Somewhere in Sevenoakes (7 page)

”It's supposed to look like that,” said James. ”It resembles a shard of glass.”

”Do you work in there?”

”Maybe. Come with me.”

Maddy was in awe of the building. Up close it was amazing; almost futuristic.

”I'm trying not to be impressed,” she confessed.

”I'll make a city girl of you yet,” promised James.

James ushered her in the elevator, taking her to the thirty-second floor. The door opened to a dark corridor.

”Is it a nightclub or a theme ride?” she asked with a hint of light sarcasm.

”I'm not sure. It's a first for both of us.”

Holding hands they walked down the corridor together into a posh restaurant. It was loud and vibrant. They were greeted by waiters and taken to a table with a stunning view of London.

”Alright, I'm already won over. The views are spectacular. This place is fantastic. I wasn't even aware it existed.”

”I only heard about it recently. I managed to wrangle a table for us tonight. I feel awful about this morning.”

”It's fine,” assured Maddy. ”Work has a habit of dominating everything in my mind at times. It can be hard to shake off.”

Her face was full of empathy. James wished he could share his dilemma with her. She had a wise head on her young shoulders and would probably offer sound advice – until she found out he'd be the reason for her losing her job in the very near future.

”It is a tough one. Sadly I can't discuss it out of the office.”

”I hope you have someone at work you can talk about it with.”

”I always thought with commercial law I'd be able to avoid moral and ethical dilemmas. I figured you would only ever encounter that kind of drama in criminal law. Acquisitions and mergers, business in general; I've always found it secure and practical. I acted for a client to ensure they got a fair deal and helped businesses prosper where I could.”

”Is it ever really that cut and dry? Businesses can only operate with the involvement of people. Where people are concerned, you're always bound to run into emotional conflict. It's natural. People work to provide themselves a particular lifestyle, if that's threatened it's natural that people will react. Who wouldn't? If your job was on the line wouldn't you be disturbed?”

”I would be,” admitted James.

His mood was glummer than ever. The entire situation was hopeless. James was starting to wish he could walk away from the job.

”I've said the wrong thing. I'm sorry,” apologised Maddy.

”No, you haven't at all. You read all this madness about women and their hormones preventing them from being effective leaders in business, but your grasp of human nature and how it can never truly be separate from business is beneficially insightful.”

”So basically, despite our monthly madness we have a competitive place with men in business.”

”Probably because of your monthly madness you definitely compete with male leaders in business.”

They laughed, toasted each other's genders and work drifted further and further from James' mind.

The restaurant didn't allow for intimacy. It was noisy but the concept of shared dishes gave them the opportunity to play with their food over the table. James was enthralled with Maddy, which made work seem a million miles away. Troubles aside, they both relaxed; Maddy in ignorant bliss, James on the verge of falling in love.

”We'll miss the last train if we're not careful,” said James regretfully.

”That would never do. I barely got a scrap of work done today. If I had a long line in tomorrow my boss would go nuts!”

”I thought you had a good work ethic, Maddison,” teased James.

”I used to, but a fine-looking blonde man had my head in a state of turmoil today.”

”Distracted by the boys. Not good Maddy.”

”Distracted by one boy,” she corrected.

”I am sorry about this morning. I didn't mean to upset you.”

Maddy stood, and taking his hand, she led him to the window of the restaurant to see the spectacular view from the thirty-second floor where night lights of London sparkled.

”It's beautiful isn't it?”

”Not as beautiful as the woman showing it to me.”

She shoved him slightly.

”That's so cheesy I could put it on a hamburger.”

”Okay, bad chat up line, but it's true.”

”All I'm saying is that when you look at these lights, you see how glorious the night is. Don't you think there's more to life than work? I'd kind of forgotten myself how much is being offered out there. If you get the chance, you should seize it.'

James was overcome with a burning desire to take Maddy, there and then in the restaurant. That she could be so passionate and poetic had his heart pounding in his chest. The fact that she was referring directly to him had his cock aching for her. He wanted to connect with her. Love her physically. His heart had been dormant for so long he thought he'd lost the ability to love. The fusion of lust and love was intoxicating.

”Let me take you home,” he said, blue eyes blazing and on fire.

The elevator couldn't get them to the ground floor fast enough. James practically dragged her out of the building and into the first available cab. Maddy gave her address to the cab driver as they tumbled into the back seat.

”I can't wait any longer, I've been wanting to do this all night,” panted James.

James' lips crushed Maddy's. She wanted to tear his shirt off but didn't think the driver would approve of an Amsterdam-esque live sex act in the back of the car. They played as lovestruck teenagers on the journey home.

Upon arrival at Maddy's, James paid for the cab, giving the driver a healthy tip. Maddy unlocked the door to the flat, pushing James to the sofa. They collapsed together, driven by a sexual hunger. Advice disregarded in the heat of passion, Maddy was pulling James' shirt from his trousers, in a bid to get her hands on his naked skin. Ungracefully, James flung his suit jacket on the carpet, loosening the knot of his tie to remove him from the material noose.

His cock was already throbbing. He didn't know whether to take Maddy on the sofa or move her to the bedroom. Her fingers were trembling as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. Swiftly he undid them to speed up the process. Letting him complete the job, Maddy's hands moved under his shirt. The hardness of his stomach hinted at perfection. As her hands worked their way up his rippled torso, she could feel the width of his solid chest.

James' hips moved slowly as he shifted his weight on the sofa, positioning himself on top of her. His legs astride her, he let one hand stroke her face. As his kissing became more tender, another hand went to stroke her thigh, before slipping under her skirt. He could feel Maddy's hands hook over the waistband of his trousers. His erection was raising to meet her fingertips. She wrestled with his belt to unbuckle it. He steadied his breathing as he felt the release of the belt buckle and heard the zip on his fly tugged down.

Patience abandoned, he began pushing her skirt up, wanting to see her pale flesh, to savour it and her overwhelming sexuality. His blue eyes caught her brown ones as the back of his hand brushed the flesh between her stockings and panties. Her expression was confused.

”Are you okay?” he enquired softly in the already too quiet flat.

She shook her head.

”What's wrong?” he asked, gradually decreasing pace. He remained heedful to her physically while attentively considering her mood.

”This is going to sound stupid.”

”Sound stupid then.”

”I don't want to ruin this.”

”You aren't ruining anything. Why do you say that?” he asked inquisitively.

”I'm not painting myself as a picture of virtue here am I?”

He chuckled. The low utterance was sexy to her ears.

”I don't think either of us are pure white virgins are we?” he challenged lightly.

”True but,” she paused, ”I was...”

James searched her face, flummoxed as to what she was getting at.

”Have you heard of the third date rule?” she blundered.

He nodded slowly.

”What you're saying is no hanky panky until the third date?”

”Does that sound silly?”

”Only a little,” he grinned, ”I actually think it's more sweet than silly. It's nice to know you think enough of me...enough of us to invoke the third date rule.”

”You aren't cross?”

Her face looked young and lost. James kissed her, moving his lips to her ear lobes to suck them before giving her neck a tiny nip with his teeth. Maddy squealed.

”Of course not,” he assured her. ”Although you do realise it means I have to take you out on a date tomorrow night?”

”Promises, promises,” she said with twinkling in her eyes. ”I was hoping maybe you might let me cook for you.”

”Smart, funny, sexy and a cook. I'm in heaven here.”

”Maybe, wait till you try the food.”

”You're not planning on poisoning me to avoid my superior seduction techniques are you?”

”That would be a waste of my skills in the kitchen.”

”You've got yourself a date then Maddison.”

”In the meantime, I should take myself home,” said James honourably.

”You've missed your last train,” remarked Maddy checking her watch.

”I can get a cab.”

”Or you could stay here,” she offered.

”I don't know if I'd be able to keep my hands off you, or is this a sofa bed?”