Merger to Marriage (Boardrooms and Billi - By Addison Fox Page 0,30
moan escaped her mouth and he leaned up and nipped his way along her jaw, the light touch of his lips on her flesh in direct counterpoint to the hard, demanding thrust of his fingers. He’d already slipped past the wisp of silk against her core and had taken full advantage, stretching her entrance with first one finger, then a second.
She fought to maintain control as the sensations battered her, drawing at her release despite her best efforts to hold back. There was no way to remain aloof when she was in his arms. The same magic that had rocketed between the two of them after the wedding came rushing back. Like a fire that had merely been banked and waited for the slightest push to blaze once more, the passion that hummed between them had turned on them both.
“Holt.” She heard the plea as she said his name, knew the tension that built in her body was about to win, when he whispered against her throat. “Now.”
That one word was all it took.
Her orgasm crashed over her, hard and fast, whipping through her system like a hurricane. She clutched at his shoulders as the storm raged, felt the hard bunch of muscles underneath her fingertips as he fought to maintain his own control. And then he pulled her close, cradling her against his chest as the aftershocks of her response continued to quake and settle in her muscles.
“I’m forced to repeat my question. Was that practical or functional?” His breath floated over her ear, sending another shockwave through her system as she shivered.
She stared up at him, cocking an eyebrow. “I may need a few more test trials before I can fully decide.”
…
The quiet hum of the restaurant surrounded them as the maitre’d left Mayson and Holt to their seats. A warm glow suffused her body and she couldn’t quite shake the feelings of disbelief and a small shot of pride as she stared at Holt across the table.
“What are you thinking?”
“Was the glass in the car really sound proof?”
A sexy smile greeted her, but his voice was very matter-of-fact. “I insist on it. I trust my driver, but anyone can be tempted. The deals I take part in require maximum secrecy, and I won’t allow anyone to overhear. Or to be put in a position where what they might overhear could be enticed out of them.”
“Smart.”
“Necessary in this day and age. The car is also swept for bugs on a daily basis.”
“No way.” She felt her eyes widen over the rim of her ice tea glass. “Really?”
“I can’t be too careful.”
“No, I suppose not.” Mayson thought about a recent hire to their executive board—a Chief Security Officer—and knew the challenges Holt faced weren’t unique to his business. “Technology has made it easier than ever for those on the hunt for information to find it. It’s a shame, but people can always find a way to do something illegally.”
“Some people are just wired that way.”
“I don’t understand it. Why spend all the energy it takes to do wrong and not just put that toward doing something worthwhile.”
“It takes all kinds.” His voice had dropped and taken on a flat quality she hadn’t heard before. She was prevented from saying anything by the arrival of their waiter, bearing their salads.
As she dug into hers a few moments later, she probed further on their conversation. “Have you ever lost data?”
“No, but I’ve got a rather paranoid sense of corporate security.”
“Why? Usually people don’t get paranoid until they’ve had an episode.”
“You can’t be too careful.”
“Did something happen to make you think that?”
The easy joviality faded and she didn’t miss the avoidance. “You hit the nail before. Technology has made things too easy, and I’ve seen others not recognize its necessity. My business is based on the trust I build with my clients. I can’t risk that for anything.”
“You face the loss of trust. We face missing out on a big scoop.”
“A key component driving your business. And while our issues may be different, the underlying issue is the same. You lose out on enough exclusives and you won’t have a successful company. I piss off too many clients and I won’t, either.”
She nodded, pleased at his understanding. In her experience, those outside the magazine industry viewed it as either frivolous or far more glamorous than it really was. His ability to discuss it as a business, with all the issues that faced any other company, was refreshing.
Movement in her peripheral vision pulled