Her weak attempt to pull away failed. She didn"t really try to free herself of him, which solidified his belief that she did like him. And he was about to let her know how much he liked her too. He pulled her in close, his lips touching the sh.e.l.l of her ear. "If you were mine, I would never let you go."
"I-"
Fabian put a finger over her lips, her eyes closed in response. Every part of him needed to kiss her. He wanted to feel her lips on his more than he wanted to take his next breath. The notion winded him. More than that, the need to protect and care for her was foreign and disconcerting. He literally would have done anything to protect her from Stephan. Just then, a tug on his arm took him from the s.p.a.ce where only he and Toni existed.
He turned, annoyed. "What?" The person didn"t register at first. The silhouette outlined a perfect figure, tall and curving. Any other day he would have known exactly who it belonged to. Yet still, the only thing he knew was the abandonment on his hip when Toni"s hand fell with the interruption.
The woman came into view under the dance floor lights. They shined on her face, catching her narrowed blue eyes and firm pressed lips. Camille stood before him. Ah, s.h.i.t.
Camille didn"t bother to look at Toni. "Who is this, Fabian?"
"I"m his boss," Toni said, commanding both their attention. "And he"s all yours." She pivoted on her heels, walking across the dance floor to the entrance before Fabian could have a second thought.
Camille wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him to her. "She"s right about one thing. You are all mine. Don"t forget it."
He jerked away from her, putting an arm"s length distance between them. "No, Cam, I"m not yours. I"ve told you that so many times." Fabian glanced to his friends in the VIP nook who didn"t seem the wiser, which he was grateful for. Melina had their undivided attention though. He turned to Camille, dreading whatever else she had to say, but could only focus on his need to go after Toni.
Camille crossed her arms over her banded crop top. She was a gorgeous woman, no doubt. But he acknowledged something then that he hadn"t for many years. He needed more than a gorgeous body. It wasn"t enough for him to chase physical beauty anymore. Not since Toni. Camille studied him, realization setting in. "You can"t tell me you like your boss, Fabian. Are you serious?"
Scrubbing his face, he let out the longest sigh of his life. What he had to tell her-again-would be painful-once more. He chose his words carefully, and with as much sensitivity as he could in the middle of a dance floor. "Cam, you"re a nice girl, but I can"t give you what you want. I never could. I told you many times. So this should not be a surprise." That was the best way he could say it. Again. Big globes of tears formed at the corner of each eye. Not the tears. He looked away. Why did she always have to cry? Couldn"t she see that he sucked as a potential boyfriend? Not that he actually ever was a potential boyfriend. She stepped closer, hooking a finger in between the s.p.a.ce between b.u.t.tons on his shirt. He removed her hand. "I can"t do this with you every time, Cam. I have to go. I"m sorry." He turned from her, eyes straining to see the entrance. He needed to find Toni.
He glanced back to Camille who struggled with another breakdown. He was so sorry. Not just for the way he treated women, but for the way he knew they wanted him, waited for him. But he didn"t feel anything for any of them. Not like what he felt for Toni out on the dance floor, or then as he was desperate to find her. The urge to chase Toni made him feel even sorrier for what he"d done. Before he could rationalize everything he felt, he raced to the front near the opening of the dark hall connecting the lounge to the main entrance.
Destiny was on his side. Toni slumped against the wall, totally vulnerable, with her eyes closed. At first, Fabian thought she"d been crying, but as he grew closer, he saw her fists tightly bound at her sides. She was upset.
He found his voice once he was only a foot from her. "You"re not just my boss, Toni."
Her eyelids shot open. Her lips parted, mirroring his own.
Something took over him. Something stronger than his will, and before he knew what happened, he palmed her face, lifting her chin until her mouth met his in a crushing kiss. The ground fell from under his feet with that kiss. He was totally disoriented until his tongue touched hers and he found his stability. They tangled together, fused like one ma.s.s moving in harmony to the throbbing ba.s.s pounding against the wall. The kiss was wet and savage and made him so hard he wasn"t sure he could separate from her.
She wanted it. He knew she did. As much as he wanted it. Everything built up to that moment. She kneaded his arms, and then dragged her fingers up his rib cage. He groaned, kissing her harder, sucking on her lips, biting her, tasting her. She returned his intensity. But when his hands fell to her throat and down her decolletage, she turned her face, breaking away from him.
"We can"t."
Her lips throbbed with his kiss, left her feeling raw and abandoned. He was a good kisser. Probably good at other things too. She couldn"t let her mind go there. Too much could go wrong. A broken heart would be the first of many things if she let this go any further.
"You have a girlfriend, or friends. I don"t know what you call them." She pushed him away, ignoring the dazed look in his eyes and the stumble in his step. Touching the swollen skin around her mouth, she could still feel the tingling burn from his scruff.
As Fabian wiped his mouth, she turned away with the intention of putting as many footsteps between them as possible, but he spun her around by the shoulder. Something desperate in his eyes pulled at her heartstrings. "I don"t have girlfriends. I don"t have anyone."
She actually believed him.
But he was good at getting his way. Yesterday, she would"ve had no problem second-guessing herself about him. In fact that morning, she"d dismissed anything he said about not having girlfriends. The proof was all over the Internet. The proof faced her minutes ago on the dance floor.
But the way his bright green eyes pleaded with her ... it was so strange to see. She wasn"t sure how to proceed-if she should proceed.
"It doesn"t matter, Fabian. What happened out there, whatever it was, should not have happened. It"s completely inappropriate. I"m sorry." She fought all her urges to take back what she"d said. He looked so gorgeous and tormented. Of all the things that made her want him, it was how vulnerable he looked. This Fabian blew the Fabian she"d known out of the water. The more she thought about what was happening between them, the more torn she became. Mr. Pallis, his own father, said Fabian had a way with women. Was this what he meant? Because she was willing to give Fabian the benefit of believing him. Believing that the man in front of her was real.
I need to get out of here.
"Antonia!" he called to her as she walked away without another word. "Please don"t go."
Against her better judgment, she stopped and turned to face those mesmerizing eyes again. How could things be normal on Monday? "No, Fabian. This was a mistake."
His lips parted, still plump from their kiss. The pulse at his throat beat through his skin. She counted them. One. Two. Three. Four. Silence ruled, despite the DJ music still blaring through the building. She"d blocked it out. Everything was blocked out. When she didn"t think she could hold her breath any longer, he spoke caution he"d never employed in all their other conversations.
"You can"t tell me there is nothing between us."
How easily she could lose herself with that statement. Despite everything, it was true. She kissed him back because she wanted it just as desperately. But the moment had pa.s.sed, and she had to reject him for the business"s sake. More importantly, for her heart"s sake. Even if she thought she could be wrong about him, she couldn"t take that chance. Not again.
She leveled her gaze at him, forcing herself to stay composed.
"There"s nothing between us, Mr. Pallis."
He winced at her harsh words, but it didn"t stop her from walking away from him. He didn"t follow her either. Not that she expected him to after the expression on his face. Once she"d emerged out into the humid air on Congress Street, she gasped. Leaving him that way was much harder than she thought it would be.
Toni pulled out her cell phone from her clutch bag. Miles came around the driver side of the limo, swift to open the back door for her. She ignored the concern on his face. Stepping in, she slammed the door despite Miles holding on the handle. She pulled out her phone to text Melina.
Toni: Mel, I have to leave. Don"t worry, Miles will take you home or anywhere else you want to go.
Mel: Wtf happened? I saw Stephan? Did he confront you? I"m in the VIP section w/ F"s friends. Where is he? They keep asking me...
Toni: Everything is fine. Yes, Steph showed up. Camille showed up too. No problems, I just don"t feel well. Please stay and have fun.
Mel: Are you sure? I don"t want you to go home :/ F"s friends are hilarious lol Toni: Positive! I"ll call you tomorrow.
Mel: K. Brunch tomorrow?
Toni: For sure!
Soon enough she was safe in her penthouse. Toni mulled over what happened against her better judgment. While in the shower over-soaping her body, she imagined Fabian"s fingers on her when they danced. Later in her bed when she"d calmed, she could only think about one thing. The kiss. His lips on hers, warm and wet. He might have been the best kisser she"d ever had. Closing her eyes, she lifted her fingers to her lips, still feeling the sensations. Her whole body sizzled thinking about how he"s touched her. For at least an hour-maybe more-she was obsessed with trying to remember each moment with him. Deep inside, she throbbed. Ripples of desire waved through her body. Slow at first, then faster until the end point was at the apex of her thighs. Wanton need drove her to continue.
Slipping her hand into her cotton panties, she moved down until she found the source of her ache. She envisioned Fabian touching her in that spot. She wanted Fabian to touch her. To be inside her. With those thoughts, she found her own fingers bringing herself to pleasure. "Fabian," she moaned, moving faster against herself until the sensations burst inside her and she called out his name again.
Afterward, she wiped her brow, feeling perplexed and disoriented at the same time. Toni couldn"t find her bearings. The air conditioning turned on, blowing a stream of cold air on her. She turned over to hide her face in the pillow in shame. I"m screwed.
Chapter Eleven.
At exactly eight-fifteen on Monday morning, Fabian placed a cup of coffee on Toni"s desk. Exactly how she required. She faced her computer screen, completely unaware of him until the porcelain cup hit the desk. She turned, surprised. Both glorious dark eyes turned up to him. The sun emerged from under a cloud just as she faced him. Clearly, G.o.d was jacking with him. As cliche as it sounded, she looked like an angel. All she needed was a halo and a pair of wings. Victoria"s Secret wings maybe. He digressed.
"Fabian." His name fell from her nude lips in a breathy voice. Her gaze dropped to the cup, and then back to him again.
"Three-fourths cup French roast coffee, one-fourth cup organic skim milk, and three packets of cane sugar." He imagined Friday night again. Dancing with her. Kissing her. He couldn"t forget it. Would she bring it up? "Just how you like it."
She nodded. "Thank you."
That"s it? That"s all I get? The words gutted him. Surely she had more to say than thank you. "You"re welcome."
She turned back to her computer screen. He waited, counting to ten. Nothing. Though he knew he should leave-clearly she was done with him-he simply couldn"t let it go. Friday needed to be discussed, despite what she might think. "We should talk about what happened Friday."
"I don"t know what you mean." The clicking of her keyboard followed.
Did she really think she could avoid the conversation? How insulting. And frankly, he was p.i.s.sed. Heat emanated from his body, making him feel like he wore a radiator instead of a suit. "Toni, don"t play with me."
"I"m not." Keyboard still clicking, he wanted to yank the d.a.m.n thing from under her fingers.
He raked a hand through his hair, tension rising up his spine. "We kissed."
No more keyboard clicks, only silence. He heard her deliberate sigh. "Yes."
"And you liked it." His anger was getting the best of him, and he wanted to be rational when he discussed their kiss. Especially since his feelings for her had only grown stronger. Even in the face of her nonchalance, he still felt connected to her. Calmer, he challenged her. "You wanted it, Toni, as much as I did. Can you admit it at least?"
Of all the things she could have said or done-admit it, deny it, throw him out of her G.o.dd.a.m.n office-she remained still, eyes downcast on her keyboard. It wasn"t like her to be subdued, especially when he spoke to her the way he did, without a filter. "I won"t do that."
"Why?" Moving close, he acted on pure impulse and curved his hand over her narrow shoulder. He needed to touch her. "Why won"t you?" he asked again, that time with more force out of sheer frustration.
She stood, the chair rolling from under her with the act. "Because I"ll want to do it again and I know we can"t do that again. Okay? Are you happy now?"
He grabbed her, practically lifting her off her toes as he pulled her close to him. "No, I"m not happy. I won"t be happy until you admit to yourself that you want me as much as I want you." The s.p.a.ce between them grew short and tense. Energy spun around them, making his heart nearly burst inside him. But he didn"t care, his lips were so close to her, he would die if he didn"t kiss her.
She yelped, closing her eyes. "Fabian!" A desperate cry escaped her "I"m going to kiss you, Toni, and I don"t think you can stop me."
Just before his lips crashed on hers, she whispered, "I won"t try to."
Nothing mattered in those hot, fully-charged seconds. He devoured her like it was the last thing he"d do. Not even the fact that the door wasn"t locked stopped him. Anyone could walk in and he didn"t give a s.h.i.t. Maybe he wanted someone to walk in. Wanted someone else to witness what he feared might be just a figment of his imagination.
Her mouth opened with the same hunger he felt inside. Tasting her tongue was like tasting heaven. Sweet. Otherworldly. She intoxicated him with every nip of his mouth. Every suck. Nothing could be enough for him after that. He needed more.
He lifted her off her flat shoes, putting her on the desk, not caring papers and other items fell off in a small crash to the floor. Her cotton skirt rode up her thighs where she sat, but she didn"t stop clinging to him.
"I want you so much, Toni."
He parted her legs with both hands gliding up her smooth skin until her red panties emerged. She gasped as he cupped her s.e.x fully, and when she bit her bottom lip, eyes at half-mast, his mouth watered with antic.i.p.ation. Leaning back on her hands, she turned her face, eyes still closed. His kissed her throat. Licked her delicate skin. Bit it. As he trailed hot, wet kisses down her chest, he unb.u.t.toned her plain white blouse, exposing a matching red lace bra. Instantly, his fingers circled around her back, curling over her ribcage. Smooth skin made him groan.
"G.o.d, you"re so beautiful." He sucked her cleavage, leaving marks behind. Perfect was the only way to describe her.
He lifted her bra over both perky b.r.e.a.s.t.s, catching one dusty pink nipple in his mouth. She whimpered, eliciting a moan from him. Her moans turned him on so much that he knew her pleasure was more important. Relieving her desire was his mission.
He slid his fingers over her hips to her exposed lace panties.
"Fabian," she gasped when he pulled the sc.r.a.p of material off without warning, revealing her dark pink flesh, plump and ready for him.
"Yes," he said, swiping a finger over her hardened c.l.i.toris. She moaned, urging him on. Again he rubbed her, wetting his finger with her arousal. It was a herculean effort to contain his own arousal when he wanted to be inside her. But this wasn"t about him.
He slipped a finger in her, feeling her body grab him as he delved further inside. "That"s so good." His voice was husky. "You"re so tight. So tight." She cried out. The both of them had obviously forgotten where they were. Not that he gave a rat"s a.s.s. "I bet you taste like heaven."
"Fabian, please," she begged.
Holy s.h.i.t. The realization hit him like a ton of brick. He had her. She succ.u.mbed to her feelings for him finally. If he screwed up, he"d never forgive himself. He ran his fingers over her most private part, making her moan. Sliding deep again, he drove his finger inside her. She clenched around him, telling she was close to climax.
"Oh, G.o.d, Fabian. Oh, G.o.d." She rolled back her head as he continued with his feat. His excitement grew tenfold. He wouldn"t stop until he heard the sweet sound of her o.r.g.a.s.m.
Buzz!
The sound shocked him. It might as well have been a bomb siren.
"Miss Robuchon, there is a Camille Carano to see Fabian. Is he in your office?" The voice on the intercom forced them back to reality. And it was a harsh reality.
The fog of what they"d just done weighed heavily on his ability to find a coherent thought. Stunned, still, he blinked, trying to orient himself. Flashes of seconds past, him, Toni, her office, hands in her panties. It seemed unreal, but his deflating erection proved otherwise. It was very real.
"Oh, my G.o.d!" Toni jumped up from the desk, rea.s.sembling her clothes with fervor.
"Miss Robuchon?" The voice on the other end of the line was sounded perplexed.
"Umm ... uh...Yes, he is. Tell her to wait about five minutes, please." She punched the intercom b.u.t.ton.
Fabian was desperate for Toni to say something to him. Something that could reconnect them. She felt so far away. "Toni." Her name was hoa.r.s.e on his tongue. He stepped closer. "Antonia."
With a sharp turn, she faced him. "No." Stormy eyes met his. Scrubbing her face with firm hands, she groaned. "I should be fired for this."
"We like each other, Toni. There is nothing wrong here."
She chuckled lightly like it was a joke or a d.a.m.n shame. Maybe both. He braced himself for what she would say next. "You aren"t good for me. I can"t like a player." She b.u.t.toned the last b.u.t.ton, taking a good look at him before she said, "I won"t."
His heart sank in his chest.
How could she let it get that far? No matter what she wanted, Fabian was not right for her. She would end up with a broken heart and showing up at his place of employment just like the others. No, she wouldn"t be like all the others.
Toni straightened. "Your Camille is waiting for you."
"She"s not my Camille." His eyes were so green, she had to stare a second longer at the beauty of them. When he reached out to her, she thought she might change her mind.
"It doesn"t matter to me." Who was she trying to convince?
"You"re so full of it, Toni. You were just kissing me like I was going to war, and had that stupid intercom not gone off, you would have come so hard with just my finger." His crude words excited her. Turn away. Her resolve would have to be stronger than his.
"You don"t really want me, Fabian. You want to conquer me like you do all your other women. All the time. If you had me, you"d probably lose interest. I don"t really want to be another Camille in the lobby waiting to see you. That"s not my style."