Suddenly Beautiful (Entangled Covet) (14 page)

One by one he enlarged the photos, mesmerized by the radiance the shots had captured. Creed had been right. Nikki was the perfect face for the Goddess line. He scrolled through the pictures, examining each one, getting lost not only in the excitement of the campaign, but in her very image. Over the past three days he had learned more about her than he’d known the entire six years she’d worked for him. That thought shamed him a bit.

He’d tried so hard to not get caught up in the world of gods and goddesses, not to bring his personal life into his business, that his job had
become
his personal life.

When was the last time he’d smiled with the same joy Nikki radiated in her playful shots? It had been a long time. Well, not that long ago. The night they had spent together gave him a kind of joy he’d never felt before. Maybe it had been from the Ambrosia, but the emotions he remembered during their lovemaking felt right.

Nikki popped her head into the office. “It’s noon. Is now a good time to go over the contract?”

“Perfect.” Tor clicked out of the attachment and pushed away from his desk, surprised how long he’d been staring at the photos. “Come on in and shut the door.”

With her leather portfolio tucked against her chest and her phone in the other hand, she entered his office and closed the door. It took all of Tor’s willpower not to stare. She’d ditched the nondescript jackets and had opted for a more revealing style that still maintained an air of professionalism. Whether she’d changed to torture him or to impress Creed, he didn’t know.

The clingy pink fabric of her blouse stretched tight over her perfectly shaped breasts. Tor remembered how they felt in his hand and how her nipples pebbled under his touch. His cock tightened against his pants, but this time he knew it was from genuine desire. Standing up right then was a bad decision. He shifted and leaned forward to hide his growing erection as she took the seat on the opposite side of the desk and crossed her insanely long legs. More blood made a beeline to his crotch, making him harden even further.

“Why don’t we order lunch in?” He scooted his chair forward and picked up the phone receiver to call the executive dining room. “What would you like?”

“Oh, good idea. I’ll have a number seven, no cheese, extra mayo, salt and vinegar chips—be sure to tell Gino not to send those nasty ones he feeds the visitors—and an iced tea.”

Tor couldn’t help smiling. He liked that she ate. Not every woman with her figure could. “Is that all?”

“Oh, and if he has chocolate pudding cake, I’ll take a piece of that.”

He placed the order and hung up. “They said it would take about fifteen minutes.”

“We probably won’t have time to eat later.” She looked at her watch. “We’ve got an hour before the meeting with legal.”

“Let’s get started then.” He pulled her contract from the top drawer. His sexual impulses had settled a bit, making it easier to concentrate on her contract. He slid the paper across the desk. “This is your copy.”

She took the documents and began reading, nodding as she went along. Every so often she would stop and point to a sentence, asking what the clause meant. For the next fifteen minutes they poured over the basic contract and hashed out a few of the issues she had reservations about. By the time a knock at the door sounded, heralding their lunch, they’d completed nearly all of the three pages.

“Come in,” Tor called.

Gino, the chef from the executive dining room, rolled in a cart laden with food. His round face and ruddy cheeks made him appear to be in a constant state of happiness. “Miss Nikki.” His slight Italian accent gave his voice a singsong cadence. “I brought you an extra big piece of pudding cake today. Perhaps you will share with Mr. Stephanos, no?”

“When have you ever known me to share my cake, Gino?” She stood and walked to the cart, bending to inhale the chocolaty aroma.

The chef laughed. “Never.”

Tor’s gaze instantly traveled to her round, firm butt, reawakening his urge to throw her on the couch, hike up her tight navy skirt, and have his way with her. Instead, he crossed his legs but didn’t look away.

She straightened and did a half turn to look at him and wink. “I might make an exception today.”

Gino laughed again. “You must have done something nice, Mr. Stephanos. Miss Nikki never shares.”

“Can’t blame a girl for liking chocolate,” she said. “It’s in my blood.”

The chef walked to the door, chuckling. “Just ring when you’re finished and I’ll send someone for the dishes.”

Nikki picked up a potato chip and bit. “Thank you, Gino,” she said as she crunched.

He waved a hand in the air with a silent “you’re welcome” and pulled the doors shut. Nikki pushed the cart over to the seating area. With her usual efficiency, she pulled the cherrywood coffee table closer to the couch and set out the food. Then she sat, looked at Tor, and patted the couch next to her.

A thousand times he’d sat beside her and talked business. Why did it seem so much more intimate this time? He rose and took the seat next to her. She flipped open a napkin and laid it across his right knee, and then shoved his Cobb salad closer to him. Even when she didn’t realize she was taking care of him, she took care of him.

Thankfully, Nikki directed their conversation to questions concerning her contract, making it easier to sit so close to her. A couple of times their arms or thighs brushed, but she didn’t react. Tor couldn’t help but wonder if Creed being in the picture had anything to do with her abilities to soldier on, seemingly unaffected by their closeness. The thought made him want to punch something.

She picked up a spoon and dug a healthy scoop of chocolate pudding cake out of the monstrous block Gino had given her. Tor couldn’t tear his gaze away from her mouth when she opened and slid the spoon inside. Her eyes drifted shut and her lips closed around the soft sweet. She pulled the spoon free and chewed a few times before swallowing. Her eyes opened and her tongue flicked out to capture the drizzle of chocolate sauce on her lower lip. Then she turned to him and smiled. “That is so good.”

“It looks like it.” He smirked. “Rather, you look like you’re enjoying it.”

“Do you want a taste?” She dipped her spoon back into the cake.

Yes, but he wanted to lick it from her lips. “No, thank you.”

“Come on.” She held the spoon up to his mouth, cupping her hand below it to catch any escaping crumbs. “You’ve got to try it.”

Her green eyes sparkled, teasing him. He couldn’t help but respond to her playfulness. Slowly he opened his mouth. A small blob of chocolate dropped onto her palm as she brought the spoon to his lips. He slid his mouth over the cake and dragged it from the spoon. Her eyes watched him, their pupils dilating.

The mood between them shifted from playful to heated seduction in a nano second. He sensed her arousal, heard her short breaths, and felt his desire stir again. Whatever willpower he’d had melted with that one bite of cake. He grasped her hand and lifted her palm to his mouth. With deliberate slowness, he licked the chocolate from her palm.

“What are you doing?” Her question came out as a whisper, almost as if she was afraid he would stop.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” He kissed her palm and then laid a trail of tiny kisses to her wrist. “I’m helping you eat your cake.”

“Oh, because it looks more like you’re seducing me.” Her voice sounded stronger, more sure. Would she stop him? Would he stop himself?

“Do you want me to quit?” He’d reached the crook of her arm and nibbled the sensitive skin toward the inside of her elbow. “Or should I continue.”

He scooted closer, lifting her hand to rest on top of his shoulder. Inch by kissable inch, his lips crept along her arm. She didn’t pull away. Didn’t move at all. Just sat, watching his sensual trek. When he reached her upper arm, he made a graceful transition to her collarbone.

Her body reclined against the back of the sofa, allowing him full access to the swells of her breasts. He cupped her, and strummed his thumb across her nipple. The peak stiffened.

She dragged her fingers through his hair and arched her back toward him. “I thought we were supposed to keep things professional.”

Tor undid the first two buttons on her blouse, revealing a powder-pink bra. “We’re negotiating your contract.” He pulled the lace down and slid his tongue across her nipple. “I think it’s going very well so far.”

“Oh.” The single word came out as a moan. “That’s nice.”

Spurred on by her obvious approval, Tor pulled the tight bud into his mouth and sucked. Her fingers tightened around his head, holding him steady. She smelled like tangerines and tasted even better. His fingers caressed her knee and slipped under the hem of her skirt, working their way upward under the tight material. She shifted and lifted her rear end, allowing him to push her skirt up around her thighs.

“Tor, we shouldn’t do this.” Her knees parted, granting him access and neutralizing her protest.

They should stop. Everything he had said he didn’t want to happen
was
happening, but just as he thought that, his fingers brushed the soft satin of her panties.

“Do you want me to stop?” The question was asked purely out of consideration. He didn’t think he could halt even if he wanted to. He hooked his finger on the underside edge of her panties and slid his finger upward. “Just say stop, and I will.”

Lie.

“Stop”—her breath panted from her—“and I’ll kill you.”

He lifted his head and smiled. She threaded the fingers of one hand through his hair and dragged his mouth to hers, practically devouring him. Her other hand caressed his arm, encouraging his fingers to continue on their original course.

The tip of his finger brushed the soft lips between her legs, parting them to his touch, and she moaned into his mouth. He was pretty sure every ounce of blood in his body had traveled southward to his cock. As if reading his mind, she stopped stroking his hand and began stroking his erection through his pants. Their kiss deepened.

He needed to be closer, inside her. He pulled away from their kiss, but she followed him forward, unwilling to let him go. Unable to see, he fumbled with the last two buttons on her shirt and pushed it off her shoulders. Finally realizing he was trying to undress her, Nikki let go of him to help. She stood and unzipped her skirt, letting it fall to the ground.

It was Tor’s turn to moan. Clad in powder-pink panties and bra, she looked like she’d just stepped out of a Victoria’s Secret catalog. Nikki held out her hands and helped him stand. Their gazes locked as she undressed him. He wanted her; this time the feeling was real, without the help of Ambrosia. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Dressed in only his slacks, he reached for his zipper to speed up the process. He had to have her.

A solid rap sounded on his office door. They both froze midstroke. Nikki’s eyes widened. “The door isn’t locked,” she mouthed.

He hesitated only a second before lifting his hand and magically locking the door. Though his rule was not to use his powers, there were times when it needed to be broken. He and Nikki standing nearly nude in his office was one of them.

“Yes?” Tor said.

“It’s Demetria, Tor.”

Nikki turned and raised her hand as if to throw a hex at the woman. Tor caught her hand in midtoss and shook his head.

“I’m on a call right now.”

“The meeting with legal was supposed to start five minutes ago.” Her voice pressed through the crack in the door as if she were trying to peer in. “Are you coming?”

“Not yet,” Nikki mumbled.

He grimaced and glanced at his watch. “I’ll meet you in the conference room in five.”

“Maybe you should fire your assistant. She can’t seem to keep you on track,” Demi said, her voice fading.

“Just one little zap,” Nikki whispered. “Please.”

“No.” He pulled her to him and kissed her. “Now get dressed.”

“Shit.” She snatched up her skirt and stepped into it, tugging it up. Next she grabbed her shirt, buttoned it up, and crammed it into her skirt. “Okay, I see your point now.”

Tor finished dressing and slipped on his shoes. “What point?”

“This.” She waved a finger between the two of them and scooped up her portfolio. “We almost got caught.”

His lack of mortification surprised him. A week ago he would have never seduced a woman in his office—especially a demi-goddess, but since the Ambrosia incident, his priorities had begun to shift. Making out during lunch had been fun. When was the last time he’d had fun or not worked through his meals?

He caught her around the waist and pulled her to him. “It would have been worth every embarrassing second.”

She stared at him, a slow smile creeping across her mouth. “You’re not angry about being late?”

He leaned in and kissed her. “I’d cancel if I wasn’t certain Demetria wouldn’t be back here pounding on my office door in another five minutes.”

“She is a pain in the ass, isn’t she?” Her smile turned wicked. “Remind me to repay her for her inconvenient timing.”

Tor kissed her long and slow. To hell with legal. He was the boss and if he wanted to be late, he damn well would be. Maybe it was time for a change around Kythera Cosmetics.

Chapter Eleven

So much for playing it cool. Nikki took a deep breath and smoothed her hand down the front of her shirt, checking to see if all the buttons were buttoned. It sure hadn’t taken much to get her out of her skirt and back in the sack with Tor.

Though the whole lunchtime event had been thrilling, she couldn’t help but remain skeptical about his motives. Was he still thinking she might be pregnant? At the very least, what did his new interest mean? Stacey was going to kill her when she heard how easily Nikki had folded.

She pasted on her business face and followed Tor into the conference room. Four of the twelve chairs were filled with people from the legal department, including Demetria. The attorney’s icy gaze followed Nikki to her seat, never breaking eye contact even once she was settled.

And so it begins.

Nikki met the attorney’s stare and cocked a brow in challenge, but Demetria continued to glare at her until Tor started to speak. Her focus cut to him, but the woman’s animosity stabbed at Nikki from across the room. For once, the cool reception didn’t bother her.

“As some of you know, Nikki is now the face of Kythera’s new Goddess line. We’ve already gone over her—”

“I’m sorry,” Demetria interrupted. “Did you just say your assistant is now the face of Goddess?”

There was a subtle shift in Tor’s demeanor, an almost imperceptible stiffening of his spine. He peered at Demi. “I believe you were in the hospital, Demetria, but yes. The decision was made yesterday.” He glanced back to the paper in front of him. “As I was saying. We’ve gone over her contract and everything seems to be in order.”

“Why?” Demetria said.

Tor tapped his pen impatiently on the table, his head slowly lifting to glower at her. “Why what?”

“Why is she the new face?” Demetria pointed a finger at Nikki, as if accusing her of a crime. “What on God’s green earth made you decide she was a better choice than the hundreds of
professional
models we have on file?”

Carl Kramer, one of the newer attorneys in Kythera’s legal department, shifted, rolling his chair a few inches away from her. Smart man.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Tor said, “but we were looking for a fresh face and the new creative director proposed Nikki.” He stopped tapping his pen. “It is a decision I back one hundred percent.”

Nikki sat a little taller in her chair and smiled sweetly at Demetria.
Take that you demigoddess skank.

Demetria huffed and shook her head, but didn’t reply.

“Do you have a problem with our choice?” Tor’s question was no question at all, but a direct challenge.

Perverse as it was, Nikki really hope the woman would speak her mind. Maybe if she slipped up one more time Tor would can the bitch. She stared at Demetria Mirrors, willing her to speak the truth.

“I’m just wondering who she had to bang to get that job.” The attorney gasped and slapped her hand over her mouth.

Nikki’s eyes widened and she pressed her lips together in an effort not to burst out laughing. Damn, her goddess mojo had a hair trigger.

Silence stretched through the room. The gazes of the three other legal nerds bounced between Tor and their colleague. Though Demetria had a reputation for speaking her mind, in business settings she usually held herself to a professional standard.

“I’m sorry, Tor,” Demetria blurted. “I don’t know why I said that.”

Because you were thinking it, hag.

“Perhaps you haven’t fully recovered from your injury.” Tor softened his tone. “Maybe some time off is in order.”

Oh, Nikki liked the sound of that. With Demetria out of the way, she and Tor might actually have a chance at starting a relationship without the attorney’s constant meddling.

“No, I’m fine.” Demetria reached for the glass of water in front of her and took a drink. “I promise.”

Now that would never do. Tor’s suggestion of giving her time off was like the dangling carrot in front of Nikki. She refocused her efforts, mentally commanding the attorney to confess her deepest thoughts.

Tor gave a single nod. “Then I assume we can get back to business?”

“Absolutely.” She scooted forward in her chair and folded her hands on the table as if at attention. Her agreeability lasted precisely two seconds. Nikki knew the exact second her compulsion hit Demetria. The woman’s eyes dilated and her posture listed to the side. “Absolutely we can get back to work,” Demetria said, “just as soon as you explain to me how this dumb blonde landed a modeling contract.”

“Wow, harsh, Demetria.” Nikki’s feigned hurt barely concealed the smile that threatened to spread. “Any other insults you’d like to sling at me?”

“As a matter of fact, there is.” The attorney leaned forward on her elbows, her head rocking from side to side like a dancing parrot. “What happened? Screwing the boss didn’t get what you wanted so you spread your legs for Creed Killion in order to get this contract?”

Okay, maybe she’d overdone it a bit with the compulsion.

Tor slammed his hands flat onto the desk. “That’s quite enough, Miss Mirrors.”

His command should have stopped her in her tracks, but her diatribe continued. It was like she’d developed a case of Tourette’s syndrome. “Oh, I don’t think so. It’s about time I laid down the law with this stupid, mousy-haired goddess wannabe.”

Yep, she’d definitely overdone the compulsion. In a maybe not-so-brilliant split-second decision, Nikki hit Demetria Mirrors with another whammy, trying to shut her up. The attorney’s tirade of insults morphed into a long howl, followed by a string of yaps. Each word she tried to speak came out as a bark.

Tor stood, slid Nikki a knowing glance, and walked to Demetria. He took her face in his hands, making her look at him. “Stop.”

“Yap, yap.”

He covered her mouth. “Don’t speak.”

She whined into his hand, reminding Nikki of a golden retriever her great-aunt Tilly once owned. The three other attorneys exchanged glances as if unsure what to do.

“Gentlemen, why don’t I get in touch with legal and reschedule the meeting for later this week?” Nikki said.

“Good idea.” Carl Kramer stood and scooped his portfolio and documents up, not bothering to organize them. “Very good idea.”

Demetria glared at him and whined like a puppy. Carl skirted her, making sure to leave plenty of room between him and the barking attorney. The other two men stared at their feet as they shuffled out the door.

“Thanks, guys.” Nikki followed them and grabbed the doorknob. “I really appreciate your cooperation.”

She didn’t bother telling them not to talk about Demi’s odd behavior. After all the crap she’d taken from the attorney, this was just one small reward. Especially after Tor got finished reaming her a new one for using her powers. She snapped the door closed and turned.

“Don’t speak,” Tor said to Demetria. “I’m going to remove my hand.”

Demetria nodded. When he pulled his hand away a small yip escaped. She slapped her hand back over her mouth.

Nikki almost felt sorry for her—almost. She supposed she should have some remorse for her actions, but she didn’t. Instead of helping the situation, Nikki gave into one last urge. “Speak.”

“Yap.” Demetria tried to push past Tor, but he grabbed her around the waist and held her in place. “Yap, yap, yap.”

Like a crazed Chihuahua, she barked and growled what Nikki could only imagine to be a slew of colorful adjectives at her.

“You’re not helping, Nikki,” Tor said. He set Demetria back on her feet and gripped her by the shoulders. “Stay!”

Nikki burst out laughing and the attorney glowered at Tor, growling low in her throat.

“I will help you, but you need to calm down.” Tor nodded. “Understand?”

Demetria nodded, and he released her. Nikki wondered if their powers worked like on
Bewitched
. Could he undo her mess or did she have to reverse her compulsion? Slowly he turned to her. His anger hit her like a punch in the gut.

“Fix it.”

His demand was simple, but she was clueless on how to reverse her whammy. “How?”

“Take it back.”

She had no idea how to undo her compulsion, so she winged it. With a wave of her hand she said, “Fine, I take it back.”

When she spoke the words, Demetria stumbled forward a step and caught herself on Tor’s arm. She straightened and pointed a bright red nail at Nikki. “You’re going to wish you’d never done that.”

For the first time that Nikki could ever remember, she was actually afraid of Demetria Mirrors. The crazed look on the attorney’s face transformed her beauty into a frighteningly ugly likeness of herself.

Demetria hurled her hand forward. A blast of wind hit Nikki. The sensation of her skin stretching rippled along her chest. The top button on her shirt popped and bounced across the conference table. Nikki looked down and gasped, slapping her hands over her expanding breasts. Another button lost the battle and pinged across the room. Mounds of flesh refused to be contained as Nikki struggled to keep her blouse closed. Like being pumped full of air, her boobs expanded to three times their size.

“Enough!” All three spun to see Tor’s mother standing at the front of the room in a shower of gold. Power radiated from her in waves, nearly forcing Nikki to her knees. “What in Hades’s name is going on down here?”

“I can handle this, Mother.” Tor didn’t seem intimidated by Aphrodite’s presence. “This is between Nikki and Demetria.”

“You don’t say.” The shower of gold dissipated and Aphrodite strolled forward, stopping halfway down the conference table, directly across from where Tor and Demetria stood. Her gaze raked the attorney and then Nikki. She waved her hand and Nikki’s breasts returned to their normal size and her shirt as good as new. “I’d say you are far from having things in hand.”

Demetria pointed at Nikki again. “She used compulsion without provocation.”

“Without provocation?” A feminine yet commanding laugh bubbled from Tor’s mother. “Now we all know that isn’t true, don’t we?” She pulled out one of the chairs and lowered herself to perch on the edge. “We’ve all accepted your conniving ways, Demetria, because of who you are, but don’t forget who you’re messing with. Nikki knows she’s the daughter of Ares now, so I’d watch myself if I were you. Battle is in her blood.”

Tor crossed his arms over his chest. “Mother, I really don’t think that’s helping the situation.”

“And what are you doing to help the situation?” Aphrodite glared at her son. “Turning a blind eye to Demetria’s antics?”

The attorney opened her mouth to protest, but snapped it shut again, obviously thinking better of arguing with a full-blown goddess. Nikki gave her credit for knowing when to cut her losses.

“Run along, Demetria. This matter no longer concerns you.” Aphrodite gave a little wave of her hand.

Demetria walked to the door and pulled it open, stabbing Nikki with a contemptuous scowl before leaving. Despite the goddess’s warning, Nikki was fairly certain there would be some form of retribution waiting for her in the near future.

“Now that that’s settled,” Aphrodite said once the door closed. “Toraos mentioned that you wanted to meet your father.”

Nikki relaxed a bit. Perhaps she wasn’t going to get in trouble for using her powers after all—at least not with Ms. Stephanos. “Yes.”

“Did my son explain that it’s—” She appeared to be searching for the right word.

“Complicated?” Nikki supplied.

“Exactly. Your father is a difficult god at the best of times.”

“So I’ve heard.” A heavy sigh slipped from Nikki, and she walked to the nearest chair and plopped down. “I’d still like to meet him.”

The delicate edge of Aphrodite’s lip quirked upward. “You’re a lot like him.”

Tor took a seat next to Nikki. His posture was straight and his arms still crossed. After all the years of working with him, she knew his lack of control over the situation, his mother’s interference, and the fact that Nikki had turned his lead attorney into a dog was too much chaos for him to handle all at once. The man liked order.

“Then you’ll contact Ares for me?” Nikki wasn’t certain she wanted to meet her father anymore. He hadn’t been around her entire life and she’d turned out all right. But she’d put up such a big stink about it, now she felt like she had to follow through. “And tell him I’d like to meet him?”

Several seconds passed before Aphrodite spoke. “I’m going to do this for you, Nikki, because I like you.”

Tor’s gaze never wavered from his mother. “What’s the catch?”

She tilted her chin upward and gave a quick sniff. “The catch won’t be mine, Toraos, it will be Ares’s.”

“What do you mean?” Nikki didn’t like the sound of
a catch
. She’d read her Greek mythology and knew that the gods could be devious, especially the god of war.

Tor looked at her. “She means that your father might require payment for the gift of his presence.”

“Payment?” Nikki harrumphed. “What? Like money? My firstborn?”

Aphrodite shrugged. “Who knows? He’s temperamental. You may get by with kneeling at his feet and paying homage to him.”

“Homage? Are you kidding? The guy—”

“God,” Aphrodite corrected.

“Fine, god, is a no-show my entire life and he thinks I’m going to be honored if, and when, he finally decides to show up?” She braced her hands on the arms of the chair. “Forget it. I don’t kneel at any man’s feet.”

Tor slid her a knowing glance.

“Well, almost no man’s feet.” A warm blush crept across her cheeks at the sweet memory of her kneeling at Tor’s feet a few nights ago. Aphrodite smirked, as if she knew exactly what Nikki was imagining. “Anyway—I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to meet him.”

Tor covered her hand with his. “Are you certain?”

She exhaled, feeling good about her decision. “Yes, I’ve got everything I need.”

He smiled and squeezed her hand.

“If you’re sure, sweetie.” Aphrodite rose. “I’ll leave you two alone.” A haze of golden sparkles blinked around her. “But go easier on her, Tor. It was her first abuse of using her powers and let’s face it, a lot of us have wanted to do the same thing to Demetria Mirrors.”