Red & Her Big Bad Dom (12 page)

Lucy, trying not to think about his face so close to hers, made mental notes of what Emily needed to know.

“None of your business.” She entered the elevator and frowned when he punched the lobby button. “That’s not the basement.”

Leaning against the reflective walls, Graham smiled every bit as wolfish as her wolf. To her shock, her nipples puckered, and deep in her core, a slow tingle began.

“We’re not working here. We’ll be based at my home for this project.”

****

Lucy’s first glance at Graham’s house reminded her of how Jaimie reacted to Bryce’s mansion. Her jaw dropped, and awe filled her. It wasn’t quite as large as a mansion, but it was one hell of a house in the hills above the bay. For some reason, she’d assumed he’d have a typical single man’s apartment.

She’d known he was rich, but this exceeded her expectations. Inside, she received another surprise. No mismatched furniture and bare walls with clutter strewn around. His furniture was high quality, gleaming wood. Many were antiques. Pictures and art graced the walls. Several sculptures sat on smooth, shiny surfaces. “Wow. Not my idea of a geeky pad.”

He lifted a brow. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Luc.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “I know enough. Let’s get to work.” She didn’t plan to spend any more time than necessary with the geek, even if he lived in the lap of luxury.

She followed him into an office. No clutter, no racks and tables of bare bone computer innards, hardware, and cables. Graham’s office consisted of two large desks in dark wood with matching bookcases, credenza, and hutches with glass doors. The room was larger than the living area of her apartment.

“This is yours.” He pointed to a U-shaped desk that looked new and faced his. “There’s a bathroom through those doors and a kitchenette in there with a small fridge, microwave, and coffee pot.”

Lucy peeked into both rooms. His office was almost as large as her apartment. She studied her desk. “You didn’t have to get another desk. A table would have been good enough.”

She sat in the leather chair and sighed as she noted she had everything to work here and be comfortable. Yeah, a table would have sufficed, but this was heaven on earth, better than her office at work. Okay, working from his home wouldn’t be drudgery.

“Wanted you to be comfortable. Besides, when I marry, my wife can share the office.”

The thought of Graham getting married and another woman sitting in
her
chair, at
her
desk, made her frown.

Graham planted his ass on the corner of her desk and grinned. “Let’s get to work.”

****

Hours later, Graham stretched his arms over his head. “You managing?”

Lucy nodded. Bryce had given them one hell of an assignment. Part of her task was to come up with stronger security measures like background checks, and that involved lots of legalese. “Yes.” Her stomach growled, and she realized she’d skipped breakfast.

Standing, he grinned. “Me, too. Starved. Let’s eat.”

She saved her work and followed him to the kitchen, peeking into rooms as they passed. She stopped in the doorway of a large room. A baby grand dominated one side. “Who plays?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “I do.” He shoved open a pocket door and pointed to the cozy, corner nook. “Have a seat.”

Sitting, Lucy stretched her arms overhead, then sat back to allow the warm sun to soak into her. She glanced out the windows. The small patio nearly reminded her of the one at Bryce’s mansion. Instead of being overgrown with flowers, planters and pots were arranged carefully along the edges. Steps led down to a wide expanse of grass.

“You have a beautiful place, Graham.” Woods surrounded the grassy meadow.

“Want to take a walk after we eat?” He set a basket of rolls and a platter of fruit and cheese in the center of the table, handed her a plate, fork, and linen napkin.

Spearing some juicy melon and fat, red grapes, she nodded. “I’d love to see your grounds.” She sighed wistfully. “Growing up, we used to go camping every summer. Lake Shasta or Pine Crest mostly.”

“How about Big Basin? All those redwoods?”

Grinning as she popped a grape into her mouth, she held up a finger, chewed, and swallowed. “Love the redwoods. But my absolute favorite place to go is Yosemite.”

“Hiking or rock climbing?” He made a show of sucking a grape into his mouth, his eyes twinkling.

She rolled her eyes and bit into a freshly baked roll. “Hiking. Won’t catch me clinging to some rock high off the ground. Nope. That’s crazy.”

“Agreed. What’s your favorite trail there? Mine’s the Mist Trail.” He leaned back, stretched his long legs out, brushing against hers beneath the table.

“Ah,
Vernal
and Nevada Falls
.
Those are great. Too many people though. I like the Snow Creek Trail. Not so crowded.” She laughed when he sat straight.

“That’s not one of the easy trails. What is it, five miles?” He stood and cleared their plates.

“Seven point two with an elevation gain of twenty-seven feet.” She rose to help with the clearing up, then went out onto the patio with him.

“So what kind of music do you play?” She honestly had no idea what to expect. The fact that he even played the piano was a surprise. Most geeks only played with their joysticks, controllers, or keyboards. They strolled along a path with a meadow on one side and trees on the other. Definitely reminded Lucy of her weekend with her wolf.

“A bit of everything. I guess I like New Age piano the best.” He grinned and sent her a strange look. “Even been known to play a waltz or two.”

“Hmm, I love to waltz.” She hummed and danced along the path. “Don’t suppose you dance?”

“Sure.” Graham gyrated his hips and flapped his arms and shuffled his feet.

Lucy burst out laughing. “Not precisely what I had in mind.”

He shrugged, then offered her his arm and led her onto a path that snaked through the woods. Their voices carried, arguments tempered with laughter.

****

Two weeks later, Lucy paced her apartment as she waited for Graham’s car. The man had his own driver. It still shocked her to discover he was as rich as Bryce was, if not richer. She shook her head. She’d never forget the first sight of his house or his furnishings. Even his kitchen was a dream. No mismatched plates, glasses, or silverware like she had. He even had a gleaming, copper cappuccino machine and knew how to make the yummiest lattes.

She peered out the window and saw the limo pull up. She grabbed her purse and briefcase and left her apartment. In the car, she found a go cup, a platter of fruit, and a single daisy, her favorite flower. Sighing, she leaned back.

“I could get spoiled,” she muttered and took a sip of the latte with a hint of rich mocha and caramel added.

Yawning, she pulled out her notes, but her neat handwriting blurred so she tucked it back into her purse. She was too tired. “What you get for being out till two. And not just last night.”

Every night for the last two weeks had been spent with The Wolf. She shifted on the leather seat. Sex last night had been utterly fantastic. As always.

Yet, something was missing. Sex was all she had with her wolf. At Bryce’s mansion, she’d had her Dom for three, wondrous days. She’d enjoyed the sex and games, of course, but she’d also enjoyed simply being with her wolf day and night.

They’d talked about normal everyday things like movies, books, and discovered common interests—museums, roller coaster rides, and dancing. When they met at the club, there wasn’t time for normal dating rituals. Their time together was intense. And sexual. With a start, she realized that sex wasn’t enough. She needed more. Most of all, she wanted to go to sleep with him at night and wake beside him each morning.

Noticing they’d arrived at Graham’s, she put her wolf from her mind. It took everything in her to keep up with Graham when he was in full geek mode.

He met her at the door. As was his habit, he wore a tee with a faded design and jeans, reminding her of a college boy, not a rich-as-sin man, but she had to admit the shirt clung to him and emphasized his broad shoulders and lean, tapered torso. His jeans might have a hole in the knee, but they were tight in the ass. As she followed him to the office, she wondered what he’d do if she reached out and dug her fingers into that tempting ass.

Lucy nearly dropped her coffee. Holy hell. She must really be tired to be tempted into ruining their working relationship. It was one thing to admire his body, after all, she was a woman who appreciated a good-looking man, but to actually think about taking it further? Especially with this man? No, not a good idea. Not good at all.

But as they set to work, she realized she’d softened toward Graham. He was attentive, made sure she understood what they were doing without resorting to geek speak, and during breaks, she discovered they had a lot in common.

Each day, after lunch, he took her for a walk in his woods where they discussed—or argued—about books, movies, and even politics. It surprised her that they had so much in common, even some of the same things she and her wolf both enjoyed. At least with Graham, she could, if she wanted, ride a roller coaster or go to a museum. Not so with her wolf, who showed no sign of ever revealing his identity.

She took another sip of her coffee. Another thing in common. She and her nerdy co-worker were both addicted to caramel. Too bad her geek wasn’t into dancing or spanking. Those were deal breakers. But he loved hiking and camping, loved Yosemite.

Putting both men from her mind, Lucy took her seat, flipped on her computer, took her notepad from her purse, and worked in silence, listening with a grin as Graham alternated between muttering and cursing, his fingers flying over the keys. Engrossed in her part of the project, she eventually tuned him out until he set a fresh cup of coffee in front of her.

“I’m taking you to dinner tonight. In the city.” He sat on her desk, which she now found endearing rather than annoying.

She set her purse into an empty cabinet and lifted a brow. “You’re telling me?”

He shrugged. “If I ask, you’ll say no.”

“I have plans.” With The Wolf.

He tipped her chin up. “Cancel them.” His lips brushed hers, then he deepened the kiss.

Lucy’s insides clenched at the feel of his warm mouth against hers and the taste of coffee with a hint of caramel, his favorite kind. She closed her eyes, her lips moving with his. His tongue dipped into her mouth, and she moaned, leaning into him.

Then he broke the kiss and walked away.

Lucy gaped at him. Her insides melted, and that familiar longing zeroed in on her center and pooled between her legs.
Shit
. She
was
attracted to her geek. Very attracted. Too bad he wasn’t her wolf. Now, if Graham were as good as her wolf in bed, she’d have found the perfect man.

She sighed. Yep, too bad. So what now? Two dates, two men equaled complications.

Her lips turned downward tightly as she got to work. She loved her wolf-lover, but their relationship was not completely satisfying or fulfilling. Not rounded and balanced. Graham, on the other hand, was open. She knew who he was, shared many common interests, and most of all, Graham didn’t have any secrets. What she saw was what she got with him. In a way, she preferred that to the mysterious and secretive.

“All right,” she said.

Graham glanced up, his eyes unfocused. “Huh?”

Realizing three hours had passed, and he was totally immersed in Geekland, Lucy wadded up a sheet of paper and tossed it at him. “Come back to earth, Graham. Dinner. Date. You. Me.”

His eyes cleared, and a huge grin lit his entire face. His blue eyes shone with pleasure. “Great.”

His smile slipped into a frown when she stretched her arms and back. “You tired? Need to stop?”

“Yeah, need to cancel my plans for tonight and stretch my legs. Want to walk outside with me?” His grounds were beautiful. Calm and restful with formal groupings, waterfalls, and a small forest that reminded her of the woods surrounding Bryce’s mansion, the woods where she and her wolf had played and strolled. She shook off the memories.

“Give me ten. You can go explore the house if you want. I forgot to give you the tour.” He grinned. “My bedroom is up the stairs, straight ahead.”

Lucy had been dying to see the rest of the house, and yes, that included the man’s bedroom, but she rolled her eyes for good form. Didn’t want him to know how eager she’d been to see the upstairs. “Okay. Twisted my arm.”

She left the office and headed for the stairs. She’d seen most of the downstairs from the formal living and dining rooms, the open, airy kitchen, a small, cozy family room, and of course, his huge office. The idea of seeing the man’s bedroom made her feel excited and sinful. What would it tell her about the man? She smirked. He probably had satin sheets and mirrors on the ceiling. Geeky. And clothes all over the floor.

No. If she’d learned one thing, the man was neat. The long corridor went both left and right, and beckoning in front of her, a shorter hall led to double doors. She decided to check out the other rooms first. She opened each one and found bedrooms, bathrooms, and at each end of the hall, a large, three room suite.

“Wow.” She walked around a suite done in peaches and creams. Leaving the room, she spotted a narrow staircase and climbed. The door at the end was locked. “Attic,” she decided.

Back on the second level, she took a deep breath, opened the double doors to Graham’s bedroom and stepped into another era, a very romantic era. A huge postered bed on a pedestal dominated the room. She ran her hand over the crimson and black satin spread. Matching curtains in a sheer fabric were tied to each post. The canopy matched.

An image of her wearing only heels with her hands tied to the bedpost sent her heart racing. “Down, girl. But damn, that’s a bed fit for a king.”

She peeked at the sheets. No cheap satin. Gray Egyptian cotton. She groaned at the feel. She should have known he’d have pricy, high-quality sheets that would feel like satin against her naked body. No, not hers. His.

Shit. Her body grew hot and uncomfortable thinking about Graham naked on those sheets, so she tore her gaze from the bed and noted the large sitting area in front of a fireplace. She wandered into not one, but two dressing areas and the biggest master bath she’d ever seen.