GoingUp (3 page)

“I don’t know why. I wish I did. I just do.”

“You sound as if you’re ashamed of it.”

“A little bit.”

“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” he said fiercely. “Do
you know what I see when I look at that video?”

“No.”

“I see a beautiful, sensual woman who isn’t afraid to take
her pleasure. No matter where the mood hits her.”

“And did you take your pleasure while you watched my video?”

“Many times over.” He took the final step that bridged them
together, moved his hand around her waist and held it out, palm up, so she
could see it. “In this very room, with this very hand.”

Koko ran her fingers lightly over his palm. “Pity there’s no
camera in here,” she said softly.

She wanted to watch him. His cock jerked at the thought.
“Anytime. Anywhere. You say the word and I’ll show you just how exciting I find
you.”

“Oh God.” The hand that held her glass trembled as she
raised it to her lips.

“Tell me…” He closed in on her, pressing against her from
behind. “Is it every elevator?”

She took a drink then shook her head. “No, I prefer ones in
high-rises. The longer the ride, the better.”

“Full or empty?”

“Both. I enjoy being mashed and squeezed next to strangers.”

He moved his hand from under hers, laying it against her
flat belly and pulling her back against him. She let out a light gasp but
stayed put. “Is that right?”

“Yes.” She pressed back against him, pushing her supple ass
against his erect cock. “The chance of being touched intimately is arousing, as
is the chance of copping a feel of my own. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I
imagine I’m in the elevator surrounded by several different men, handsome men I
don’t know, and they put me in the middle of the elevator then start touching
me. No intercourse. No nudity. Just touching.”

That was something he could definitely arrange. “Is there
more?”

“Yes. Other times I like the rare occasions I’m alone.
Knowing I have a few seconds to touch, a few seconds to try and get off before
the next floor. When I’m in there alone, I want to rub my body against the
wall, the rails, the buttons and even the doors. I know it sounds silly, but I
want to feel like the elevator is my lover and he’s caressing me with his
parts.” She shook her head as if waking from a deep trance and took a big drink
from her glass. She swallowed then let out a little laugh. “I can’t believe I
just told a complete stranger that.”

And he couldn’t believe he didn’t come from just listening
to her. “You know, this building has lots of elevators and lots of floors.”

“I know. Why do you think I personally deliver the orders?”

“But I bet you weren’t aware there’s a private elevator? One
reserved just for Malachi. Unlike you, he doesn’t like being crammed into a
lift with ten other people. He enjoys privacy and his personal space. Which is
one of the reasons the camera feed in his personal lift isn’t connected to the
other monitors and computers. Just one.” He tightened his hold on her. “Mine.”

“Are you suggesting—”

“No, I’m offering. No strings. No hidden clauses.”

“But there is a hidden camera?”

“Yes.”

She pushed his hand away and turned to face him. “And will
you be watching with your two friends again?”

“No.” He shook his head “No one will be watching but me.”

Koko ran her gaze down to the bulge in his pants then back
up. “Not
just
watching, I hope.”

He couldn’t, not even if he tried. “No. Not just.”

“Good.”

He was hoping she would say that. “Are you busy tonight?”

“Not anymore.” Koko handed him the glass then walked around
him. “But I am busy now. I have to get back to work or my partner will kill
me.”

“We can’t have that.” Reese set the tumbler on his desk then
reached in his inner coat pocket and extracted his business card. “Take this.”

She pulled up the handle on her cooler then rolled it over
with her to where he was. She looked at the card but didn’t take it. “If I take
this, then that,” she cast her gaze at the TV then back at him, “and anything
like it, has to disappear. I don’t mind if you watch me, but I don’t want
anyone else to.”

“Trust me, we’re of like minds.” He was done sharing her.

“I do.” Koko took the card from him.

Confused, he frowned. “What?”

“Trust you. Which is why I’ll call you.”

“Tonight.” It was a statement, not a question.

She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, tonight.”

“Good.” He couldn’t imagine waiting much longer to have her.
“Until then.”

“Until then,” she said with a smile before turning and
heading out the door. Reese followed her as far as his office door, watching
from the doorway until she slipped around the corner and out of sight. Once she
was gone, he went back inside and shut the door. His had his cell phone in his
hand and the number half dialed before he made it back to his desk. And he was
sitting when the line picked up.

Reese didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Send Cypher to
my office.” Reese didn’t wait for a reply. He hung up the phone and reached for
the remote control. He rewound the file a little bit then pushed play. If he
had to delete it, the least he could do was watch it one more time.

* * * * *

Koko hurried up the sidewalk to the front entrance of Sarraf
Towers, mindful of the late hour and nearly empty street behind her. Although
there were still a few cars passing by, the sidewalks were vacant. Downtown
turned into a ghost town after eight o’clock at night.

The anonymity the late hour provided was one of the main
reasons Koko agreed to come back tonight, but just one of them. Reese’s offer
was the main reason. His tempting treat, much like the man himself, had really
blown her away. She’d gone from fearing arrest to intriguing desire in just a
matter of minutes. Damn, the man was good. But he was also bad, in the best way
possible.

Still there was a part of her that worried she was making a
mistake, listening to her libido instead of her head, which was exactly what
had gotten her in this situation to begin with. But if Reese was the reward for
doing wrong, Koko would have to start acting out more often.

To be on the safe side though, she’d given her best friend
and partner Reese’s business card. Of course, Constance, being the overly
cautious person she was, made a quick call to her brother Vince, who was a
police officer. Vince gladly ran Reese’s name through the system but only found
a few tickets. The lack of bad news didn’t stop Vince from reminding Koko that
just because Reese didn’t have a record didn’t mean he wasn’t a mass murderer.
Of course it was the same speech he’d been telling the girls since high school,
so it lacked a little bit of a punch.

Turning her attention back to the task at hand, Koko knocked
loudly on the glass sliding door. The building was technically closed so she
had to wait for security to let her in. After a moment or two, she spotted a
middle-aged Caucasian man making his way to the door, keycard out and at the
ready. When they’d spoken on the phone a few hours ago, Reese had said he would
leave word with the night watchman, which explained why the other man seemed
unsurprised by her presence.

However, instead of opening the door, he moved to the side
and busied himself with something she couldn’t quite see. Whatever it was it
caused the sliding door to open only a centimeter or two. It wasn’t enough to
get her finger in, but when he stepped in front of it, she understood why. He
wasn’t allowing her inside. Instead it was for his own convenience so he didn’t
have to shout through the glass. The guard placed one hand on the butt of his
gun and spoke in a clear, crisp voice. “Take out your ID and place it flat against
the glass.”

He might have been expecting her, but he wasn’t taking any
chances.

“Okay.” Koko glanced around one more time before opening her
purse and extracting her wallet. She unfolded her billfold and pressed it flat
against the glass so her driver’s license could be clearly seen.

The guard glanced at her information then raised his gaze to
her. “Name.”

Koko was so tempted to ask him if had trouble reading, but
she bit back her normal sarcastic reply. He was just doing his job, she
reminded herself as she forced a smile to her lips. “Koko Brown. I’m here to
see Ree—”

“Mr. Desoto said you’d be coming by,” the guard interrupted
as he moved back to the side again.

Koko closed her wallet and shoved it back in her purse. She
waited a few more seconds before the sliding door opened then stepped inside.
She’d only gotten a few feet in when she heard a low, appreciative whistle.
“Hello, Ms. Brown,” Reese called out as he entered the lobby. “Looks as if I
came at just the right time.”

“A little earlier wouldn’t have hurt,” she teased. Mindful
of his watchful gaze, she undid the three large buttons on her charcoal,
knee-length pea coat then held it open so he could get a look at what she wore
underneath. “Does the outfit meet with your approval?”

Reese took his time running his gaze over every inch of her
barely covered flesh. Not that there was much to take in. Koko had picked out
her favorite daring skirt. It was a pleated, coral tennis skirt that barely
covered her ass checks, paired with a coral-and-brown zigzag knit tube top.
She’d never worn them together as an outfit because of how little it covered,
but if there was any night where she could be so daring, it was tonight. And
since she’d been going with the less-was-more theme, she kept the underwear at
home in her drawer where it belonged, although she planned to keep that
information to herself for a just a bit longer.

It took Reese a few seconds to meet her gaze again, but when
he did, his eyes were filled with scorching heat. “You look good enough to eat.”

Lord, she hoped so. Feeling empowered, Koko placed her hand
on her hip and stepped her leg out a bit. “I take it you likey.”

Reese placed his hand over his heart and shook his head as
if he was overwhelmed by the sight in front of him. “A world of yes.”

“Good.”

“My only complaint would be…” He closed her jacket and
worked quickly to button it. “There is far too much of it and far too many eyes
to see it.”

Heat filled her cheeks. For a second Koko had forgotten they
weren’t alone. “Tell them it’s an early bonus.”

“A view like that is a bonus, a raise and their retirement
package all in one.”

Koko smiled. The man could give a compliment. “You’re so
silly.”

“Not normally, no.” She pondered his words as he gestured in
front of them. “Shall we?”

All afternoon she’d been worried about things being weird
between them, and with any other man it might have been, but not with Reese.
She felt as comfortable and safe with him as if she’d known him for a lifetime.
“Yes. So what’s the plan?”

“First I sign you in then we have fun. Safety before
pleasure, love,” he said as he led her to the check-in desk. A different guard
was waiting behind the counter, watching them with thoughtful eyes. But if he
was thinking something negative, it didn’t show on his expressionless face. He
just pushed the form out and slid her a pen. Then took it back and set it
behind the counter when she was done. No fuss, no muss.

“Everything good, Kerry?”

“Yes, Mr. Desoto.”

“You can tell the staff they can get started, and stretch it
out for a good hour and a half. Also, I’ll let you know when we’re ready to
leave so you can have my car brought around.”

“Yes, Mr. Desoto.”

Reese nodded his head before turning his attention back to
Koko. “You really do look lovely. Though I’d have to say I don’t recall seeing
this particular outfit before.”

“I decided to kick it up a notch.”

“Or three.” He flashed her a wickedly sinful smile.

She arched an eyebrow. “Complaining?”

“Not at all.”

“Good. I’d hate to think the outfit was in vain. By the way,
you look nice as well.” Reese was dressed a lot more casual than he had been
earlier today. The relaxed jeans and white polo shirt was in no way as fancy as
the suit he sported when they first met, but he looked good, nevertheless. He
was obviously a man who was comfortable in his own skin, and there was a power
and grace about him that shone through, whether he was dressed up or down.

“Thanks.” He placed his hand on the small of her back. “It’s
this way.”

Koko allowed him to lead her away from the lobby but cast a
quick look over her shoulder at the guards, who were silently watching them.
“Aren’t you a little worried one of them will tell Mr. Sarraf you were here
after hours with some woman?” An unpleasant thought assaulted her. “Unless
they’re used to you bringing women in here.”

“No, you would be the first woman I’ve ever had to bribe
with an elevator for a date.” He tilted his head to the side. “First woman I’ve
had to bribe ever.”

She heard only one thing. “Date?” Koko stopped in her tracks
and looked up at him with an eyebrow raised. “Is this a date?”

He met her bold look with one of his own. “Of a sort. Isn’t
it?”

“I guess it is.” A smile played at her lips as she began
walking down the hall again. “If this is a first, then won’t you worry the
guard will rat us out?”

“Let him.” She could hear the dare in his voice. “I can
handle Malachi.”

Confidence on some men was nothing more than blustering
cockiness, but not so with Reese. “I bet you can.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I think you’re the type of man who gets what he
wants.”

“Is that a bad thing?” he questioned in a serious tone.

“I’ll let you know later.”

He nodded his head slightly. “Sounds fair.”

“So where’s this special elevator you were telling me
about?”

“It doesn’t open near the lobby. There’s a private entrance
on the side of the building. Just a little ways down from my office.”