She moved her head to the side, giving him full access, as she undid the buttons of his shirt, the tip of her fingers caressing his chest. Her nails scorched his nipples lightly and he grunted softly. Her dress fell on the floor and he backed away to look at her.

His eyes widened and a hungry grin graced his face. Jesus! Beige-and-brown sheer lingerie and belt garters with sheer lace top stockings.

He dropped to his knees and buried his nose on the apex of her thighs, inhaling. “You smell so good, baby.” He tore off her panties. His tongue traced her seam and he put his hands on her inner thighs encouraging her to spread her legs and he dived between them. A moan escaped her lips when he lapped at her. He gripped her waist with a hand to steady her as he put one of her legs on his shoulder. He took his time enjoying her and only let go when her hands yanked hard at his hair.

Her eyes were light and clear with lust. “Up!” she ordered, tugging on his hair again.

He smiled with utter satisfaction and stood up to kiss her, shedding his shirt to the floor as she unzipped his trousers and pushed them and his briefs down, kneeling in front of him clad in a bra, garter and stockings, and high heels. The exotic beige lace of the Philip Tracey shoes he had given her tantalized his imagination as they caressed her ankles and calves.

Ethan gaped at the sight. Hot! He hardened even more. She moistened her lips in anticipation. He groaned, whatever control he had left slipped away with that vision. She looked at him through long lashes and with a wicked grin, opened her mouth and… Just licked him with the tip of her tongue. Please! And again. He thrust forward and she backed away.

“Sophia, don’t tease!” he growled and pulled her hair almost painfully.

She swirled her tongue around him. “Just paying in kind,” she taunted. “Burn for me.” She breathed and took him fully in her mouth. He grunted and moved his fingers into her hair, grabbing it. She took hold of the base of his erection and worked him all over, tonguing, stroking, and sucking.

He gripped her arms, pulled her from the floor, and almost flung her on to the bed. She took her lacy bra off. He quickly kicked his trousers and briefs from his ankles and lying beside her his mouth immediately searched for a breast. She arched on the bed.

She spread her thighs and he covered her, entering her slowly, staring at her while he did, his forearms caging her shoulders and arms, his hands buried in her hair.

Her long fingers encased his ribcage, “More. Faster.” She locked her legs around him.

“As you wish, baby,” he breathed in her ear, hugging her body tightly to his and slamming his hips on hers until she completely lost control. Her body jerked under his and he felt her low, strangled cry against his neck. He slowed down as she clamped around him and then speeded again to come, becoming still inside her, and collapsing on his side, keeping her bound to his body.

He settled on his back and nestled her better onto his torso, her head on his shoulder, using it as a pillow. “Sophia, you drain me,” he murmured into her hair and dragged the sheets over them.

“Mmm,” she purred on his shoulder.

“Sophia?”

“Yes?”

“Have you sought medical help for your nightmares?” His face showed his concerned.

“Yes, yes, I have. One day they’ll go away.” Her fingers caressed his bearded jaw. “Does it bother you very much? I can go home.”

His arms tightened around her, “No. I’d rather have you right here.” He kissed her hair, “Sleep well, baby. I’ll be here if you need me.”

She lifted her head and smiled lazily at him. “I’ve never slept in high heels before, Ethan.” She took off her shoes. Crawling back to him, she lay her head on his shoulder, her fingers toying with the hairs on his chest.

“Aren’t you tired?” Ethan asked and Sophia shook her head.

Silence ensued for some minutes as they tenderly caressed each other.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

“They aren’t worth your penny.” She smiled wanly at him. “I just had a bad meeting today and I’m concerned about whether I conducted the matter as I should.”

“What happened?” As always, he expressed interest in her.

“The long and the short of it, I had this bad feeling about the director negotiating a contract with us and I demanded a meeting with the CEO of the bank. Then the guy pushed me too far and I snapped.”

“Which one? How?” Ethan’s demeanor blackened.

Sophia, absorbed in her thoughts, didn’t notice the change in Ethan’s attitude. “The director. He pressed us to accept the contract as it was, full of absurd clauses. He even insinuated that Leibowitz Oil depended on this contract to survive. Ridiculous.” She bit her lip. “And he kept leering and drooling over me. It was disgusting.”

Ethan flipped her suddenly on the bed and pressed his body over hers, his hand shot out and grappled her right wrist with strength, wringing it. “You will not go to these meetings again, Sophia.”

“Ethan!” She staggered. His behavior surprised her. “You’re hurting me,” she murmured.

He squeezed her hand violently and pressed her body down on the mattress harder, grabbing her hair in his hand and yanking her head back. “I don’t want you to go alone to these meetings,” he insisted, his azure eyes darkened.

“Let go of my wrist. You’re going to break it,” she whispered urgently, a weird fear spreading through her as pain took control, “please.”

He let go her arm and her hair, but didn’t budge from her body. His fingers were imprinted on her wrist. She lightly rubbed her fingers over it and winced. It’s going to leave a mark.

He inhaled heavily. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He bent his head to kiss her lips, but she turned away, avoiding his kiss. “I don’t like the idea of you exposed.” He buried his head on her neck, kissing it. “Alone, unprotected.”

“I wasn’t alone. Edward was with me,” she answered.

“Edward?” His voice had a tinge of rage again.

“Edward Davidoff, the CEO of Leibowitz.”

He raised his eyebrow. “Close, aren’t you?”

“No-Yes,” she stammered. “I mean, we’re friends, co-workers.”

“You shouldn’t work this hard and burden your pretty head with these mundane things.” He curled his fingers under her chin, “You don’t need to. I can provide for both of us.”

Dear God. The man is crazy. Provide for both of us? Is he proposing marriage? “I like what I do, Ethan. As everything in life, it has its ups and downs,” she reasoned. She rose and went to the bathroom. She studied her wrist and then her face in the mirror. She noticed a movement in her peripheral vision. He stood at the door. She grimaced. Damn! “I’d better leave.” She lowered her eyelids, hooding her darkened eyes.

“I’m sorry, baby. I really am. I like you very much.” He stepped into the bathroom, warily, “I don’t like you meeting with men. You’re an astonishing woman.”

She wrinkled her nose in denial. “There is no need for jealousy. I don’t care about anyone else.”

“I’m not concerned with you, but with them,” he frowned and his azure eyes darkened. “I see how men look at you. You’re coveted, but you’re mine, Sophia. Mine.”

“I see,” she murmured, although she didn’t. This is not affection, Ethan. This has another name. “But, I’m going home, Ethan. Call me a taxi, please.”

“I can take-”

She shook her head. When she raised her eyes, they held a resolute expression. “A taxi, Ethan,” she said firmly, “please.”

Chapter 7

Leibowitz Oil Building.

Friday, January 22nd, 2010.

9.30 a.m.

“Come in,” Sophia called, unlocking her office door, and looking up from her iMac screen.

Edward paused at the door and listened to the music playing in Sophia’s office.

“A waltz by Strauss. Perfect.” Edward literally waltzed into the room with a stack of papers in his hand, an enormous bouquet of dark red peonies and a huge grin on his face. “Congratulations! You’re a genius; one hell of an executive. Gabriel would be proud.”

“What is this?” She smiled at him. “The contract for the students from the University of Strathclyde?”

“No. The loan!” He threw himself in the armchair in front of her desk and put the bouquet on the other. “Exactly as you wanted it. Lower fees, a guaranty of a hundred percent and almost no penalty clauses.” He grinned wickedly at her. “And the best part… Please change the waltz to Beethoven’s fifth symphony, Allegro con brio.”

“Come on, Edward, cut the suspense.”

“Put it on. Just the beginning.” His grin was infectious and she did as he asked. Exactly seven seconds after the music started, he exclaimed. “Wales was fired.”

“Wow! There is a God!” A vindictive smile spread over Sophia’s face. “The bastard was disgusting.”

“It’ll teach him manners.” He singled out an ivory envelope with dark green motifs from the stack of papers. “Now, this!” He opened it and took from it a folded page. He unfolded the crispy vellum stationary, smoothing it gently with his fingers. Edward’s eyes quickly scanned the letter and whistled. “Change the music. Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concert.”

She did as requested. The ominous sounds filled the room and Sophia shuddered.

“I just love this,” he breathed and closed his eyes for a second. “Spectacular, isn’t it? So… intense. As is the man who has caught your attention.”

“I beg your pardon?” she frowned at him.

“Sophia, Sophia.” He threw her a secretive smile and turned his gaze back to the letter in his hand, raising a dark blond eyebrow. “He’s a gentleman; exceptionally fine woven paper and impressive penmanship.” Edward sounded fascinated with her correspondence.