Darkest Ecstasy (5 page)

Hmmm. That one. The brunette playing with a dom who clearly didn't know what the hell he was doing. She had some potential. Yes. That was the one he'd invite back to his room.

That is the kind of woman you should be marrying. Someone you can't taint, can't break, can't ruin.

Waiting for her scene to end, his gaze scanned the crowd. Tonight the club was a little busier than usual. Not only was just about every piece of equipment being used, but there were small clusters of people gathered around the participants, watching, waiting.

In the back corner, he caught the shimmer of dark hair. Was that Lei? A man had stepped in the way, blocking his view. As he moved toward the woman, someone tapped his back.

He swiveled around.

Instantly, he recognized her.

“W
ell, hello there,” Angela said, giving him the up and down. She'd traded her sleek business skirt and blouse for a clingy black dress that fit her curves to perfection. “Looks like we have more in common than just where we play.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “How long have you been working in our building? I've never seen you there before today.”

“Hello,” Talen said as he continued to scan the crowd.

She stepped to the right, directly blocking his view. “Looking for someone?”

Slightly put off by her aggression, he moved to the left. “Yes, I am.”

“Maybe I can help. I've been here for a while. Are you searching for a female or a male?”

His gaze meandered back to the woman in front of him. He gave her a thorough up and down. She was attractive. There was no denying that. And she definitely knew how to dress to make the most of her assets. And she had a few assets that were definitely worth highlighting.

But, gauging by the way she stood today, the way she held herself now, he suddenly didn't see her being a submissive. And after what happened earlier, when he'd run into her with Michelle, he wasn't sure whether he wanted to play with her again. “Female. Tall with dark brown hair. She told me she's a regular. Name is Jodie.”

“I know Jodie. She's a close friend of mine.” Angela pulled her lips into a semi-pout that reminded him somewhat of a certain other woman's pouty, lush lips. “Sorry, I think she's busy tonight. But maybe I can help you find another play partner?” She batted long eyelashes at him. That expression was one hell of an invitation, one he would have accepted without thinking before today.

One that he should be able to accept without feeling like he was doing anything wrong. So why did he feel slightly uneasy now? Was it because he didn't like Angela's attitude? Or was it because of someone else. A little brunette?

Couldn't be the latter. He owed Michelle absolutely nothing. They'd shared a couple of kisses, and then he'd left, before things got carried away. He hadn't even stayed for dinner.

“Are you looking for a girl with experience?” Angela asked.

Was he?

Yes. Of course. Experience was good.

Experience was essential.

And a certain level of independence and inner strength.

Remember, you're looking for someone who won't have any unrealistic expectations. Someone who won't be torn apart if you don't fall in love with her.

He gave Angela yet another up and down. While she was a little overly tenacious, she also seemed independent and self-assured. And, as he'd hoped, she was physically as different from Lei as he could get. She was tall and willowy, with long golden waves and blue-gray eyes. Her breasts were full, her hips wide, waist tiny. Classically beautiful.

He jerked his head toward the hallway. “Let's go.”

Her lips curled into a broad smile, then straightened out as she adopted the serious, obedient expression she'd had last time he'd taken her to his room. “Yes, sir. Or... do you prefer Master?”

“Sir is fine.” He steered her down the hall.

 

Monday morning Michelle's heart rate was galloping at an insane level as she boarded the elevator. Her hands were literally trembling. As she turned around, she clenched her purse, hoping holding her bag would help them stop. It probably didn't.

The car didn't move for several drawn-out moments. She waited, watched, her heart in her throat. He would step around the corner any second now.

Any...

Second . . .

Any time now . . .

He's going to miss it.

He had said he would see her today, same time, same place. Where was he?

The doors started closing. Her view of the lobby narrowed until it was completely cut off.

No Tage. He hadn't come.

Was it an intentional brush-off? Why? What had she done on Friday? Things had seemed to be going very well, at least that was what she'd thought. He had kissed her. Oh God, that kiss. She would never forget it. In fact, she'd dreamed about it last night... and the night before that.

But then he'd abruptly left. He hadn't even taken his dinner. He'd thrust the bag into her hands and left her on the front stoop of her building. He hadn't asked for her phone number. Nothing.

Once again, she'd screwed it up.

When the elevator stopped on her floor, she shuffled down to suite 610. Once inside she gave Lauren a wave, like always. Then she plopped down in her chair and started up her computer.

“You will never guess who I saw on Friday night!” Angela exclaimed as she bounced around the corner.

Michelle was so not in the mood for a bouncy Angela. “Who?” she grumbled.

Angela shouldered the wall and crossed her legs at the ankles. She pinched a blond curl between her fingers and twisted it. “Tage.”

Michelle's insides felt as if Angela were twisting them. “Tage.”

“Yes. Around eight-ish. I'm a member of a private social club. That's where I met him before. He showed up Friday night just as I was about to head home.” A wicked gleam sparkled in her eyes. Michelle didn't care for that gleam at all. No, it made her feel a little sick inside. “We spent some
quality
time together at the club.”

“That's . . . nice,” Michelle said as she swallowed her breakfast for the second time. That bitch had to know what she was doing by telling her this. She wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of reacting.

And Tage . . . that jerk. He'd run out on their date just to go out to the club and meet up with someone else? What the hell? He'd sure acted like he was interested in her at first. So why did he leave so abruptly? Had Angela texted him an invitation he couldn't resist?

More importantly, why, oh why, did he have to pick Angela for his little sordid one-nighter? Of all the women in town, why her?

Angela's waxed and tweezed brows scrunched. “Michelle, are you okay? You look a little run down.”

“Yes, I'm fine. Just tired. I had a late couple of nights this weekend.”

Angela's overly lined eyes widened. “Oooh! I'm intrigued. Tell me.”

“Maybe later.” Michelle motioned to her computer, which had finished starting up. “I have a lot of work to do.”

“Sure, sure. Later. Say, why don't we go to lunch? I can tell you about Tage. He's coming by this afternoon, by the way. He said he wants to talk about some advertising campaigns for his company.”

Dammit, Angela got him in bed, and now she was getting the account, too. The bitch!

But what could she do about it? Nothing, that was what. Absolutely nothing. If he wanted to follow his dick, and go to Angela for help at work, that was his choice. There was no law against it. But it did suck.

Michelle pulled her mouth into what she hoped would pass for a smile. “That's great.” She started poking at her keyboard, hoping Angela would get the message and leave.

She didn't. Ignoring Michelle's hint, Angela stayed put. Her expression turned all girly and wistful. “Yeah. It'll be really hard sitting there, talking business. He's so incredibly handsome, don't you think?”

“Yes, he's handsome.”
And a complete ass.

“You know,” Angela said, twirling that stupid lock of hair, “when I saw you leaving with him on Friday, I thought you two were dating or something.”

Me too.

“Well, if you were seeing him, I would want you to tell me. You can say a lot about me, but I wouldn't steal another woman's man. Never.”

Great, now she had to either keep her mouth shut and listen to Angela spout on and on about Tage's prowess in the bedroom, or admit that she'd misunderstood his invitation to dinner, thinking he was interested in starting some kind of relationship with her. Either way, it was a shitty situation.

She opted for preserving her pride, smiling, and saying, “Oh no. We're just friends. He's not my type.”

Angela's brows rose so high they practically blended into her hairline. “Not your type? Tall, handsome, and rich isn't your type?”

“No, I prefer short, fat, poor, and pasty white.” Michelle forced a grin.

Angela's laugh was nauseating. “You are so funny. Why am I just realizing that now?”

Because Angela hadn't bothered to talk to her much before last week, perhaps? “Oh, I think I hide it pretty well when I'm at work.”

“Well, you shouldn't. People around here like someone who can make them laugh. It doesn't always have to be serious business. So don't be afraid to let that inner comedienne out every now and then.”

“I'll try to remember that, thanks.”

“You're welcome.” Angela tossed her hair. “See you at lunchtime.” And off she flounced, to her office with the door and the window.

Some people got everything in life. The looks, the promotions, the men. Michelle hated those people.

 

Michelle knew he was nearby before she saw him. The air around her felt warmer. And little crackles of energy were skipping over her skin. She looked up from her computer screen, swiveled to glance over her shoulder.

He was watching her.

She felt her cheeks heating as their gazes met. His lips curled into a semi-smile that made her heart stutter and her mouth dry out. “Hello,” she said, trying not to let him know how much he unnerved her or how hurt and disappointed she'd been after hearing about his little thing with Angela.

“I'm here to talk about advertising plans.”

“Yes. Angela told me you were coming in today.”

Some odd expression flashed across his features for a fraction of a second. It was almost too fast to be sure she'd seen it. It was most definitely too brief to read it. “Did I tell her that?”

“She's waiting for you.” Michelle motioned toward Angela's office.

He strolled across the room, stopping just outside her cubicle. His brows pulled together. “She is?” His gaze jumped back and forth from Michelle's face to Angela's door. “I thought I would be meeting with you.”

A little flare of heat blazed through her. “Me? Oh. I thought... well, never mind what I thought. I guess I made an assumption I shouldn't have.” She stood, which put her in very close proximity to him. Another blast of awareness surged through her.

Her skin tingling, she pointed in the general direction of the conference room. “We can go talk in there.”

“Sure.” He didn't move. His gaze remained fixed on hers. His tongue darted out, flicked across his lower lip, and a little quiver buzzed up her spine.

Was it her imagination or was he acting a little strangely?

She motioned again, and he shook his head, as if to wake himself from a trance. As she brushed past him, her arm skimmed across the front of his body. With that miniscule, innocent contact a reaction fired inside her, like an atomic detonation. It took everything in her power not to stagger as she walked toward the conference room. Leaving the door open, she stood at the entry and motioned for him to sit. He stood next to a chair but didn't sit until she'd taken a seat herself.

“Before we begin,” he said, leaning toward her, his voice barely above a whisper, “I feel I need to say something about Friday—”

“That isn't necessary.”

“Angela. What did she tell you?”

“She met up with you Friday at some kind of private club she belongs to.”

His gaze intensified as he listened, until it almost felt probing. “I see.” A tiny muscle on his jaw twitched, which made her think he might be upset or angry with Angela for spilling the beans about seeing him. That almost made her feel better about the whole situation. Almost. Another part of her wondered if he was trying to do something underhanded and sneaky, like sleep with both Angela and her. She was so
not
into players.

She cleared her throat. “Anyway, your personal business is not something we need to discuss here and now. Agreed?”

He nodded, but that twitchy muscle still hadn't stopped clenching.

It was time to get things rolling. Her work was top priority, especially after what had happened last week. She needed to bring a new client on board. She hoped that client would be Tage. “So, tell me, what kind of advertising were you thinking about? What are you trying to accomplish?”

“I was thinking about doing some color brochures,” he said, sounding as if advertising was the last thing he wanted to talk about. He glanced over his shoulder then jerked his head around again. “Can we close the door?”

“I suppose.” She stood up to get it, but he literally lurched in front of her, beating her to it. He had it about halfway shut before a familiar face appeared in the gap between the frame and the edge of the door.

The door, which hadn't been completely shut, swung back in, and Angela sauntered into the room. “Tage?” Her contact-enhanced gaze ping-ponged back and forth between him and Michelle. “Am I interrupting something?” She checked her watch. “Michelle, why didn't you tell me he was here already? I wasn't expecting him until this afternoon.”

Tage said, somewhat gruffly, “I didn't . . . My plans changed.”

“Well, it's a good thing, then, that I'm available this morning.”

Michelle glared at Tage, giving him a what-the-hell look. “We were just chatting for a few minutes. I was going to get you in a second.”

“Actually, it's my fault,” Tage said, standing. “I needed to talk to Michelle in private. And we're not through yet.”

Angela's cute little lipsticked mouth formed an
O
. A handful of seconds later, her jaw snapped shut, and she jerked a nod. “Fine. Come and get me when you're done talking, Michelle.” Her hips swung like a movie starlet's as she
click-clacked
in her expensive shoes toward the exit.

Tage closed the door behind Angela, then returned to his seat. “I've really fucked things up for you, haven't I?”