Layers (15 page)

He chuckles and hugs me close, very tight, enveloping me against him, then says in a low voice, “Please wear this bra tonight when you come over. It is so hot.”

We’re meeting tonight?

Hardly getting back to my senses, I manage to say, “As long as you promise to take it off later.”

His look narrows and his face turns stern. “Keep saying that and I will drag you to the nearest alley.”

By all means, please do.

“When are you off? When can I pick you up?”

I blink at him, elated.
So determined, Mr. Stark. Care to ask perhaps if I can, if I don’t have any prior plans?
“I don’t know yet, I’ll text you later.”
Being my first day here and you causing a scene and all …

“Hayley, what’s your favorite food?”

What?
“That would be sushi.”

“Okay, I really need to go now. I don’t pay myself to play.” He huffs a short chuckle and I snicker in response. Another kiss, and then my own private tornado of sinful scars and up-to-no-good-smile is gone.

I turn on my heels to get back to my new boss at my new job.
Daniel, you could not have picked a better occasion to fulfill your urge to kiss me; he came all this way just to kiss me.
My heart twirls with joy. Miss Piercings is ogling my every step; I frown at her and head to Josh’s room.

“I am sorry for, hmmm, that,” I stutter to Josh. I feel my face flush.

He ignores me and asks, looking somewhat surprised, “You’re Daniel Stark’s girlfriend?”

I’m not sure about the girlfriend part, and why is that of any importance anyway?

“We are … dating,” I reply.
You know, your usual boy meets girl story … Boy sends girl mixed messages for a while. Boy driving girl insane with all of his contradicting cues. Boy goes from I don’t kiss if it doesn’t mean anything to coming all the way to girl’s first day at a new job just because he had to kiss her …

Josh seems rather contemplative for a short while, and I wonder what he’s thinking about.

Next, he gives me a list of tasks for the rest of the day. I am to go over a few older issues of
YOU
, review some designs made by my fellow colleagues which I will have to discuss with him later on, and attend some meetings he scheduled for me beforehand with some key people I’ll be working with.

“The first cubicle opposite my room will be yours,” he mentions. “I’ll check on you later on.”

I believe this is my cue to be dismissed. Just before I commence actually working I text Daniel and Tasha.

I’ll be at your place around 7, see you later, H.

@ work, tons to tell you but not tonight, as I will be projecting Mr. Stark’s brains off H

Not a minute passes before I get a text back from Tasha.

Tasha: Since when is it my place? I thought we were roommates, you have something to tell me, Hales?

Oh no, fuck no., if I’ve
sent Tasha the first text?
OH, NO!
I feel the blood drain from my face.
FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!

Txt mix up; will tell you tonight, still your roommate –love ya

I don’t even manage to put my phone back before it rings. Looking at the screen I bite my lips and answer, trying hard, very hard, to sound as casual as I possibly can.

“Hello.”

“There were five people in the room when I got your text, Hayley, and I’ve asked them all to step out as I had a very important matter to iron out.”

His voice sounds way too amused.
He’s so going to make a whole fiesta out of this one
. He pauses for a long moment, letting me stew.

“They’re all waiting just because of you and I do pay them a lot, so now we are officially wasting Stark SW capital, hence enlighten me, Hayley, quickly if you can, for the sake of the company, that is.”

“Well, since you’re so interested, that wasn’t actually meant to be sent to you.”

“So I gathered.” I can actually hear his wicked smile from his smug tone.
He is so enjoying every minute of this.

“It’s a private joke between Tasha and me; it’s not even that funny. How are you?” I try to divert him away from the subject.

“Oh no, I’m not letting you get away with this one. Either you tell me what ‘projecting my brains off’ means, and of course I can assume I am the alleged Mr. Stark in question, or perhaps you will be projecting some other lucky Mr. Stark’s brains off tonight,” he chuckles and adds, “or I could always summon the esteemed Miss Taylor to my room and ask her. What do you say, Miss Grace? What will it be?”

I’m Miss Grace now?
“I presume making me squirm is one of your kicks. We do have a history with that. Very disturbing, I must say. Have you ever thought about seeking professional help?”

“Hayley Grace, you’re straying from the crucial subject again,” he snaps, trying to sound harsh. Now I can hear him calling his PA. “Anne, ask Miss Taylor from R&D to come over,” he tells her.

Oh no. You’re seriously demented, huh? What are you doing? Don’t you have a serious business to run?

“Okay, okay, you made your point, leave Tasha out of this. My god, you are
so
irritating.”

“Am I now?” he laughs. “Anne, it’s okay, I won’t need Miss Taylor after all.”

“Now people are waiting, Hayley. Time is money,” he urges me.

He won’t let me get away with this one, psycho that he is
. “I meant that I’ll be doing you tonight,” I say very quietly. I am sitting in an open space and don’t need this conversation to spread any more than it already has.

“Meaning?” He laughs a low, throaty laugh.

“Should I really be more graphic? Haven’t you already had enough fun?”

“Seriously, you’re the sweetest thing. Now I’m craving tonight even more.”

“I am glad.” I try to sound upset. “Bye, Daniel.”

“Bye, sweet Hayley.”

Sweet Hayley
 …

And finally my first work day can start.

~~~

“I’m going home,” says Christina, my assigned mentor at
YOU
.

“What time is it?” I ask.

She checks her watch; her short, silky, brown hair falls on her face. “It’s half past six.”

I won’t even have time to stop at home.

Will not come home after work; see u either very late tonight or tomorrow morning. Don’t miss me too much.

Tasha: Please by all means go ahead and do all the things I wouldn’t, can’t resist missing you—ENJOY,
she texts back. I smile fondly at that; how Tasha of her.

Chapter 14: Second Time Around

I grin awkwardly at the security cameras that make me uneasy. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to them. It seems so alienating to have to pass via security to get to your,
not sure how to classify him,
house …

Daniel leans on the doorframe, waiting for me: loose white tee, barefoot, jeans that fit his body snugly in the most sensual way, and damp, messy hair.
At least someone had a chance to freshen up.
There are butterflies in my stomach, again.
The good kind
.

He smiles as I get closer, taking a step to reach me. “Hey you,” he says, and I smile, exhilaration reaching every part of me.

“Hey back.” He opens his arms slightly for me to cuddle into and I do so happily, reveling in the feel of his arms caging me in a firm embrace. I raise my head to meet his soft, hazel eyes. He bends and kisses me a gentle, sweet, chaste kiss that hastily evolves to a union of our tongues anxiously teasing, tracing one another. A few prolonged moments pass before we disconnect, both highly charged.

“Let’s get inside,” he says into my hair, still holding me tight.

“I am starving,” I say.

He chuckles. “So let’s get some food in you.” Daniel pecks my head. Lacing his fingers with mine, he leads us inside, straight to the kitchen.

“Have a seat,” he mutters, nodding to the bar stool at the kitchen counter. He circles the counter to stand in front of me. I love the song playing in the background.

“Great song,” I say. “Need any help?”

He smiles and shakes his head. “Started listening to them thanks to you.” I’m gifted with a short, meaningful glance that affects me in the sweetest way.

“Would you like some sake?” he asks.

“Please. Any chance you can warm it?”

Hearing my request his eyes light with pleasure. “Of course. That’s the way
I
like it.” He halts for a moment, his eyes drinking me in. He then bends across the counter and gently pecks my lips. I grin inwardly, a wide grin.

“How was your day?” he inquires, taking small bowls and two plates out of the cupboard. I gape at him moving so gracefully around the kitchen and all I can think of is how attractive I find him, how hyperaware I am of every single motion he performs.

“Surprisingly busy. Well, surprising should be the key word of the day.” I reward him with a teasingly arched brow.

He looks at me from under his lashes with a sweet, wicked pout of his lips.

“I liked it that you came,” I mutter coyly.

“I liked it that I came.” His smile broadens as he mirrors my words.

“I wanted to take you with me when I left,” he adds under his breath.

I would have liked that.

He opens a takeaway box decorated with Japanese calligraphy revealing rows of fresh, mouthwatering sushi rolls.
Hence the answer to his question about what I like to eat earlier today.
I beam to myself, sighing content.

Handing me a small, warm sake cup, he lifts his in a silent gesture, mouthing “cheers.” “Speaking of work, are you aware of the fact that that boss of yours has a thing for you?” he asks, looking occupied with fixing our dinner.

“A thing for me? What do you mean?”

“You want me to be more graphic?” He raises an eyebrow. “And here I did my best to try and sound subtle.” He snorts, shakes his head and continues, “He wants to get inside your, I believe given your bra color, red thong. I hope …” This last part is more of a murmur.

I shift in my chair
. Yes it’s a thong and it is red and the only person I want inside of it is you.

“I can spot a fellow predator when I see one,” he adds, dryly.

“I think he’s too in love with his preppy self to even notice anyone else.”

Daniel laughs and I join him.

He fetches a couple of glasses from the top cabinet and soy sauce from the fridge. From the side I gape at that terribly sexy scar on his upper lip as he arranges the food on plates.
What I want to do to that scarred lush lip
. I can’t take my eyes off it.

“What is it, Hayley?” he asks softly, his head tilted to the side.

Hypnotized, I mutter something without actually noticing what comes out of my mouth. “That scar on your upper lip, the things I want to do to it.”

HAYLEY
!

At once he stops pouring the sauce and lifts his eyes to meet mine, looking at me surprised, still holding the dark bottle in his hand. Our stares lock and slowly, his eyes narrow. I can feel my face warm up.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake with this sushi,” he breathes anxiously, thumping the bottle down. I jolt at the noise, and before I know it, he’s by my side lifting me by my thighs. Instinctively I wrap my legs around him for support. As he heads toward the corridor, holding me firmly, his eyes darting with determination, I ask, perplexed, “Where are you taking me?”

“My bedroom.” He says casually in a low voice, leaving no place for any debate.
And debate will definitely not be coming from my side.
As he passes the doorframe, the roughness dissolves from his actions and he gently lays me on the big, inviting bed with himself on top of me. My legs are still wrapped around him and he pins his lower body against mine, turning every fiber from my waist down to liquid. His left arm props him slightly above me. I can see a corner of his tattoo peeking out of the stretched fabric that wraps his cut muscles and find it extremely provoking. With his right hand he caresses the side of my face, looking at me with an intense, lustful gaze. I look back at him, anxious for his touch, for him.
Those scars …

“Lower your mouth to me,” I ask, almost inaudibly. “I want to kiss that scar.”

His eyes deepen with feral glee as he bends slowly toward me, allowing me to reach his full lips. I kiss his upper one right where the scar is, my lips slightly parted, circling it, I move the tip of my tongue against the mark, feeling the deep cut. My body responds to the notion with a sweet warm pain that is boiling at my core. His tongue invades my mouth with a breath of Sake and him; mine meets it eager to touch, to unite. His weight on me is just perfect and makes me quiver with yearning.
I want your skin on mine
. As though reading my mind, he takes off his shirt and helps me get rid of mine. My chest heaves to the sensation of his warm, tight skin against me. He turns his body to lie sideways, his leg between my legs, parting them slightly while pressing my middle gently. I groan softly, looking at him; his eyes gleam in the dim light of the room. He pulls me closer against him, positioning me to face him. His mouth is on mine again as his hand easily releases me from my bra. He scratches my skin, gently pulling down the straps, giving me goosebumps. Revealing my breasts, he bends slowly to taste me with his warm, moist mouth, attending one breast and then the other, while sliding his hand inside the back of my jeans, squeezing softly, pulling me closer to him. I am breathless.

Reaching for his jeans, I slowly unbutton the first three buttons, allowing my hand to slide inside. As I touch him, a low, sensual groan reverberates from his throat, in tandem he deepens the intensity of the movement of his mouth around my breast. Next, with his palm spread flat on my navel, he pushes me until I lie adjacent to him against the bed and shifts to reach my face. Kissing my mouth with a long, warm, eager kiss, he descends to attend my neck, between my breasts, then farther, the tip of his tongue sending electric waves to my groin from the base of my navel. He slowly plants moist, warm kisses from one side of my jeans’ waistband to the other. I tremble.