Saved: A Billionaire Romance (The Saved Series Book 1) (2 page)

When a half-smile appeared on his full lips, I finally realized I was in a trance and felt my cheeks begin to redden with embarrassment. I quickly looked away, but could not stop thinking of those green eyes.

Luckily the author, Lynn Loomis, made her way to the podium to begin reading. I tried hard to concentrate on her explanation of how she came up with the story and why it was based in Chicago. My whole body tingled with the after effects of his eyes and smile on me. My brain screamed at me to keep my eyes forward and concentrate on the reading, but my body said otherwise. Every inch of me was aware of his presence, and my eyes betrayed me by glancing in his direction.

To my surprise, his head turned at the same moment, and our eyes locked again. This time, I saw a look of pure need on his face, and I was terrified and turned on all at once. How could any woman resist those eyes? I knew better than to lust after any man, especially a stranger, but I was losing my control.

As soon as the reading was over and the author offered to answer questions, I jumped from my seat, causing several of the other listeners to shoot me dirty looks. I felt bad, but not bad enough to stay. I needed to get away fast before I locked eyes with the mystery man again.

I found solace in the women's bathroom. Since the store was so small, it was the type of bathroom that was made for one person at a time, so I locked the door behind me. When I was alone, I stood against the door and tried to gather my thoughts. How could looking into a stranger's eyes make me feel so vulnerable? Why did I feel like he saw more than just my face when he looked at me? It was the first time I felt a serious attraction to anyone since I left Omaha, but it was too dangerous. Even if every part of my body was screaming out for him, I had to resist. Nothing good could come from this.

I splashed some water on my face and prepared to make a quick exit from the bookstore. Turning the knob, I pulled the door open, expecting to enter an empty hallway. Instead I was standing face-to-face with the blue plaid shirt and sinful green eyes. As soon as our eyes met, I lost myself, and I didn't try to push him away when his lips pressed against mine. He tasted like mint and coffee, and his lips were full and soft as they pressed firmly into my mouth that had been hungry for too long.
 

With just enough force to move me, the delicious mystery man had me pressed against the wall, pushing the tip of his tongue against my lips to request entry. I felt a tiny moan betray me as I parted my lips and let our tongues mix. My hips pushed against him and my hands were on his back, pulling him closer.

Suddenly we were moving again, and I was back in the women's bathroom. He closed and locked the door behind us, but his lips never left mine. His hands were big, and they roamed my body, stopping at my ass and squeezing firmly. I could feel how excited he was through the material between us, and it should have scared me away. I should have been terrified of this man I barely knew locking me in a public bathroom with him, but there wasn't a single part of my brain telling me to try to get away. I needed this and needed him. I would deal with the consequences later.

The light was dim in the bathroom, but his eyes shone in the darkness, lighting the spark of my need for him. When his hands wandered under the hem of my shirt and found their way to my bra, I arched my back in response to the feel of his fingers. He decided to take a different approach and pulled my cami and bra down, exposing my full breasts. Without warning, he sucked my right nipple into his mouth, and I cried out. My hips pushed into his as he licked a trail to my other breast, licking perfect circles around my pebbled nipple.
 

There was no time to waste in this situation, so I didn't try to stop him when he unbuttoned my jeans and pushed them down past my hips, along with my lace boy shorts. I stepped out of my flip flops and took my jeans off the rest of the way. I reached between us and undid the button on his jeans. When I reached inside of his boxer briefs, I was shocked to find he was fully aroused and much larger than I had ever had before. It felt hot in my small hand as I freed it from the constraints of his clothes.

He grunted at the contact from my hand and yanked one of my legs up around his hip. He positioned himself at my opening, and with one quick thrust, he was deep inside me. I dug my nails into his shoulders as his strong arms lifted me up off of the floor and his hips pinned me to the wall.

Our mouths met again, aching for the comfort of each other's taste. He obviously knew what he was doing as he moved inside me over and over again. I moved my hips to meet each thrust, letting the lust take over as I felt him hit the sweet spot inside of me.

I could see myself in the mirror on the opposite wall, and I did not recognize this woman who was letting herself be taken by a man she hasn't really met in a bookstore bathroom. However, watching him thrust into me just pushed me closer to my impending release.
 

He was breathing hard as he used his strength to pleasure me and hold me up. I broke free from his mouth and kissed and sucked my way down his throat and around his neck. He smelled like cologne from the pages of a magazine and tasted salty from the sweat produced in our heated embrace.

When I could feel myself getting close, his thrusts became quick and deliberate. I locked eyes with him, and that was all I needed to fall. I cried out and held him tightly as my orgasm rocked my body. Within seconds, he pinned me to the wall with his hips and spilled into me, leaving me barely able to breathe from the moment's intensity.

Suddenly, he placed me back on my feet and tucked himself back into his pants. He looked at me with confusion, but didn't say a word. Unlocking the door, he didn't say one word to me before he was gone.
 

I stood there in shocked, still exposed from the moments of passion we had just shared. A small knock sounded on the door, and I had to snap out of my trance. I quickly made myself presentable, flushed the toilet, and let the sink run to make it seem like I had really been using the ladies room.

I grabbed my book and made a beeline for the door, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone for fear that they might have heard or seen something. Half of me expected the stranger to be waiting for me outside, but the street was filled with other strangers. I half ran back to my apartment, not wanting to talk to or see anyone. I wanted to lock my door and forget what I had just done.

As soon as I was back home, I threw off my clothes and ran a hot shower. I scrubbed his scent off of me and tried not to think of how good it felt to be under his spell. Since he never spoke a word to me, I didn't have to dwell on who he was or what everything meant. I could just wash him away and move on. It was always best for me not to get feelings for anyone. There could never be any attachments in my life.

After my shower, I brushed my teeth to erase his taste, slipped into some flannel pajamas, and got into bed. I turned the television to all-night episodes of "Friends" and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter 3

The next morning, I dressed in a black pencil skirt, a white button-down blouse, black peep-toe heels, and my tiny diamond necklace and earrings. I pulled my hair up into a loose ponytail that allowed my curls to gather beautifully behind my head. I grabbed my brief case and made it to the office a half hour earlier than usual. Even Brielle wasn't there yet.

I went to my desk and got right to work on all of my tasks for Joe. I knew today was the day that Jackson Harter, the CEO, was due to visit, and I wanted Joe to have as little stress as possible. I had everything he needed prepped and ready on his desk when he arrived at 8:30.

After I knew he was all set for a while, I decided to go work on prepping song lists. I pulled a few up and hit print, then I got up to retrieve them from the printer in the copy room around the corner. As I was rounding the corner, five men in expensive suits walked toward me, deep in conversation. I tried to step to the side to avoid them, but they weren't paying attention.

The man in the middle of the group almost ran into me, and I stumbled a bit in my heels. He caught me gently around my arm, and when I looked up to thank him, I was staring directly into a pair of familiar sea green eyes.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I was trying to move out of your way."

"Please don't be sorry. I should have been paying closer attention. Are you okay?" His eyes never left mine as he spoke, and I was unable to look away. Another voice broke the moment and brought me back to reality. It was Avery Andrews, the head of advertising for the company. I knew him through Joe.

"Allison James, I would like you to meet Mr. Jackson Harter. He is here touring the stations and meeting with the staff. Jackson, this is Allison James. She is an intern for Joe Jones."

"It is lovely to meet you, Allison. I'm always happy to see new faces around the office. I hope everyone is treating you well." His voice was smooth and confident, but his eyes could not hide the mix of surprise and hunger he was feeling.

"Everyone here is wonderful. I appreciate the opportunity to intern here and learn from such a talented group. I should get back to work. It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Harter."

"Please, call me Jackson." I smiled and excused myself before my face or my body betrayed me in front of four of my colleagues and the man who owned the company. It was the same man who had taken me and discovered me in a dimly lit bookstore bathroom the night before.

I held my breath all the way back to my cubicle and let it out slowly when I sat in my chair. I had no idea what to expect next. Was I going to lose my internship because I let my guard down and had a one-night stand? Would he think I was some kind of whore and deem me unfit to work for him? Was he telling those other men that he had done me the night before? Were they all laughing at me right now?

I started to panic at the thought of losing my job and having to return to Omaha. I promised myself I would never go back there, and I was not going to break that promise. I couldn't afford to lose this position that I had worked so hard to get and keep. If I went back, it would be a matter of hours before he knew I was there. There was no one to protect me from him. If I returned, I would live the rest of my life as his possession. A hidden part of me knew that I would die before I ever let him do that to me.

As panic and fear set in, my hands began to shake. I tried to concentrate on the song lists, but it was impossible. I snapped back to the present when my phone started to ring. Janet's number appeared on the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Hi Allie. I'm not sure why, but Jackson Harter's personal secretary just called me. He wants to see you in his office. Alone. Did something happen?"

"I just met him in the hallway. That's it. I'm not sure what this could be about." I wasn't going to tell her that he was probably going to fire me because he didn't want dirty whores working for his company.

"Well, maybe he wants to talk about internships or something. Anyway, if I were you, I would head right up there. Don't keep the big boss waiting."

"I won't keep him waiting."

"Okay, well give me a call when you're done. I'm dying to know what he has to say to you." I agreed to keep her posted and tried to compose myself before getting up from my desk. Jackson Harter's office was located on the opposite end of the floor. I smoothed my skirt and shirt, making sure I looked neat and professional. I walked slowly enough to keep from falling but quickly enough so that it wouldn't seem like I was keeping him waiting.

It was obvious the boss was onsite because everyone was working diligently. There weren't any conversations at the copy machine or long breaks in the kitchen. People were serious about their jobs today because everyone was afraid that a visit from the big boss could mean impending layoffs or big changes.

When I reached Mr. Harter's office, his assistant, Natalie West, told me to have a seat and she would let me know when he was ready. She had been his assistant for several years, and she didn't mingle with the rest of the office staff. She knew way too much to gossip with any of us, and I respected her for that.

I sat in the first leather chair closest to her desk and tried not to fidget as I waited for the decision about my fate. I heard Natalie on the phone with Mr. Harter, and my heart began to race. Fear crept up into my throat as I imagined him telling me that the company only wanted the very best people, and that after the show I put on last night, I was no longer welcome at Harter Communications.

"Ms. James, Mr. Harter will see you now."

"Thank you, Ms. West." I stood up and tried to approach the door to the office with my head held high. I could try to maintain my pride for at least a few more seconds. His office was surrounded by smoky glass, and the doors had large silver handles. I grasped one in my small hand and pulled it toward me.

When I walked in, I was shocked by what I saw. Televisions covered one entire wall and there were video feeds of every radio show being broadcast at the station. A large desk stood in the center of the room with a leather chair behind it. There was a bathroom to the right, but I couldn't see much since the door was only partially open. There was also a couch and two large, leather chairs near the windows that overlooked downtown Chicago. Everything in the office was black and white. The room screamed power and money, and it didn't make me feel any better about the intimidation factor of this meeting request.

"Hello Ms. James." His deep voice sent a chill down my spine and made me ache at the same time. I was terrified and turned on, and that was never a good combination. I knew that all too well from a shadow that still followed me everywhere I went.

"Hello Mr. Harter. Janet said you wanted to speak with me." I turned to face him and tried to remain calm, but I had a feeling he wouldn't miss the slight quiver in my voice. I hated exuding anything but confidence at work, and I was afraid this interaction would cause me to lose so much of the ground I had already gained since I had been here at the company.