“Mind if I finish it?” she asked just for the sake of asking, and before he answered she snatched it to her side and grabbed a barbeque chip from the bag. “Yum.”
He watched her. “Really? You seem more excited about those cheap chips than the oysters last week.”
She didn’t even try to suppress the laughter floating up her throat. “I guess I’m a cheap date. Not that this is a date, I mean.” She shifted on the chair. “Besides, I’m sure your dates are a lot more sophisticated.”
“True. Not always so much fun.”
She took a bite of a chip. “Not according to your ex.”
He rocked back his chair, and a sigh escaped his lips. Was he tired of talking about that subject in general? She, of course, had never brought it up. Until now. “Touché.”
She sipped on her Coke. “I’m sorry. If it makes you feel better, I never read her interview.” At first, it didn’t seem right to get into someone’s business like that, especially without their approval. And now? It would be plain torture to know about his shenanigans with his ex who reminded her of a young Halle Berry. Yup.
He flashed her a smile. “Thanks. I guess.”
Change the subject, a little voice inside her warned. This was the perfect time to talk about the cellulite he was never going to see. “Did she lie? I mean, about the open relationship part? I’ve heard that was the rumor.”
He rubbed his eyes and yawned. “It wasn’t a lie.”
“Why? Why would anyone agree to something like that?”
“People who don’t understand make it out to be this big deal. I dated her for a year. She didn’t want to be with just one person for the rest of her life, neither did I. We didn’t have orgies, Elena. But if I wanted to pursue someone else, she didn’t care. And neither did I when the situation was reversed.”
“Why keep the relationship then?”
He shrugged. “We had things in common. Enjoyed each other’s company.”
“Sorry. I guess the thought of sharing someone is so foreign to me. I respect your lifestyle, but I just don’t understand. When I meet someone, I’ll want him all just for myself. I want the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
He chuckled. “I can scratch the ugly. I’ve lived it.”
“It’s different when you love that person,” she said, and gave herself a mental slap. How patronizing could she sound? What if he had loved Regina? Then again, would he have just said they enjoyed each other’s company? That seemed so…casual.
He dipped his head and pulled her to him, locking his lips onto hers with an eagerness that surprised her to the bone. Say what? She lifted her hands to his chest, her fingers trembling at the touch. Should she pull him closer or push him away? Her thoughts swayed back and forth like a ballroom dance.
He intensified the kiss, and she opened her mouth wider, her body making that decision for her. The little hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and when he licked her earlobe, she gasped. Unlike the other kisses, this one came completely out of the blue, like both of them had no say in it.
Before she realized, he was easing her onto his desk. She barely registered the sound of files, the tablet, pens, and other small objects shoved to the side, some of them falling to the floor. Breaking the kiss, he gazed at her.
Fear was like the dimming light of a faraway lighthouse. Maybe it wasn’t as bright as sunshine or as strong as the gusty wind, but damn it, it was there. What would happen? The last time she had been forced to have intercourse, well, she ended up in the ER with internal stitches.
But these were much different circumstances, of course. And they were happening with a much different man.
“I’m not going to do anything you’re not comfortable with,” he said, his voice soothing like a kiss. “Do you believe me?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. Did she? On a sexual level… “Yes.”
“Whenever you want me to stop, just say so.”
“Okay.”
He nudged her legs apart with his hand. Her thighs trembled, and she sighed. Relaxing was hard, but did she even want to? No. The searing sensation teasing her nerve endings was too good to let go. He peeled off her underwear, and she bucked toward him, helping him.
Was he going to screw her on the top of his desk? All the employees had gone home, and there wasn’t anyone but the two of them on the twelfth floor. Maybe it was better this way—to get it over with.
He dipped his head between her legs, and she clenched her inner muscles. Tensing up, she slanted him a look.
“Relax, Elena,” he suggested.
