Wishful Thinking (6 page)

Before she could respond, Clinton slammed the door. Jovie glanced at the box then at Rand. “How come only I can see you?” She hated to admit it, but Clinton wasn’t the only one to question her sanity. How could he be a delusion if everyone else could see the evidence of his existence? Maybe he was merely a coping mechanism for her fear and once her confidence stuck around, he'd disappear forever. Yet it didn't explain the work.

And she hadn't done it. What did that make her?

“You are the one who believes in me, so why would I show myself to anyone else? It would waste my time and energy. Besides, I belong to you and you to me, remember?” He took her into his arms and brushed tendrils of hair away from her face. “Do you regret my coming to you?”

“No.” She held his gaze, shaking from the intensity that blazed from the depths of his eyes. “If you are as magical and powerful as you say, why not simply let me walk out of here?” As he stroked his fingers over her cheek, she sighed. He made her feel wanted, desired.

No one had ever accomplished that.

A frown marred the perfection of his mouth. “If that is what you truly wish of me, then by all means, open the door and go. I have never stopped you.”

“If I don’t wish it, what will happen?” She crumbled under the temptation. Running her palms over his chest, she furrowed her fingers through the slight patch of coarse hair then feathered them along his arms.

“I will turn the last of those papers into gold bars as I promised. Undoubtedly your boss will be pleased and will reward you beyond your wildest dreams. Is this not what you wanted?”

“In a roundabout way I suppose.” What happened to wanting to succeed on her own merits with her own work? She missed the satisfaction of completing a job well done. “Will I ever see you again once the task is completed?” The butterflies in her stomach had nothing to do with excitement. She’d come to rely on him and looked forward to his visits. His steadfast belief in her was more addicting than any drug. Now she wanted to spend time talking to him, finding out about his life and what he wanted from it. If she were honest, she wanted a real relationship—if that were possible with a magical being.

“Once I return to the creamer pot, my time with you is forfeit. While we are in this room, I can be out and about because you released me for the specific purpose of helping you through this time, these tasks.”

She smiled. “Then theoretically, if I don’t complete the task, you can be free forever. I can put the creamer pot on a shelf and visit you every day.” Mmm, slipping away to the conference room for heavy petting at lunchtime sounded pretty darn good. A daily shot of warm fuzzies.

“Oh, my poor disillusioned Jovie. You haven't been listening.” Rand pulled her into his arms and held her so close, she heard the strong beating of his heart. “If the task is not complete and you leave this room, I will not be able to return to my world. Any use of magic has consequences and most of them are steep. Even completing your tasks will not come without a price.” His sigh ruffled her hair. “Not being mortal and living outside the nether world isn’t possible. I will die. Such is life.”

“
That’s
your answer? I have you for as long as it takes to complete this job?” Anger rose in her chest at the injustice until she realized most of the tale could be seen as a fairy story anyway.

“Yes. We have until sunrise. I am sorry.”

“I don’t want you to die.”
Yet I don’t know if I can give you up.
She pulled away in order to look him in the eye. "What was all that junk about I'm yours and you're mine or that we're interchangeable?"

He shrugged. "Just what I said. Think on it a bit more."

She heaved a frustrated sigh. “I don't have time for games, Rand. What do you want from me in order to transform the last box of paperwork? I’ve already given you everything of value I have with me.”

Rand’s grin was slow and seductive. “I want your body, warm, willing and naked.” He dragged his lips up the inside of her arm, pressing kisses against the silk of her blouse. “I want to make love to you before we are parted.”

The last of her reserve vanished under the assault of his lips, the subtle press of his hips to hers, the teasing prod of his cock to her stomach. Never had she been more aroused. Never had she been certain of anything as crazy as this. “This conference room is hardly a romantic setting. And the carpet—”

He brushed his lips against hers. “Close your eyes and let me take you away.”

Chapter Seven

Jovie forgot how to breathe the moment he claimed her. His hands touched her body with a possessiveness she felt in every pore. He moved his mouth over hers, teasing the corners, tracing her lips with his tongue, nipping and licking until she gasped for a reprieve.

“Come, little one. Let me show you how much I want you.” Rand took her hand and led her around the table to the far side of the room. “Your body is made for pleasure. It’s a shame you don’t see that.”

“It’s not exactly something that comes up in conversation. I can't interrupt a sales meeting to ask if the guys think I'm attractive.” She threaded her fingers into his silky hair, loving how it slipped over her skin.

“It should and often.” He worked the buttons of her blouse with a quickness that indicated he’d done this too many times before. In short order, the piece of clothing fell away and dropped to the floor with a soft whisper. “Confidence comes from within. If you feel loved you will reflect self-assuredness which will translate into positive things in every aspect of your life. You've seen it happen this night.”

“Forgive me for having a learning curve.”

“Your ample, physical curves are what I’m concerned with now.”

Her knees weakened. If she wasn’t careful, she could easily fall in love with this man, but she had to be careful in case he really did vanish after tonight. “I’m willing to be taught.”

“I’m an excellent teacher.” With one flick of his wrist, the hooks of her bra came undone then he pulled it down and away, freeing her breasts. “Beautiful.” He worked the zipper of her skirt and soon it slid over her hips to the floor. “Men should kill to be with you.”

His praise brought a flood of warmth through her insides. “Show me why you think so.” Her throaty laugh surprised her as much as him. She barely registered his wicked grin before he knocked her feet out from under her and cradled the descent to the carpet with his arms. “Impressive.”

“You have no idea what I'm capable of.” His next kiss was hard and powerful as he demanded her full attention and surrender.

Jovie gladly met each forceful thrust and exploration of his tongue with one of her own. She mimicked his actions until she mastered them and used that knowledge to bring him to a frenzy of panting breath and ragged groans. Seduction wasn’t nearly as fun unless both participants could give and take. He was all hard muscle and ridged angles that her hands danced over. Never had she been presented with such an awesome playground.

Sweeping her fingers down the lean length of his back, she dug her nails into the taut cheeks of his ass. He rolled onto his side, letting her explore. When he softly moaned, she trailed her fingertips along his hips then slipped a hand between them to slide over his satiny cock. He filled her hand with a comfortable girth. She squeezed gently, feeling both the hard and soft textures. The heat inside her own body increased as she thought of him thrusting into her wetness.

“Now that you’ve caught the tiger, what will you do with him?” Rand’s question tickled her ear. He pressed hot kisses to the side of her neck, beneath her chin and down her throat. “I’m here for your pleasure. Explore as your heart wishes.” One of his hands covered hers and he moved them both up and down his erection. “Like this. It’s all about strokes and pressure.”

Always good at hands-on instruction, she removed his guiding hand and returned hers to his cock, squeezing and sliding. He grew harder from her ministrations, and gasped out his enjoyment when she cupped his tightened balls and rubbed the sensitive spot just behind them. She loved how he reacted to her. Usually, she fumbled during lovemaking and let it become a lackluster affair.

With Rand it was different. She wanted to caress him, needed to show him with kisses and touches how she felt. Having confidence back, her movements made all the difference, yet it went beyond the physical.

Returning to his cock, she pumped her hand along his length, moving into a varied rhythm of long strokes and quick squeezes. With her free hand, she teased one of his flat nipples until he called a halt.

“Enough, Jovie.” He captured her hands, pinning them above her head. “I am only a man, after all, and have limits.” Mischief sparkled in his green eyes. “Turnabout will be a bitch, you know.”

She squirmed beneath him. Shivers of desire spiked along her skin as her hips bumped his. “I’ll have to see it to believe you.” Raising her head, she nipped his shoulder and inhaled the exotic spiciness of him that was now mixed faintly with sweat and arousal.

Heavenly and a huge turn on. Her core throbbed with tiny pulses.

“Dangerous words, love.” Holding her wrists in one of his large hands, he trailed the other over her body, fondling her breasts then rolled one of her hardened nipples between his thumb and forefinger.

A soft moaned eased from her throat. She arched against him, moving to allow him better access to her breasts. The thrill of being restrained heightened the sensations he invoked within her and she surrendered to his mastery. When he took the nipple into his mouth and suckled, she cried out, writhing with torment. He scraped his tongue against the puckered flesh.

He merely chuckled and turned the same consideration to the other nipple, altering the play slightly by nipping with his teeth, teasing, working her into a torrent of need. “Let’s see how wet you are.” Rand released his hold on her wrists. “I smell your arousal, Jovie. I know you want me. Say it.”

“I…” When his hand went between her thighs, her breath shuddered from her chest, robbing her of words. She spread her legs wider. She strained for him to touch her folds and as he did, she moaned her approval.

“If you don’t ask for it, I can’t give you what you want; what you desire.” He rubbed his fingers through the moisture clinging to her sex, sliding them higher to play with her swollen clit.

Jovie embraced the powerful waves of need that rocked her world. They crashed over her with the strength of a tide. Her body practically hummed from the constant pressure Rand applied to the center of her pleasure. He strummed his fingers over her sensitized nub with the skill and grace of a harpist and invoked sounds of appreciation from her. She wiggled from the torture, but he didn’t let up.

“Tell me what you want, my dove. Is it this?” He slipped two fingers into her channel, moving in and out, drawing out more moisture, fucking her with his hand. “Is this the only thing that will bring you to the edge, or do you desire more?”

She planted her feet against the floor. Part of her brain wondered why she still wore only one shoe. Tremors began deep inside her to push outward as he teased. No amount of squirming would deter him from his mission. Pressure built and coiled in her core, demanding a release that only he could give. Blindly seeking, she reached down and pressed his hand tighter then moved to finger her clit as he continued to pump inside.

The orgasm exploded before she was ready. Her inner muscles contracted around his fingers. She ground her hips into his hand. The quivering sensations rushed through every blood vessel. They prickled her skin and tightened her nipples, leaving her breasts heavy and aching. She whimpered as her body went limp and for one second, she thought he would leave. Instead, he renewed his attention to her clit, her lower lips, and her channel until her body responded and she cried out for the cycle to end.

“I can’t give it to you until you ask.” He smiled and his perfect teeth flashed.

Jovie moaned and pulled his hand away, allowing herself some breathing room. “I want to feel you inside me. I need you to fuck me.” She gripped his shoulders and captured his gaze. “Make love to me as if your life depends on it.” She heard the desperation in her voice but didn’t care. She was beyond all of it except joining with him.

“It just might.” Rand spread her legs wider. He rose up on his knees and positioned the wide head of his cock at her entrance, rubbing it along her slick folds. “Do you want me, Jovie?”

“Yes.” Need ravaged her voice, leaving it low and breathless. She dug her nails into his forearms. "Please."

“Would you do anything for me?” He shoved into her partially then withdrew, again bumping his penis against her clit.

“Oh, my God, yes.” She shifted her hips to encourage him to get on with it. Anticipation to feel him inside made her crazy. “Anything. Whatever you want, I promise to give it to you, just do me.”

“I will hold you to that. Remember those consequences.” He leaned down and covered her lips in a gentle kiss. “Enjoy this, pet.” He slammed into her all the way to the hilt.

Pure joy carried in her cry as his length filled her, stretched her to the limit. He was thick and solid and seemed to touch her soul as he paused, giving her time to adjust. She tilted her hips, encouraging him to continue, and when he did, she was unprepared for the force of his thrusts. Powerful and determined, he slammed his cock into her over and over with the forward momentum of a freight train, pushing her body along the carpet.

The slap of their flesh filled her ears. She lifted her hands above her head to prevent smacking into the wall as he drilled deep. He watched her as he thrust, his gaze never leaving hers, a mix of pleasure and vast sadness in their depth. Jovie’s own vision blurred as she concentrated on the sensations that shattered her reality. Her world titled and whirled in a mixture of glittering light and blue smoke. Oblivion rose to claim her in its warm, fragrant darkness. She broke apart into millions of shiny shards of bliss as the orgasm shook her to the roots of her hair. Her toes curled. She tightened around him, squeezing his cock, drawing him into his own release.