Talking Dirty with the CEO(15)

As he hauled his jeans up, cursing, he heard the sound of the front door of the apartment slam.

Naughtygirl25 had run out on him for the second time that evening.





Chapter Three

The barbarian warrior on Christie’s screen swung his ax at the rat nibbling at his feet and missed. Christie sighed. Another stupid online game. Another stupid review. She just didn’t have the patience for it today.

She glanced over at Ben’s office door. It was shut. Nervousness clenched in her gut. She’d sent her dating article to him on Saturday, having worked all night Friday to get it done.

The Friday night she’d left Joseph’s apartment.

Her cheeks burned at the memory.

She’d kissed him. She’d bloody gone and kissed him. He’d told her he didn’t want her to leave and…well, she’d decided just to go for it then and there.

Still, kissing complete strangers in their bathrooms wasn’t exactly her usual modus operandi, either. Neither was what had happened afterward.

Oh man, the way he’d touched her had been…so good. She hadn’t been able to control the intensity of her response, hadn’t wanted to. It had been so long since anyone had touched her in that way.

I want you. Here. Now. Right now.

His words had reverberated through her whole body.

In the heat of the moment she’d forgotten her nervousness. Her awkwardness. Forgotten she was supposed to be Naughtygirl. She’d even forgotten she was Christie.

For that hot, desperate moment, she’d been just a woman who wanted a man and was wanted in return.

After which, in spite of the kiss and hot sex, she’d bolted yet again.

Good going, St. John. Truly stellar behavior.

Savagely gnawing on her lip, Christie stared at her screen again, trying not to think about what had gripped her in those shocked, panting moments afterward. The unreasoning, senseless panic that had made her push him away and fueled her desperate break for freedom. As she’d run down the hallway, she’d heard him call after her but she hadn’t stopped. She hadn’t stopped running until she’d gotten back home.

Nooooo, definitely not going to think about that part.

“So what happened?”

Christie jumped as Marisa, blue eyes avid, deposited herself on the chair next to Christie’s desk.

“C’mon, St. John. Tell me. Did you do it?”

“Do what?” Christie fussed around with the mouse. Did the world really need to know about her one-night stand with a complete stranger? Uh. No, it did not.

“You know what I’m talking about. And you gave me nothing over the phone, so spill.”

Christie looked at her screen as her barbarian warrior finally succumbed to the rat and died a hero’s death. “Oh, great. Look what you did. You distracted me and now Bjorn’s dead.”

Marisa wasn’t fooled for a second. “Who cares about Bjorn? I want to know what happened with Mr. Hotness.”

Dammit. If Marisa thought you were hiding something she wouldn’t give up until she’d unearthed it.

“Oh. Him.” Christie dealt with her barbarian’s remains, eyes on the screen. “Nothing.”

Marisa didn’t say anything. Christie gave her a cautious, sidelong glance. Her friend’s mouth was open in a silent O of surprise. “Oh my God. You slept with him!”

“What?” Christie squeaked, fiery heat rushing over her. “How did you know? I mean, I never…we didn’t…”

“Ha! You did! You so did!”

“Did what?” One of the guys passing by Christie’s desk, paused, looking interested.

Christie froze while Marisa flapped a hand at him. “Get out of here, Mike. This is girl talk.”

Mike nodded as if the dismissal were perfectly acceptable and moved on.

“Okay,” Marisa said in a quieter voice once he’d gone. “Know this—you are the worst liar in the world so there’s no point trying to hide anything. Tell me what happened. From the beginning, please. Leave nothing out.”

Christie chewed on her lip. She didn’t want to tell her friend. Because then she’d have to reveal her ignominious retreat five seconds after having sex with him.

“Why do you want to know?” she asked bluntly.

“Because I’m bloody jealous,” Marisa replied, just as blunt. “That guy was so hot he nearly set me on fire.”

The beginnings of a tiny, helpless smile began to curve Christie’s mouth. Yeah, Joseph had been hot. And he’d thought she was hot, too. And she’d been the one to kiss him, taking what she’d wanted for a change, rather than letting self-doubt make her decisions for her.

Couldn’t she be the tiniest bit proud of that?