A Storm Is Coming (7 page)

“The note was written by someone who was right handed.”

Braylee froze in place.

“As I explained earlier today, Luciano and I were intimately involved in the development of the TNG1 used in the manufacturing of the electrical switch. We tested it for years before we brought it to market. There wasn’t a defect in our product. If there were, we would have known about it and spared no expense in fixing it. I would never have knowingly put out a faulty product. And, that’s not all.”

“There’s more?”

“Yes. My company is on the cusp of yet another technological breakthrough building on the earlier TNG1 technology. I believe that everything that has happened over the last couple of years including the death of my brother is all part of an elaborate plan to take over Manchetti Enterprises. But more importantly to get their hands on the TNG2. This discovery will revolutionize the world overnight. We’ve figured out a way to eliminate the use of Tungsten completely.”

Alex didn’t know what she was thinking. Did she believe him? Braylee’s face was a mask. He continued, “Braylee…something big is coming. I can feel it and it’ll be bigger than anything I’ve ever faced. I don’t know who on my team I can trust. But, I do know that I can’t let my brother’s death be boiled down to the ownership of our technology.”

“Mmm…so you’re not even sure about the people in this room?”

“No.”

“What you’re asking without saying is for me to pursue this case on two fronts. Plan A, we focus on what is publically known with your team and Plan B we focus on preventing a hostile takeover and what you really think happened with my team.”

“Exactly.”

“And, that’s the real reason you brought on outside counsel. Who else have you told about this?”

“No one. I meant what I said about not even being sure who in my inner circle that I can trust.”

Silence.

Braylee inhaled deeply before speaking, “If I help you with plan B, I’ll need to know everything you know and when you know it, Alexandro. No surprises.”

“Done.”

She slowly exhaled, “If this were my sister, Stephanie, I’d move heaven and earth to prove the impossible was possible too.”

Alexandro was so relieved that he pulled Braylee into a tight embrace and kissed her. It happened so fast. The second his lips connected to hers, the light embers that were already burning between them exploded into a full on blaze.

Braylee couldn’t move or think. All she could do was…feel. Feel the hard wall of his body pressed up against hers. Breathing was impossible. The touch of his firm but soft lips on hers was demanding…eager and quickly developed into an insatiable need to quell the fire between them.

When Alex pressed her body into his by pulling her even closer and resting his hands at the small of her back, Braylee’s eyes fluttered closed. She didn’t allow him just to kiss her. She kissed him back…hard…hungry. Snaking her fingers up to and through his hair.

At some point, he managed to back Braylee up against a wall. When her back made contact, she gasped and moaned allowing him the opportunity to slip his tongue inside the cavern of her mouth. There was something desperate about their kiss. Each was trying to feed a passion that was way too intense. Both greedily stroking the other.

How was it possible for Alex to taste and smell so good? His hands moved from the small of her back to the softness of her firm round behind.

When his hardness pressed into her, Braylee threw her head back in pure pleasure, groaning, “Yesssss…”

Alex used this opportunity to taste the spot behind her ear to see if it was as sweet as he thought. It was. He continued to use his tongue to build a trail of burning flesh every place he licked.

His hands skimmed her body caressing her breasts whose tips hardened into tight little buds. Begging to be kissed. Continuing to touch every part of her…her waist, her hips, sliding even lower down to her thighs until somehow he’d managed to bunch her skirt up around her waist and slide in between her thighs.

All Braylee could do was hold on as he rotated his body into her core. The pressure building in her lower body was out of control. What once was a dull ache was now an intense throbbing.

His touch was too intoxicating. But, when his fingers edged around her lacy panties the realities of what was about to happened snapped Braylee out of her sexual haze. She had to stop this before she was unable to. But, god he felt good. Maybe she should let him? No, she’d worked too hard to let it all get away from her because she was wet, hot, and horny.

Braylee placed her hands on top of his in an attempt to slow down what was happening between them. Another second and she was about to let her client screw her up against a wall in her office.

Panting heavily, she was the first to pull away, “I…we…this can’t happen. I don’t sleep around.”

“Good. Neither do I. If you’re worried I’ve been tested…I’m clean.”

“That’s good to know, and so am I, but that’s not what I meant.”

“I’m your lawyer.”

Alex was still lost to the passion, “Right now you’re just a beautiful woman that I want to bury myself so deeply inside of that neither will be able to remember our names.”

He had no idea how close she was to taking him up on his offer. But, she couldn’t. Instead, Braylee whispered into his ear, “We can’t. I can’t. Not only am I your lawyer, but you are dating someone.”

He stilled and looked confused, “What? I…don’t have anyone? And, the way you kissed me you might want to reconsider your dating choices too. You wouldn’t have responded so intensely if Dr. Jorgensen were giving you what you needed.”

Braylee gently pushed him away and almost laughed out loud, “Dr. Jorgensen and I are not dating. However, while we are not dating, I can’t say the same for you and Jeanine. Given the way she kissed you at the benefit.” She smoothed her dress down feeling somewhat guilty, “This went way too far.”

Still not wanting the moment to pass Alex pressed his case, “Jeanine? I’m not dating Jeanine.”

Braylee rolled her eyes, “Why do men always seem to have convenient amnesia when there is an obstacle in the way of getting something they want?”

“I’m not with Jeanine. I’m mean…she’s an old friend. We’re not together.”

Braylee was skeptical. “Regardless, I’m your lawyer.”

“Yes, you are my lawyer but I’ve decided…I want you.” Alexandro looked down at a full on erection hoping to still get some relief. “I think it’s obvious there’s a pretty strong physical attraction between us.”

She touched her swollen lips, “I know it may be hard to believe after this little display, but I don’t sleep with my clients.”

Alexandro gave her a lazy smile, “But, you want to…at least with me. I wasn’t alone on that wall.”

Breathlessly she spoke, “No you weren’t, and I’ll even admit…maybe my temperature did go up…a little. I’ll even admit that there is a physical attraction to you. Be that as it may, I don’t sleep with my clients and you won’t be the first.”

Silence as his eyes continued to bore into hers.

Her heart was slamming into her chest. She stood on wobbly knees, “I’m going to finish reviewing that paperwork, think about how I’m going to approach Plan B, and then go home to take care of any needs I may still have…myself. I suggest you do the same before we meet again.”

The images conjured in his mind by her words did nothing to calm the blood pumping through his body. As a matter of fact, it had the opposite effect.

Braylee’s legs were already like jelly, so it didn’t take much when he pulled her body back into his. For all of her tough talk, she was putty in his hands. And, when the fullness of his arousal pressed up against her stomach, Braylee thought she’d burn up from the inside out…again. All she could do was close her eyes and hold on.

Alexandro breathed in the scent of her before kissing the side of her neck. Braylee couldn’t control her moans that continued to escape from her lips. In a barely there whisper, “Alex, please stop.”

He sighed, “Okay.” As he kissed his way up her feverish skin and hovered around her ear before whispering, “But, you should know there is nothing you could do for yourself that would compare to me being inside of you. Think of me as you’re taking care of yourself. But just know, even an imaginary me would give you the best orgasm of your life.”

Braylee could barely stand. She definitely couldn’t speak. There was no doubt in her mind that he could deliver on his words.

Alexandro pulled back with fire in his eyes, “I’ll respect your decision…for now. It’s late. Gather your things so I can walk you to your car.”

Wordlessly, Braylee stepped away from Alex to do exactly as she was told before she broke her cardinal rule.

Chapter
9

Alexandro decided to work from home until it was time to meet Braylee at her office. He hadn’t been able to think clearly since he’d left her the night before.

There was so much to do, yet here he sat gazing out of the window into his courtyard… thinking of her. Not only was she beautiful, but razor sharp and she had a ridiculous amount of confidence. Nothing was sexier than a woman comfortable in her own skin.

He turned around determined to get some work done. Only seconds later, after barely glancing at the most recent financial report, images of her face flashed into his head.

Instead of reviewing the report, Alex picked up his yellow stress ball from the corner of his desk and leaned back into his chair. He tossed it up into the air and caught it as it came down only to do the same thing over and over.

What was it about her? It wasn’t like he hadn’t dated successful and beautiful women before. But, there seemed to be this invisible cord pulling them towards each other. She’d never admit it but now couldn’t deny it either.

However, never in his life had he ever had problems with self-control. Yet, in the short period he’d known Braylee, Alex couldn’t seem to keep his hands to himself.

He inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly. Alex still couldn’t figure it out. What the hell had come over him last night? That was the million dollar question because he had absolutely no intention of even kissing her let alone making love to her. But, when she looked at him with those intense almost black, doe-like eyes, he couldn’t help himself.

Why couldn’t their initial kiss have left him feeling nothing? It had the opposite effect especially after he’d heard that little moan she’d tried so desperately to suppress. But, when Alex felt the softness of her lips pressed against his, it only left him wanting more. Everything felt so…right when he held her in his arms.

She was his lawyer plain and simple. Mixing business with pleasure has almost never worked out well. Braylee was a hundred percent right to set those boundaries.

Still, Alex wondered, did she think about him last night? He most certainly thought about her. And, try as she might to fight their attraction, even if it were only physical, Alex knew at some point that was going to be a losing battle. Hopefully, it was after they’d wrapped up his legal problems.

At least for now, Braylee was off limits. He would respect that. He felt better knowing she wasn’t dating that little Dr. Jorgensen. However, Alex still didn’t know if she were seeing anyone seriously? Of course, she had admirers. He knew that on day one especially when he’d dropped by her office and some schmuck had filled it up with flowers. But, was she dating someone seriously?

There wasn’t much information about her personal life on the internet. It probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

Alexandro leaned his head back against the chair and closed his eyes. More than likely, she wasn’t dating seriously because it was quite obvious that Braylee was married to her work. As if it were even possible, but that made her just that much more attractive.

She didn’t seem like the type who would be demanding of his time since she had a life of her own. That’s all he needed was some clingy woman needing him to validate her.

So far, finding someone who wasn’t looking for anything from him except companionship was like finding a unicorn at the end of a rainbow.

Still deep in his thoughts, Alex almost missed the small tapping on his office door.

Opening his eyes, he answered more gruffly than intended, “Come in.”

The door slowly crept open, and a small head with long black curls and very expressive brown eyes appeared. Cecily. Even through her thick red-rimmed glasses…those eyes were still too expressive. The sadness tugged at his heart.

She responded, “Uncle Alex? Are you busy?”

He gave her a warm smile, “I’m never too busy for you Cecily. Why aren’t you wearing your school uniform? As a matter of fact, it’s early yet…why aren’t you in school?”

The teen walked into his office wearing a white t-shirt, distressed jeans, and a pair of white slip-on flats. “We didn’t have school today. So, no uniform.”

Alex checked his calendar and there it was…no school. Damn it. He should have planned better. “I’m sorry, I missed it. I’m still getting used to having a teenager in the house. But, I’m so glad you’re here. I need a woman to help keep me on my toes.”

With a smile that still didn’t quite reach her eyes, Cecily fidgeted, “Um…I was just wondering if…with Nana having gone home to Sicily for a while and Fabi out of town…if…you’d be home for dinner tonight? It gets a little lonely once your staff is gone for the evening.”

Alex had to be more sensitive to his niece’s needs. It was hard for him as an adult to process the fact his brother was gone. It had to be doubly hard for a fourteen-year-old who’d lost her parent to develop a new routine.

“I’ll make it my mission to be home at a decent hour tonight. Maybe we can even watch a movie before bedtime.”

This time her smile made Alexandro feel as if he’d just discovered a cure for cancer.

Cecily came around his desk and wrapped both her tiny arms around his neck, “Thank you, Uncle Alex.”

Alex hugged her tightly, “The pleasure is all mine. I just have one request?”