“Come, Ms. English, surely you’re not put off by a little wine with lunch?” His condescending tone and the challenge in his voice had her steeling herself, but before she could answer him, Rachel came back, holding out a bottle of proseco for Luke’s approval.
He nodded, and she opened the bottle with a soft pop, offering him a taste before she filled Claire’s glass. As soon as Rachel filled his glass, Luke raised it to hers.
“To new acquaintances, profitable ventures and the thrill of a challenge. I know I’m going to thoroughly enjoy myself…on this project.”
His words had her nearly choking on the sip of fruity, sparkling wine as she tried desperately to get control of her hammering heart. His arrogance and assuming nature pushed every button she had the wrong way, so why did her body insist on reacting to everything he said as if it were laced with a sexually charged undercurrent?
It had been too damn long since she got laid. At least six months since her last date and even longer since she’d slept with anyone. It was the dry spell that was making her body thrum to life sitting next to him. It was purely a physical reaction and had nothing to do with him.
She sat in the lush warm room at Comme Ci, sipping the most delicious wine she’d ever tasted and lied to herself.
HE UNSETTLEDHER. Luke loved that at the very least, he made Claire nervous. If he could keep her off balance it would make it that much easier to get her to bend to him. And she would bend to him. He’d make damn sure of it.
He’d never wanted another woman as much as he wanted Claire. She was smart and insightful. The changes she’d made to his plans would make the whole project better, and the way she’d adjusted to finding out they were having lunch at Comme Ci, spoke of resilience and the tenacity to deal with a variety of circumstances.
Top that with her phenomenal body, gorgeous hair and eyes and she was the total package. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. Wringing every bit of pleasure from a woman like Claire, feeling her melt under his hands and his mouth, seeing her tremble with lust as he thrust inside her, driving them both over the edge, it was a once in a lifetime experience. One he couldn’t get to fast enough.
He saw the way she’d blushed when she realized where he was taking her. He’d done it on purpose. Over the years, he’d found the best way to find out what someone was really like was to shake them out of their comfort zone. Wearing her job site clothes to one of the most famous restaurants in the world definitely put her outside her comfort zone. It made him a little bit of a prick, too, but he could live with that.
Once more, she’d exceeded his expectations. He could tell she hated being unprepared, but instead of whining or complaining, she took it all in stride. Watching her take all that gorgeous hair out of her ponytail and walk through the restaurant like she wore Prada instead of Carhart made his mouth water.
He was going to have fun undressing her.
Her reaction to the inside of the building had been genuine and guileless. She recognized and appreciated everything about the incredibly well designed space. He’d brought many beautiful women to Comme Ci over the years, but the women he dated were more interested in being seen on his arm at the trendy restaurant than in the amazing building or fantastic food. Claire had already proved herself to be an exception in more ways than one.
“So tell me Ms. English, how did someone so young,” He tipped his head to the side, his fingertips on his lips in a gesture that should be condescending enough to push her buttons. “come to own an electrical contracting company?”
She swallowed her sip of proseco and set the flute on the table. When she looked up at him, heat flashed in her eyes. He probably shouldn’t, but he got a perverse pleasure from riling her.
“I took over the business from my father,” she said, daring him to challenge her.
“Do you hold the contractor’s license?” He knew she did. He’d checked on C. E. English Electrical Contractors while he waited for her at his car and his staff was digging deeper while they ate. But he also knew the question would make her eyes flash that irresistible golden green and until he could bring out her passion in his bed he’d bring it out however he could.
“Of course. I worked my way through high school and college on job sites. After I got my degree, I sat for my electrical contractor’s exam. I got my general contractor’s license the year after that. Last year, when my father got too sick to run the jobs, I took over the business. But,” she said, reaching for the plans beside her. “I imagine you know all that already. You don’t strike me as the kind of man who’s often unprepared. Especially when it comes to the people whose checks you sign. Now maybe we can take a look at these plans.”
He couldn’t hide his grin. She was magnificent. She wasn’t the least bit intimidated by him and unlike almost everyone else around him, she didn’t seem all that interested in trying to please him. That alone made her a challenge and more than piqued his interest.
“Later,” he said, resisting the urge to smooth the wrinkle in her forehead with the pad of his finger as Rachel set thick white plates with crostini piled with sliced heirloom tomato, creamy soft cheese and topped with lightly dressed micro greens. She replaced the flutes of Proseco with goblets of pale yellow wine.
They worked their way through five courses, each not more than a few bites with demi-glasses of a paired wine. Luke watched her as she ate. He was used to the women he dated pushing the food around on their plates rather than eating it. Claire ate with such obvious relish, occasionally closing her eyes in pleasure. His gaze followed her fork as she slipped bite after bite between her full rosy lips, sometimes making appreciative noises that had him shifting in his chair.
Jesus, if eating with her was this sensual an experience, what would fucking her be like?
The tip of her pink tongue darted out to lick at some sauce at the corner of her mouth, and he clenched his fists to keep from reaching for her. He wanted to know what her sweet tongue would feel like stroking his cock, what it would feel like to have her lips wrapped around him, but getting a woman like Claire to give herself to him willingly was going to be a challenge.
Good thing he loved a challenge. It made the victory that much sweeter.
He heard the door open and saw her eyes go wide.
“So,” came the familiar voice of his friend, Eric Auxtre. “How was it?”
“It was amazing,” said Claire with genuine praise. “Really, every bit of it was amazing. The eggplant melted in my mouth.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’m Eric.” He reached for her hand. “And you are?”
He raised her hand to his lips, brushing a kiss across her knuckles as she smiled up at him, dark lashes fringing her bewitching eyes. Eric kept her hand in his, and Luke resisted the urge to pound his friend. Eric wasn’t interested in anything serious, but he loved women. He and Luke had even shared them on occasion, drawing out every bit of the chosen woman’s pleasure until she was completely sated. It had been some of the most satisfying sex of his life. But it made it even harder to see Eric touching Claire. She was his and his alone.
“This is Claire English,” he said, trying to draw away his friend’s attention. “She’s working with me on the Ashton Court project.”
