Ignite Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (18 page)

I greeted him with a discreet moan to his ear, “Hi baby.”

He stiffened and pressed me to him. I inhaled his scent,
feeling my insides clench, provoked by his presence.

I climbed inside the back of the limousine and greeted
Calvin.

Rubbing his hands to warm mine, Landon pulled me on his
lap and buried his head in my cleavage.

“How was your morning baby?” He nuzzled, smarting his way
passed my collar.

Gripping his hair tightly, I pressed him further and spoke
to his ear, “Empty, lonely, and orgasmless.”

I loved his soft laugh.

“I’m here to make it better.”

“You better be.” I said tartly.

I slid my hand and pulled the belt of his coat. Grabbing
him over the pants, I moaned in his ears, “And you better get started.”

He hardened instantly.

The sound of my phone came from my purse and I turned to
answer it.

“Don’t take your hand off.” He demanded and stilled me.

“It might be urgent.” I pleaded.

Stilling me again, he removed my phone from my handbag and
answered, “Clea Dane’s phone.”

I eyeballed him, “Who is it?”

I reached up again, and he brought my hand back and guided
my strokes.

“I’m her boyfriend, who am I speaking to?”

I watched him go rigid, his expression hard and dark,
“Audrey? Is that you?”

I felt my blood drain out of my body.

“Why the fuck are you calling Clea?”

I moved to sit next to him.

I was unable to hear what she was saying to him, but his
answers were cold, his tone menacing and scary.

“About what? I warned you Audrey, I fucking warned you.”

I heard some screeched coming out of the phone. Landon
remained composed, but his body told me otherwise.

“Don’t you dare call her again… You’re not listening
Audrey, if you ever contact her, if you ever pull one of your stunts on her,
I’ll have you rotten in jail for the rest of your miserable life. This is my
last warning Audrey.”

He killed the call.

We rode in silence for what seemed like an eternity. I
watched him as he came down from his anger, then it went up again. He was
pissed off, immensely so. I remained silent, fearing what might follow.

Landon removed his phone from his trench pocket and
composed a number.

“Marty? This is Landon. Meet me in my office; I’ll let the
reception know you’re coming… Yes… Now Marty… Great I’ll be there in ten…”

Without looking at me, he pushed the intercom, “Calvin,
change of plans. Take us to my office.”

He fell silent again, then spoke in a low, hoarse, voice,
“This isn’t the first time she contacts you Clea, is it?”

I froze, unable to concentrate on anything other than my
pounding heart.

“Answer me, Clea.” He turned his waist to face me.

I answered with a shrug.

He inhaled, but was unable to calm down, he bit out, “Why
the fuck didn’t you tell me? When did this happen?” I put my hand on his lap.

“No, don’t you dare and try to manipulate your way out of
this Clea. Tell me.”

I fell silent and decided to tell him everything.

Taking the fact that he didn’t remove my hand from his
knee, I slid closer to him, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I know I broke the
rule.”

“Damn right you did.” His face unyielding, “Just tell me
what did she tell you.”

“Nothing, she said she wanted me to meet her for lunch,
and something about what she can do to me.”

“She threatened you.” He interjected, getting even more
pissed off.

“No!” I exclaimed sliding further and making my way back
on his lap, “She meant that she would somehow do me a favor. At least, that’s
what it felt like she meant.”

Seeing that he didn’t refuse me access to his lap, I
gripped him and continued, “I asked her not to call me again and that was it,
until…”

I hesitated.

Picking up on my struggle, Landon urged, “Until what?
Until now?”

I swiveled, “Well.” I let my fingers skim leisurely on his
collar, “When we were in San Diego, she went to my apartment, apparently
furious and looking for me. Ryan and Jenna threw her out by menacing to call
you. She also called me, but I didn’t answer. I’m sorry,” I added
apologetically, seeing the way it seemed to affect him.

Taking a moment to breathe, he seemed calmer under my
touch, “You should’ve told me baby.” He buried his head in my neck and inhaled
again.

“I didn’t want to, I know I should’ve told, but frankly, I
didn’t care about anything she had to say, and I would’ve continued to ignore
her. I thought she would get the hint and get lost.” I took a lighter tone and
pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“Also I didn’t want her to get between us, just like she
just did. This is not what we agreed on.” I pouted, “I’m not getting what I was
promised.”

Landon slid his hand under my coat and skimmed his
fingers, gently stroking my back.

“I know baby, rain check and double the pleasure.” He
offered as I caught his eyes.

“What?” I exclaimed, “I’m not letting her ruin my lunch,
screw her.” I bit out.

“Audrey is not going to stop her attempts unless I do
something about it. I need to take care of this urgently.”

“Take care of it, later, or tomorrow, I don’t care, I
won’t give her the satisfaction of ruining a perfectly planned afternoon.” I
argued, not letting go.

Laughing softly at my posture, he squeezed me to him, “My
stubborn little thing.”

I pushed the intercom behind his head, “Calvin, I’m sorry,
change of plan again. Take us to the closest Starbucks.”

“Right away Miss Clea.”

I turned my attention
 
to Landon, grabbing him again, I spoke in a low, flirtatious
voice, “Now, where were we?”

He propped his head up and shook his head, his upper lips
curled and I stroked him harder.

I heard Landon curse under his breath and laughed as I
finished giving my order to the barista ogling him.

“Focus.” I bit out, “He’s taken.”

Not even embarrassed by Landon’s loud chuckle, she gave me
the look over and stared at me bitchily. I ignored her and finished giving her
my order, “Grande Americano with one extra shot, no milk, and vanilla syrup.”

She shook her head with an acerbic expression, I
 
dipped into the menu and decided to
taunt Landon, “I’ll take a Tall chai tea with my Ham and Swiss Panini.”

Landon extended his card and I brushed it off, “My treat
Mr. Davis.”

I winked at him and ignored his outface.

Inhaling sharply, Landon brought his cup to his mouth and
groaned, “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me.”

I giggled at his disgusted grimace. Landon was extremely
healthy and careful about his nutrition. He never drank coffee, not even once.
He never had a burger that wasn’t carefully homemade, and most off all he hated
what he called ‘unnecessary sugar’.

“That’s your penalty for breaking our most important
rule.” I stated, “So if you
really
want dessert, you go ahead and finish your coffee.” I ogled him and pressed my
foot between his thighs.

He hissed and drank again.

Grinning widely, he leaned forward, trying to shuffle away
from the grip of my foot, and failing, “This will keep me up all night, are you
sure you want to do it?” He challenged.

I winked at him, and applied more pressure, “I’m game if
you are, just make sure you stay hydrated for the rest of the afternoon.”

“Challenge accepted.”

“Ditto baby.” I retorted.

*****

Walking inside my office, I found Liam chatting with
another man. I recognized his English accent and inhaled deeply,

“Good afternoon Miss Dane.”

“Mr. Thomson.” I greeted nonchalantly.

“I heard you weren’t feeling good, so I decided to come
and check on you personally.” He extended his hand and I shook it.

“Thank you Mr. Thomson, I’m feeling better now.”

It was Brooke’s idea to give him that excuse, and I didn’t
expect him to come.

“Great. I brought you these, but I see I wasn’t the only
one.” He handed me a bouquet of orchids and I took it with a weak smile.

When I peered behind him, I found a cupcake bouquet and I
instantly knew that they came from Landon. But for the hell of me, I couldn't
figure when he managed to do it. I left him two minutes ago.

He moved to the chair in front of my desk and motioned for
me to sit. He was an attractive man if it wasn’t for his cockiness, and the way
he made me uncomfortable.

“Miss Finley and I rescheduled our lunch. I’d rather have
you with us when presenting the strategy.”

Fuck. Shit. Fuck.

“Oh?” It was all I could say, rethinking my generous offer
to Brooke out of frustration.

“I trust that you will be feeling better by tomorrow?
Lunch? Dinner?”

“Hello.” Landon walked inside my office and I pushed to
greet him.

“Davis. Always so sharp.”

I frowned at Liam’s comment and strode to him.

“Mr. McMillian, always so subtle.” Landon bit out as way
of greeting.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes baby, you just forgot your package. I thought it
might be work related.” He handed me the package, and I took it and kissed him.

I knew it was unprofessional, but I did it anyway, hoping
that Mr. Thomson would get the hint.

“Hello.” Mr. Thomson raised and extended a hand to greet
Landon.

“Amory Thomson.”

“Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Thomson. Landon Davis.”

“Oh the Victoria chains hotels.”

Landon nodded in acknowledgement and turned to me, not
giving the man any more attention,

“I have to go take care of business, I’ll pick you up at
six.”

“Okay.”

“Mr. Thomson, Mr. McMillian.”

“I’ll see you later baby.”

“Good day gentlemen.”

I studied the package in my hand curiously. It had no
stamps, only my name on it, it was hand-delivered, and it passed security.

“Well.” Mr. Thomson brought me out of my short trance,
“I’ll leave you two to your work.”

“Thank you for the flowers.” I said extending my hand to
him.

“My pleasure Miss Dane. We’ll reconvene tomorrow then.”

“Tomorrow.” I affirmed.

Once I was alone with Liam, I gave him a hard glare, and
he shrugged, “What?”

“Can’t you be courteous with Landon? And what was the
purpose of you snarky little comment?”

He pulled the first drawer and plugged an external hard
drive to his computer, “He seemed to understand me just fine.”

“I didn’t.” I said, laying the package on my desk.

“Well, it wasn’t addressed to you now, was it?”

Huffing at him, I rounded my heels and went to see Brooke
in her office. I passed Christy with her usual butchery-gaze.

“Hey guys, where’s Brooke?” I peered inside the office she
shared with Silver and Jason.

Turning his attention from his sketch table, Jason offered
me a shrug, “She was here two seconds ago.”

“Check the restroom.” Silver suggested.

Thanking them, I walked to the restroom. There was no sign
of Brooke so I decided to get back to work.

Two hours later, I was relaxing on my desk chair and over
with my workload of the day.

Calling for my attention, I removed the package and opened
it. I frowned as I only found a CD and an envelope. I put the disc on the table,
took the envelope, and scanned it.

My mouth fell open… it was a letter… from Audrey.

Refolding it instantly, I unplugged my laptop, took the CD
and the letter, and excused myself. I paced around the cubicles until I reached
the conference room and locked myself inside it.

Dear Clea,

Since you and your team of minions managed to counter all
my attempts to contact you,

You left me with no other choice than this one.

You see, you took something of mine, and as an only child,
I’m not used to people

taking
things from me. Even though it didn’t
sit well with me, I tried the nice way, I wanted to talk to you about Landon,
explain to you that he wasn’t the man you thought he is, and that you didn’t
belong with him.

I leave you with the harsh reality of the man you’re dating.

Enjoy the little movie.

I froze, the blood roared through my body and up my brain.
I felt dizzy. Her tone was very condescending, but she also seemed sure of what
she was implying.

What was she implying exactly?

I stared at the CD for the longest time, debating with
myself. I pushed to my feet and stood to remove my phone.

I froze again. Should I call him? Should I call her?

Fifteen minutes later, I was still pacing through the
conference room. I read the letter, picking on its meaning, and came up with
nothing. Landon wasn’t answering my calls, and his assistant said that he had a
meeting with one of his clients.

Inserting the disc into the laptop, I hit play without any
reflecting.

My mouth dropped open and my whole body went stiff.

On the screen, a blindfolded and completely naked woman,
tied with her hands over her head, and her legs stilled in a standing position
against a wall.

Moving my hand to shut the screen, the back of another
person appeared in front of me. My stomach cramped unbearably, I knew who it
was, and I couldn’t remove my eyes from the screen.

“I’m sorry.” The woman said.

A riding crop appeared from Landon’s hand, and snapped the
breasts of the woman.

“Don’t address me unless I say so.” His voice was hard,
but somehow different. It was too hard, too composed.