Page 23 of Landry
"Has there ever been a case where that has not happened?"
"No." He shook his head. "Before we decide to take on something, we do our research, a deep dive so to speak. Our R&D team is comprised of some very excellent men andwomen, and it's their responsibility to do their homework and be thorough about it. We're diversified-" he spread his elegant hands. "We're into shipping as well as pharmaceuticals, among other things."
"You took over a hotel in Mexico." A smile curved her lips and had his desire tripling. "There was a lot of controversy surrounding that particular project."
Because he could feel the emotions taking over, Landry sat forward and tried to stay in control. She did not want him touching her, and he was afraid to upset her again. He had decided to take it slow, ease his way in. There was fire there; even though she was trying to deny it, she wanted him. He would work with that, but in time, and in the right place.
"The owners were drug lords and very aggressive about keeping what they considered to be theirs."
She studied the neutral expression on his face. She had also read that he had been the one who had gone to Mexico to do the negotiations. "How bad was it?" she asked quietly.
"Bad enough," he said briefly, not willing to go into details. He certainly could not tell her that he had gone there with a contingent of guards in case there was trouble from the past.And there had been. Along with the Mexican cartel's brand of problems.
"But we came to a mutual understanding." His feral smile had her jolting. The Landry she knew in the past had been gentle and loving and kind. But that had been then. He had grown up since then. It was a little unnerving.
"You like what you do."
"I like what I do." He glanced at his watch, surprised to see that it was so late. "I want to implement these changes as soon as this week. Will you call a meeting with the staff members for..." He mentally sifted through his calendar and frowned. He was supposed to go out of town in two days, and in the time between, he was swamped. But he did not want to put it off for too long, and he preferred to handle the details himself. Besides, he wanted to see her and spend time with her.
"I have to go out of town for two days. Can you send out a memo stating the importance of the meeting? I'll get Leonora, my assistant, to finalize the meeting time."
"Of course." Gathering her notes, she pushed back her chair and rose. He got up slowly, his eyes trained on her face. The movement shifted her thick hair and had several strands floatingfreely over her shoulders. Need stormed through him and left him breathless.
"I-" The words died on her lips when she lifted her head and saw the look on his face. For a minute, she froze in place. Breathing had become a task. Her body felt light, her head was whirling, and she could only stare.
Landry had promised himself that he would leave. As soon as the meeting was over, he would just head to the door. He wanted her secure enough to start trusting him. He wanted to go slow, but his body and his mind had already decided for him.
The word "no" popped into her mouth and died right there. She could do nothing. Her limbs were frozen, but in contrast, her heart was working overtime and her palms were sweating. She watched him approach her as if in slow motion, his long legs eating up the space between them. He stood in front of her, jade green eyes darkened to almost black.
She watched as he lifted a hand to toy with the ends of her hair, before trailing his finger over the vulnerable spot at the side of her neck. Heat sparked and then showered inside her, leaving her weak and vulnerable.
"Kady-Ann." His voice was rough and low. "Kady-Ann, I can't stay away. Don't ask me to." His fingers curved around herthroat, his thumb pressing against the pulse that was leaping like a wild thing. "I need you; I never stopped. I never will." His words hypnotized her, seduced her, until she was swaying unconsciously towards him.
Her hands came up to his chest, her fingers spreading over the hard muscles that simply leapt at her touch. She could feel the heat of his skin through the sweater.
He took his time as if giving her a way out. His fingers wrapped around the thick strands of her hair, tugging her face upwards. His head descended. She watched through slitted eyes as he came closer. Before he took possession of her lips, they were already parted in invitation. The ache for her spread throughout his entire body, leaving him vulnerable and needy.
Instead of crushing her lips, he cruised, his lips brushing over hers in a seductive pull that had her fingers curling into his sweater. Her body was vibrating. It was no use denying that she wanted him. It was not just want; it was a longing, a yearning that had her trembling.
He felt it, felt the tremors, and reveled in it. His tongue touched her bottom lip, stroking, stroking, teasing until she felt as if she was going to die from the need.
But he took his time. He wanted to savor her taste, familiarize himself with the texture. Her flesh was like silk and tasted like honey. He had forgotten, Christ! How could he have forgotten what it was like to touch her like this?
But fifteen years ago, he had been a callow youth. He was no longer the young and uncertain boy who had taken her innocence. He was a man who had been through a number of women. And yet, with her, he felt inexperienced, uncertain, and afraid. It was too much; the emotions were overwhelming him. His control was on the verge of snapping in two.
So, he took his time. Impatient with the pace, Kady decided to change it. Wrapping her hands around his neck, she went on her toes and forced him to take the kiss deeper. With a groan, shocked at her initiative, he wrapped his arm around her small waist, his tongue darting into her mouth.
The kiss took on a fierceness that swept them away swiftly. Fire burned through them like a bushfire, sweeping them along in its wake.
Her moans were desperate, swallowed by his mouth. His free hand dug into her hair, gripping it and holding her steady as he ravished her mouth. He was hard, painfully so, his body throbbing. His control was in tatters, and he was afraid he was going to toss her on the desk and drive himself into her!
Chapter 7
Just as soon as the thought surfaced, reason kicked in. It took him a minute or two to gather his composure and ignore the voice that was urging him to take her right here in the conference room. Just yank down her slacks and underwear and bury himself deep inside her. Just the thought of it had him going weak. He actually felt his knees buckling. With one last ounce of strength, he dragged his lips from hers and just crushed her against his chest.
Kady did not understand why he had stopped, and to her utter shock she realized she had not wanted him to. The stark fact of that had her struggling against him, but he held onto her, his arms like steel around her waist.
“I just want to hold you.” His voice throbbed with emotions that had her going still. “Just hold you for a little bit.” Lifting a hand, he stroked it down her hair and then her back.
