged the blur of her chest, then ran down over her legs. The movements were functional, not meant to be seductive – but, oh, for him they definitely were.

He slowly unzipped his pants. With the running water, she probably couldn’t hear him, but he didn’t want to take chances. He dipped his hand down the front of his silk boxers and adjusted his cock to a more comfortable angle so it could continue to swell. Taking it in his hand, he stroked the turgid length. His eyes stayed locked on Zoe’s body, focusing to make out what he could. She bent over and he almost groaned.

Jackson desperately wanted her to invite him into the shower with her. He’d gladly wash her body if it meant another chance at touching it. The knowledge that she’d allowed him to fuck her twice already gave him hope that
this
night would be one he’d always remember. He hated referring to what they did as ‘fucking’, but ‘making love’ didn’t quite describe bending her over a worktable or screwing her against a tree.

He’d opened a window and a cool breeze ruffled the curtains, sweeping across the room. Jackson pumped his hand harder, debating if he should pull his pants down just a little for better access. He wanted to be able to right himself quickly when she stepped out. It wouldn’t do to get caught with his pants down. Thinking of her coming from the shower, tiny droplets of water beading her flesh like glistening diamonds just waiting to be licked, made his hips jerk and he nearly came. Damn, this woman did something to him.

‘Mr Levy?’ Zoe’s voice called. ‘Is that you?’

Jackson bit his lip. He hated it when she called him Mr Levy. It sounded so formal, and in a way made him feel like some creepy boss taking advantage of an employee. Looking down at his cock in his hand, he frowned. Maybe that was exactly what he was.

‘Did you say something?’ He hoped the words sounded like he’d walked from across the room. Pushing his cock into his pants, he struggled to pull up the zipper. Releasing the erection had definitely been easier than trying to confine it.

‘Oh, I just thought I heard you say something.’ Her face leant closer to the door and he jerked back. ‘I realize I don’t have anything clean to put on. Do you mind if I borrow something?’

‘Oh, ah, sure.’ He scurried into his room, looking for a shirt. Going through a stack of T-shirts, he decided against them. Instead, he grabbed one of his designer dress
shirts
– a cornflower-blue button-down he wore under his business suits. The idea of seeing her in it made his breath hitch in his throat.

He heard the shower turn off and went toward the door. Sticking his arm through, he said, ‘Will this work?’

‘Perfect.’

Jackson glanced at the mirror over the sink, getting a peek at the side of her breast. Not wanting to get caught being the voyeur, he pulled the door closed to give her privacy. Already he felt a little dirty about spying.

Sniffing his shirt, he frowned and pulled it over his head before kicking it under his bed. He retrieved a fresh grey T-shirt out of his closet and pulled some cologne out of his travel bag. Ridding himself of his tight jeans, he slipped on some pyjama pants and left his feet bare. Tonight, he would woo Zoe to his bed and he would make love to her right.

Ever since he’d finished building the house and moved in, he’d felt the emptiness of the vast estate closing in on him. This house was meant to have people in it, to entertain guests. An almost giddy excitement coursed through him to have her in his home. He hadn’t meant to go on and on about the house’s architectural style, but he’d wanted to tell her about it because it was important to him.

‘I’m out,’ Zoe called.

Jackson came from the closet to see her standing in his bathroom doorway. His shirt fell to her thighs. She’d rolled it at the cuffs and fastened it all the way up to the very top button.

‘Would you like that tour?’ Jackson offered, though he really didn’t want to show her much more than his bed at the moment.

‘It’s been a long day. I want to rest.’ She glanced nervously at his door. ‘Um, is it always this quiet out here? I
can’t
get used to it. My ears keep straining for noises to block out so I can sleep. Instead, it’s nothing but silence and bugs so my mind stays awake.’

‘I have a television. Will that help? This is the only room with it, though. I mean, if you don’t mind sleeping in my room.’ He crossed to the armoire and opened it to show her the widescreen television.

‘Would you think me a big wussy if I didn’t want to be alone out here?’

‘Not at all.’ Jackson turned on the television, hiding his smile. He understood that she was used to the city. In fact, he was just the opposite. All the noise when he stayed in the city made him edgy and nervous. ‘I don’t have many channels, but there are some movies you can flip through.’ He pushed a few buttons on the remote before handing it to her.

Zoe climbed onto his bed to lie against a stack of his thick pillows. Her gorgeous legs sprawled forward and it took all his willpower just to sit next to her on the bed and not touch her. What was it about her that made him lose all his confidence and charm? He felt like a teenager, sitting next to a girl he liked, desperate to know if she liked him back, agonizing over every move and word, when really all he wanted was to start kissing her legs and work his way up to taste her pussy.