Of course there were sexual harassment laws that would have shut him down if he did anything at the office, but nope. Nada. Not even one lingering stare. Absolutely zero interest.
The same could not be said about me. I’d been the idiot, lusting after him the moment I laid eyes on him. But I was a middle-class, suburban girl from Denver. He was ten years older, worldly, well-traveled and experienced with women…and everything else.
On day one, when Ford had introduced me to his brother, the other admins couldn’t wait to get me alone. The moment that office door closed on the sexy, single Buchanan brothers, they’d surrounded me with their wild tales. I'd learned that if I slept with Carter, I’d be just another pussy in a long line of conquests he’d taken to bed. And, even knowing that, I'd still wanted him. God, did I.
“You’re hopeless.” I waived my hand in an unsuccessful attempt to flag down a taxi. As the yellow and black car whizzed past I sent Tori a quick text.
I’m going home.
Her response was immediate. CB is chasing you. Get caught.
I had to blink twice, slowly, and reread the words just to make sure I wasn’t losing it. Get caught.
That was so not happening. He’s my boss.
For a week. And you already quit. Doesn’t count. Live a little, unicorn girl. What do you have to lose?
What did I have to lose? My virginity, but I didn’t care to keep that. My mind? I squelched a burst of laughter at that thought. Too late. All logic and basis in reality had been lost up against the wall in the bathroom. Worse than that, I could lose my heart.
I could sleep with a stranger and keep my feelings out of it. But with Carter, that might be impossible. Robotic, unemotional fucking was not what I imagined when Carter came to mind. No, more like mind-blowing, never get over him, sex.
Slowly, so slowly, I breathed deep, trying to cool off and think. The night air was refreshing after the stuffy club. The pulsing music was muted once the door shut behind me. There was a small line of people waiting to get inside at the front and a bouncer checking ID's. I wasn't alone on the street, but I felt that way.
Teetering on my high heels, I started down the block to flag a taxi. I'd embarrassed myself enough for one night. Swallowing down tears that sprang to my eyes from nowhere, I lifted my arm when a taxi came down the street, dropped it when it cruised right on by. Damn it. What the hell?
I sighed. My shoulders drooped.
“What are you doing? You shouldn't be out here by yourself.”
I spun on my ridiculously high heels at Carter's voice.
He was so handsome. I couldn't be mad at him for that. His gorgeousness wasn't his fault; he'd been born that way. I couldn't really even be mad for, well, anything, because he'd given me just what I'd wanted. Well, almost. I was at the club tonight with one goal, just one, to get laid. He was willing.
I lifted my phone, then glanced down, let my thumbs fly over the screen, sending one more quick note to my friend. “Texting Tori. I told her I’m going home.”
“We're not done, Emma.” His words stilled my fingers. When he stepped closer, he stilled my breathing.
I heard a car coming down the street. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw it was another taxi and hailed it.
Carter came up beside me and when the taxi pulled to the curb, waved off the driver who flipped him off and kept going.
I looked up at him. Way up. I only came to his chin, even in my heels. “What are you doing? That was my ride home.”
The gorgeous man beside me infuriated me so much. How dare he mess with me like this!
“I'll take you.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I said, “I told you, I'm not interested.”
“You are,” he countered. “If the way you dripped all over my fingers was any indication.” He took my elbow and led me back toward the club, stopping to hand his ticket to the man at the valet stand. I stood next to him as we waited for his car, his hand warm against my bare skin. Goose bumps spread down my arms.
He leaned close and kissed the side of my neck again. The shiver that passed through me was like electric shock therapy. “We're not done, sweetheart. Far from it. Let me take you home. You want your virginity gone? I'll take it and you won't remember your own name when I'm done.”
Yeah, and he probably wouldn't remember mine. I was mad at myself for wanting to be something more to him than a quick fuck. But that wasn’t fair. Was this any different than whatever guy I would have picked up off the dance floor? I didn't care if mystery guy was a man slut or that I would be just another notch on his bedpost. My only criteria for selecting a man tonight had been simple. One, did he have a cock? Two, was he willing to fuck me with it? I wanted to get rid of my virginity. I didn’t want to be a virgin unicorn any longer.