"It's not. I need to see you."
"I don't want - "
"We can do this the easy way, Eva. Or you can make it difficult." His tone took on a hard edge that made my pulse quicken. "Either way, you'll hear me out."
I closed my eyes, understanding that I wasn't lucky enough to get away with a quick good-bye phone chat. "Fine. I'll come up."
"Thank you." He exhaled audibly. "I can't wait to see you."
I returned the receiver to its cradle and stared at the photos on my desk, trying to formulate what I needed to say and steeling myself for the impact of seeing Gideon again. The ferocity of my physical response to him was impossible to control. Somehow I'd have to get past it and take care of business. Later, I'd think about having to see him in the building over the days, weeks, and months ahead. For the moment, I just had to focus on making it through lunch.
Yielding to the inevitable, I got back to work comparing the visual impact of some blow-in card samples.
"Eva."
I jumped and spun around in my chair, startled to find Gideon standing beside my cubicle. The sight of him blew me away, as usual, and my heart stuttered in my chest. A quick glance at the clock proved that a quarter hour had passed in no time at all.
"Gid - Mr. Cross. You didn't have to come down here."
His face was calm and impassive, but his eyes were stormy and hot. "Ready?"
I opened my drawer and pulled out my purse, taking the opportunity to suck in a deep, shaky breath. He smelled phenomenal and looked even better.
"Mr. Cross." Mark's voice. "It's great to see you. Is there something - ?"
"I'm here for Eva. We have a lunch date."
I straightened in time to see Mark's brows shoot up. He recovered quickly, his face smoothing into its usual good-natured handsomeness.
"I'll be back at one," I assured him.
"See you then. Enjoy your lunch."
Gideon put his hand at the small of my back and steered me out to the elevators, garnering raised brows from Megumi when we passed reception. I shifted restlessly as he hit the call button for the elevator, wishing I could've made it through the day without seeing the man whose touch I craved like a drug.
He faced me as we waited for the car, running his fingertips down the sleeve of my satin blouse. "Every time I close my eyes, I see you in that red dress. I hear the sounds you make when you're turned on. I feel you sliding over my cock, squeezing me like a fist, making me come so hard it hurts."
"Don't." I looked away, unable to bear the intimate way he was looking at me.
"I can't help it."
The arrival of the elevator was a relief. He caught my hand and pulled me inside. After he put his key in the panel, he tugged me closer. "I'm going to kiss you, Eva."
"I don't - "
He pulled me into him and sealed his mouth over mine. I resisted as long as I could; then I melted at the feel of his tongue stroking slow and sweet over mine. I'd wanted his kiss since we'd had sex. I wanted the reassurance that he valued what we'd shared, that it meant something to him as it had to me.
I was left bereft once again when he pulled away.
"Come on." He pulled the key out as the door opened.
Gideon's redheaded receptionist said nothing this time, although she eyed me strangely. In contrast, Gideon's secretary, Scott, stood when we approached and greeted me pleasantly by name.
"Good afternoon, Miss Tramell."
"Hi, Scott."
Gideon gave him a curt nod. "Hold my calls."
"Yes, of course."
I entered Gideon's expansive office, my gaze drifting to the sofa where he'd first touched me intimately.
Lunch was arranged on the bar - two plates covered in metal salvers.
"Can I take your purse?" he asked.
I looked at him, saw he'd taken off his jacket and slung it over his arm. He stood there in his tailored slacks and vest, his shirt and tie both a pristine white, his hair dark and thick around his breathtaking face, his eyes a wild and dazzling blue. In a word, he amazed me. I couldn't believe I'd made love to such a gorgeous man.
But then, it hadn't meant the same thing to him.
"Eva?"
"You're beautiful, Gideon." The words fell out of my mouth without conscious thought.
His brows lifted; then a softness came into his eyes. "I'm glad you like what you see."
I handed him my purse and moved away, needing the space. He hung his coat and my purse on the coatrack, then moved to the bar.
I crossed my arms. "Let's just get this over with. I don't want to see you anymore."
Chapter 8
Gideon shoved a hand through his hair and exhaled harshly. "You don't mean that."
I was suddenly very tired, exhausted from fighting with myself over him. "I really do. You and me...it was a mistake."
His jaw tightened. "It wasn't. The way I handled it afterward was the mistake."
I stared at him, startled by the fierceness of his denial. "I wasn't talking about the sex, Gideon. I'm talking about my agreeing to this crazy strangers-with-benefits deal between us. I knew it was all wrong from the beginning. I should've listened to my instincts."
"Do you want to be with me, Eva?"
"No. That's what - "
"Not like we discussed at the bar. More than that."
My heart started to pound. "What are you talking about?"
"Everything." He left the bar and came closer. "I want to be with you."
"You didn't seem like you did Saturday." My arms tightened around my middle.
"I was...reeling."