"Not really, since she found him by going on a blind date with him first.
She swears he's great, just more my type than hers."
"Hmm."
"I know, right?" Megumi shook her head and looked up at the decorative, old-fashioned needle above the car doors that marked the passing floors.
"You'll have to let me know how it goes."
"Oh, yeah.
Wish me luck."
"Absolutely."
We'd just stepped out into the lobby when I felt my purse vibrate beneath my arm.
As we passed through the turnstiles, I dug for my phone and felt my stomach tighten at the sight of Gideon's name.
He was calling, not sexting me back.
"Excuse me," I said to Megumi before answering.
She waved it off nonchalantly.
"Go for it."
"Hey," I greeted him playfully.
"Eva."
I missed a step hearing the way he growled my name.
There was a wealth of promise in the roughness of his voice.
Slowing, I found I was speechless, just from hearing him say my name with that edginess I craved - the sharp bite that told me he wanted to be inside me more than he wanted anything else in the world.
While people flowed around me, entering and exiting the building, I was halted by the weighted silence on my phone.
The unspoken and nearly irresistible demand.
He made no sound at all - I couldn't even hear him breathing - but I felt his hunger.
If I didn't have Megumi waiting patiently for me, I'd be riding an elevator to the top floor to satisfy his unvoiced command to make good on my offer.
The memory of the time I'd sucked him off in his office simmered through me, making my mouth water.
I swallowed.
"Gideon ."
"You wanted my attention - now you have it.
I want to hear you say those words."
I felt my face flush.
"I can't.
Not here.
Let me call you later."
"Step over by the column and out of the way."
Startled, I looked around for him.
Then I remembered that the Caller ID put him in his office.
My gaze lifted, searching for the security cameras.
Immediately, I felt his eyes on me, hot and wanting.
Arousal surged through me, spurred by his desire.
"Hurry along, angel.
Your friend's waiting."
I moved to the column, my breathing fast and audible.
"Now tell me.
Your text made me hard, Eva.
What are you going to do about it?" My hand went to my throat, my gaze sliding helplessly to Megumi, who watched me with raised brows.
I lifted one finger up, asking for another minute, then turned my back to her and whispered, "I want you in my mouth."
"Why? To play with me? To tease me like you're doing now?" There was no heat in his voice, just calm severity.
I knew to pay careful attention when Gideon got serious about sex.
"No."
I lifted my face to the tinted dome in the ceiling that concealed the nearest security camera.
"To make you come.
I love making you come, Gideon."
He exhaled harshly.
"A gift, then."
Only I knew what it meant for Gideon to view a sexual act as a gift.
For him, sex had previously been about pain and degradation or lust and necessity.
Now, with me, it was about pleasure and love.
"Always."
"Good.
Because I treasure you, Eva, and what we have.
Even our driving urge to fuck each other constantly is precious to me, because it matters."
I sagged into the column, admitting to myself that I'd fallen into an old destructive habit - I'd exploited sexual attraction to ease my insecurities.
If Gideon was lusting after me, he couldn't be lusting after anyone else.
How did he always know what was going on in my mind? "Yes," I breathed, closing my eyes.
"It matters."
There'd been a time when I'd turned to sex to feel affection, confusing momentary desire with genuine caring.
Which was why I now insisted on having some sort of friendly framework in place before I went to bed with a man.
I never again wanted to roll out of a lover's bed feeling worthless and dirty.
And I sure as hell didn't want to cheapen what I shared with Gideon just because I was irrationally scared of losing him.
It hit me then that I was off balance.
I had this sick feeling in my gut, like something awful was going to happen.
"You can have what you want after work, angel."
His voice deepened, grew raspier.
"In the meantime, enjoy lunch with your co-worker.
I'll be thinking about you.
And your mouth."
"I love you, Gideon."
It took a couple of deep breaths after I hung up to compose myself enough to join Megumi again.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Everything all right?" "Yes.
Everything's fine."
"Things still hot and heavy with you and Gideon Cross?" She glanced at me with a slight smile.