Lusting (Carnal Sins Of Noah Trilogy #1) (2 page)

Driving the 15 minutes, she pulled into the parking garage, parked and got out.

Walking toward the entrance of the massive, classically designed building with big bold words KANE ENTERPRISE, Alexis straightened her shoulders and walked through the glass doors with enough confidence and poise that would have made any king or queen jealous. Striding to the front desk, she gave Delphine, the brunette receptionist, her name. The receptionist, smiled and told her to take the elevator all the way to the top floor and the receptionist there, would be with her shortly.

Top floor?

With an inside shrug, Alexis followed the woman’s directions and took the elevator all the way to the top floor, where a gorgeous red-head, Sydney, met her when the elevator doors opened.

"Good morning Ms. Monroe, welcome to Kane Enterprise. Please have a seat and you will be seen shortly." The beautiful woman smiled warmly, as she led her to the sitting area, which gave Alexis a spark of hope. The staff seemed genuinely nice. Hopefully the businessman she had the appointment with was just as nice.

“Would you like any refreshments while you wait for Ms. Paige to show you to his office?” Sydney asked.

“No, thank you,” Alexis replied with a small nervous smile. “Very well, Ms. Monroe.” Sydney accepted and went back to her desk.

Alexis sat on a beautiful, cream leather sofa in the waiting lounge. The tables beside the sofa had all the latest business magazines on it. She was reaching for one when someone called her name.

"Ms. Monroe, I’m Sasha Paige, please follow me."

Alexis turned toward the voice. The pretty dark-skinned woman, Sasha, dressed in a light gray skirt suit, waited for her with a smile.
Yes, this is going to be a good meeting. Everyone’s smiling here
. Getting up, Alexis followed the assistant to an office with solid wood doors and then opened it for Alexis, waving Alexis inside.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Kane will be with you shortly." The assistant informed and turned to leave.

"Wait! Mr. Kane? As in the CEO, Mr. Noah Kane?" Alexis asked breathlessly.

The assistant smiled brilliantly, "Yes, Mr. Noah Kane."

"But…isn't he too busy to see me? I mean, this is just something…so…so small." Alexis stuttered. She was baffled the billionaire CEO would want to sit with her, to go over her tiny business plan. She was getting nervous again, extremely fidgety.

"Well, Mr. Kane prefers to meet all who are starting businesses through him. Don’t worry, he’s a very fair man, Ms. Monroe." Sasha informed her politely, before closing the door behind her, leaving a nervous Alexis staring at the closed door.

Alexis groaned.

I truly hope he’s nice
.

She didn't know much about the billionaire CEO, other
than the rumors that hinted he was a hard-working, self-made billionaire who stayed to himself most of the time, and was very stern. She certainly hoped her business plan passed his inspection. She turned and looked around Mr. Kane's office, to get a feel of just who that man was. It was sparsely furnished, but, with a rich taste in decor, one barely noticed. The large desk had papers and folders stacked neatly, pens in a cup with the name Kane on them and a computer; that was it. The big black leather seat opposite hers looked like a throne, it was so huge. She imagined Mr. Kane being a giant wearing a jeweled crown and laughed.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." A baritone voice stated. A familiar, baritone voice.

Alexis barely stifled a scream, when the deep voice interrupted her thoughts and then jerked her head toward the masculine voice, as she stood to greet him.

"You!" she accused before she could stop herself.

"You," he addressed back, his handsome face already starting to frown.

"I'm waiting on Mr. Kane, I have a meeting with him. Are you one of his assistants?" Alexis asked, frustrated to see the guy who ran her over this morning, leaning against the door, scrutinizing her. Alexis took the time to do the same.

He was tall, easily 6’3 and well-muscled.

He had jet black hair with a slight curl to the ends, worn longer than most guys.

His vivid blue eyes reminded her of the deep waters of Curaçao she’d visited, during her summer vacation, two years ago. His nose was perfectly straight, and it lead to sinfully full lips. Lips that made her want to throw caution to the wind!
Can lips get any sexier? Hell, even his clean shaved jaw was sexy!
Alexis boldly explored him with her eyes, from his wide
shoulders to his toned arms and chest beneath his starched white shirt and smart blazer. His torso looked lean and good god his legs were thick with muscle, hiding inside his perfectly fitted pants.

Where do they make men like this?!

She had to stop herself from looking at that secret spot and forced herself to look back at him. He was no longer frowning at her. His intense blue eyes sparkled with amusement, though she couldn't be sure because his face was expressionless.
A man made of stone. Like a Greek statue. A very handsome, perfectly sculpted, Greek freaking statue
.

"Ms. Monroe, I presume. Please have a seat." He ordered, as he released his casual pose against the door and prowled across the office toward the big, black leather chair behind the desk.

No, no, no!
What was he doing? That seat was for Mr. Kane. She was supposed to meet with Mr. Kane, not this sexy, barbaric stranger who liked to run people over.

As if reading her thoughts, Mr. ‘Barbaric’ sat, leaned over the desk and steepled his fingers while staring at her.

His dark blue, intense stare requested entrance into her soul, wanting to know all her deepest, darkest secrets.

And damn it if she didn't want to tell him all of hers! After a moment, he grinned. A devilishly handsome grin that did things to her, that she wanted no part of it.

"Well, Ms. Monroe, you are in luck...I am Mr. Noah Kane."

Alexis’s world tilted and she thought she was going to faint. There was no way he could be Mr. Kane.

He was too young...too handsome... and too damned rude. Her well thought out business plan was going to fail...and all because she argued with the damned billionaire CEO on his
morning jog. She knew he was going to give her a hard time.

Well I came this far...I’m not going to give up my dream just because he wasn't paying attention and wanted to be an ass! No way in hell
.

Chapter Two

N
oah sat across from the tempting Ms. Alexis Monroe and grinned. He could tell she wasn't taking the news, that he was indeed Mr. Noah Kane, well at all.

Her cheeks were flushed with a pretty blush and she was breathing deeply trying to calm herself. The telling tick of the vein in her neck, told him her heart was racing. And she closed her eyes, covering those expressive chocolate orbs of hers. Those same orbs that slayed him earlier this morning, when he accused her of being the reason she almost got run over by him.

He remembered how her perfectly curved body was briefly pressed against him and had to take a deep breath himself, to calm his racing pulse.

She was undeniably gorgeous, with a tart tongue.

He would love to tame that fire he’d glimpsed earlier this morning.

From the moment he left her on the jogging trail, he couldn't remove her from his thoughts. He couldn't stop thinking about those gorgeous lips that pursed in disapproval or the way her arms folded across her chest pushing her luscious breast up for his eyes to feast on.

Noah gave his head a tiny shake, to bring himself out of his thoughts, and looked up at Ms. Monroe to find her eyeing him warily. He was glad she couldn't read his mind.

"Well, Ms. Monroe, let's talk business, shall we?" he asked, though it was more of an order.

She took another deep breath and handed him the folder she’d had a death grip on. "Here’s my business plan. I've been working on it a little over 4 years until I was satisfied and then went over it twice more with my attorney. I think it’s a very sound plan and hope you would give it a fair chance."

He could tell that she believed he wouldn't be fair, but, he didn't take offense. She simply didn't know him. And maybe…he could use that to his advantage.

"I see. So this isn't something you thought of on a whim? A fantasy that you would lose interest in within the first year?" He asked mildly, as he looked over her business plan, then glanced at her briefly, before returning to the papers in front of him.

He had to refrain from bursting out laughing.

She probably needed a come down. No doubt too many people catered to her every whim
.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke through clenched teeth, 'I can assure you sir that my plan has been well thought out. As I've said, it has taken me quite some time to perfect it to the best of my ability. I’ve busted my ass and will see it through."

His eyes crinkled in the corners again, firing Alexis's
temper.

Was he laughing at me and my plan? Oh what a jackass!
She had to bite her tongue so she wouldn't say anything that could cause him to deny his help. She needed this. And unfortunately, that included needing him to see the value in her plan.
Play nice Alexis. At least for the next 20 minutes
.

Noah Kane looked through her folder with a blank expression. She watched nervously and was frustrated, not knowing what was going on in his egotistical mind.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally closed the folder, steepled his fingers again, bringing them to his lips and stared at her.

"Well?" she asked nervously, when he continued staring at her with his dreadfully blank expression.

The corners of his lips turned up in a smile that enhanced his devilish good looks.

Dear god, the man had dimples in both cheeks! Her fingers itched to reach over to caress those twin little devils, but that wouldn’t be appropriate.

She needed to get a hold of her emotions. Now!

She waited, impatiently for his response.

And he gave it, after a tormentingly slow wait.

"Well, Ms. Monroe, you do indeed have a very detailed and solid business plan; however, there’s one major detail that I'd like to discuss. The area you plan to have this business. Why did you pick Tampa instead of here in Miami?"

Releasing a deep breath she didn't know she held, she smiled.
Finally! It is happening. Yes!

"Well I chose Tampa because I was planning on buying a house there and wanted it to be as close as possible to my business."

"I see." Noah didn't know why, but, he didn't like that idea of her moving away. He shoved that thought aside swiftly and nodded.

"Will that be a problem?" she queried, nervously, tucking a long curly strand behind her ears, just for it to pop out again.

Flexing his fingers, he retained the urge to reach over and tuck the unruly strand behind her ear.

He wanted to run his finger down her smooth cheek to feel if it was as soft as it looked.

And her creamy complexion beckoned his lips to taste every portion.

What in the hell is wrong with me?
Alexis Monroe was a temptation...a distraction that he had no time for in his life. The best thing to do in this situation was to get her as far away from him as possible. Three hours away, in Tampa, would have to do.

He couldn’t have her traipsing around in his domain, tempting him with her perky breast and the cock swallowing lips of hers. No, he didn’t need that at the moment. She was trouble.

He would give her the business loan and send her to his cousins’ office, to continue with the architectural design plans for a building in Tampa.

"I have a building here in downtown Miami that I am selling. I would like you to consider buying it for your business. It's in a prime and ideal location. It would be perfect for a spa of this size. You would have tons of clients and there isn't any other spa close by to compete with."

What the hell? Where did that come from?

Alexis looked at him in surprise.
A building here…in Coral Gables?
She immediately shook her head with regret, "I don't think I can afford the price you would ask for that building.
And I am not interested in leasing. I want to own my building." She clearly stated with conviction.

Noah heard the regret in her voice
. Let her go Kane!
"Well, let's come up with an agreement. How about I accept your amount offered here in your plan for the downtown building and I get free spa services for two weeks?"

You fucking fool! Leading by your cock never ends well
.

Alexis gave him an incredulous look that almost had him laughing out loud. She really was a breath of fresh air. She wasn't stuck up, or faking her emotions, like the majority of women he’d come in contact with on a daily basis.

No, she was refreshing. It felt exhilarating to be in her presence. It was a high feeling. Like he was inhaling Cannabis sativa again, only this time, he wasn’t a junior in college…and it wasn’t a plant he inhaled. It was the interesting and tempting Ms. Alexis Monroe. But that feeling wouldn’t do either. He would never get mixed up in the emotional rollercoaster of any type of relationship. Never. He had plenty of amorous attentions and they would have to do, no matter how hollow and empty he felt inside.