Chapter 4
“Bom dia, senhor.” The waiter greeted him, with a broad smile. “Coffee?” he lifted the pot.
Lucas nodded. He needed a whole gallon of caffeine, and even then wouldn’t be enough to make him forget the previous night. Not that he wanted to forget, but remembering it was a huge liability.
He took a gulp of the hot black drink, and then put it on the table. He’d preferred not to wake her up, so he left her a note on his pillow and headed to eat breakfast at the outdoor restaurant.
Rays of sunshine illuminated the wooden deck, as a few tourists lined up around the buffet table to pick from a selection of fruits, bread, cold cuts and more. Lucas knew he should be paying attention to the ambience and what made this place either a solid or iffy investment.
Yet, his thoughts kept returning to how good Crystal’d felt in his arms, how wonderful it’d been to screw her tight pussy and to kiss her… her mouth was plump, her lips delicious. Why hadn’t he ever noticed them before?
Because she’s an employee. She was the most efficient personal assistant he’d ever had, and he blew professionalism off because of randy hormones. Hell, he’d even passed on wearing a condom. When had been the last time he didn’t glove up during lovemaking? About ten years, easy. He always preferred the inconvenience of condoms because they guaranteed his safety, and also one more layer of protection against unwanted pregnancies. He hated leaving that important part up to his partner.
He had reveled in screwing her bare, without as much as a thin barrier between them. He loved filling her up with his cum, making her thighs sticky with his seed. His blood pounded hot and thick. He took a bite of a buttered croissant. Where did these crazy possessive thoughts come from?
“Good morning,” said a female voice behind him. Crystal. His pulse raced. He was about to stand and pull out the chair for her, when she swiftly moved around to his opposite side and sat down.
She wore shades that didn’t let him study her expression. A white linen ensemble of shirt and knee-length pants covered the luscious curves he’d touched intimately the night before. She’d put her hair in a practical ponytail, but a few strands refused to be tamed and framed her lovely face.
Down, he willed himself inwardly, when his groins stirred with arousal.
He squared his shoulders. He needed to address the recent events if he wanted the slightest chance to keep her as his personal assistant. And if he didn’t want her to slap him with a sexual harassment lawsuit, a cynical side of him alerted.
“Crystal, about last night—
She tilted her head to the side. “There’s nothing to talk about,” she said, then took a bite of a ripe piece of honeydew.
Lucas scratched his chin. He searched for defensiveness in her voice, or even an accusatory tone, but no. She clearly didn’t want to discuss their rendezvous. In any other situation, he’d applaud her pragmatic attitude. “I’ll be the judge of what we need to talk about,” Lucas said, resolute in taking charge of the circumstances. “I acted out of character last night.”
“By screwing a woman’s brains out?” she asked casually. Her lips thinned into a mocking smile, and he had to curl his fingers into a ball to keep from reaching across the table and touching her. He’d love to punish her with a hot kiss and maybe a swat on her plump ass.
“By screwing an employee’s brains out,” he said with a dry voice. “I’m no saint, but I’ve made it a point to keep business away from pleasure.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
“I need for you to understand this. I’m sorry I behaved out of character. When we return to New York, I want you to sign a nondisclosure agreement,” he said, knowing he’d already emailed his lawyer and asked him to draw one up. This way, he could keep their one-night-stand under wraps, or she’d face financial consequences. He wanted to trust her, but he couldn’t take the risk.
“You mean I don’t get to brag to the other assistants in the break room?” She pursed her lips. “You’re no fun, Mr. Grande.”
“I’m serious, Crystal.”
“Alright.” She removed her glasses, setting them on the table. “You have my word, and I guess, my signature.”
He cleared his throat. It dawned on him he would never touch or kiss her again, and the realization squeezed his chest. “Good. Thank you. Now, let’s talk about the day ahead,” he said, venturing into a safer subject to keep his mind from straying back to glimpses of her. He hadn’t been able to see her naked, but he’d registered her form with his hands and the shapes the moonlight casted over them.
She took a glass of guava juice to her lips, and a bit dribbled out of the corner of her lips. The tip of her tongue licked her lower lip, and desire punched him hard in his core. He took a gulp of coffee.
“What’s your feel of this place so far?”
She dabbed her lips on a napkin. “They’re suffering from management problems for sure. Thank goodness power has been restored, but seriously? What decent hotel doesn’t have a generator? The staff’s English skills are poor. I tried talking to the housekeeper when I saw her in the hall this morning, and she didn’t understand me. Neither did her manager.”
“Most of the employees in this area barely finished high school. They aren’t fluent in English,” he grumbled. His father, who had been born and raised in the Northeast before moving to São Paulo as a young adult, was the exception to the rule. AntonioJoséGrande had been one of the few who achieved great financial success without a college degree. A self-made man through and through.
“I understand. I stopped by the front desk and even the clerk’s English was rudimentary. Since this resort isn’t part of a chain, I can’t imagine how foreign guests make reservations besides on the internet.”
He waved her off. “Well, nowadays, everything is done online.”
“Yes, but if they call the concierge with specific questions or concerns, they’ll be frustrated.”
