She bit her lip, fighting her own fears and the morals she had been taught in her youth. Hell, she had broken every rule her mother had tried to drum into her head concerning sex and her body. Why should this one be any different? If he loved her…
“Oh God. I’ve lost my mind.” She threw herself on the bed.
She knew Jesse cared for her. He had to. He had taken care of her for almost three years. Had listened to her rage and cry during those first days when the guilt of Thomas’s death had weighed on her soul. He had held her, holding back his desire for her, and she knew he had wanted her. There was no hiding the erection that had filled his pants those nights.
He had never given so much time to any other woman. Hell, other than Tess, she knew he hadn’t been with another woman in ages. When she asked him about it, he had shrugged and claimed his workload was getting in the way. But he was spending plenty of time with her. Time that he could have used playing. If he had wanted to.
She loved him. She always had. Knew she did. But could she do this? Could she seduce him?
She turned her head, looking at the dress she had laid out on her bed earlier. It was sexy without being crude. The black silk would cling to her curves, without being overtly blatant. The scalloped neckline skimmed the tops of her breasts. The skirt stopped just above her knees. The matching black heels were high, and utterly feminine.
A “dress for success, knock ‘em dead” outfit just right for stepping into the offices of Delacourte Electronics and seducing one of the vice presidents in charge. And she had the perfect reason for going in. The letter that had arrived that morning in the mail. Yet another of Thomas’s hidden debts.
She drew in a hard, courage-gathering breath before moving from the bed and picking up the dress. She finished dressing quickly, knowing her bravery was waning. Thomas’s taunts drifted through her mind as she pulled the material over her head.
Her breasts were too large, he had said. She smoothed her hands over the full mounds. The size C cups of her bra held the flesh securely. Not that she sagged. At least not yet. They were firm and full, but Jesse had large hands. She closed her eyes in pleasure at the thought. And he liked looking at her breasts…hell, he did it often. And his looks were always heated and filled with lust.
She wasn’t very tall. Another of Thomas’s complaints. She never got wet enough, never acted sexual enough. God, she was so wet now she felt as though she was going to drown in her own desire.
He was wrong. She brushed her hair quickly, watching the silken strands as they curled around her shoulders in a fall of red gold. Not much makeup. She didn’t need a lot, and rarely wore it. She didn’t want to come off as seductive, but she wanted to seduce.
She was lotioned, waxed and scented from head to toe. Dressed and ready and shaking with nerves two hours later when she walked into Jesse’s outer office. Tally’s head raised, her brown eyes widening just a bit as a smirk crossed her lips. Terrie prayed she wasn’t blushing.
“Should I take my lunch break now?” the secretary drawled in amusement as she sat back in her chair and watched Terrie walk across the room.
Terrie swallowed tightly. “Quick, tell me again what Thomas was?”
Tally frowned. “A walking dick?” she asked as she watched Terrie closely. “Don’t tell me you’re going after big brother now? Come on, Terrie.” She rolled her eyes mockingly. “He’s a walking time bomb. When he gets hold of you he won’t let go.”
Terrie blew out a relieved breath. “Well, at least you didn’t call him a walking dick.”
Tally laughed, though the sound was quiet, and filled with amusement. “A walking hard-on, but that can at least be useful.”
“Is he alone?” She nodded to the closed door.
Tally looked at the door as she rose to her feet. “Alone and pouting, I think.” She grinned as she picked up the pretty purse sitting on her desktop. “And I’m ready for lunch now. Go on in. Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.”
Terrie winced. “Long lunch, Tally. He’s going to fire you.”
The other woman snorted. “I can only get so lucky. Keep him occupied and he’ll never miss me.” She winked suggestively as she breezed out of the room.
Terrie was left standing, more or less deserted, in the middle of the room. Damn Tally. The least she could have done was stick around to save her if things got too hot.
“Tally, where the hell is that cost estimate…” Jesse threw open his door and stared at Terrie in surprise. “Where the hell did she go this time?”
“Lunch?” Terrie wasn’t about to mention the fact that his secretary wouldn’t return until the next morning.