“But you’re going to let that asshole Samson bid on the job?” She couldn’t believe after everything that happened at the 609 West opening that he’d trust the sleazy man.
“It’s not about us or even how I feel about the people involved. It’s business.”
HE WATCHED CLAIRE across the table, trying to gauge how to best move forward. He knew she liked Mr. Matthews. Hell, he had too. The older man seemed honest and straightforward. That didn’t negate the fact that the thefts, the contraband ammo, and fuck, even a death happened on a job he was managing. He’d learned long ago that some people were magnets for trouble. He wouldn’t have expected it of Matthews, but he didn’t have a good reason to ignore the reality either.
“So you won’t let Matthews bid, but you’re okay working with that asshole?” Claire tossed her hair over her shoulder in the direction of the door in case he’d forgotten which asshole she was talking about.
“I’m not inclined to give him the job, no matter what his bid looks like,” Luke said, carefully.
She was pissed and he didn’t want to be her target. There was no way in hell he’d give the job, or any other job for that matter, to Samson. He had no intention of working with the sleazy bastard again. But he was feeling pushed and he wasn’t about to let her know that.
“It’s another set of numbers, Claire. Like I said, it’s just business.” He watched her eyes flash a biting green and her nostrils flare. He wasn’t about to fight with her about work, but he could sure as hell find a way to put the energy from her fury to good use. “Finish up, sweetheart,” he said signaling for the check. “We’re getting out of here.”
He’d planned to take her to the aquarium for the afternoon. She’d been so wide eyed and beautiful when they’d gone to the Museum of Natural History in New York. He knew she’d love the floor to ceiling tanks and the sea turtles at the aquarium, but by the time they climbed into the car, she’d pulled into herself and was barely speaking.
That wouldn’t work for him.
He tapped on the glass separating them from the driver and when the window slid out of the way, he gave directions for them to be taken to the hotel. He saw Claire’s eyes widen a fraction, but she didn’t protest. Good, she could hold onto all that anger and energy and take it out on him when they were upstairs in the suite, naked.
The doorman opened Claire’s door and she slid out, heading straight to the elevators without bothering to wait for him. He waited until the elevator doors slid closed before taking her arm and turning her to face him. She looked ready to take a chunk out of him, and he wondered if there was something else going on. Claire was a feisty, take-no-prisoners kind of person, but she wasn’t usually irrational.
“You know this isn’t personal,” he said evenly. “Whether I do, or do not, do business with Matthews doesn’t have anything to do with us.”
“I just don’t understand why you’d blame Matthews and still be willing to work with that arrogant sleaze. And what the fuck is up with Gretchen? Does she bounce from developer to builder and back again?” Her eyes telegraphed anger and something he could have sworn was jealousy.
Was her mood about Gretchen? He knew she believed him when he said nothing happened between the two of them the night they went to the benefit. She’d never have let him back into her bed if she’d thought he’d cheated on her. It didn’t make sense that she’d be jealous, but there was something going on.
“None of this has anything to do with Gretchen,” he said evenly. He wanted to get to the bottom of what was bothering her without getting his ass handed to him in the meantime.
“Whatever, Masters,” she said, sounding more like a teenager than a grown woman.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” He’d tried to hold onto his calm, but Claire had a map to every one of his buttons and was more than capable of pushing them.
“Nothing,” she said in a tone that made his teeth grind together. Maybe he’d turn her over his knee before he fucked her. The idea that he’d manage it without getting his eyes scratched out made him smile, a reaction she immediately took as him laughing at her.
“Claire,” he said, softening his tone and reaching for her. “I wasn’t laughing at you, sweetheart.”
“Save it for someone who cares,” she said, rolling her eyes before turning to face away from him. “I’m not interested.”
“Oh for fuck sake,” he said, slamming the button to stop the private elevator. Standing behind her, he spun her to face the wall, catching her hands in his before she could smack him if she was inclined. With the way her body practically vibrated underneath his, he was pretty sure she was inclined. He leaned in, pressing his lips to the tender skin behind her ear careful to keep his face to the side. “If you insist on behaving like a brat, I’m going to have no choice but to treat you like one.” He put her hands flat against the elevator wall. “Don’t move,” he commanded, and to his surprise, she didn’t.
He reached around her, grabbed her blouse and yanked, sending buttons flying. Tugging aside the cups of her bra, he filled his hands with her gorgeous tits, rolling and pinching her nipples until she arched her back pressing her ass against his cock. He still didn’t know why she’d reacted the way she did to the news about Matthews, but he was more than willing to fuck her moodiness away.
Skimming his hands down over her hips, he caught the hem of her skirt and slid it up to her waist, baring the round smooth cheeks of her ass. The thin black lace strip of her thong was the only impediment to his view and his touch. She rocked back on her heels, offering herself to him.
“Fuck, Claire.”
He groaned, barely holding on to his control. Smacking her ass with just enough force to make his hand sting, he saw her pale skin bloom red. In turn, she slapped the wall in front of her, but she moved toward him, not away. He was about to bring his hand down on her other cheek when a voice came from the panel by the door.
“Mr. Masters, is everything okay?”
Claire sagged against the wall, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Running his palm over her bare ass, he slid his fingers under the strip and through her slick folds before pushing the button for the intercom.
“We’re fine,” he said, teasing her swollen opening with the tip of his finger. “Ms. English dropped a contact. We stopped the elevator to find it.” He slid his finger inside her, working it in and out of her tight channel. She gasped, and he could feel by the way her sex clenched around him how hard she was fighting to stay quiet.
“Do you want me to send someone to help?” asked the disembodied voice.
“That won’t be necessary,” said Luke, sliding a second finger beside the first. “I can handle it. I’m sure we’ll be moving again in a few minutes.” Keeping his fingers deep inside her, he curled them toward the front of her body while he rubbed small tight circles over her clit. She rocked back, spreading her legs apart and tipping her hips to give him better access to her sex. “Thank you for checking, but we’re fine. I will call if we need anything,” he said, keeping up a steady rhythm with his hand. By the time he disconnected, he could feel the gentle tremors running through Claire’s legs and knew she was close.
