like an aphrodisiac.
God.
Damn.
When had a woman's laugh ever turned him on like Joelle’s did? Had he ever kissed a woman while she laughed? It was as intoxicating as she'd claimed his kisses to be, and he couldn't get enough of it. Of her. This bright, bubbly, determinedly happy gift to mankind was a damn treasure. Better still, this treasure was under his hands and loving it, if the tongue tangling with his was any indication. A smart man would do one hell of a lot to keep that rare kind of treasure in his life for as long as humanly possible.
Thank God he was a smart man.
With his mouth never leaving hers, he slid his hands down her back, memorizing the graceful narrowing of her torso to the indentation of her waist, before moving his caresses lower. That sweet ass that had mesmerized him during their game was now his for the taking. He did so with conquering gusto, filling his hands with those rounded, irresistible cheeks. The action pulled her all the more up against his cock, and it was all he could do to keep himself from moaning out loud when the friction of her pelvis rubbed against him.
Fuck, yeah.
He wanted her to come home with him so she could rip the sheets off the mattress while he buried himself inside her. And by God, he would make that happen, just as soon as he could get her there. But he couldn't stand the thought of having to wait to be inside her. Hell, he was just about positive he couldn't wait. There had never been a woman sexier or more desirable on the fucking planet, and she was right there in his arms. So willing. So responsive. If he could find a quiet, out-of-the-way place, he’d have her gasping his name in no time—
The sound of his phone sliced through the illusion that they were alone in the world. She pulled in a shaky breath as they broke apart, and that one sound hit him as tangibly as a caress.
“Let me guess.” Even her voice had turned breathy, and the sound of it was so damn seductive he almost forgot why he had his phone in his hand. “You need to get that. I understand. A successful person is a busy person.”
“Seriously, where the fuck have you been all my life?” Smiling, and loving the understanding he saw shining in her eyes, Gus glanced at the screen. Shit. “Look, I do need to get this, but I'll be quick. And this doesn't mean you're not top priority.”
“Of course I'm top priority.” She laughed up at him with that staggering brilliance that came from a magical combination of confidence and beauty. For a full second he forgot how to breathe as he stared at this miracle in front of him. “I think I'll rack them up for another game and challenge you to best two out of three. I really want to go naked hot-tubbing with you.”
That made two of them, but in less than five minutes he was cursing fate, the world, and the Nikkei, which had taken a swan dive off a financial cliff.
Naturally.
Just when things were getting good.
“I've got a panicking client,” he told her without preamble the moment he hung up, and it was oddly heartening to see her momentary disappointment. He could relate. “Most nights aren't like this, Joelle. Once the market closes, I can usually do whatever the hell I want and not be interrupted. But every once in a great while, shit goes sideways overseas, and I have to respond.”
“Gus, I told you, I get it. It's fine.”
“It's not fine,” he said, and the heat of his tone surprised even him. But it was true. Dropping this woman like he had better things to do hit him in all the worst ways. “You have my word, I’m going to make this up to you. And I promise, I'll find a way to make it un-fucking-forgettable.”
That brilliant smile came back with a vengeance. “So, you’re saying I have something to look forward to?”
“Count on it,” he promised.
Chapter Five
“Four days.” With a short sigh, Joelle read through the glowing email her boss, Heidi Meadows, had sent her regarding the “Distressed Test” piece she’d turned in early, before setting aside her phone and sitting at her workstation. Her next assignment, “Thrift Store Gold,” already had the script completed and segments planned out. Now she had to coordinate the outfits, shoot the video and stills