Lyssa raised an eyebrow. “An Englishman, huh?” Then she grinned. “Good for her.”
Her smile short-circuited the already badly firing synapses in his brain. Fumbling for something—anything—to say that would force them to focus on work, and nothing but work, he said, “Let’s brainstorm ways we think Dane’s participation could help the foundation, in addition to reaching out to his contacts to find new donors.”
She nodded. “Good plan.”
As they tossed ideas back and forth, he knew it would be nuts to throw away their incredible synergy as business partners for a roll in the hay. Even though a little voice whispered that being with Lyssa would be so much more than that.
An hour later, she said, “I need coffee. Can I bring you a cup too?” She was already rising from her seat.
He tried not to notice the way her pencil skirt molded to her hips. He failed. “You don’t have to serve me.”
She laughed, a light sound that reached straight inside his chest. Then she put her hands together and said in a breathy voice, “Oh, Mr. Danniger, please let me know how I can serve you. Absolutely anything.”
Her imitation of Delilah was spot-on, and she was laughing as she headed back to the galley. He swiveled his seat, stretched out his legs, and scraped a hand down his face.
Her lingering scent filled his head. He told himself he’d feel more in control when they were back in San Francisco. Mary, their admin, would be there. Lyssa had her own office, he had his. Things could get back to normal. He would stop thinking about her once they were back in California. He had to stop thinking about her this way.
A few minutes later, the scent of coffee overtook the sweet perfume of her hair and skin as she returned with steaming mugs and sugar and cream, pushing his pad out of the way and setting the tray on the table.
Then she went on playing her part to perfection as she hovered over him. “Mr. Danniger, how do you want me to fix your coffee? As I said earlier, I could make it any way you like, sir.”
He couldn’t help but laugh, although he felt he should say, “You’re exaggerating.”
“Exaggerating? If anything, I’m underplaying it. Delilah was falling all over you. If I hadn’t been here,” she said with a cheeky smile, “she’d have been right in your lap, wrapping herself around you like a boa constrictor.”
She was standing so close, and she was so beautiful, and he was so hungry for her that his brain malfunctioned, and his body took over before he could stop it.
He recognized the moment the same thing happened to her. The laughter died on her lips. And a hot flame grew in her eyes. Her pupils widened, and he could see his reflection, the need etching his features.
Resistance was futile.
At the same time that she moved to wrap her arms around him, he yanked her into his lap, shoved his fingers through her hair, and pulled her mouth down to his.
Chapter Seven
Cal’s lips were hot and demanding. And perfect.
With his hand on her neck anchoring her to him, his other arm snaked around her waist, pulling her tight. She could feel in every hard, rippling muscle how badly he wanted her. When he groaned, it vibrated through her body. And she kissed him with all the need that had been screaming to get out.
She couldn’t lie to herself about this, not even a little bit. Despite all the arguments to the contrary, she’d wanted this for months. Wanted him for months.
Right now, she didn’t care about her job. She didn’t care about her brothers or what they would say when they found out. She didn’t care about their age difference.
All she cared about was kissing Cal.
Then suddenly he was lifting her to her feet and he was standing too. “This is wrong.”
His breath was coming too fast, and so was hers. “I don’t care.”
“It’s not right. We can’t do this.”
“We can.”
He tried to fight it. For one second. Then two.
Then on three, he possessed her with his mouth once more. His arms went around her, lifting her against him, and she felt him turn, his lips never leaving hers.
She’d think about the consequences later. Right now, she wanted him so badly she ached.
In the bedroom, he let her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the night we danced.” His eyes held fire as he ate her up with his gaze.
“I dream about you at night,” she admitted in a whisper. She didn’t tell him how long she’d been dreaming of him—for months, since Matt and Ari’s wedding.
“I should be able to control myself around you.” His voice was a low rumble. “But I can’t.”
“I don’t want you to control yourself.”
He fumbled with the buttons of her blouse. “Tell me to stop.”
“Don’t stop.” She put her fingers to his, helping him undo all the buttons, pulling her blouse from her skirt.
He stroked her breasts through the lacy bra, moving his thumbs over the peaks, making her heart pound even faster. When he pulled the lace aside, Lyssa moaned softly as his fingers skimmed her bare skin. He shoved the blouse off her shoulders, then pushed the straps down. She reached in front, unhooking the clasp. Her blouse and bra fluttered to the floor.
“Lyssa.” Her name sounded like a prayer on his lips. “You’re so beautiful.”
He toyed with her, each palm cupping a breast, until she begged, “Taste me.”
He bent to her, taking a peak in his mouth, sucking sweetly, licking over her heated skin, making her knees weak.
He inched her skirt up until it rested high on her hips at the same time that she pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders, slipped his tie loose, then tugged on the buttons of his shirt. One tore as it popped free, flying across the room. She shoved her fingers beneath the material, ran them up his abdomen.
He groaned as if her touch was an exquisite pleasure. “You can’t possibly know what you do to me,” he said, his eyes closed.
“I do. Because it’s the same thing you do to me.”
Cal pulled back, his eyes so hot they burned into hers. “Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
She placed a hand over his heart. “I’ll never regret this.”
Heat flashed again in his eyes as he slid his hand down her body once more. “You can change your mind anytime. You can stop me at any moment. All you have to do is tell me.”
Didn’t he know? There was no going back to the way things had been between them. Not now. Not ever. “I’m not changing my mind. And I’m not going to stop you.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when he slid his fingers beneath her panties…and over the center of her arousal. She anchored her fingers on his shoulders, leaving marks on his skin as she held on, riding his touch.
“Oh God.” The pleasure was exquisite, intense, making her legs shake. “I’ll never change my mind,” she said on a gasp.
The next thing she knew, he was sliding off her panties. It was her cue to go for his belt. Unbuckled, unbuttoned, and unzipped, his pants slipped away, and he kicked his shoes aside.
She sucked in her breath at the length of him beneath the boxer briefs. She reached out for him and felt him shudder, heard his sharp indrawn breath.