Hammered (6 page)

“Isn’t it nice that we didn’t linger too long over dinner.”
He smiled at her.

She wanted to think of some smart, witty remark but her
brain seemed to be malfunctioning. All she could do was nod and say, “Mm hmm.”

He eased himself gently from her body, disposed of the
condom then lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms. She was so
comfortable lying spoon against him, their bodies still warm and damp from the
incredible sex, his cock, now semihard, nudging against the crevice of her
buttocks. The air was filled with their musk, the sensual aroma that called to
her senses and made her want more.

Wait! I’m supposed to be in charge here.

But Alex was lightly stroking her arm, her hip, the edge of
her thigh before slipping his hand around to cup a breast. His thumb toyed with
her nipple, and to her incredible surprise it stiffened again. She couldn’t be
ready again so soon, could she?

“Catch your breath,” he murmured in her ear, his breath
whispering against her. “Just lie here. Let me take care of you.”

“But—”

“Ssh.”

How could she tell him she didn’t
want
him to take
care of her when he wouldn’t listen to her? Besides, he felt so good next to
her and she was so secure in his arms. Her eyelids drifted shut and she eased
into a light sleep. She was dreaming but she couldn’t figure out what was going
on. She tried to turn but something was holding her in place.

“It’s okay,” a warm male voice said. “I’ve got you.”

She blinked. “Alex?”

“I hope so since this is my bed we’re in. I hated to wake
you but I think we’d both feel better if we had a shower.”

She closed her eyes and tried to snuggle into the covers.

Alex laughed, a low sound of amusement. “Uh uh. Shower
first, then sleep. Come on, I’ll carry you.”

He did, taking her into the sexiest shower she’d ever seen.
And she’d seen a lot of them. He set her on her feet so her could turn on the
shower, and instead of a steady stream, mist appeared from multiple shower
heads, carrying with it the scent of eucalyptus. Alex must have flipped a
switch somewhere because very soft music drifted into the steamy air, something
relaxing that merged with the soothing aroma of the eucalyptus.

“Come on.” Alex held out his hand to her. “This will ease
your muscles.” Hit nipped her ear. “Everywhere.”

Okay, a shower couldn’t hurt, right? It was just a shower.

But once he got her inside, it seemed to turn into something
else. He placed a folded towel on the long bench built into one wall and knelt
beside her on the tile, the water misting all around them, and began to give
her the most sensuous massage she’d ever had. He began at her toes and worked
his way slowly up to her ankles. Who knew feet could be an erogenous zone?

“You need to take off that power suit more often.” His low
voice set up vibrations deep inside her. “I like the woman inside.”

“She’s the same one,” Livy murmured, lulled by his hands,
the music. Everything.

“Oh, I don’t think so.”

She heard the rasp of desire in his tone. If she’d been
thinking more clearly she would have told him what he saw was what he got. But
his hands! Oh lord, they were amazing. They rubbed and kneaded every muscle in
her calves, her thighs, her buttocks and all the way up her back to her
shoulders. He even massaged the nape of her neck. By the time he turned her
over if she’d had one ounce of energy left it was gone.

He worked on the front of her body, paying the same
thoughtful attention to each muscle but carefully avoiding her pussy that was
throbbing once again. She was nearly asleep again when he slipped his hands
between his thighs, rubbing the insides very lightly before letting his fingers
whisper over the swollen lips. His touch was so feathery she wasn’t sure at
first if she was imagining it or not. But when he probed gently inside her cunt
she let her thighs fall apart and gave him complete access.

He teased her clit, bending to take a stiff nipple into his
mouth and suck on it. His fingers were busy sliding in and out of her, his
thumb tormenting the hot nub of her sex. The orgasm rolled through her so
smoothly she hadn’t even felt it begin. Just…suddenly there it was, shaking her
like the wind in a grove of trees.

Alex moved his mouth to cover her clit, sucking it hard as
he worked her through the shudders until her body was limp again. She was
completely undone, a blob on the bench. He soaped her body, not missing a
single crack or crevice before rinsing her off with a small hand spray. She lay
supine, drained by the experience, while he saw to his own shower. Finally he
turned off the spray and the music, dried them both carefully and carried her
back to bed.

The last thing she remembered him saying was, “I have a
great way to wake you in the morning.”

Chapter Five

Livy stood in her shower, letting the cold water beat down
on her, hoping it would shock some sense into her. If some inner signal hadn’t
woken her up at four thirty she still be lying in Alex McMann’s bed like any
other woman, watching him strut his stuff at his conquest. She was just damn
lucky he hadn’t woken up. Well, the sex might have been beyond great but she
never, ever spent the whole night with a man. It was against her rules. Just
because she’d let her guard down for one night didn’t mean it would happen
again. If she couldn’t compartmentalize sex with Alex as she did with every
other man then she’d just have to stop doing it.

Yeah, right. Tell yourself another one.

And while she was at it, maybe she could wash away that
feeling for him that continued to grow inside her. A feeling she hadn’t allowed
herself for year, because she knew that giving in to it would be disaster all
over again. What a mess she’d made for herself.

The cold water didn’t seem to be eradicating the heat inside
her body and her nipples were so puckered they were almost prunelike, so she
turned off the shower. Damn that man to hell anyway. No, that was wrong. It was
all her doing. She’d thought she had things right where she wanted them—hot sex
then back to business. But somehow Alex had managed to worm his way under what
he called her power suit and touched her inner core. He awoke emotions she’d
kept buried for a long time, the kind of passion that springs from love.

I can’t let that happen again. Love hurts too much.

Still, she couldn’t erase the feel of his hands on her, his
mouth, the sweep of his tongue. The fullness of his cock inside her. The way
their lovemaking came from something deeper than just physical attraction. He’d
taken her to heights she’d never before experienced, a place she wanted to go
again. With him.

And no matter how much she wanted to deny it, the evening
had been more than just sex.

The man should come with
Danger
written on his
forehead.

She shook herself, wrapped a terry robe around her body and
headed into the kitchen. The coffeemaker had done its thing so she filled a mug
and took a sip of the hot brew. Yes, that was exactly what she needed.
Something to wake her up and shock some sense into her. She was taking another
swallow of the rich coffee when her telephone rang. She looked at the caller
ID. Alex McMann. Deliberately she let the telephone ring long enough for the
answering machine in her den to pick it up. She heard the sound of his voice
but was too far away to make out the words.

Then she heard the familiar chimes of her cell phone ringing
in her bedroom. Taking care not to spill the coffee, she hurried to check the
call. Alex again. Of course. While she dried her hair, put on her makeup and
dressed for the day both phones rang again several times but she never picked
up. Finally, purse and keys in hand, she went into the den and pressed the
playback button on the answering machine.

“Livy? Where are you? I had a nice wakeup surprise
planned for you but I guess I got the surprise. Call me. I want to make sure
you’re okay.”

“Livy? Why aren’t you answering? I can’t believe you just
left like that. Not even a note.” A pause. “Jesus, listen to me. I sound like a
girl. Call me.”

“Olivia? Pick up the damn phone. I want to know why you
sneaked out the way you did. Call me so I don’t have to hunt you down.”

His voice had changed from cajoling to anger and he had
every right to be mad. When she checked her voice mail on her cell it was more
of the same. Livy knew she was being unfair to him but she really had to get
her shit together before she saw him again. Had to rehearse what she would say.
Make sure she was composed and sure of herself. They had to be on the same page
with this. They just had to.

She hoped he didn’t show up at the office. That was no place
to have this kind of discussion. But if he did, if he dragged the personal into
the work place, then he wasn’t a man she wanted to be involved with.

By the time she parked in the garage in the basement of the
Concordia building she was convinced she had her game face on. She’d chosen a
navy pants suit with a bolero jacket and a white silk blouse that shrieked
business yet made her feel feminine. No skirt today. But she still wore the
stilettos and they gave her a tiny swagger.

She had barely set foot in her office before Jo said, “Frank
wants to see you right away.” She checked her watch. “He’s got fifteen minutes
before a meeting so you’d better hustle.”

Livy checked herself twice before hurrying to Frank
Vincent’s office. His secretary waved her on in.

“Fifteen minutes,” she reminded Livy.

“I know. He asked for me so I’m sure whatever it is won’t
take long.”

Frank was checking a report on his desk when she walked in.
He looked up and smiled at her.

“I have to leave but I just wanted a thumbnail report of your
dinner last night. How did it go?”

Praying that nothing showed on her face she returned the
smile with one she hoped showed quiet confidence.

“It went very well, just as I expected.”

“How did he react to getting the contract?”

“Just as you expected.” She sat down in one of the chairs.
“Surprised that you made the decision so quickly. Stunned and honored. Ready to
go to work and build you the best damn village you’ve ever seen.”

“Good, good.” Frank shrugged into the jacket hanging on the
back of his chair. “Still got your radar working on him? On them?”

Livy nodded. “And my opinion hasn’t changed.”
At least
not on the business front.

“Good. That’s what I want to know. I know the letter
instructed him to call here to set up the meetings with you and Dan but I want
to get this going right away. The investors are anxious. So you make the call,
get together with him and get this thing underway.”

She cleared her throat. “You sure you don’t want Dan to be
point on this? My area of expertise is strictly financial.”

Frank stopped, cocked his head and studied her. “Is there a
problem here you don’t want to tell me about?”

“Problem? No, no, not at all.” She shoved her clenched hands
into her pockets. “Just wondering if Dan might not like the challenge for a
change.”

“Olivia.” His gaze held hers as if he was searching for
something. “I depend on you to keep everyone honest, us and the builders. Dan
will be working with commercial leasing agencies to fill the spaces, with real
estate companies to sell the houses. Who better to keep the builders honest
than the chief financial officer?” He paused. “Are you sure there isn’t
something else I should know?”

“Absolutely not. And I’m looking forward to working with the
McMann brothers on this.”

“Good, good.” He checked his watch. “Gotta run. Get those
meetings set up and have a schedule on my computer when I get back.”

“Of course.”

Of course. Just let me jump from the frying pan into the
fire.

She could do this. Business before pleasure, always. And
what better way to get the message across to Alex McMann than to come back at
him strictly business. She’d just pretend last night never happened, and make
sure it didn’t happen again.

Yeah, right. Who are you kidding?

* * * * *

Alex bypassed everyone at work and headed straight to his
office, slamming the door in what was for him a very unusual move. He tossed
his briefcase on a chair, shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the
old-fashioned coat tree in the corner. He wanted to punch someone’s lights out
or kick the wall or…or…something to work off this anger that had taken him
over.

He had never, in all his years as an adult, had a woman
sneak out of his bedroom. Of course it more likely would be a hotel room
because Olivia D’Angelo was the first woman he’d
ever
brought to his house
for sex. Women invited him to their place or he made hotel arrangements. He’d
argued silently with himself in the restaurant before doing it but his usually
reliable gut was telling him this woman was something special.
Very
special.

But sneaking out like that… He was insulted and roaring mad.
And even more than that. At thirty-six he was ready at last to settle into a
permanent relationship. The dating scene was wearing on him and most of the
women he spent time with were at that desperate point. From the first moment he
met Livy he felt that kind of connection with her, the sense that this could be
something special. Last night, in his bed, with Livy lying in his arms, he’d
realized what that connection was. Love. Just that fast. Josh had certainly been
right. The way she responded to him, he thought she felt the same way. That
this was more than just hot sex to her.

Obviously he was wrong. He’d better get himself under
control since he was going to be working with her for a very long time. Damn,
he thought he had more self-control than this. But he couldn’t remember the
last time a woman affected him this way. Or anyone he’d had better sex with.
He’d had a feeling this was more than just sex, but maybe he was wrong.

He leaned back in his chair, running his fingers through his
hair, just as Josh burst into his office.

“Want to tell me what the fuck is going on with you?” he
asked, closing the door behind him. “I thought you’d be higher than a kite this
morning after closing the deal with Concordia.”

Alex drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, doing his
best to pull himself together. He never let his temper get the best of him and
he’d have a tough time explaining why he did it now.

“Sorry. Really. Something irritated me and I gave in to it.”
He put on what he hoped was a relaxed smile. “All is good. I’m happy. See?”

Josh actually laughed. “That is the most pathetic attempt at
a smile I’ve ever seen.” He dropped into a chair in front of Josh’s desk. “Come
on. Give. What’s eating you? This isn’t like you at all.”

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” He wasn’t one
to share his deepest emotions, even with his brothers. And in a short time what
he felt for Olivia D’Angelo had turned deeper than the ocean. “Anyway, I think
we should have a celebration dinner tonight. All of us. Ness too. This is the
biggest thing we’ve ever taken on.”

Josh studied him for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. But
whatever’s eating you, if you want to talk I’m here. And Tyler.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks, but I need to work this one out
myself.”

Josh leaned forward suddenly. “It wouldn’t have anything to
do with that so-called business dinner you had last night with Olivia D’Angelo,
would it?”

“No,” Alex snapped, then said in a calmer tone, “No, it
wouldn’t. We had a very nice dinner, talked about the project and that was
that.”

“Why do I think you’re not quite telling me the truth?”

Alex shrugged. “Think what you want but everything’s
copacetic between me and the lovely Ms D’Angelo. Now. Want to discuss the
project? We have a lot of details to work out and I have to draw up the
contract.”

Josh unfolded himself from the chair. “Let me get my notes
together so you can read them and you can get to work on it. Tyler’s out at a
site but if you call him he’ll work on his end tonight. Then you can put a
draft together and we can go over it.” At the door he turned. “Two things.
Dinner at my house tonight. Barbecue. And whatever’s eating you, holler if you
want to toss it around.”

“As I said, I’m good. Thanks, anyway.”

He was thinking about heading for the coffee pot when his
phone buzzed.

He picked up the receiver. “Yeah?”

“My, my. Still in a jolly mood, are we?” Marcia, their
all-around assistant, had an amused tone in her voice. “Maybe this call will
take out some of the vinegar.”

“Who is it?”

“Olivia D’Angelo from Concordia. Shall I put her through?”

Alex wanted to tell her no. He wanted to bang his head on
the desk. He wanted to be back in bed with Olivia D’Angelo and have a do-over.
Figure out what went wrong. But he was an adult businessman so he’d just suck
it up. Still, he was curious about what she had to say.”

“Tell Ms D’Angelo I’ll be delighted to talk to her,” he told
Marcia.

“Yes, sir.” She chuckled.

“Alex?” Her voice sounded just as musical as it had
yesterday only without the softness. This was the hard-edged businesswoman.

“Good morning.” He made his voice as uninflected as
possible. Two could play at this game.

“Frank and I met this morning and I’m calling to set up an
appointment. We need to put together a schedule of meetings. Concordia has a
definite pattern they like to follow. What time today would be good for you?”

Today?

“My brothers and I haven’t put the preliminary contract
together yet. I’d prefer to have something on paper to show you first. And Dan
Tuturo went over your process with me.”

“I’m sure what Dan explained was our construction procedure
and how we’ve handled other projects. My area of responsibility is all the
paperwork and making sure we’re always in sync.”

”I’d still like to wait until I have a working draft.”

There was a brief pause. “Frank was clear he’d like us to
get together today. So again, what’s good for you?”

He wanted their meeting on neutral ground, someplace where
neither of them could throw a temper tantrum if the conversation heated up.
Besides, if he went to her offices they’d be interrupted by others and if they
met here Josh wouldn’t be able to keep his nose out of it.

“How about a working lunch? Santino’s lunch crowd is usually
gone by one thirty. We could have a late lunch and go over whatever details
you’re concerned with.”

The Italian restaurant was a place where he often took
clients for lunch or dinner. He was in his comfort zone there and he needed
that to see Olivia D’Angelo considering the circumstances. He had to figure out
how to shutter his emotions and move forward in a businesslike manner. This was
a prime example of why you should never sleep with business colleagues, a rule
he’d always kept to. Until now.