She reared back her head and narrowed her gaze. “Are you kidding me? I want to destroy the way we interact at work.” She threaded her hands inside his jacket, rolling them over his shoulders until she could push the garment to the floor. “I want to set it on fire and let it burn until it’s a pile of ashes.”
He’d never heard such colorful consent. Damn, he was a lucky man. And not because he’d won a major award earlier that evening. “Okay, then. Let’s melt it to the ground.”
Astrid’s mind was like a tornado in the heat of summer, a whorl of thoughts at conflict with each other, fueled by the electricity that sparked out of thin air. She wanted him so badly it hurt to think about it, but she had no earthly idea what was on the other side of making love to Clay. Would this change their working relationship for the better? Was she really lucky enough to have that happen?
She reminded herself that even if she had answers to her questions, there were no guarantees, especially with a man as hard to pin down as Clay. Better to give in to what she wanted and actually pin him down—to her bed. Now that his jacket was gone, she went for his shirt, untucking it, then letting her fingers race through the buttons. He kissed her neck again and she reached back to unlatch her necklace, placing it on the table. His mouth was unbelievable and that hit of wet heat against her skin made a real task of keeping her eyes open. She just wanted to let them drift shut, so she could give in to his ministrations. But now that his shirt was on the floor, she had to admire the firm plane of his chest.
She flattened her hands against his hard pecs and kissed her way across the broad expanse. His hands went to the zipper of her dress, drawing it down slowly, a hint of cooler air hitting her skin as he went. The sleeves slumped to her elbows, but the tight-fitting bodice still covered her breasts. She wanted nothing more than to be bare to him. Vulnerable. So she took a single step back and straightened her arms, letting the weight of the gown pull it down past her chest, waist, and legs, giving him full view of her in only a lacy black strapless bra and matching panties.
Clay’s eyes went even darker as they raked over her body, his expression full of hunger. “I know I keep saying this, but you are unbelievably beautiful.” He cradled her face with both hands, bringing her lips to his, then turned her around until her back was to him. He unhooked her bra, then pulled her shoulders back against his chest. He placed his hands flat against her lower belly, his fingertips brushing the top edge of her panties, then caressed his way up until the hands she had admired countless times were cupping her breasts. Her nipples went hard from his warm touch. Her spine tingled. He took full advantage, rolling the tight buds of sensitive skin between his thumbs and index fingers. It was as if he’d closed a circuit in her body, sending zaps of electricity down her stomach and between her legs. She needed his touch there. She craved it. The longing was so fierce that she whimpered.
She took his hands and pulled them down her stomach, hoping to convey her wants. He took the hint and nudged her panties down past her hips. Astrid wriggled out of them, feeling deliciously free. It wasn’t an equitable situation, though, so she went straight for his pants, unbuttoning, unzipping, and tugging them and his boxers out of the way. She didn’t want to stare, but he was magnificent now that she could see all of him...every last inch. She kissed him softly, reaching down and taking his erection in her hand. He groaned from that first touch, a sound that dipped lower as she took long, careful strokes. He got harder in her hand, further showing his approval by deepening their kiss. She could feel the old walls between them melting away. She couldn’t have guessed how good it would feel.
Clay took her hand and led her to one of the plush upholstered chairs. He pressed lightly on her shoulder and she sat, not knowing what he was doing or what he wanted. The anticipation was killing her, but every tick of the clock brought another gleeful discovery, a glimpse into what Clay Morgan wanted. What he liked. Astrid took note of it all, hoping that she might get a chance to use this knowledge more than once.
He dropped to his knees, his eyes full of a fiery lust. It was such a turn-on to take in the visible evidence of his desire. He took one of her calves and draped it over his shoulder, spreading her legs wide and urging her to lean back in the chair. He kissed her belly, then the inside of her thigh, blazing a trail with his mouth straight to her center.
Astrid gasped when his mouth found her apex and he rolled his tongue in tight circles. Her eyes clamped shut, her hands raking deep into his thick hair and curling into his scalp. He slid a finger inside her, then two, satisfying yet another desire as he curled into her most sensitive spot. The pressure built quickly. Higher and higher, then another step closer again. Her breaths were hard and short as she teetered on the brink. Then he sent her sailing past her peak, right over the edge. She arched her back and gave in to the jolt of pleasure, and the waves that followed, all while he pressed his unbelievable lips to the sensitive inside of her thighs. As her mind slipped into the present, she knew one thing: she wanted him inside her.
She sat up
