“How did it go?”
“Good. I think I have a good chance.”
“You are great at what you do,” he says encouragingly. “I’m sure they can see that. And if they don’t, I’ll have to buy the whole company and make you the publisher.”
“Ha Ha,” I laugh softly. “The entire Gilt Publications! I doubt they’d let you buy it, and I don’t want to be the boss. I just want to read stories for a living.”
“I envy you,” he says. “So, when will you be done over there?”
“In about an hour.”
“Good. Joe will be on his way to pick you up. He’ll bring you to the office. Is that okay? Or do you want to go to the apartment?”
“No, I’ll come over.” I’m so eager to see him that the thought of waiting alone in the apartment is not appealing.
“Good then.” He pauses. “I should go now, and try to get some work done, finally.”
I laugh. “What have you been doing all day?”
“I’ve been thinking about your body and what I’d like to do with it. It’s been like an erotic movie playing in my head all day. Very distracting.”
A long sigh escapes me. I feel the same way, hot and bothered… it had been two weeks, after all.
“Can’t you think of dead leaves or something,” I joke weakly.
“I doubt that will work,” Landon says. “Wait…I’m picturing dead leaves right now. Ah!… no. Didn’t work. I still have a hard-on.”
My imagination goes into overdrive. The thought of him, hard, in my hands, in my mouth… it fills me with a fierce, uncontrollable lust. “You’re distracting me,” I complain. “How am I supposed to work?”
“Good thing you were about to leave.”
“I said in an hour. I’m not leaving now. I have work to do. I’m very busy and important, and in very high demand.”
“Yes, you are.” I’m sure he’s smiling. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I reply with a sigh. No matter how many times he says those words, the novelty, the beauty of hearing them from him will never go away.
“Now, I’m going to force myself to study a contract for the next hour. I’ll see you soon.”
It takes some effort to go back to my work after that, but I do my best. However, all I can think about is the many things I know Landon is going to do to my body later.
JOE is waiting for me when I get downstairs. Taciturn as usual, he drives me over to the SCT building, Landon’s downtown high-rise. As I take the steps up to the entrance, my body is filled with anticipation. In the lobby, the security at the front desk hands me a visitor badge to enable me cross the turnstiles and waves me toward the elevators.
On Landon’s floor, the receptionist presses a button to open the glass security doors for me, before giving me a small polite smile.
“Do you know the way?” she asks.
“Yes, thank you.”
My mind goes briefly to the last time I was here, and I can’t prevent a smile at the memories. I’d been struggling then, intent on making sure I didn’t give in to my attraction to Landon, and now here I am, in love with him, and the best part is that he feels the same way.
Tony Gillies meets me at the outer office. He’s Landon’s assistant, or senior assistant, as there are at least two others on the team. “Great to see you,” he says with a grin.
“Hello, Tony.” The last time I saw him he was running around trying to make sure the opening of the Gold Dust Hotel went smoothly. He looks less stressed now. The other desks in the office are empty, and I assume the others have closed for the day. Tony motions for me to go straight into Landon’s office before going back to his seat.
I take a deep breath as I approach the opaque glass doors, anticipation making me nervous. Inside, Landon is seated at his desk. He’s not wearing his jacket, only a dark gray shirt that somehow sets off the burnished gold in his hair. He looks up when I enter, his face lighting up with a smile as he rises to his feet.
“Hello.” His eyes rove over me, obvious hunger in their blue depths.