RAGE (The Rage Series Book 1) (9 page)

              The attraction between them was palpable and had been since the first day they'd met. Of course, they'd been cordial. Of course, she was his boss and he was her employee. However, if they tried to ignore the spark that had bloomed since the first time they'd touched, it could only be flagrant denial.

              As the man's dexterous fingers worked over his machinery, she couldn't help but think of how deft they must be in bed. She could only imagine what fingers like that could do to a woman, and she did.

              There had been more than a few nights when she'd been alone in bed and found her hands drifting southward, as she mused on the deep tenor of his voice and the fullness of his mouth. As she touched herself, she imagined his relentless mouth on her and the way she would make him groan as she rode him through the night.

              Of course, now, among the upper crust of New York and the people who had donated to her charities, was no time to think of such matters. So, she merely thanked him for his compliment, tried not to shiver at the way his gray eyes perused her form, and left him.

              As excited as she was about the charity ball, Charlotte found it hard to concentrate through its events. There was a raffle that raised ten thousand for children without lunches in the South Bronx and an auction of one of her favorite emerald necklaces to benefit the poor of the city. She herself came on stage on several occasions to thank everyone profusely for all they'd done, and as she smiled in the face of their applause, all she could think of was finding David and throwing herself into his arms.

              “You seem distracted,” Adeline said, clad in a gorgeous yellow oriental-style dress that showed off her athletic physique. However, despite the fact that the woman was all dolled up, she maintained her brash attitude. “You're usually jumping for joy at emptying your coffers.”

              Charlotte merely stuck her tongue out discreetly at the woman. “I am having a
lovely
time.”

              “Certainly—wherever it is that you
are
because you certainly aren't
here
.”

              Scowling, the blonde cast her friend a frustrated look. “You are
insufferable
, you know that?”

              “And always right.” The redhead's lips curved in a sardonic grin. “Or you wouldn't be frowning like that.”

              Without a word, Charlotte merely took another glass of champagne, her fourth of the night, from a nearby tray and downed half of it in one gulp. “Whoa there, girl,” Addy cautioned, her expression slightly alarmed. “I didn't mean to upset you
that
much.”

              “You're not upsetting me,” denied Charlotte. “I just...I'm just distracted. I need some air.” With that, she drained the rest of her glass and handed it to a stunned Addy before breezing past her.

              She managed to smile as she made her way past additional guests, down two levels, past numerous great works of art, and finally out into the gardens. When she felt the cool summer evening air on her face, she inhaled deeply.

              She wasn't usually so short with Adeline, but she was on edge. She couldn't explain it. Tugging her silk wrap over her shoulders, she set out over the stone patio and past the hedges, nodding to other guests as she sought a place to be alone for a while. She needed to gather her thoughts, or at least try to think of something other than
him
.

              “Are you ok?”

              Charlotte's head jerked up as a familiar voice addressed her. Unfortunately, it was the voice of the one person most dangerous to her composure at the moment. “Hi, David.” She went for a light tone. “Enjoying the party?”

              “I'd be enjoying it more if you didn't look so upset,” he responded, frowning. “What's wrong?”

              “Nothing's wrong.” She backed away slightly, as he took a step towards her, enveloping her in his clean, spicy scent. “I just need a moment.”

              “Do you want me to stay with you?”

              “No!” As he took another step toward her, she held up a hand and moved backwards again. This time, however, her heel caught on the edge of the stonework, and she gave a cry as she began to fall backwards. “Damn it!” she exclaimed, cursing at her own clumsiness.

              With lightening speed, David caught her in strong arms. As he lifted her back upright, her body was pressed flush against his, and her face flamed. His mouth was inches from hers, and he said in a husky voice, “I warned you about those heels.”

              And then, he kissed her.

              Despite the feelings she'd been warring with all evening, Charlotte almost immediately melted against him. His mouth was warm, inviting, and carried just the slightest hint of whiskey and mint. His tongue explored the line of her lips until she opened for him, and he delved inside. The moment his tongue touched hers, she moaned softly and her hands clutched at the lapels of his jacket as he plundered her lips.

              Her blood ran hot through her veins, and suddenly she wanted to feel every part of him against every part of her. She barely noticed that he had maneuvered them into the shadows, as she continued to work her mouth against his. With every stroke of his tongue against her lips, her knees weakened until she was clinging desperately to him, her sex throbbing for attention. Breaking the kiss, David stared down at her, his eyes alight with desire.

              “Damn, you're sweet.” Then, his mouth dropped to hers again.

Charlotte bit her lip against the gasp that threatened to make itself known. At the same time, his lips caressed the shell of her ear before plying her neck with soft kisses that made her shudder. She had ceased standing of her own accord for quite some time, and he held her aloft easily, pressing her against him as his tongue dipped into the hollow of her throat.

              “David...” She breathed his name, her eyes fluttering shut as she tried to maintain her sanity. “David, wait.”

              Reluctantly he stopped, his mouth still hot against her neck. “What is it?”

              “Not here.” She managed, her chest heaving as she attempted to regain her breath. “My apartment. Uptown.”

              The man's gray gaze caught hers, and for a moment, she sensed hesitation there. When he spoke, however, his words contained only concern for her. “Are you sure?”

              She cast him a small smile. “I'm sure that if we don't find a taxi in the next five minutes, we're going to end up doing something very inappropriate on the lawn.”

              His low chuckle in reply sent shivers down her spine. “Lead the way then.”

              Discreetly, they snuck like teenagers around the side of the museum, relaxing only when they reached the open plaza at the intersection at Eighty-second Street. Raising her arm, Charlotte gestured for a taxi, and one stopped almost immediately.

              She told the cabbie the address as they slid inside, her thighs clenching as David pressed a heated kiss against her inner wrist.

              The ten minute ride seemed to last forever. By the time they reached her building, she fairly threw the money—far more than the fare—at the stunned driver before following David from the taxi. The man paused as he gazed up at the pristine exterior of the restored structure. Everything from the doorman to the grand expanse of wide windows and open patios spoke of her family's wealth, and for a moment, she was embarrassed.

              David, however, only kissed her hand before nodding at the doorway. “Is he going to let me in, or do I need a background check?”

              Charlotte laughed and tugged him past the grinning doorman and into the elevator.

              No sooner were they in her apartment, and she turned to him, suddenly nervous. It was the first time a man had ever seen where she lived. Normally, she was so self-conscious about her family name that she insisted on going to her lovers' houses instead of her own.              David took in the high ceilings and expensive furniture with an unreadable expression. When he looked at her, however, he smiled.

              The gesture was dark, sensual, and wicked.

              Without a word, he picked her up, his hands sliding beneath her thighs as he walked her over to the kitchen counter before sitting her atop it. His mouth covered hers once more, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, arching against him.

              This wasn't like her.

              She would never leave a company event, a
charity
event, to be with a man. However, there was something about David that she couldn’t resist. Though he was perfectly polite and humble, there was something dark and sexy about him that made her slick and wet when she thought of his hands on her. And now, she finally had her wish.

              The dexterous hands that she had so admired slid the skirt of her dress up high on her hips, revealing her tanned thighs, as he nipped at her lower lip. When she returned the gesture, he groaned and lifted her so she pressed even closer to his body. Before he broke away, he lifted his hands to the straps of her gown. Within minutes, he had drawn the garment down to her waist, revealing the lacy black bra she wore beneath. He stared at it for a moment, transfixed by the sight of her breasts in the barely-there confection. Then, he buried his face between them.

Charlotte's fingers delved into his dark hair, as he bit and licked at the exposed flesh above the hemline of her lingerie, leaving small red marks in his wake. At his ministrations, her thighs clenched in anticipation. When he finally tugged down the lacy cups to take one of her brown nipples between his lips, she gasped as the sensation shot straight to her core.

              Her legs wrapped around his waist as he drew upon her flesh, making her stomach clench in want. With a low moan, David laved her aureole with moisture from his tongue before sucking the nipple into his mouth once more, making her shudder. Its twin got the same treatment, making her body quake with desire. Then, his lips sank lower still.

              With a slight twist and a tug, her Roberto Cavalli dress slid from her body entirely to pool in a silky heap on the kitchen floor. Clad in only her barely-existent thong and strappy sandals, she looked down at the man between her legs, her chest rising and falling as her breathing increased.

“Gorgeous,” he mused, his lips following the line of her hipbone to where it disappeared at the intersection of her thigh. There, he bit at the flesh playfully until she squirmed and then exhaled hotly against the core of her. Her panties barely served as any kind of barrier at all, and it was no work at all for him to pull them aside, revealing the slick lips of her womanhood.

              At the first touch of his tongue against her, she gripped the counter, biting her lower lip to stifle her cry. Then, he groaned at the taste of her, grasping her thighs as he began to eat at her with gusto. Charlotte's hips lifted slightly from the counter, bucking and writhing beneath his dexterous tongue, but he kept her steady. Within a few moments, she was moaning continuously, her arms only tenuously keeping her upright.

              Then, the man slid two fingers inside her clenching passage, and she cried out as he curled them upward, stimulating the most sensitive parts of her while his tongue continued to work at the bud of pleasure nestled between her nether lips. “David...” She gasped his name, her fingernails scrabbling wildly against the marble counter. “David,
please
...”

              He sucked on her clit, his fingers undulating wildly within her, and she came apart with an almost animalistic sound. Her form quivered as if it were a bowstring that had just released an arrow.

When she finally lay back, breathless, against the counter, her new lover scooped her up into his arms and kissed her gently. Upon his lips, she could taste herself and the tang of his sweat, and she reveled in the flavor.

              “Bedroom?” His inquiry was low and heavy with need.

              “Upstairs,” she whispered, and without effort he carried her to the second level, finding her bedroom quickly. As soon as he set her on the bed, she sat up, beginning to help him quickly out his jacket, tie, shirt, and slacks. He kicked off his shoes, as she eagerly worked his zipper down over the promising bulge of his erection. Within moments, he was gloriously nude, and Charlotte finally got to look her fill at his marvelous physique. His shoulders were sculpted and firm, abdomen chiseled, and thighs well-muscled—and between them, his brilliant red manhood bobbed against his stomach, professing his want to for her.

              She reached for him and he came, bearing her to the mattress as his hands slid from her shoulders to her hips. When he touched the bud of pleasure between her legs, plying it with his thumb as he spread her, she cried out. Suddenly, her cry was cut off, as he slid the entire length of his erection inside her, filling her to the brim.

              The feeling was exquisite. Gasping, Charlotte clung to him, as he began bucking his hips slowly against hers, his face buried in her shoulder. All the while, he continued to work her clit, making her writhe in pleasure. Groaning her name, he shoved in deep, making her squirm and grasp at the pillows. Then, he rolled his hips, causing her to shudder and say his name in an ardent plea for mercy.