Salvation (3 page)

“Well, then,” he murmured, his lips brushing my ear, “it seems I’ll be satisfying my hunger alone this evening.” A wash of heat ran through me, but I still shivered under the weight of his magnetic presence. He reached around me, his powerful frame pressing into my back, and unlocked the doors.

I yanked one open, swallowing the unexpected knot of yearning blossoming from our far too intimate interaction, and fled to the safety of the lifts. Blake was beside me, his one stride matching my two, guiding me with one hand at the small of my back. I tried ignoring him, and the heat surging to my groin from his touch, but the shock on Ramón and the blonde’s faces as we reached reception made it impossible to keep up the pretence.

The lobby doors were both propped open. I slammed the call button, relieved when a lift arrived immediately. I rushed in and hit the ‘8’ button.

“It’s been a pleasure, Miss Collins,” he murmured in that seductive tone.

With a twinkle in his eyes and the hint of a smirk on his lips, it was clear he hadn’t accepted my brush off. Unnerved by his expression, I stepped back, not uttering a word whilst I fixated on my shoes.

As the doors began closing, I peeked up and was greeted with an utterly disarming smile. I sagged against the cool metal interior walls, all the air rushing from my lungs in one huge breath as they shut.

What the hell just happened?

SHORTLY after five, I packed up, eager to get home. My head still throbbed, my body dehydrated from the after effects of last night. Making a mental note never to drink so many tequila shots again—at least not during the week—I took my bag and went to collect Mai. She’d been unusually quiet since I’d returned from my meeting, so I was dreading the car journey home because I knew a Mai Harvey interrogation waited for me.

I found her bent over her desk drawers, rummaging around as though she’d lost something. “Ready, Mai?”

Her head bobbed up. “Just have to find my cigarettes. They’re here somewhere…”

“Again?” Mai was great at organising other people, but her own life lacked the same discipline. She had to be the most disorganised person I knew. “Meet you by the lifts.”

I slipped my sunglasses on my head, offering goodbyes as I passed my colleagues. When I reached the foyer, I called the lift.

“Got them!” Mai cried, scurrying through the glass doors, waving the packet in the air. “They were at the bottom of my bag.”

“You should give those up. Disgusting habit.”

“Yeah, yeah. One day.” She shoved me into the half-full car, wedging herself between me and another woman. “Now, tell me what the
hell
happened earlier. You’ve been antsy ever since you got back.”

The last thing I wanted was to discuss my encounter with Blake in front of other colleagues. “I’ll tell you in a minute,” I whispered.

Thanks to secure Basement parking, I’d left my black VW Golf overnight so I could enjoy a few drinks. “Are you going out tonight or having a romantic night in?” I asked, pulling my keys from my tote.

Mai sighed heavily. “Mitch is working.
Again
.” She checked the time on her phone. “I should catch him for a bit before he leaves.”

I raised my brows. “A bit of what?”

She groaned. “I should be so lucky.”

We didn’t even get as far as the parking exit gate before I was bombarded with questions. I had all the time in the world to fill her in as we crawled along in the heavy traffic heading through the canyon.

“Why the hell didn’t you say yes?” Mai cried after learning Blake had invited me to dinner.

“Be realistic, Mai. He didn’t want to eat, he wanted to get laid.”

“God, could you imagine…” Mai’s eyes misted dreamily. “I’d have him as a friend with orgasmic benefits any day of the week.”

“We certainly
aren’t
friends. I don’t even know him.” I swerved to avoid the bus pulling out at the crossroads just as the lights changed to red. Driving an automatic on the opposite side of the road was still something I was getting used to.

Mai snickered. “No strings sex with a rich CEO, not to mention one who’s gorgeous. Not many people get that offer every day.”

“I’m sure they do if Blake has anything to do with it. You’ve seen for yourself how flirtatious he is.”

“You’ve got balls, Kara. I bet he doesn’t get knocked back often. Not sure I could, and you know how much I love Mitch.” Mai’s voice softened at the mention of her fiancé.

“You’re probably one of few women in this world he hasn’t slept with—
yet.
”

“I’ve worked there three years, and never heard a single rumour about him sleeping with the staff. Flirt? Possibly. Fuck?
Never.
” Mai tapped the cigarette she was desperate to smoke on the packet clasped in her lap. I refused to let her fill my car with the stench of cigarette smoke. “You, girlfriend, are the first confirmed case.”

“Yeah, I’m a real trailblazer,” I scoffed, not believing a word. “He’s probably thrown money at them to keep quiet.”

When we came to another standstill, I glanced across at Mai. She was chewing the inside of her mouth, her neatly plucked brows drawn in, revealing her contemplation. Her silence forced me to continue talking. “I admit he’s extremely charismatic and could easily charm his way into any woman’s bed. But it’s more what he didn’t say that got to me.”

I jumped at the sound of honking horns and pitied the homeless man pushing his trolley full of rubbish bags sluggishly across the road, the target of everyone’s frustrations. “Most women would’ve caved,” I continued, finally moving again. “If I wanted instant gratification, I’d have probably jumped into his lap without hesitation.”

“You’re definitely not interested then?”

“Why would I be?”

“Um, lemme think.” Mai raised a hand, using the cigarette as a pointer to count her fingers as she reeled off her reasons. “Apart from the megabucks and the drop-dead face, I bet there’s an awesome body inside those fuck-me suits. Those glutes could crack nuts.” She paused for a minute, distracted by her observation. “And without doubt, he’d do you hard and dirty, leave you completely sated, yet begging for more. You’re right, Kara—can’t think of any good reason why.”

Mai was the little devil on my shoulder, voicing my own inner thoughts I was too timid to express. We arrived outside her complex in Hollywood. As usual, she swore when she couldn’t open her door; my habit of locking us in for safety drove her mad. I unlocked it and twisted to face her, leaving the engine running so the air-conditioning didn’t cut out. “You know I want more than that. I need it. Getting my life back is happening slowly but surely, so I don’t need another man screwing it all up again.”

“I get it.” Mai air-kissed me goodbye and climbed out. Before closing the door, she leant back into the car. “Consider it, though. Imagine having
him
as a fuck buddy.” She smiled sweetly and shut the door before I could reply, lighting up as she skipped to the front doors.

Travelling the short distance to my apartment, I became conscious of how strung up I was. Since crossing paths with Mr Blake, an ache had developed inside of me; a flame of sexual frustration, gradually on the burn. One now licking through me until I felt feverish and desperate to find some relief. My black driving flats pressed harder on the accelerator, wanting to get home faster.

I needed an orgasm.

I BARELY MADE it to my office before Michael offloaded an enormous pile of data onto me Wednesday morning. Dread filled my stomach when I saw precisely how much information I had to plough through, so I took a minute to savour my skinny cappuccino before getting started.

My head was thick thanks to the few hours’ sleep I’d managed last night. Fantasy mixed with actual events as the embodiment of everything male, currently residing on the fifteenth floor, took the starring role in my vividly realistic dreams. I’d tossed and turned well until the early hours of this morning. Now, my limbs were weary, as though the explicit scenes that took place whilst asleep had actually happened.

Add to it the shocking orgasm I had in the shower, and it was no surprise I’d barely slept a wink. The fact I masturbated thinking of Blake confused the hell out of me.
Why was I thinking of him that way?
Intense blue eyes haunted me as skilful hands touched and caressed me. Even recalling the melodious, rhythmic flow of his voice had brought me to an explosive climax.

I managed to put all disruptive thoughts aside and focus on my work. By lunchtime, I was ready for my meeting with Michael. As I passed Mai’s desk on my way to Michael’s office, she held up her hand. “Please hold,” she said into her headset, then pressed a button to silence the caller. Her eyes twinkled. “This one’s for you, K.”

“Can you take a message? I’ll call them back.”

“Think you should take it now,” she smirked. Then she mouthed, “
It’s Mr Blake,”
and wiggled her eyebrows.

Crap.

I’d half-expected him to get in touch again, but not so soon. I hadn’t recovered from yesterday’s encounter and wasn’t sure I could handle being confronted with him again. “Tell him I’m in a meeting.” I began edging away.

“Too late. Already said you’re here,” Mai called after me, halting me in my tracks. Sighing in resignation, I turned back towards my office.

“You owe me.” I glared at her as she gleefully put the call through.

I let the phone ring a few times whilst I took some calming breaths.

“Are you hungry for me now, Miss Collins?” Blake asked smoothly before I could utter a word. That hint of a whisper in his voice made my stomach flurry wildly. I leant my hip to the desk to keep me steady.

“Dining alone not much fun, Mr Blake?” I teased, recalling my own experience in the shower.

The velvety rasp of his laugh travelled straight through me to the spot at the top of my thighs. “I’m sure you’d agree, it’s so much better when another person is involved.”

My mouth went dry. It was plainly obvious he wasn’t talking about eating either. Blake apparently
wasn’t
used to rejection and was coming back for another shot. I sipped some water, smiling at his tenacity. “Last time I checked, you were still the boss.”

His sigh was audible. “Listen, I don’t normally do this. In fact, I
never
do. But, I want to take you to dinner. And to clarify, I’m not actually your boss.”

“Well, actually, you are. You own the company.”

“Well,
actually
, you’re right. But, we’re all simply people at the end of the day.” There was a slight pause and a hint of humour when he added, “And everybody has to eat sometime.”

Hmm, he would say that. Blake was ruler of his empire, answerable to no one. “I don’t think dinner would be appropriate.”

“So suggest something else instead.”

I breathed a sigh, quietly flattered by his persistence. Obviously someone of his position wasn’t going to give up easily. I recalled the insane way my body reacted to his touch, making the idea of us going to dinner dangerous for my health. I knew it might lead to other things.

“I’m free tomorrow. We could meet for a drink?” I grimaced as the words tumbled freely from my lips, not believing what I was saying.

“Perfect. Be ready at six.” The triumph in his voice increased my annoyance at being so easily won over.

“There’s a wine bar two blocks south,
Estrella de Mar
. Let’s meet there at six-thirty.” It wouldn’t be wise to meet here where everyone could see. I didn’t want to become the latest office gossip.

After a long minute when I thought he might’ve hung up, Blake quietly warned, “We will happen, Miss Collins.”

A shiver ran through me. I suspected he might be right, judging by how aroused I was.

“WHAT’S he want this time?” Mai demanded when I returned from Michael’s office and found her loitering in mine. Having no interest in my work, I knew she was referring to my earlier telephone call.

“The same as last time—a quick fuck.” I rarely swore aloud unless I was sufficiently outraged about something. Mai found it hilarious to hear. She said it didn’t sound dirty enough coming from a
plummy
English
mouth.

She stifled a snigger. “God, he must really want you. He could easily have someone else satisfy his
needs.
” Mai pinched two fingers in the air on either hand to emphasise the word.

“I agreed to meet him.”

“What?”
she spluttered.

“We’re meeting at Estrella tomorrow for a drink.”

“Finally!” Mai grinned. “You’ve been off the scene way too long.” I gave her a
don’t go there
look. “I’m not surprised. He could easily handle a hottie like you. And let’s face it, you need a good handling, K,” she insisted. “What changed your mind? You were certain it wasn’t happening yesterday.”

“I still am. The bar is neutral ground. I can make him see sense there without feeling like he has some hold over me here.”

Mai frowned. “How? I know you’re not that strong.”

As usual, Mai was right. I was going to need all my strength to carry this through and escape unscathed tomorrow night. “I’ve told him once, I can do it again.”

“Blake’s exactly what you need. Sleeping with him has gotta give you some confidence back.”