ShamelesslyTaken (4 page)

“Was there something you forgot to ask me during your interrogation?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She pursed her lips, but the corners of her mouth turned up. “I think Mr. Beaudelaire would like to know you hold his staff hostage.”

Henri would be displeased that he’d shamelessly flirted with any of his staff. Doing more than flirting? Now that would cause trouble their friendship didn’t need. They used to be close as brothers. It had taken the last four years to be more than casual associates.

With that in mind, he considered Seraphina and just how far he could take this. “Have dinner with me. One that isn’t a ruse for work.”

“No.”

He hadn’t expected her to say yes, yet, but the quick refusal without any trace of doubt in her tone confused the hell out of him. She’d enjoyed herself. He could pick up on the slightest discomfort or sign that someone really didn’t like him. He’d honed that skill in college when his world fell apart. He used the skill in all his business dealings.

Henri had his rules, but Luke had suspected Seraphina didn’t let anyone in. “Are you seeing someone?”

“No.”

“Shitty childhood?”

“No,” but she said it with a laugh. “Back up.”

He took two steps and crossed his arms. She had room to leave now, but she only pressed her shoulders against the oak door. Usually he let her be, but this year there was something different about her. He didn’t care what it was. He welcomed it.

“Then tell me why,” he said.

“You’re a customer. It’s against the rules.”

The answer sounded recited. “And if I wasn’t?”

Her smile faded. “No. I will never go to dinner with you.”

Without thought, he stole back the space he’d given her, and he took just a bit more. Her chin tilted up, and if he wasn’t aware of the line he was crossing Luke would have kissed her. Still, he brushed his fingers over her chin. Smooth. Warm. She shivered. Luke’s cock hardened at the subtle but telling reaction.

He wanted to watch her eyes glaze over from pleasure. How did she touch herself? Rough or soft? How would her skin look flushed and slicked with sweat? He could almost hear her breathless moan.

“That’s too bad.” He meant the words. He’d forget about Joss in a heartbeat if he could spend the weekend with Seraphina. Slowly watching her unravel every bit of herself to him…he’d pay money to see that. His hand clenched into a fist.

He was letting his control slip. She hid her true self from him and that was as good as lying. She bit her lip. Still he wanted her. “Well, thank you for eating with me,” he said, capping any interest in his tone. “At least once.”

She nodded. “I’ll contact Joss and let her know where to go. I’m booking the room you always use. I just need to know if you prefer after lunch or closer to dinnertime.”

He put away the need and the yearning for her and took another step back. “Dinnertime should be fine. I’ve missed New Orleans and I want to check out the town first. There’s practically a bench in Jackson Square with my name on it.”

She started to open the door. “Anything else I can help you with, you don’t hesitate to call, Mr. Moreland.”

He chuckled, trying to release the wild need to push the door closed again and cross that damn line. “You can call me Luke.”

The smile whipped out and he held his breath. “I hope you enjoy your stay, Mr. Moreland. Until next year.”

It was one thing to be professional to a fault. Another to be smart enough to fuck with someone while doing it. He couldn’t let her off that easily. “You know what, the more I think about Joss, the more I’m uncertain if she’s the right one.” He talked over her gasp. “Leave the files and I’ll let you know what I decide tomorrow morning.”

“You know I can’t leave until you make a choice.”

He shrugged. “I’m sure Henri will understand.”

“I can’t leave.”

He paused for dramatic effect. “I don’t know. Maybe you should read her file to me.”

She shook her head. “Or call you by your first name?”

He sighed. “I’m feeling incredibly indecisive.”

“Lucifer,” she muttered so low he barely heard it.

But he had. “Didn’t catch that,” he managed to say without laughing.

Indecision played over her features until she straightened her shoulders. “I’ll read the file.” She smiled, and a mischievous glint filled her eyes. “Where do you want me to start?”

Taken off guard, he stammered. Her smile widened, because she’d called his bluff and he’d flustered. Him. He could back down, but the next time they did this she’d know just how far he’d go to get a rise out of her.

He couldn’t waver, otherwise their time together would lose the frisson it usually had. So, Luke cleared his throat and waved her back to the table. Who would have thought she’d rather continue to call him by his last name than to read something explicit out loud?

Heat flushed his face and he wanted to open the balcony doors again, but if she wouldn’t say his name, she sure as hell wouldn’t take his jacket. He’d noted her nipples pressed hard against her white shirt, but she hadn’t complained about the cold.

When she settled into the chair across from him, he took in the tremble in her fingers as she opened the folder.
Fuck
. He tended to be a jackass from time to time, but this might be too much.

“Seraphina, you don’t—”

“I’ll start with my hand.” She ran her fingertips over the papers. “I know there are toys I can choose from, but the most intimate way you can get to know me is with my hand. I love to feel the way my clit swells the more turned on I get.” She glared up at him. “Do you want me to stop?”

ABOUT MEL BLUE

Melissa Blue’s writing career started on a typewriter one month after her son was born. This would have been an idyllic situation for a writer if it had been 1985, not 2004. Eventually she upgraded to a computer. She’s still typing away on the same computer, making imaginary people fall in love.

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