“How is it that the slightest touch from you sets me off?” she whispered huskily.
“It’s the same with me,” he whispered as he bent his head to brush his lips against hers and felt his body hardening. “I cannot get enough of you.”
“I love that.” She brought her hands up and curled them around his neck as she sank into the kiss.
*****
“Mr. Hoffman!” Simone shot to her feet as the man came striding into the office.
He gave her a slight nod of acknowledgement and without breaking his stride, went around to his wife’s desk and sat on the edge of it, one hand lifting her chin to examine her face.
“I'll—I will go and do something at my desk,” Simone said as she hurried out and closed the doors behind her.
“We were in a meeting,” Donna told him wryly. “Thomas, you have got to stop coming in here unannounced, you're scaring my assistant.”
“By stopping by to see my wife?” he asked her with a frown.
“You aren't just a regular guy; you happen to be the CEO of a billion-dollar company. Even I'm intimidated by you.”
His eyebrows lifted at that.
“Okay, maybe intimidated is too strong a word.”
“I came by to see if you could take a break and have lunch with me.”
“Where are we—” Her voice trailed away as the door opened and two uniformed chefs came in.
“Where should we set up, sir?”
“Right over there by the window.”
Donna watched in silence as the two men made light work of setting up the meal, leaving shortly after.
“Shall we?” He stretched one hand out and she placed her hand in his.
“Is this your way of making sure that I eat properly?” she asked as he pulled out a chair for her to sit.
“It's my way of having lunch with my wife. Do you have a problem with that?” he asked mildly as he took the cover off the dishes.
“I would believe you except that Jeanette came up here yesterday to hand me something from you, instead of calling or sending an email. You have your assistant checking up on me?” She sniffed the savory pasta meal and felt drool forming inside her mouth.
“You're supposed to be eating lots of green leafy vegetables because of your anemia and I'm making sure you do.” He handed her a plate loaded with those very vegetables and a spoonful of pasta.
“You know I hate lettuce,” she said with a grimace.
“They're good for you,” he said with an amused look in his eyes.
“Thanks Mother,” she said dryly. “Am I going to get this same treatment after our baby is delivered?”
“Maybe not,” he told her with a teasing smile. “I'll leave you to your bad eating habits.”
“I thought so.” Her eyes lingered on his sensuous lips and he felt the warmth in the pit of his stomach.
“Stop,” he said huskily.
“Stop what?”
“Looking at me like that. Your assistant is just outside the door and unlike my office, I cannot automatically lock the doors.”
“She's afraid of you, so that will effectively stop her from coming in.” She chewed on her greens. “You have the sexiest lips I've ever seen on a man.”
“You've seen a lot?” He'd never asked her about her past relationships, and she hadn't volunteered any information.
“A few,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe one.”
“One what?” he asked with lifted brows.
“One guy when I was about twenty and it lasted six months.”
He frowned at her. “Are you trying to tell me that you've only been with one guy?”
“Two, including you.” She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Will you stop looking at me as if I just admitted to being a terrorist!”
“Forgive me.” He made a production of cutting into his artichoke. “It's unusual in this time to find a woman with such sexual innocence.”
“Not that unusual.”
“What happened with him?”
“He cheated on me with someone I knew, and I dumped his ass,” she said with a shrug.
“He was a fool,” he said quietly. “I wish I had been the first,” he added softly, one hand reaching out to take her hand in his. “I love that you're inexperienced.”
“You would,” she said wryly. “You are a guy, after all.”
“That I am.” He lifted her hand and turning it over, kissed the palm, sending shivers through her body.
“Thomas—”
“Hmm?” His tongue darted out and he licked the soft skin.
“You have to stop,” she whispered.
Without responding, he bit into the skin, sending jolts through her body.
“Oh God!” she cried out softly.
He released her hand and came around to kneel at her feet. She'd worn a thin sweater dress and ankle boots with see-through stockings. He eased her up so that he could take off the stockings and underwear, leaving them at her ankles.
“What are you doing?” she squealed.
“I want this more than food,” he murmured as he pulled her to the edge of the chair and opened her legs. He bent and sniffed her before using his tongue on her swollen flesh. Donna went rigid, her fingers tightening on the arms of the chair.
“Oh sweet Jesus!” she whispered when his tongue drove into her, sending waves of feelings clamoring through her body. Leaning back against the chair she closed her eyes and gave into the impossible emotions that racked her body.
*****
“Did you enjoy your lunch?” he asked as his mouth made its descent against the sides of her lips. His assistant had been calling hers for the past half hour, but they'd both ignored the summons. He had a meeting in the conference room but suddenly it didn't seem that important.
“More than I can ever tell you. Please stop, Thomas!” Her fingers curled into his shirt as she arched her neck.
“I can't seem to help myself,” he whispered at her neck. “I'm hard again.”
“We have work—” She gasped as he bit the hollow of her throat.
“You're right.” He lifted his head, his breathing ragged as he fought to get himself under control. He'd stopped wondering at the power she had over him, but it still baffled him.
He placed a rough kiss on her lips before stepping back.
“We have a function tonight.”
“It’s Tuesday!”
“The party never stops,” he told her with a fleeting smile. He passed his hand over her hair and reached for the doorknob. “Later.”
*****
“I feel conspicuous,” Donna murmured as she pulled at the metallic blue gown that she'd decided to wear. It was still weird to her that she belonged to this circle of rich people and was required to dress in designer threads and expensive jewelry in the middle of the week. At least it was for a good cause. Some rich jerk who'd decided to donate some of his vast income to the children’s homes in the area. Donna knew that it was a tax write off because she knew the guy—some pompous asshole who loved to preen for the camera.
“Maybe it's the sparkle of diamonds at your throat and your lobes,” Talia murmured next to her.