Worth the Scandal (17 page)

“You don’t have a luncheon meeting with anyone?”

“You tell me. You’re the one who keeps track of my schedule,” he chided gently.

Tessa smiled. “I’m behaving like a silly little girl, aren’t I?”

“No. You’re fine.” Leaning in he kissed her forehead. The moment his lips made contact with her soft skin, he wanted more. So much more.

But they were in the middle of his office. Anyone could be lurking by his door.

Such as his brother Rhett, who stood in the doorway, watching everything unfold between them.

His brother had always been too observant for his own good.

“Rhett.” Alex rose to his full height and stepped away from Tessa’s chair. “What are you doing here?”

“Am I interrupting anything?” Rhett looked at Tessa, who got up from the chair, her head bent so she couldn’t make eye contact.

“No, nothing important.” Alex went to his brother and embraced him, sadness running through him when he sensed how reluctant Rhett was by the show of affection. “How are you?”

“I’m going to take my lunch break now,” Tessa murmured, her soft, sweet voice drawing Alex’s attention.

She was already halfway to the door, her back to him, spine straight, shoulders stiff. He’d upset her with his unintentional rejection, but he couldn’t turn away Rhett. He needed to talk to him, make sure everything was okay. “We’ll talk later, Tessa?”

Pausing, she glanced over her shoulder, her big brown eyes wide and full of sadness. He would make it up to her, he knew he would. “Of course, Mister Worth.” With a nod, she fled the office.

“What was going on there?” Rhett asked the moment she was out of earshot.

“None of your concern.” Alex waved a negligent hand. “Care to go to lunch?”

“That’s why I swung by. I need to talk to you.” Rhett’s solemn voice and even more solemn face spoke volumes.

“Then we’ll talk. Let me get my jacket.” Alex went to his desk and grabbed his jacket he’d slung over the back of his chair, slipping it on. “Do you want anything in particular?”

“I don’t care. You pick.” Rhett watched him, his eyes, so similar to Alex’s, keeping track of his every move. “Don’t just blow me off, Alex. Why were you kissing your secretary?”

“I was not kissing her.” Jesus, Rhett had seen that? They’d have to be more careful.

But she was so hard to resist.

“You were. Don’t treat me like a dumbass.” Rhett sounded furious. “Hunter thinks I’m a stupid shit. Don’t tell me you feel the same way.”

There was more going on here than Alex could even begin to know. Going to lunch would be a start in finding out. “I don’t think you’re stupid, Rhett. I’ve never said that. It’s just that what’s happening with Tessa—it’s private.”

Rhett smiled. “I get private. Well, she’s hot. I’ll give you that.”

Christ. He was as bad as Hunter. He hated how they spoke of Tessa as nothing but a piece of ass. She was so much more than that.

So much more.

Not that he wanted to admit that to them. Or to anyone else.

Chapter Twelve

Tessa was being foolish. She knew this. Yet it didn’t stop her heart from hurting, her emotions spiraling out of control. She couldn’t handle this. Couldn’t handle being Alex’s assistant, couldn’t handle seeing him and not being able to touch him. Not being able to talk to him and kiss him and slip her hand in his.

It drove her crazy.

She’d known the moment they spotted Rhett that their lunch plans were cancelled. He needed to see his brother. He’d finally confessed that Rhett had run into some legal trouble while they’d been gone. She’d figured out long ago he had a soft spot for his youngest brother and his behavior toward Rhett only confirmed her suspicions.

Though the words he’d said to his younger brother wounded, had cut her to her very core.

No, nothing important.

Just thinking about those three unassuming words made her head hurt.

Working furiously through the rest of the afternoon had taken her mind off her troubles somewhat. He’d hardly looked at her upon his return from his two hour lunch. Hunter had been with him, the both of them talking over each other and she huddled behind her computer, not wanting to be noticed.

She was pitiful.

It was past five thirty and her plan to wait him out seemed hopelessly futile. He was still on the phone, his jacket long ago shed, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his forearms and his glasses on as he stared at the monitor of his laptop. He didn’t appear ready to leave anytime soon.

Fighting off her silly tears, she gathered her purse and slipped her coat off the back of her chair. She wasn’t going to bother telling him she was leaving. He probably didn’t even notice.

Perhaps he didn’t even care.

She was halfway to the elevator when she heard footsteps coming toward her, felt his fingers curl around her arm, halting her progress. “Tessa.” He didn’t even sound winded which for whatever reason, infuriated her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”

“You were busy.” She shrugged, trying to wrestle out of his grip but he tightened his fingers around the crook of her elbow. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“That never stopped you before.” His voice was soft and beguiling. She glanced up, her knees weakening when she caught sight of the familiar heat flickering in his gaze. When he wore his glasses it secretly drove her wild, he looked so sexy.

“Things are different now.” She jerked out of his hold, his eyes widening when she did so and he grabbed her again, hauling her close. So close, his hot body scalded her, even through the layers of clothes they wore.

“You don’t have to be so standoffish, Tessa,” he murmured, his voice a low, sexy rumble that twisted her insides and confused her brain.

“What, are you going to demote me if I don’t measure up?” The moment the words left her, she regretted it. His gaze darkened, his jaw went hard and his entire body stiffened against hers.

“You really believe I would do that to you? Degrade you that way?” He lowered his head so their gazes were level. “Do you think that low of me?”

“I don’t know what to think or how to feel.” Her heart beat wildly, her vision blurred and tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. “What do you want from me, Alex?”

“I want you.” Sounding full of pure agony, he crushed his mouth to hers, kissing her right there in the middle of the vast room, so close to the bank of elevators that anyone could catch them if the doors suddenly decided to slide open. “God, I want you so much, Tessa,” he whispered harshly after he broke the kiss.

She wrapped her arms around him and tilted her head back, sighing when he licked a fiery path down her neck with his tongue. He whirled her around and walked her back into his office, his hands wandering all over her body before sliding beneath her shirt to streak his fingers across her trembling stomach.

Her knees wobbled and he swept her into his arms, carrying her with ease into his office and kicking the door shut. He set her on her feet, shoving the coat from her shoulders so it fell in a heap to the floor.

“I want you naked.” The look in his eyes was feral as he continued to undress her, his movements methodical. He shoved off her skirt so that it fell around her feet, and she stepped out of it. Unbuttoning her shirt and tugging it from her arms, unclasping her bra and sending it to the floor, his gaze locked for long moments upon her breasts.

“I want to taste you.” As if he couldn’t resist he leaned down and swiped his tongue first across one hard nipple, then the other. She cried out at the feel of his hot, wet tongue, her eyes sliding closed when he slipped his hand inside the front of her panties and touched her boldly.

“Wet,” he murmured with approval before he tore the lacy scrap completely off her body. She gasped, shocked at his savagery, her entire body on fire with the need for him to take her.

He lifted her, his big hands grasping her buttocks, his long, sure fingers pressing into her flesh. Setting her on the edge of his desk, he spread her legs wide, putting her on complete display. She braced herself, her hands splayed on the desk behind her, palms flat, body arched. She didn’t care if he could see everything whereas normally she was modest, a little shy.

Tonight, she was too overcome with wanting him. Needing him.

Alex stroked the inside of her thighs, pushing her wider as he knelt before her. She inhaled sharply, a low moan escaping her when she felt the first swipe of his velvety hot tongue. He devoured her, bringing her closer and closer to climax with every thrust of his tongue and fingers. She gripped his hair with one hand, tugging him close, not caring about her wanton behavior.

Her entire body shaking, her orgasm drawing near, he ducked his head out of her grip and stood, his expression determined. Frustration filled her and she gripped the edge of the desk, her sex throbbing and in need of release. “Please, Alex.”

His expression determined, he reached for his belt buckle and undid it, pulling the sleek leather belt from the loops of his trousers and tossing it to the ground. He undid the snap of his trousers, slid down the zipper. Catching her watching him, he kissed her. His tongue thrust deep at the same moment he thrust his erection deep inside her body.

Alex filled her completely, his rhythm quick and unrestrained. It was like an animal had been unleashed upon her. His movements jerky, his hips bumped against hers, his eyes wild and expression full of grim, passionate determination.

She loved it. She loved him.

This was no long, drawn out lovemaking session conceived to drive her out of her ,ever-loving mind. It was out of control, deliciously exciting sex. Like nothing she’d ever experienced before. That she did this to him, made such a powerful, commanding man lose all pretense and groan and shake uncontrollably as he took her so savagely, it was overwhelming.

And when he fell apart in her arms, when he came so deep inside her, he touched her very soul. Filled her with so much warmth, it wound around her heart, urging the love for him she’d guarded so closely to spill out in the form of tears.

They streaked down her cheeks, and she gazed up at the ceiling. That he’d lost every semblance of order and control to take her on his desk was unbelievable.

Amazing.

A moment she never wanted to forget.

Chapter Thirteen

The week flew by, Alex’s days occupied with work, endless meetings, numerous long conference calls from England and pouring over reports. His desk was covered with papers, two laptops, a stack of manila folders and memories of Tessa’s pert bottom hanging on the edge as he pumped deep inside her.

This was his problem. He could be completely composed and focused on work and then memories of Tessa naked in his arms would flood him, ruining his concentration. Make him want her again and again.

More and more.

His focus was so blown he’d wasted far too much time daydreaming, staring off into space and thinking about Tessa. What would happen if they were to take their relationship to the next level? Did she want that? Or was she perfectly happy keeping their situation as is?

He could go back and forth about the matter all through the day and night and still not feel quite sure where he stood. Which was so unusual for him. He always took command of his relationships. He called the shots and the women always agreed.

Not that he allowed Tessa to call the shots. She seemed perfectly happy leaving him in charge. He’d almost describe her as beautifully submissive. But she also left him so tied up in knots…

He’d gone out for a business dinner meeting earlier, his plan always to return to the office and wrap up a few details before heading home. Sending Tessa home had been difficult. Full of reluctance, she’d clung to him in the corner of his office, offering her lush mouth to him for a long, wet kiss.

Of course, he’d taken it. He couldn’t get enough of her sweet taste, her sensuous ways. She’d suggested she work late as well, perhaps even wait for him but he had a feeling the meeting would run on and didn’t want her to stay there too long.

They’d spent every night this week together so he planned on making it up to her by taking her somewhere special over the weekend. Maybe a bed and breakfast that was a little over an hour out of the city, a quaint little place he’d read about in a magazine somewhere.

A quiet, private spot where they could lie about in bed all weekend and make love, that sounded perfect.

His cell rang as he exited the car and he answered, knowing it was Hunter. “What’s going on?”

Their relationship had been strained the entire week over what happened with Tessa. Alex hated it but he wasn’t about to apologize first. The ball rested in Hunter’s court this time around.

“Where are you?” Hunter asked.

“Headed back into the office. I need to do a few things before I go home.”

“You need to head up there and quick then. Someone just accessed your computer, Alex. The IT guy just called me. The search pattern is similar to our spy.”

Fury filled Alex as he strode into the building toward the elevators. “I’m on it.”

“Be careful, bro,” Hunter warned and Alex laughed, stabbing his floor button multiple times before the elevator door finally slid closed.

“I’m not afraid. Now the little traitor? That’s the one who should be scared shitless. I’ll call you and let you know what I found.” He ended the call and shoved his phone in his pocket.

Adrenaline thrummed through his veins, and he bounced on his heels. Since when had the elevator started moving so slow? The person who was stealing Worth secrets and leaking them to the press and their business rivals could be long gone by now.

Alex hoped like hell that wasn’t so.

Finally, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. He strode toward his office, saw the lights were still on though he didn’t notice any movement within. Drawing closer, he slowed his steps, kept himself angled so whoever might still be in there wouldn’t see him approaching through the open doorway.

Noise sounded from within and he approached the door with quiet steps, holding his breath as he peeked around the corner.