"It's the fire," I lied. "It's a little too warm. How about we move back to the table?"
"And let you cross back over to business? I don't think so," he disagreed. "I think I'm starting to agree with my coach. He doesn't believe business and pleasure should be separate if they
come together naturally. It’s like holding apart magnets, just a waste of energy standing in the way of something like that."
This time, he kissed me and it was a deep, plunging taste. The hunger in my core sharpened, but it was not for any of the delectable food set out in front of us.
"So you'll stay?" I asked.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Fenton
Her green eyes were so hopeful. Kya's lips curved in a smile more tantalizing than any of the food so far. I had to kiss her again. Underneath the pepper and cherry of the dark red wine, there was the addictive taste of her. As my tongue lapped deep in her delicious kiss, I pulled her onto my lap.
She came willingly. Her hands gripped my shoulders as she wriggled closer. I could not get enough of her. This was exactly what I needed. Her hunger for me, a long stretch of private hours, and her satin lips pressed against mine. Her fingers tangled in the hair at my neck and pulled me deeper into the kiss.
I swept my hands up and down her back. Gripping tightly at her waist, I pressed her to me. Then, my hands roved again from the soft material of her dress to the silk of her warm skin. Her legs were bare, and her high heels already kicked off onto the floor. I could run my hand up the length of her. I could brush aside the chaste hem of her dress. I could have Kya and finally get her out of my system.
Unless she's just doing this for the endorsement deal, I thought.
The jagged thought cut a pause in our kiss. I took a swig of wine to cover it up. When I caught her lips against mine again, I let a dribble of wine escape. I moaned when she lapped it up. Is she seducing me or is it the other way around?
If I wanted to be free and clear of Kya, I had to make sure I had the upper hand. I pulled away from the lips and tasted the slope of her neck. I licked the point where her pulse jumped and had to swallow another moan. It took all I had not to devour her. Instead, I nibbled the sensitive spot underneath her earlobe. Then, I brushed a hot breathy kiss over the curve of her ear. She shuddered with pleasure.
She tipped her head back, exposing more of her neck, and I licked my lips to comply. All Kya had to do was submit to my hot kisses and hungry tastes. Her little gasps of pleasure were all the seduction I needed. I wanted her with every electric throb of my body. If this was her plan to soften me up, it was working. All my rational thoughts dripped away to pool at her feet.
"Dinner getting cold," I said.
"I'm just hungry for you," she said.
I twisted on the couch, laying her down. She reached up and pulled me to her. Our lips met again, tangled, and tasted. My head spun as I shifted to press my length against her. Kya's back arched up to meet me and every inch of friction between us gave off incredible heat. Her legs slipped open underneath me, cradling me closer. I gritted my teeth and allowed myself one rocking thrust against her. Through the stiff barrier of my pants, I still felt the warm softness of her.
"No. I can't. We can't." I pushed back off the couch and stumbled back a few steps. The edge of the coffee table knocked against the back of my calf, and I held out my hand to steady myself.
Kya grabbed my hand and pulled. "Don't worry about it. It’s just pleasure, no business. Please."
Her emerald green eyes were heavy with passion. I could not tear my eyes off her lips, pink and swollen from our kisses.
"It’s neither," I said, scrambling to leave. "I can't explain. I've got to go."
I knocked my forehead against the elevator wall. It's neither? Somehow, kissing Kya, feeling her body pressed against mine, was more than pleasure. And, I knew if it was business to her, it would kill me.
"Lose big time, buddy?" the cab driver asked. "You got the look of one down on his luck."
"I don't believe in luck," I said.
"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. Things'll come around. Don't worry," the cabbie said. "How much you lose?"
"I don't know. I wasn't playing with money."
"Oh, man, I underestimated your problem." The man eyed me in the rear view mirror. "Rolling the dice on a love affair, eh?"
"Exactly," I agreed. I straightened up in the seat. "How am I supposed to know if she's just using me to get a good business deal or if she really wants me?"
"Buddy, if she's as good as all that, who cares?"
I looked into the mirror and caught the lipstick smudges around my mouth. My shirt was unbuttoned, my collar half scrunched up. I smoothed down the hair at my neck where Kya had tangled her fingers. The sensory memory made my blood pound again and I cranked open the window.