“I took the liberty of ordering you the salade Nicoise,” he said, handing her the brown carryout bag. She nearly squealed when he blindly pulled into traffic. Apparently when he drove others moved.

Silence and the tantalizing aroma of seared tuna and the steak Falon must have ordered for himself filled the car as he sped them back toward the office. She couldn’t help noticing he was broodier than what she had begun to expect of him while he guided their way through the congested city traffic. Wondering what was wrong but afraid of the answer, she tried to convince herself she really didn’t care. She was just tired of walking on eggshells around the guy.

“What’s with you?” she asked as he pulled the car back in his spot.

A withering stare and a patronizingly raised brow were the only answers he gave before climbing out of the car. Leaving her to follow or be tortured by the delicious smells coming from the bag sitting in her lap.

Sighing, she climbed out of the car and followed. The beep of the alarm let her know he knew she would give in. Holding the bag filled with their lunches close to her chest, she quickened her pace to close the distance between them.

“So you’re not going to tell me what’s going on with you?” she asked when she thought she was within earshot.

“Correct,” he answered, holding the office door for her and she couldn’t help but glare up at him as she passed. The spark of amusement in his eyes had her nearly stomping her feet to the elevator. The man was so infuriating.

***

Sarah glared at the offending stain on the front of her cream blazer. Marcy’s promise of getting the garment back to new was obviously a little over-reaching.

Laughing at the farce the day had turned into, she grabbed the offending jacket while shutting down her computer. After enjoying a delicious, yet silent, lunch Falon had told her to print the rest of her reports and disappeared to presumably go over the new budget and online plan with Ralph.

She had spent the last five hours alternately fighting to go find him and straining her ears for a hint of when he returned to his office so she could avoid him. She was being ridiculous and she knew it but couldn’t seem to rein in her body’s need. The third time she caught herself getting out of her chair at the slight hint of movement next door, she admitted to herself that she wanted him. By the fourth, she was determined to make him follow through on all the promises of that kiss.

Turning out the light she took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her heart that fluttered in her chest like hummingbird wings. Looking toward the glowing pool of light spilling into the hall, she squared her shoulders. If she was going to do this, she needed to project calm she didn’t feel.

Falon sat behind his desk typing furiously at the computer. Whatever he was doing held his attention so much she slipped into the room unnoticed.

“You planning on staying here all night?” she asked and nearly laughed out loud when he jumped.

“I thought I was the only one left in the building,” he answered, not taking his eyes off his work.

“Looks like it’s just the two of us.”

His head shot up at the sultry tone she worked most of the afternoon perfecting. Instinctively she wanted to cover herself as his eyes roved over her form-fitting skirt and lace top. It was ridiculous. She had been wearing the outfit all day, but it seemed to take on a seductive feel after dark and alone with a man who made her body liquid.

“So it would seem.” She stood frozen as he stood and turned the monitor off. “Come over here, Sarah.”

Her heart rate spiked and her stomach clenched in a need she didn’t understand at the command. She was helpless but to obey both her body’s need to feel him, and the demand in his voice.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, taking hold of her waist as soon as she was within reach.

Trembling with need, she took a shaky breath. “I think you know.”

The ice in his eyes gave way to a flash of heat lightning so quickly she thought she imagined it.

“I think you don’t fully understand what you’re asking.”

She held his eyes for a moment before bolstering her courage.

“I’m asking … ” She reached down, taking his wrist in her hand. “I’m asking that you act on the attraction that has shimmered in the air between us since you walked into the building.”

With each word, she slowly moved his hand up her torso until his fingers brushed the underside of her breast. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been feeling it too.”

It was a dare she was hoping he wouldn’t walk away from.

He studied her for a moment, probably trying to gauge her seriousness. Sarah was burning so hot that she was one move away from ripping her shirt over her head in an attempt to get some relief. She must have let some of her intent show because his square jaw ticked with the effort of, what she hoped, holding himself back from mauling her.

“On the desk,” he growled.

“Excuse me?” Sarah’s words came in breathless bursts as the power of his statement washed over her.

“On. The. Desk.” He released her and took a small step back, leaving the choice solely up to her.

Taking a deep breath, she inched backward until she felt the cool edge against her thighs. Meeting his ice-chip gaze, she hopped as graceful as someone her size could onto the surface with a dare of her own simmering in her eyes. Resting her hands placidly at her sides, she raised a brow. Your move big boy.

He gave a barely perceptible nod as if acknowledging her challenge before he closed the distance between them. He reached out and ran featherlight fingers down the column of her exposed throat. A tremor rocked her body at the contact and she fought to keep her eyes open and locked with his. She wanted to see the moment the heat took over.

Leaning in slowly, Falon’s lips followed the path his fingers just traveled.

“I want you to hold very, very still,” he whispered along her jaw line.

She was helpless but to swallow and obey. At this point, she couldn’t move a muscle if the building were on fire.

“Good girl.” He placed his warm hands on her thighs, and stepping back slightly, allowing the cool air surrounding them to register against the heat of her skin. In the back of her mind, she knew she should be offended. And she would be. As soon as he stopped slowly pushing her skirt up her legs.

Letting her head fall back and her eyes close, she focused her on the sensation of his slightly rough fingers running along the skin of her upper thighs. Who knew such a simple touch could devastate her body?

“Brace your hands behind you.” His voice was darker now, threatening in a way that had her wanting to squirm just to see what he would do if she moved.

Breath labored, she did as she was told and placed her hands on the desk behind her. Leaving her body prone and open to his devouring eyes she could feel working their way slowing down her body. Falon’s slight intake of breath told her that he had just discovered the miniscule black panties that she kept hidden under her cream skirt. She fought a smile as his touch returned with more force.

She thought she was going to die if he didn’t do something soon. The slow play of his palms on the outside of her thighs was slowing driving her mad. When his hungry mouth returned to lay claim to her collarbone, she couldn’t hold in her whimper of pleasure. This slow seduction of her body was a torture that she hoped he would never stop.

By the time his mouth reached the upper slope of her breast, she was a quivering ball of need centered in the pulsing heat of her core.

“Not a muscle,” he growled as a hand worked its way up her curves to take her needy body in its grasp.

Finally.