Page 26 of Summer Heat
He liked the feel of the lace covering of her bra against his hand. It let him imagine what her actual flesh would feel like to the touch. He wondered if her nipples would taste as sweet as her mouth.
“Kade, this is insane.”
“Agreed.” He swallowed hard against the pulse pounding in his temples.
She was right. It wasn’t a smart move. He wasn’t completely sure he’d ever trust any woman completely, but he couldn’t not pursue her. Couldn’t let her go.
“But it’s still happening,” he informed her, bound and determined to have his way. If she really didn’t want to be with him, he’d walk in a heartbeat.
He’d never forced himself on a woman. Never would, no matter what Lila had claimed. But this pliant, sexy female in his arms wasn’t saying no, and he had every intention of seducing her further.
Not here and now, but in the very near future.
He plucked her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rolling it between the pads of his fingers. “We’re good together.”
A full-body tremor shook her, and she whimpered, the sound going straight to his dick.
“But, Kade, I need this job.” She pushed him with both hands, and he stepped back immediately.
“I respect that.” He met her gaze, trying his damnedest not to look at her puffy lips, red and swollen from his heated kisses. “Nothing that happens between us will affect your work here,” he promised her.
She raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “That’s naïve, and the one thing you, Kaden Barnes, are not is naïve.”
“No, I’m determined.” To have her in his bed and in his office.
In the short time they’d been together, she’d been a model assistant, despite him being an obnoxious ass. Her predecessors had walked out sooner with less provocation. He intended to keep Lexie happy on all levels.
She sighed, folding her arms across her chest, a move obviously designed to hide her full breasts and prevent him from staring. He glanced down, but that view didn’t help, her sexy skirt not a deterrent to the places his mind wanted to travel, and reminded him of when he’d slid his fingers up her tight skirt and played her body until she came. Hard.
He forced himself to refocus on her objections and ways around them. “When … if … things between us end, you’ll have a choice whether to continue working for me or move to another position here. Same salary, same benefits, no hassle from me,” he promised.
Not that he could imagine her leaving his employ. Or him.
“Make no mistake, no matter what, I intend to pursue you, Lexie. To make it difficult, if not impossible, for you to walk away.” He swept his hand through her hair, tugging as he pulled his fingers through the long strands. “So?”
She looked up at him with wide blue eyes. “You’re a hard man to say no to,” she murmured.
He felt himself grin. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
“So what’s next? We get to work?” She hopped off the desk and began adjusting her clothes, her cheeks pink and adorably on fire.
“We do, but one more thing. There’s a benefit I have to attend Saturday night, and I don’t want to go alone. Blink is a major donor, and I’m doing the representing at this particular gala.”
He and his partners took turns at various charitable events. Kade never brought a date and had shocked himself by asking Lexie now. But he was coming to realize that his feelings for her were stronger than the internal battle he fought with himself over letting someone in.
“What is the benefit for?” she asked.
“MHA of NYC,” he said, bracing for what she’d ask next.
“What does it stand for?”
“Mental Health Association of New York City.”
She sucked in a startled breath. “Is this coincidence? Me telling you about my mother and you asking me to attend a benefit for mental health?”
“It is.” They had more in common than she realized. Maybe not the same classification of issues, but they each understood mental health better than the average person.
“It’s also a cause that means something to me,” he said, leaving it at that. He wasn’t ready to share his reasons with her. He might not ever be ready. “I’ll pick you up at eight Saturday night.”
