Stripped Down (23 page)

Eric nodded solemnly. “Like I said, you’re a terrifying wisp of a woman.”

“As long as you don’t forget it, we’ll never have to find out how terrifying I can be. You’d be a bed-wetter when I was done with you.” She grabbed her briefcase and the truck keys and started for the door. “I’m going back to the office to tell everyone the plan is a go and deal with the mole. You guys sort out whatever you have to sort out. I’ll see you Saturday, Eric.” Clicking the lock into place, she shut the door behind her.

“Saturday?” he asked Cass.

Cass smiled at Eric. “The wedding.”

“Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“Gwen is a complicated wisp.”

“Clearly.” He tucked his hands in his pockets. “Where were we before all—” he tipped his head toward the door “—
that?
”

“I think we were somewhere around ‘where does this leave us?’”

“Right.” Cupping her face, he leaned forward. “I believe this is the beginning of us, Cass, not the end.”

She nodded slightly. “I do, too.”

“Show me.”

18

H
E KISSED HER TENDERLY,
his lips little more than a whisper across hers. His thumbs traced the planes of her cheeks as he tilted her head to the side slightly and took the kiss deeper.

Everything she felt for him rose to the surface in a rush, drowning out any doubt that had remained in the revelation of her love. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer.

The kiss seemed endless as they found their way back to each other. His teeth nipped her lips, then his tongue soothed the little bites as he murmured small words of passion to her.

Without warning, he took her hand and twirled her away from him.

She reached the end of their arms’ length and laughed. “What was that for?”

“A reminder.” He pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her and settling his lips against the shell of her ear. “Mostly because I can’t do a dramatic lift. But also because we don’t have an aisle and backup dancers.”

“An aisle and backup dancers?”

“Or a choreographer.”

“You’ve gone over the edge, haven’t you?”

“‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner.’ No one. Particularly the man who loves her.”

Her breath caught.

He watched her closely, his gaze roaming over her face. “Say something, Cassidy. Please.”

There was only one thing she could say, one truth she could give him unequivocally in that moment. “I love you, too, Eric Dalton Reeves.”

He tightened his arms and lifted her, crushing his mouth to hers.

She rained kisses all over his face as he fervently whispered, “I love you, Cass. I swear I do. It’s too soon, but I know it. I
know.
You’re the one.”

Their mouths came together in a rush of need, tongues tangling as they tasted each other. He’d had a peppermint at some point, she realized. An Altoid, given the potency of the flavor that lay over the coffee he’d had earlier. He smelled like fabric softener and salty air. The skin along his jaw was rough on her lips even though he’d clearly shaved.

“Dull razor,” she murmured, licking the line of his jaw to his ear, where she nipped.

“Miserably dull. I couldn’t afford a new...” He pulled away, brows creased. “Full disclosure, Cass. Just so there aren’t any other misunderstandings.”

Butterflies tumbled through her stomach, one after another. “What is it?”

“I’m busted-ass broke.”

“Okay.”

“No, Cass. Listen. I’m talking ‘bounced my little brother’s tuition check’ broke.” He looked away, color staining his cheeks. “I don’t have much to offer. I don’t want a dime from your family. That’s not what this is about. In fact, I don’t want to be affiliated with your father at all except as the man who loves his daughter. It’s important that you understand—”

She kissed him. Hard. “Shut up,” she whispered against his mouth. “It doesn’t matter, Eric.”

“How can it not?” he persisted, pulling away to stare down at her, puzzled.

“If you want to strip, strip. If you want to work at KFC, I happen to love fried chicken. It doesn’t matter because it doesn’t define you or our relationship. Besides, I might have a way you can make a bit of extra cash.”

She began backing toward the conference room table. Eric’s eyes widened, and Cass couldn’t contain her grin. “A thousand bucks says you take me on the table before I’m done with you.”

“I’m not wagering with you, Cass,” he growled, his eyes roaming over her body in that proprietary way that made her shiver. The broad length of his arousal thickened beneath the wool-and-silk blend of his trousers.

She grabbed his belt and pulled him along with her as she continued to move toward the table. Once there, she turned him around, parking his ass against the edge. His hair was like silk slipping through her fingers as she cupped his head and pulled him down for a kiss. Her free hand ran his zipper down so she could work his swelling erection through the opening of first his boxers and then his pants. As she stroked him from root to tip, he groaned into her mouth.

“Shh,” she whispered. “You can’t be loud.”

“I’m not the loud one.”

“You go on believing that, stud.”

Her hand moved over the corona and he shivered. “Damn it, Cass.”

“If you want to win the bet, you’re going to have to do better than that.” Dropping to her knees, she took his arousal between her lips and sank down on him. Working him with her hands and mouth, she quickly pushed him to the point his hips were thrusting of their own volition. His fingers tunneled into her hair, pins popping out and waves falling free as he held on. She watched as, lips parted, his head fell back. He was lost to her and she knew it, just as much as she knew she was lost to him.

Without warning, he hauled her up the front of his body and crushed his mouth to hers. The kiss stole her breath, a small mewl escaping.

“Shh,” he teased.

“Eric,” she said on a soft moan.

“Say it again.”

Her brows drew together.

“My name, Cass. I want to hear my name on your lips, only ever my name.”

“Eric,” she breathed, hooking one leg around him and pulling him closer as he turned and maneuvered her onto the boardroom table. His strong, capable hands traced over her hips, bunching her skirt up to reveal the lingerie she’d chosen with him in mind only this morning. It seemed like ages ago.

Her head fell back, exposing her neck.

He moved his lips down to the place where neck and shoulder joined and bit her there softly.

She moaned. “What about the employees?”

“We’re at the end of the office, empty offices on each side. And Gwen locked the door on her way out.”

“Remind me to thank her,” Cass gasped, pulling at his shirt.

He rapidly unbuttoned her blazer and leaned forward, suckling one pearled nipple through the silk of her bra. Sensation rocked her and sent a wave of heat through her that settled deep in her pelvis with a throbbing ache. She needed him. Now. No waiting.

“Holy Nutella,” he breathed, staring down at her. “You wore garters and a thong.”

“You said we’d be having lunch later.”

He automatically glanced at the wall. “It’s almost noon.”

“Thank goodness,” she said, arching one brow.

The broad head of his cock pushed at her, and she hooked her other leg around his waist, opening herself to him more fully.

With steady pressure, he worked his way in, his eyes never leaving hers. “I love you, Cass.”

“I love you, too, Eric.”

He began to move, slowly at first, then more aggressively, until she was forced to grip the edge of the table to keep from being pushed across its surface. Papers rained to the ground, an erotic chorus to their small sounds and whispered words of love.

Reaching between them, he found her clit and strummed the little bundle of nerves, gently at first and then faster. Her orgasm rolled over her and dragged her under. She couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t hear and didn’t care. Wave after wave of pleasure rocked her as he refused to let up on the pressure on her clit until a second orgasm took her and she cried out.

He followed her over the edge, burying his face in her neck to muffle his shout.

* * *

E
RIC WAS PRETTY SURE
he’d died. No one’s heart could beat this fast and not suffer some kind of heart attack or stroke or something, he was sure. Chest heaving, he lay across Cass’s prone body, listening to her gasping breaths and reveling in the way her fingers traced back and forth across his scalp. It was moments like these when he felt the true depth of his love for her. He’d been too scared to see it before now. Not anymore and never again. He was going to spend a lifetime making sure Cass always knew how much she was loved.

Pushing up so he rested on his elbows, he stared at her. “This is all your fault.”

Her brow furrowed. “My fault?”

“It was those damn garters. I lost my head over the garters. I demand a rematch.”

She laughed, her eyes saying all the things he needed to hear. “You won the bet, silly. Besides, the door handle to my office is broken.”

“Maybe on a bulldozer on the construction site, then.”

“You have something to tell me? Like, ‘Hi, my name is Eric Reeves, and I’m an exhibitionist’?” she asked through her laughter.

“Cute. I was thinking we’d sneak out there after hours. You know—consecrate the site.”

“Completely altruistic once again.”

“Never let it be said I’m not a company man.”

She snorted. “You own the company.”

“I do, don’t I? Well, at least I’m dedicated to its success.”

“Absolutely.” She pushed at his shoulder, still grinning. “Now, get off me so I can set myself to rights and we can get out of here while your employees are at lunch.”

“Uh...about that.” He felt the heat burn up his neck and across his cheeks.

“What?” she hissed, wiggling her skirt down around her lush hips.

“They take staggered lunches.”

“So they’re
out there?
” she squeaked, eyes wide, hands frozen over the buttons on her blazer.

“Yup. And my assistant only goes to lunch when I do, so we’ll have to walk right by her.”

“Where the hell did you find all these dedicated people?” she whispered, finger-combing her hair.

“Same place you found yours. 1-800-LOY-ALTY. They aren’t the cheapest supplier, but their casualty rate is lowest among all the employee mills.”

She gaped at him. “Your sense of humor is sick, you know that?”

He grinned. “Almost as sick as yours. Gives me something to aspire to.”

Her bark of laughter was extraordinarily loud in the empty room. “True. It’s just one more reason I love you.”

Pulling her close, he fed his fingers through her hair and tilted her face up to his. “I’ll never tire of hearing you say that any more than I’ll ever stop trying to be worthy of it.”

Eyes bright with emotion, she nodded. “Ditto.” The rough timbre of her voice said she’d been caught off guard.

Good. He wanted to surprise her with something new every day from now on.

“Now, let’s get out of here while the walk of shame is least populated.”

She nodded, bending to pick up her hairpins.

“Leave them, baby. The cleaning company can manage that much.”

“But they’ll wonder.”

“Let them.” He held out his hand, his heart aching when she came to him without question and took what he offered. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

They started down the hall, passing desks and offices, some empty and others occupied. No one said anything until they hit his office. His assistant sat out front, as predicted. The summer college intern was going over policy and procedure with her when they both looked up.

“Eric,” she said, her mouth twitching. “It seems we should check the temperature controls in the conference room. You’re a bit flushed.”

“Your review is coming up, Gretchen. Keep that in mind,” he said drily.

“Uh-huh.” She smiled wide and winked at Cass. “Enjoy your lunch, you two.”

Eric hauled Cass toward the exit, but she still heard the intern ask, “Wasn’t her hair up when you showed her in earlier?”

“Shush, fledgling,” Gretchen murmured. “You’re young yet, but someday you’ll learn that recognizing love is more important than picking out the details.”

* * * * *

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