The deal was in the bag. Jared already knew. The groundwork had been done over the past month and tonight was more of a social event.
Sophie was the perfect PA and partner. She involved Trent's wife Tania in girl talk, leaving him free to discuss plans and possibilities with Trent, but was eerily able to switch to business when he needed her to. She'd obviously swotted up on the information over the weekend because she was conversant and up-to-date with the project.
It had been a terminally long dinner, but Trent was meeting them tomorrow to show them over the property and sign off on the deal.
But then their hosts wanted to show them a little local hospitality and it was on to the newest supper club to listen to the latest jazz/blues trio over a cheese and wine nightcap.
It was torture sitting so close to Sophie that he could smell the soap she'd used-the soap he'd used, actually-and not being able to touch her the way he wanted to. Not as a boss but as something more. For the short time they had before she left he wanted to know Sophie better. A lot better.
A couple of times their thighs had bumped beneath the table and their eyes connected-a brief clash of heat-before she shifted position and resumed conversation. With Tania, with Trent. Not him. Since this was business, his business, there was nothing he could do about it now, and she knew it. She was driving him mad. Payback, no doubt, for the way he'd left the situation hanging on their way out this evening when he'd dropped her arms as if she had some terminal infectious disease.
He had a few ideas for payback himself.
It was nearly midnight before they said their goodnights to the clients. The journey back to their accommodation took less than five minutes. During that time Sophie went into PA mode with tomorrow's plans. A meeting at ten to discuss a new project, a couple of client follow-ups, signing the deal with Trent …
He knew it backwards; he'd given her the instructions for the damn schedule in the first place.
He pressed the remote and the security door rolled up, rolled down as he drove through and parked undercover at the side of the house. He killed the engine. Unclicked his seat belt with unnecessary force. 'That's enough.' She stopped speaking immediately. 'Your PA duties are over for the evening.'
'Okay.' She chewed on her lip a moment, then turned to face him, disengaged her own seat belt.
He couldn't read her eyes in the dimness. 'Sophie. Honey.' He caressed the side of her face. Noticed his fingers all but trembled. 'You misunderstood me earlier when I said what happened in the bathroom wasn't a smart move.'
She tilted her head to one side, as if to say 'go on'.
He caught her face between his hands. 'If I'd touched you again I'd've had you on the floor with that dress up around your ears before you could blink and we'd never have made it to dinner.'
She gave a tiny gasp and her fingers worked at the neckline of her dress.
He shook his head. 'If that sounded crude, I apologise. You've been driving me to distraction all evening. All week. I'm going crazy. Do you know how hard it's been all evening? Watching you and not being able to touch you?'
'No. I can't begin to imagine … ' a corner of her mouth kicked up, a smile that spread to her cheeks and twinkled into her eyes as she looked pointedly down at his swollen crotch ' … how hard. But if you take me indoors maybe you can show me.'
He sat back and watched her gaze heat as she reached for his tie, slid it through her fingers. 'And for the record I'd really, really like for you to have me on the floor. Dress around my ears and all. It's a personal fantasy of mine.'
'Be sure you know what you're asking.' His voice came out rough-edged, harsh in the car's close confines as he ripped off his tie.
She shook her head. 'I know exactly what.'
CHAPTER TEN
A QUIVER of excitement thrummed through Sophie as Jared gripped her upper arms and pulled her against him. His mouth crashed down on hers, demanding. His fingers plucked at her nipples through her dress, arousing. His breath was harsh and fast and hot against her cheek and she shivered in anticipation.
This wasn't the charming, focused entrepreneur she'd spent the evening with. Nor was he the suave and skilled and generous lover who'd sent her into ecstasy in the shower earlier. That man had been a man in control.
This man was not and the knowledge that Sophie was the woman to bring out this wild, desperate side sang through her body like fine wine. Feminine power. She'd never experienced it, and it felt amazing. Her blood frizzled beneath her skin wherever he took those impatient hands and clever mouth.
Quick as a snap he had the zip in her dress shirring down her back. His mouth was hot and wet on her neck as he slipped the dress off her shoulders. 'I want you … '
'Yes … ' she breathed, quivering at the edge of desperation she heard in his voice.
Quick deft fingers plunged beneath the edge of her bra to tweak her already hard nipples into throbbing points of lust. He yanked the bra cups down. 'I want you now.' His urgency sent hot shivers down her spine.
Closing her eyes, she arched her aching breasts upwards. 'Yes. Right now.'
And she would have let him take her right then, right there in the car with the squeak and smell of leather, the gearstick between them like some secondary phallus, but he was out of the car, opening her door, pulling her out.
He tugged her to the front of the car, somehow losing her dress on the way, and splayed her across the slippery smooth bonnet to feast on her semi-exposed breasts like some primeval starving animal.
The heat of the car's engine warmed her back and buttocks, cool damp air caressed her décolletage. A hard thigh nudged her legs apart, one hand shot between them and up to find the edge of her panties.
And, oh, that first flick of his fingers over damp cotton … She sucked in a gasp as the small but electric sensation bolted to her core.
'Sophie … ' It was a growl, as strong and dangerous as any predator, and she trembled, not with fear but with desire. Excitement. Anticipation.
One tug and his fingers twisted beneath her panties. He stroked her once, twice, then plunged inside. Her inner muscles quivered and clenched around his fingers.
Their gazes clashed. She stared in wonder, in awe. All trace of civilised gone, just primal aroused male. She could see it smoulder behind his night-darkened eyes, could feel it in the heat coming off his body in waves, could smell the musky scent of arousal on his skin.
And the long, hard and demanding ridge of masculinity against her thigh.
She wanted it inside her. She wanted him stretching her, invading her, filling her. Fulfilling her. Yanking the annoying clasp from her hair, she shook her hair free, aware of the feminine nature of her action and revelling in it. 'Yes … now,' she ordered, leaning back on her elbows, spreading her legs wider for him and rocking against his hand.
With a sharp, ripping sound her panties were gone, tossed away, leaving her fully exposed to Jared's hot eyes. There was a stunned moment of stillness from both of them. Then the want, the impatience.
'Now, now, now.' The fevered chant beat through her blood, keeping time with her frantic pulse.
Jared's fingers were so unsteady he could barely unzip his trousers. She didn't want finesse, neither did he. He could have given her words-how alluring she looked in starlight with her hair tumbled over her shoulders, her eyes hot for him, her dusky nipples glistening from his mouth, but she didn't want romantic words, neither did he.
Now, now, now.
The flames in his gut leapt higher at the husky sound of her ragged demand on the still evening air. She didn't want slow, neither did he.
Sliding his hands beneath her arms, he reached behind her back, flicked the catch on her bra. She pulled it off and sent it sailing behind her with an abandon that surprised him almost as much as it seemed to surprise her. She might have tossed her stilettos the same way but he shook his head. 'The shoes stay.'
He freed himself from his boxers while he muttered, 'Protection.'
She stared into his eyes for a beat longer than he expected before she said, 'Got it covered.'
Praise be to heaven for that.
No more waiting, no time to think. He plunged into her hot slippery sex in one swift glide. He knew it was only physical but the groan that erupted seemed to come from the very depths of his being.
Clamping her legs around his waist, she answered with a low keening sound of her own and latched onto his shoulders, her fingernails digging hard into his flesh. He relished the exquisite pain, returning the favour with lips and tongue and teeth on the delicate fragrant skin beneath her jaw.