24

AUDREY
The next morning, Chelsea invited me for breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. Apparently, my conversation with Gabriel last night was still bugging me.
We had already been in an avoidable situation, and I had wanted my boss ever since my first day at Stark Apparel. I was holding back because I thought it would be indecent. I wouldn’t want him to know that I was ogling him, but I wouldn’t deny that a part of me was thrilled having to know that he was interested in me too.
“Stark came back last night and asked me about you. I told him the truth, but maybe I shouldn’t have,” Chelsea stated, then ate a bite of her crepe. I told her about the incident last night with Stark, but not so much. And I wasn’t planning to, but then she was the only one I could talk to about it, or I’d be crazy otherwise.
“I’m confused, Chels. Stark is out of my league,” I professed.
“But he wants you. Gabriel Stark wants you! You should be happy. That man is every woman employee’s dream in our company,” she cheered, momentarily forgetting that we were in a public place.
“Hey!” I chastised, looking side by side, but no one seemed to notice. “We might be in Phoenix, but he’s pretty well-known, you know.”
But Chelsea was right. Whenever he was walking by the cubicles, his presence alone asked for attention. Every time I saw him made me think of sex. I knew I was a virgin, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t fooled around, so I at least knew what to expect.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Maybe I get too excited.” She grinned.
“Think about this way, Stark was born with a silver spoon in his mouth—”
“I could tell that you were, too,” she inserted.
“We are bankrupt!” I fired back. “But no, that’s not the point. Stark could get whatever he wanted. Particularly women. I don’t see why it has to be me, Chels. Not to mention I’d be breaking the non-fraternization policy.”
“With the man who set the rules himself,” Chelsea concluded.
I heaved a sigh. “I don’t know.”
Maybe I was afraid. I didn’t want to get hurt anymore. What if he only wanted to fuck and nothing more.
“Damn, Audrey, you’re a sexy, stunning woman. I would question any man who doesn’t want to date you. You are a vision, and Stark knows that.”
I took a full bite of my pancakes and a gulp of my already lukewarm coffee.
“And you would have our tall, dark, and sexy boss all by yourself,” she added. “Not to mention filthy rich. Damn, Stark has it all, doesn’t he? But he did have a reputation with women, so I might understand where you’re coming from.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You’re right. This is hard. Oh well, bad boys can be fun.”
I couldn’t see him being fun, either. Intense and intimidating, maybe.
My belly fluttered as I recalled how he touched me last night. I remembered his breathtaking face and deep raspy voice. I was still recovering from it.

***
“Good morning.” Gabriel was already in my room again when I went back upstairs. I see now that he had a habit of shocking someone and appearing unexpectedly. He was just our topic a while ago, and he’s here again.
Gabriel was even more breathtaking than yesterday, already dressed in a navy three-piece suit and silver ties. I could tell the suit’s materials were one of the custom-made ones I saw every day in the office. After three months of working with him, I already knew how he allured people by looking perfect. And remembering last night, he was told he would see Delaine again, and then he was going back to Manhattan today.
“I forgot to ask, but how are you getting into my room? Obviously, you have a key, but I mean—”
“I own this suite,” he answered simply.
Of course. Gabriel Stark liked to display his money.
“Come and let me see you.”
Obediently, I walked towards him. There was no point in resisting anymore, but I was still wary of him. He reached me with his hands and pressed me against his body. He smelled of a fresh bath and spicy sandalwood scent. I wanted to drink him in.
His long-fingered hand cupped my cheek. “I had plans for both of us, but we were always caught up with timing,” he whispered.
That plan again. I still wondered what he meant by that. We haven’t had the time to seriously discuss our personal matters yet. What he wanted to do with me, I wanted to know.
He pulled me even tighter against him.
“You’ll ruin your suit.”
He chuckled. “I can always take it off.”
I looked away from his eyes. “Please be serious.”
“I am serious.”
Gabriel brought his face to mine and our mouths crushed, and our tongues collided. The longing and need I felt last night were all real. His kisses and touch were real. Chelsea was right. My boss wanted me. His broad frame radiated power and hunger, and my desire for him urged. My uncontrollable emotions intensified with lingering frustration—the frustration of how much I really needed this.
Panting softly, he licked my lips. My stomach fluttered with pleasure, excitement, and tenseness. But my body clenched in need. I breathed between our mouths.
Gabriel groaned at my response. His free hand gripped my thighs and trailed down my butt, squeezing hard. We kissed, nipped, and licked each other’s mouths, learning about how to taste and savor each other.
“Damn,” he hissed, breaking off the kiss. I felt the cold air again, and I instantly longed for him again. “You are beautiful, Audrey,” he whispered, brushing my face with his thumb.
He inclined my head to the side, dove onto my neck, then began kissing me again. While he did, his other hand trailed the hem of my shirt and traveled up. Over my brassiere, he gently massaged my breast.
I let out a soft sob.
My skin was on fire again. I was too flushed and hot. I clutched the fabric of his suit as he lifted my bra and reached for the crown. He brought his mouth to my lips again with a deep, brief kiss.
“You’re perfect… so perfect,” he murmured.
His fingertips tweaked my nipples.
“Ahh!”
It all felt so good. Expertly, he did so at a slow, sensual pace, setting alight tingles, reaching every sensitive nerve in my body, and making my whole body sing with sweet torment. I groaned with no control over the delicious sensation. He kissed my lips again, but it was only for a brief moment.
Suddenly, he stopped, and he pulled back my shirt. He held my face again.
Please, don’t stop! I protested inside.
“Just to remind you how good it felt when you let me take care of you,” he whispered.
Was it supposed to be about that? He was too cruel to stop like that, leaving me wanting… How could a brief moment like this make me crave more? My skin was still scorching in need.
I touched his hand. “Are you leaving now?”
“I’m afraid I have to.”
Then I will be seeing him in three days when I get back. “We’re flying back to Manhattan on Sunday night.”
“When is your brother’s funeral?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Then what else are you going to do here until the weekend?” he inquired, sounding curious.
“Just some family matters I have to settle.”
He nodded, staring into my eyes. “Alright. We’ll talk on Monday then.” He ran his thumb on my lips, and he kissed me again. “I have a lot to discuss with you.”
“About what?”
“Many things,” he whispered. “A proposition, actually.”
I blinked. I don’t think I understood what he said. “Proposition for what?”
He tucked some strands of my hair behind my ears. “On Monday, Audrey. You’ll see.”