“Do you see me grabbing your ass?”
“No. But I suspect if this big table weren’t in between us, things would be different…”
“Actually, it’s the glass doors.” I nodded to the wall behind me. “I don’t know why Titan is so obsessed with being transparent. Annoying.”
“She wants the world to know she has nothing to hide.”
Secrets were underrated.
“I guess I should get back to my lab.” She gathered her documents and placed them in her satchel. She pulled it over her shoulder, the dark blue leather bag complimenting the black dress she wore. She was in sky-high heels, and I assumed she must change out of them when she was working in the lab.
I rose to my feet and came around the desk, blocking her exit. “Let’s have dinner tonight.”
“Dinner, huh?” she asked. “Will you be cooking?”
“If you want. I was gonna pick up something.”
“That’s not bad either.”
“I don’t want to spend any more time in the kitchen than necessary when I have better things to do…” I was already undressing her with my eyes, imagining the feeling of her lace panties scrunched up in my fist.
“Do I qualify as something better to do?”
“If you don’t know, I’ll show you later.” I stepped out of the way so she could get to the door, but if our walls weren’t see-through, I’d be kissing her on the mouth right now. My hands would be palming her ass and squeezing it tight.
She smiled then walked to the door. “I look forward to it, Thorn.” She pushed the door open and walked down the hallway.
I watched her hips shake as she moved, saw the way her calves tightened with every step she took. I still had hours to get through before I finally had her underneath me. That time couldn’t come soon enough.
Her black hair was in loose curls, smoky makeup was on her face, and she wore a sweater dress that was so tight it didn’t leave much to the imagination.
She dressed up—just for me.
I was a king.
My hands immediately lifted up her dress and kneaded her bare ass with my fingertips. She had on brown booties, but the rest of her legs were bare, tanned skin that was about to be the victim of my aggressive lips. My face lingered in front of hers, but I didn’t move in for the kiss, as much as I wanted to.
I teased her.
I brushed my nose against hers and looked into her vibrant eyes. She had the energy of an entire forest, pure and beautiful. There was something about this woman that stood out compared to all the others. Some names I couldn’t even remember, but Autumn was a name I’d never forget. Her specialness wasn’t just a derivative of her looks. Combined with the smile, that sassy intellect, and the way she carried herself, she was the most desirable woman on the planet.
I squeezed her ass tighter as I held her in my doorway. I had dinner on the table, but now I wasn’t thinking about food.
“Are you going to kiss me or what?” She spoke with a sultry voice, seducing me with the way her words grazed over my skin.
“No. Not until you beg me.” I moved my mouth against the shell of her ear, smelling the scent of her lovely hair, and I kissed the skin just below her ear, making sure she heard the way my lips brushed against her.
The fiery look in her eyes told me it had the right effect.
I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to the table. “Rib eye steak, potatoes, and broccoli.”
Like she was in a drug-infused haze, it took her a minute to come back to reality. “How do you look so good if you eat like this all the time?”
“I don’t eat like this all the time. Just when I’m trying to impress a lady.”
She sat down and immediately sipped her wine. “I thought you said you didn’t cook for anyone?”
“I don’t. You’re the first lady I’ve actually tried to impress.”
She smiled but maintained a guarded expression at the same time. “Is that a line?”
“I already have you, Autumn. Why would I need a line?” I laid the napkin across my lap and picked up my fork.
She took a longer drink from her glass before she set it down. “Then why do you want to impress me, Thorn?”
“I like you.”
“That’s it?” she asked. “Because you’ve already impressed me in the way that matters most.”
I didn’t have to invite her over for dinner or spend time with her. With the others, we just had sex, and then they left. There was no meal or wine. I didn’t notice how differently I was behaving until she pointed it out. “I’m not sure, honestly. With the other women I’ve been with, I don’t ask them to dinner or really talk to them much. It’s just right down to business.”
“So Titan is the only relationship you’ve ever had?”
“I guess…” I drank my wine, feeling guilty for telling the lie.
“And the others were just…what we are?”
“I was never monogamous with any of them. They were just fun ways to spend my time. They liked my power and wealth, and they liked the things I did to them. Some of them were open to threesomes. Some were even open to four. I wouldn’t compare those experiences to anything we have.”
“Because we’re only seeing each other?”
“Yeah. And because I actually like you.”
“What do you like about me?”
“Everything,” I said with a laugh. “You’re the coolest woman I’ve ever met.”
“Really?” she asked with a smile. “I’ve always thoughts scientists were labeled as uncool.”
“Only uncool people say that.”
She chuckled then cut into her steak. “Wow, this is good.”
“My favorite place.”
“I’ll remember that. I’ll pick you up a steak if I want to butter you up.”
“You could save yourself the trip and just get on your knees instead.”
She was about to take a bite of her food,
