Risk Taker Page 9

  I jump up and walk to the bar. “Let me get you something. What do you want?”

  “I want you, but I’ll settle for a diet soda.”

  “Why settle when you can have both?” I pour two diet sodas and walk back to where he sits.

  “Come here,” he grips my hips and pulls me onto his lap.

  I nearly spill the sodas as he buries his face in my hair and draws in a long, deep breath like he may never get another.

  When he leans back, I hand him his drink and tease him for keeping me so long. “When I get fired tomorrow, I’m blaming you. I’ll have to go to Java Joes and beg them to take me back.”

  He chuckles. “I know your boss, and I took care of it. Greta called Trevor and told him you were detained and would return tomorrow.”

  “I’m excused for the day? What should we do?”

  “Let’s go eat, and then I want to show you my house.” He takes my hand and leads me out the door. “Greta, I won’t be back until tomorrow. Send all my calls to voicemail.”

  Greta smiles at both of us. “Have a great night, Mr. Noble, Ms. Cross.” Her giggle follows us down the hallway.

  Damon guides me into his private elevator that goes directly to the garage. When the door closes, he pins me against the wall, crashing his mouth against mine until I am dizzy with ecstasy.

  “Are there security cameras in here?” I ask between kisses.

  “There are cameras everywhere, except for my office and the bathrooms. Does it make you nervous?” His hand roams over the curve of my bottom. “Is it exciting to know someone might watch?”

  “Is that why you have a glass floor above the VIP lounge? Is it because you’re a voyeur?” I look into his eyes, because if he hasn’t shuttered his emotions, his eyes never lie. “Is that your thing?”

  “No, I’m not a voyeur, although I could spend my life watching you,” he sighs. “Saturday night after I undressed you, I wanted to sit on the side of your bed and watch you all night, but my mom raised me to be a better man. As for the glass floor, it was an interesting concept, and I wanted to try it. I wish I could have given you the club tour myself.”

  “I took the self-guided tour, but I’d love to have a more private experience,” I whisper in his ear.

  “I can arrange that.”

  We reach the garage floor and rush to his Mustang. He opens my door and kisses me before I slide into the bucket seat.

  “Where’s your car?” He looks around for my yellow sedan.

  “I park all the way around the corner so you won’t see it.”

  “You could have told me. I wouldn’t interfere with your work.”

  “You already have. I’d rather kiss my Viking god than make phone calls, but I have a project to complete.”

  He backs out of his spot and exits the garage. “I understand the importance of finding success on your own, and I promise to stay clear as much as possible, but it’s the only promise I can make at this time.”

  Damon drives to Tony’s Italian Restaurant, where there’s a private table waiting in the corner.

  We order two different items from the menu to share.

  “Would you like wine?”

  I think back to when he told me people who drink make poor decisions. “Heavens no. I don’t think I ever want another drink. I should have listened to you, but you frustrated me, and I made a poor choice.”

  “I guess you can say I already drove you to drink. I’m so sorry.” He squeezes my hands and brings them to his lips. “I promise I’ll do my best to open up to you. I’ll consider your feelings before my own, and I’ll try to unlock my heart.”

  “I can’t ask for any more than that.” I could, but being here with Damon and him promising to try is more than I imagined possible.

  Our food arrives, and we take turns feeding each other bites of both dishes. He has baked ziti, and I have chicken parmigiana. We talk about work and what we’re accomplishing.

  He likes that I work for him. My proximity gives him access to me all day long. I need to set boundaries, otherwise, I’ll never leave his office. But tonight isn’t about limitations, it’s about possibilities.

  “Tell me about your house?” I lean forward on my elbows and wait for him to respond.

  “Rather than tell you, I’ll show you. Are you ready?”

  I’m not sure what he’s asking, but I nod because whatever Damon is offering, I’d be a fool to pass up.

  He pays the bill, and we’re on our way. We drive up a long, winding road and come to a stop in front of a large iron gate.

  “What’s with the security gates?” Both Damon and his mother have elaborate security systems.

  “It’s necessary. I have a lot of assets to protect, and there are a lot of not-so-nice people in the world.”

  He punches in a code, the gate swings open, and we drive a hundred feet into the garage. Next to where he parks sits a beautiful orange and black Charger.

  “You have excellent taste in cars. What made you choose them when you could have anything in the world?”

  “I love American muscle cars. When I was a kid, I had pictures of Mustangs all over my room. My brother had pictures of Chargers. I bought one of each. The Charger hasn’t moved since Roman’s death. I’m partial to the Shelby, but I like the Cobra too. I’ve never been a fan of the Saleen. My first car was a 65 Shelby GT 350. She was beautiful but didn’t have the power and amenities of today’s models.” He pats the steering wheel. “I’ve had this one for about two years. I trade it in every two years and go back and forth between a convertible and a hardtop. The next one will be a convertible.”

  With my hand in his, we enter his house in the kitchen. State-of-the-art appliances and designer finishes are everywhere. We move toward the living room where warm colors and plush furniture decorate the masculine interior.

  “How big is this place?” Looking at the size of the kitchen and living room, I imagine what the rest is like.

  “Roughly five thousand square feet. It has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a living room, a recreation room, a theater, and a kitchen. There’s a formal dining room, although I haven’t used it. Perhaps we can break it in together.”

  “Are you asking me on a date?” I tease.

  “As a matter of fact, I am.” He nods. “How about dinner and a movie next Friday night?”

  “I’d love to go on a date with you.”

  “I’m looking forward to it myself.” Walking to the refrigerator, he pulls two soda cans out and pops them open.

  “Was that hard to do?”

  He looks at me quizzically. “Was what hard to do?”

  “Ask me on a date?”

  “Terrifyingly difficult.”

  I can’t tell whether he’s serious or joking, but either way, I believe there’s some truth to his statement.

  “You did well.”

  “Come out here with me.” He points to the french doors. “The view is the reason I bought this house.”

  I step onto a massive deck overlooking a canyon. The sky packed with stars—something I don’t see living in the city, but up here in the hills, the stars twinkle like a million diamonds in the sky.

  After setting the sodas down, he stands behind me and pulls my back to his chest. I’m happy to relax and stare into the starry night.

  “Thanks for such a wonderful night. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you.”

  “You’re so sweet and forgiving. I don’t think there’s a mean bone in your body. I definitely don’t deserve you.”

  “Emma says the same thing, but she thinks it’s because I had a good life and no baggage.”

  His hug tightens. “I have enough baggage for both of us. You stay sweet, and I’ll bear the worries of the world on your behalf.”

  “How about we share in the burdens? Something tells me you’ve been carrying them much too long on your own.”

  I pivot to face him, wrap my arms around his middle, and hang on tight. I know the journey with Damon won�
��t be easy. There are rough roads ahead, but I hope the trip is worth it.

  We move to a chaise lounge, and I sit between his legs with my head resting against his chest. I exhale slowly, trying to get a handle on my life. Damon unleashed something in me—something wild and carefree and scary and exciting.

  What starts out as a simple kiss turns into so much more. He moves in to kiss me again, and I open my mouth to taste and savor him. It’s a lifetime before we come up for air, but when we do, goose bumps spread across my skin. The kiss? The weather?

  He wraps himself around me and offers his heat for several minutes, then says, “I should get you home. It’s getting late.”

  “I didn’t get the full tour yet,” I complain.

  He tips my chin to look into my eyes. “I’ll give you a comprehensive tour on Friday. Is there a particular movie you want to see?” He helps me up and walks me into the house.

  “What’s new on video?”

  “How about that new movie about the female police officers? It’s supposed to be funny.” He places our glasses in the sink and moves with me to the garage.

  “I don’t think it’s out yet.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I can get it.” He gives me one of those looks that says I shouldn’t doubt him.

  “Really?” I look at him, surprised. “I’d love to see it.”

  “Done. I promise you a night to remember. Now, let’s get you home?”

  I push my lower lip out in a pout. “If I must.”

  “Behave, and I might tuck you in.” He nips at my protruding lip.

  “Okay.” I smile. “And if you’re good, I’ll let you undress me again.”

  “You’re killing me,” he says.

  “Join my club.”

  We hold hands all the way to my house, where we find Emma and Anthony tucked next to each watching a scary movie.

  “Hi, guys.” I pull Damon behind me to my room. “Bye, guys.” I stop for nothing because I don’t want him to get sidetracked or change his mind about tucking me in.

  “You guys keep it down in there!” Em yells.

  Damon stands still in the center of my room, focused on my queen-sized bed.

  “I should go,” he says.

  “You promised you’d tuck me in, and I have no intention of letting you off the hook.”

  “Are you really going to torture me?” His eyes plead with mine.

  “You undressed me, but I wasn’t sober enough to enjoy the experience. I demand a do-over.” What will it feel like to have this man remove my clothes?

  He picks me up like I’m a featherweight and tosses me on the bed. He creeps up to cover me with his body—his weight on me is divine.

  I run my hands through his hair, dragging my fingers softly down to the sensitive area above his collarbone. Rising up, I run my tongue over his pulsing artery and feel his heart race with mine.

  “Who do you think I am, woman? I don’t have superpowers.”

  He straddles my body while he unbuttons my dress. The slowness of his movements tortures me. One button, then a kiss. Another button and a kiss. The pattern repeats until the buttons are undone, and the front of my dress lies open to my waist.

  He stares at me like an artist looks at a canvas, then lifts my dress free of my hips. Once it’s hoisted over my head, I’m left wearing only my bra and underwear.

  If I had known he’d undress me tonight, I’d have chosen sexier lingerie.

  He moves above me. The clear outline of his arousal takes my breath away.

  A cocky grin softens his expression.

  “You’re so damn beautiful.” His hands slide up my sides while his lips move against mine. Sometime between the beginning and the end of the kiss, my bra disappears.

  He cups my breasts as if testing their weight and size. “Look at you lying here so sexy.”

  His eyes take in every part of me while his hands knead my aching breasts.

  I close my eyes to enjoy the miracle of the moment. “That’s so nice.” My hum floats through the air.

  “I need to go home before you regret tonight,” he blurts out.

  I grab hold of him before he can bolt. “There’s nothing about tonight that I’ll regret.”

  “I want our first time to be perfect. I owe you the fairytale experience.”

  He rolls to his side and pulls me into the curve of his body, then tugs the covers over us, and we relax into each other.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The alarm goes off at six o’clock, and when I roll over, I run smack dab into a solid wall of muscle. Damon reaches for my phone and beats at it until the relentless chirping stops.

  My hand rests on his chest while his arm cradles me. His free hand caresses my arm to brush the side of my breast. “More of that,” I beg.

  “We need to get up, or we’ll never leave this room. Five more minutes of this, and I won’t be able to let you go.”

  “You drive a hard bargain, and I would prefer to stay, but I can’t. You already made me miss work yesterday, and now I have to work harder today to catch up.”

  “I’ll drop you off before I go home and shower. Can you join me for lunch around noon?”

  “I’d love to have lunch with you. Are we still going to have our book club meeting on Wednesday?” I ask with a hopeful gaze. “It’s a long time until our Friday date.”

  “Wednesday is on, but you have to find time to read the next fifty pages. It’s my turn to choose the restaurant and my turn to buy.”

  “I’m an overachiever. I’ll get it done.”

  I jump up, wearing nothing but my underwear, and make a beeline for the bathroom. When I emerge from my shower, Damon is nowhere in sight. I’m in the living room putting on my shoes when he walks through the front door with two coffee cups and a bag of pastries.

  “Are you wooing me, Mr. Noble? Pastries and coffee are a surefire way to my heart.”

  “You better look at what I brought before you offer your heart.”

  “Good advice. What did you bring?”

  “I brought a croissant, a chocolate donut, an apple fritter, and a banana muffin.”

  “For this selection, you get my hugs and kisses, but if there was a cheese Danish, I’d give you my soul.”

  “Pay up, then. I believe you owe me hugs and kisses.”

  He pulls me into his arms, and his lips caress mine. It’s a good thing he’s holding me because his touch makes me unsteady.

  “Get a room,” Em says when Anthony and her walk into the living room.

  I’m in no hurry to leave Damon’s embrace, so I ignore her while we draw our kiss to a close.

  “Gotta run, Em. I don’t want to be late to the office.” I pick up my purse and give her a hug.

  “I’ll be home after work,” Em says. “You’ve got some splainen to do.”

  “A girl never tells her secrets.” I grab the coffee, pastries, and Damon’s hand, and we’re off.

  He drops me off at the front of the building and speeds away. I make it to my cubicle to find the phone’s red light blinking like a beacon. I press in my retrieval code and listen to the messages that have accumulated since my absence yesterday afternoon.

  I wish they were all positive, but they aren’t. I wanted to make sure Anthony Haywood’s was represented in the gift bags and thought gift cards for nice cutlery or kitchen gadgets would be a nice tie-in. Unfortunately, the knife company doesn’t want to take part.

  The one hundred cookbooks I got will help, and the leading manufacturer of stand mixers agreed to donate gift certificates for each bag. They’ll ship them to each of our VIP guests. Pleased with the way things are turning out, I lean back in my chair and smile.

  “Hey, Kat. Glad you could join us.” Trevor leans over my shoulder, looking at the list of my latest acquisitions. “Nice job.”

  “I’m happy with my progress. I beat your estimate, and I’m determined to achieve my goal of getting them to be worth ten thousand.”

  “Tell me how you ended up hel
ping Mr. Noble yesterday. I never had an intern called up for a project before, and I’ve been here a long time.” He eyes me with suspicion.

  I want to be honest, but I want to protect Damon’s privacy, so I skate the issue the best I can.

  “I know him outside of work. I didn’t tell him I’d applied for the internship, because I didn’t want him to interfere. When he saw me walking out of the elevator yesterday, it surprised him, and he asked me to go to his office to explain. I’m sorry it interfered with my work; it won’t happen again.”

  “Kat, when the president’s secretary calls and tells you Mr. Noble is detaining one of your interns, you don’t ask questions.” Trevor gets close enough for secrets. “Since you know him, maybe you can tell me if he’s…” He stalls for a minute before blurting, “Does he like men or women?”

  I stare at Trevor like he’d grown a third eye. Is he asking because he’s interested in Damon or fishing for gossip? Feeling protective, I don’t want a scandal surrounding his sexuality.

  “He’s not gay, Trevor.” My blush gives me away, but I’ll be damned if anyone spreads rumors about Damon.

  “Darn. He’s a fine-looking man. I thought for sure there was a chance … he dresses too nice to be straight.”

  “I can assure you Damon’s heterosexual, and he dresses nicely because he has impeccable style and taste.”

  “You can assure me, huh? Tell me … is Mr. Noble a good kisser? Maybe I should say Damon since you’re on a cozy, first-name basis with him.”

  “I’m a friend of the family and attend charity events with him and his mother. Stop prying for information. I’m not your go-to source for gossip.” I tap my chin. “I’m assuming your preference is for men similar to Damon?”

  “I prefer them to know they’re gay, but if you think I can persuade Mr. Noble to try the other side, I might enjoy the challenge.”

  “Give it up. It will never happen.”

  Trevor staggers backward with his forearm against his head as if he may faint. “I’m crestfallen.”

  “Don’t you have anything else to do besides bother me?”

  “Yes, but it’s so much fun to watch you blush.” He squeezes my shoulder before he leaves.