Blurring the Lines (Men of the Zodiac) (12 page)

Chapter Fourteen

K
ira exited the bathroom at Blake’s condo and her world shifted. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d been so happy, and with Blake
,
each day kept getting better and better. He lounged against the pillows, one arm flung above his head, wearing a satisfied and silly smile that caught her in the heart and squeezed.

After climbing back into bed, she crawled up over his chest, kissing her way to his lips, then traced the underside of his arm with the tip of her finger. “I never expected you to be a tattoo type guy.”

He closed his eyes and smiled. “Yeah. Not exactly in a spot where I’m reminded it’s there.”

She inched closer to kiss the symbol, barely visible, at the apex of the bicep and tricep. “Is that your zodiac sign?” How had she not noticed that before now? It left her aching to find out what else she didn’t know about him. Pressing her lips to the double waves, she made her way over the bicep and up to his shoulder, pulling back just enough to see his mouth curve into a half-smile.

He opened his eyes and lowered his arm, the tattoo disappearing from her view. “Yeah.”

She lifted his arm again to trace her finger over the symbol. “You are full of surprises. Aquarius, right?”

“It is.” His arms dropped over her shoulders and he tugged her onto his chest.

Snuggling into him, she nuzzled her nose in his chest. Even after sex, he smelled so fresh and dizzyingly delicious. “Hmmmm.”

“What?”

“That explains so much about you.” She’d had an Aquarius cheerleading captain in high school, and that girl had been a born leader with a generous heart.

“It does, does it?”

“More than you know. Do you read your horoscope?” She loved horoscopes, hope, and categories. Her zodiac gave her a sense of identity, something to connect with her feelings, but it also gave her a frame with which to work. She knew her limitations and she could push them, fight against the ingrained astrological forces defining her.

“I used to.” His voice sounded wistful.

He sounded like he was recalling a memory, and with curiosity winning over jealousy, she asked, “What changed so you stopped?”

“It’s a bunch of hocus pocus.”

She pushed off his chest and sat sideways in the bed, looking down at him. “I read my horoscope.”

“And?” He reached out and traced a line up her inner thigh, sending shivers to her feminine parts.

She licked her lips and reached out to touch his stomach. His muscles flexed, and she noticed a renewed energy to his cock. “I keep reading until I find one I like.”

His hand shot out and grabbed her, dragging her back onto him. He kissed the tip of her nose, even as his hardness pressed into her stomach. “Real scientific.”

“It’s a horoscope. It’s not supposed to be scientific.”

“Then why read it?”

She crawled over him and straddled his hips. “For the feeling of hope.”

His large palms massaged her ass. “What’s your sign?”

She moaned and wiggled against him. “Guess.”

He ran his hands up her backside and over her stomach, then cupped her breasts. “Based on your personality and my limited knowledge of the zodiac, I’d guess Leo.”

The way his thumbs grazed over her nipples dampened the apex between her thighs, but she didn’t want their conversation to end just yet. “What? Why would guess that?”

“Am I right?”

She’d never been so enthralled by any man in her whole life, and Blake took sexy to a whole other level. The teasing was agonizing, but it felt too good to rush. “I’m not saying until you tell me why you picked Leo.”

“Besides that your birthday is listed on the employment forms?”

“There’s no way you remember my birthday from the HR forms.”

“So then it’s back to your personality.” As he said this, he lifted his head to pull one of her sensitive nipples into his hot mouth. She closed her eyes as the sensations tugged low in her, and she wondered how much longer she could discuss the zodiac with her body aching for him to take her.

On a gasp as his tongue played with her nipples, she protested, “I’m a gentle lamb, not a fierce lion.”

He stared up at her with a look filled with desire. “You are a lioness.”

“This isn’t about me. I don’t have a tattoo of my sign. You do. Which means you were really into this hocus pocus.”

One of his shoulders lifted in a lazy shrug, coupled with a half-smile. “Might have been.”

That smile caught her in the gut. “Something happened that you stopped or lost interest or—oh my gawd, it was a woman! You got a tattoo for a girl, didn’t you?”

“Given our current position, I’m safer not answering that.”

Kira laughed. She didn’t care about his past lovers. But she did care about the reason behind his tattoo. She’d always wanted her zodiac sign tattooed on her, but she’d never been brave enough. Not like Blake. He’d done what she’d been too scared to do, but the fact that he even had a tattoo of his zodiac made her feel connected to him.

He rolled into her space, and with his hands around her waist and his mouth grazing hers, he said, “I’m glad you’re here.”

She inhaled and gripped his shoulders as she fell back on the bed. “I want to be here.”

He bent down to kiss her collarbone and her neck, and with each lick the ache between her thighs increased.

A bubble of laughter escaped her lips, and she pressed her mouth to his bicep. “You’re delicious.”

He chuckled and nibbled her shoulder. “I like how your breathing increases just before I lick your nipple.” He dipped his head and opened his mouth, but didn’t taste her just yet.

As if on cue, her chest rose and fell in rapid succession, and her breath hitched and sped up when he finally, slowly, traced the tip of his tongue around her tightened nipple.

“Blake!”

She gasped when his fingers found her sensitive core and instinct had her rocking into his hand. “Again?”

As he drew her into him, she took her time exploring his body. When he tried to increase the pace, she slowed down. “Are we in a rush?”

“You’re killing me. Cruel and unusual punishment.”

She used one hand to stroke him and the other to cup his balls. “Good. Now you know how I feel.”

He closed his eyes but didn’t try to hurry her along.

Everything about him aroused her, and she inhaled his scent and kissed the light scattering of hair covering his muscles. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d enjoyed a man’s body so thoroughly, and her fingers glided over his pecs and abs, his shoulders and biceps, until he growled, shooting her a hungry grin.

He pinned her beneath him, and from the way he licked his lips, this was going to be better than good. “I don’t know what’s worse. That I want to consume you quickly or torture you slowly.”

“Both,” she challenged him. “Find a way to do both.”
He dropped to his knees and his hands stretched up to cup her breasts and toy with her nipples at the same time his tongue flicked over the damp spot between her legs. Her hands dove into his hair, and she felt the vibration of his laughter against her core. He didn’t stop, even as she arched into him and her knees buckled. Wave after wave of an intense orgasm crashed over her.

When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he stood and lifted her into his arms. “You’re gorgeous when you come.”

Her face heated, but she refused to be shy and closed her hand over his hardened shaft, trying to memorize this exact feeling, the perfect way he made her feel, the muscles in his chest, and the playful desire she could see in his eyes.

With Blake she felt this unfamiliar need to solidify what they were, because in the background, there was always this unanswered question of her career. Would they stay together for the rest of the year? Until her contract expired? Afterward? When she hopefully settled into a career focusing on pro bono cases and maybe landed a board position for a not-for-profit?

“You’re lost in your thoughts again.” Blake’s voice dragged her back to him, and she absently stroked him. She stopped and stared at him. “Don’t stop. I don’t mind. But I can tell you’re somewhere else.”

“No. I’m right here. I’m plotting my payback.”

She sank to her knees and licked the tip of his cock. He jerked, and she gripped it more firmly then sucked the entire head into her mouth.

“God, Kira.”

“Just Kira,” she mumbled, using her hand and mouth to stroke him until he rocked into her one last time.

She giggled again, watching him watch her and feeling so desirable. Then she spread her legs and welcomed him into her warmth. A thrill raced through her when he entered her.

An hour later, she was on the computer while he did some work at his desk.

“Interesting.” She clicked on the email’s link and scrolled through it.

“What is?” Blake glance
d up from his papers.

“I was just looking at your spam mail, and there’s a fundraiser you should probably attend. The Fort Myers No Kill Shelter is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner.” She pointed to the screen.

He rose from his chair and came to lean over her, and she made the mistake of inhaling his fresh scent. The aroma sent her thoughts whirling back to his bed, one of her new favorite places.

Abruptly, she shook her head and cleared the memories. “Should I RSVP for you?”

“Maybe you should RSVP for both of us.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him. His offer was unexpected, and she didn’t know if he’d said it as a question or a statement. How exactly did he mean for her to RSVP? As boss/employee or as a couple? To her knowledge, he’d never asked his secretary to attend a social event with him, so this would certainly be a first.

She blinked. Okay, so this was probably one reason why Blake never dated his staff. So far they’d kept their affair quiet, but if they attended an event together… Instead of asking what kind of “both of us” he meant, she skipped around the question. “I wasn’t invited.”

“You could be my plus one. When is it?”

Kira eyed him for another heartbeat and then turned back around, unsatisfied and oddly deflated, to face the computer. He hadn’t actually asked her to be his date, and he hadn’t clarified if they would be attending as Whitman-Madison representatives or as a couple.

“A week from Tuesday.”

“Perfect. Our first date.” She stiffened, and he must have sensed it, because he moved from behind her to rest on the edge of her desk facing her. “Don’t you want to go?”

She chewed on her lip. He’d said it. Their first date. And now they’d be announcing they were a couple. Was that what she wanted? Was she ready to take the next step?

No matter what, attending the Fort Myers No Kill Shelter dinner would give her a chance to speak with other interested animal lovers and see how they ran things in their county. That would help her better serve the Edgewater Bay Animal Rescue.

“Okay. I’d love to go.”

Blake nodded and took two steps toward his office before pivoting on his heel and returning to her desk. “I should have asked if you wanted to go with me.”

“I do.”

“I know, but—” He shook his head, a remorseful-looking smile tugging on his mouth. “Kira, would you like to attend this event with me as my date?”

Appreciation for his consideration warmed her, and if she thought she’d be okay with just the sex without the dating, she realized she’d been wrong. It meant a commitment to take their relationship to the next level. Going on a public date with Blake excited her, and with genuine enthusiasm, she said, “I’d love to.”

Chapter Fifteen

B
lake eyed Kira standing across the high top table in the VIP section for the Fort Myers No Kill Shelter Thanksgiving dinner. Her red dress cupped her curves, and he’d considered begging her to skip the event and race back to his place. But she looked too good to not show off, and she’d been shy when he’d said he wanted to pick her up for their first date.

Dressed in that dress and wearing those shoes, the sight of her teased him, and on the drive to the events center, he’d concocted wicked ways to pleasure her. She was so sexy and beautiful, and their chemistry was unlike any he’d ever experienced, but more than that, he’d come to appreciate all her other qualities, too.

The ones she’d tried to hide. He’d fixated on her looks initially, but what caught him was the sound of her laugh, the way she brought him coffee, even when he didn’t ask for it, and the guilty look she shot him when she broke something in the office. The shy smile she’d give him when she nailed an assessment or anticipated his needs. And don’t get him started on when she’d claim his contracts and dissect the legalese—that was downright hot. Kira was the whole package, and he felt like he’d only seen a glimpse of who she really was. He wanted to challenge her and protect her and find some way to keep her all for himself.

More than anything, despite the difficulties he’d had wrangling with the board over redevelopment, he was determined to make her vision of the revitalized downtown come true. He’d tweaked and retooled, paid for additional assessments and plans out of his own pocket to find some way to lower costs and persuade the dissenting members to vote in his favor. He wouldn’t let her down; he wanted her to be proud of him.

He held up the two red complimentary drink tickets he’d been handed at check-in. “What’s your preference?”

“Whatever you’re having is fine with me.”

“Even if it’s Scotch?” he teased, pleased when he saw recognition in her eyes.

She grinned and in a sing-song voice said, “Bor-ing.”

With his lips brushing over her ear, he whispered, “What I lack in imagination for my liquor, I make up for in the bedroom.”

Her cheeks flushed. Good. He shouldn’t be the only one hot and bothered.

“Okay. Boring Scotch, please.”

Their gazes locked, and the air slammed into his chest, knocking the wind from his lungs. Dear God, she could slay him with one look, and he’d be damned if she took that feeling away from him.

Even if he’d had to readjust his plans for downtown Edgewater Bay and her building, if that was how he’d met Kira, he was glad it happened that way. He’d make sure the Board voted on preserving the historic downtown rather than the shiny, new citified plans and everything would work out just perfectly.

K
ira stared across the ballroom at Blake and watched, helpless to do anything but admire the way he moved. Powerful and with purpose, he wore his suit with the center button fastened, and the way the fabric tugged over his broad shoulders made her itch to run her hands over him. She knew what was beneath those clothes, and she appreciated every inch of his powerful frame.

Her breath hitched. Her chest constricted. She’d never wanted a man more in her life, and the more she considered where this was going, the more she loved the idea that a charity for animals was their first date.

Then, he was in front of her, handing her his drink of choice. “Have you ever even tried Scotch?”

The smirk on her mouth signaled she hadn’t.

“Well, I’ll bet you…” He swirled the liquid in his glass, thinking.

She provided the answer, “A foot rub?”

“A foot rub that you’re really going to like this.”

“Oh?”

A challenge lit his gaze, and she loved that about him. That, and his sense of purpose helped shaped her these past months. All because of Blake.

They clinked glasses, but as she raised the glass to her lips, he said, “Don’t lie. I’ll know if you do.”

She took a sip, cringed, and said, “I’m not going to lie. When’s my foot rub?”

His eyebrows arched. “Really? Just like that?”

She shrugged. “What can I say?”

“That you like it!”

“But I like a foot rub more.”

That earned her a wide smile that weakened her knees. “I say we leave right now, so you can collect on the bet.”

She took another tiny sip. The irrational part of her wanted to grab his hand and drag him out of there. Forget the foot rub. Focus on the sex. The really amazing, hot and sweaty sex. Maybe they could find a closet for a quickie? “I think it would be considered rude to leave before we’ve eaten.”

He shook his head and sighed. “You’re right. We need to change the subject to something to help get me through this dinner.”

She decided now was as good a time as any to bring up the building. “I saw your calendar for next week. There’s a meeting with the architect to review the newest plans. Any chance I can tag along?”

His eyes narrowed for a second, but then he touched her arm in a way that was meant to be consolatory. “I don’t think that’s appropriate. Several board members will be there, plus the other partners, but none of the other secretaries. I’m really sorry.”

She understood, though hearing him decline her request still hurt her feelings. She wanted to be a part of the project from start to finish. “Can we meet when you get back and you can tell me what happened? Please?”

“Of course.” He kissed her forehead.

She placed her hand over his. “I’m so excited about this. I can’t tell you everything that’s been running through my mind.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and looked genuinely interested when he asked, “What do you mean?”

She set down her glass and leaned on the cocktail table. “Well, I know it’ll take time to refurbish the downtown, but while it’s being completed, I’m going to look into establishing a heritage museum. Other cities with historic downtown areas have them. How great would it be if the museum sold bricks for people to engrave their names as supporters of the area?”

“That’s a fantastic suggestion.” He squeezed her hand. “You have brilliant ideas for this community.”

She beamed. The compliment really meant something, and she wondered when Blake’s opinion started to matter so much to her. “You’re not just saying that?”

“A museum is something people will really buy into, especially if they get their name on a brick.”

So excited in sharing her ideas, she didn’t even cringe when she swallowed more Scotch. “So what about you? Would you pay to get your name on a brick?”

“Why not? I missed out at the veteran’s hospital, so this will be my first.”

For too long she’d been an innocent bystander to life and all along Blake had been doing things around town. He’d surprised her in so many ways.

If she’d thought this date would be some kind of test to their chance at a future, it had proved that they could really make this happen. He obviously didn’t care if people knew they were more than boss and employee. He’d been sending signals all night to anyone within eyesight by touching her arm or kissing her temple
.

For once, she knew a first date would end with sex.