Chapter 9
Andi felt as if he’d just slapped her. The box! Damn, she’d completely forgotten about that stupid box.
“Sex scene?” she prompted, her anger rising since he’d obviously opened her private mail.
His eyes showed his understanding of her anger and he smiled.
“I didn’t open it, Andi. My security team x-rayed the box to ensure that there wasn’t an explosive inside.
Or anything else that could harm you.” He leaned back in the hard chair, frowning thoughtfully at her.
“There was nothing that was going to explode, but the scene the x-ray revealed was a bit…unexpected.” He leaned forward curiously, resting his crossed arms on the table.
“Is that the kind of thing you’re into?”
“God, no!” she gasped, repulsed by the idea. Thinking back to the previous diorama, she cringed. “Well, actually,” Andi licked her lips and sighed, “I have no idea what’s in the newest box, but no, I’m not into pain during sex.”
There was a brief pause, then his eyes narrowed. “This isn’t the first time someone has sent you something like this?”
Andi’s mouth fell open in shock at what she’d inadvertently revealed. “Um…well…!”
His eyes hardened and he eyed her carefully, his protective instincts rearing to life. “Tell me the truth, Andi!”
She flinched at his harsh tone. “The truth is this isn’t your problem, Laith,” she said firmly. “I have no idea why someone is sending me weird dioramas, and no, I’m not into S&M and also no, I don’t want you to protect me.”
“Tough!” he snapped. “You will be protected,” he growled.
Then he gathered up their trash and stood up.
Andi stood as well, refusing to sit while a man loomed over her.
But he stepped closer, leaving less than an inch of space between their bodies.
Andi gasped, fighting not to move even though she desperately wanted to press herself against him, be held by him.
Then she remembered his comment and shook her head. “I will figure this out on my own.”
“Really?” he hissed, then remembered where they were.
The diner had emptied of most of the customers, but there were still a couple people lingering over their food.
“This isn’t the place to discuss those boxes.
” He turned, frustration evident on his handsome features.
“We will discuss this in private.” He shoved their trash into the bin, then turned back to her, gently touching her arm as they left the restaurant.
Andi thought about pulling away, but the other patrons were watching them curiously and she didn’t want to cause a scene.
Instead, she climbed into the waiting SUV, then slid as far over as she could, not wanting to touch him even a little.
“We’re not done discussing this,” Laith snapped, nodding to the driver, who immediately pulled away from the curb. “Plus, I suspect the company security department will have questions too.”
Andi fumed, crossing her arms over her chest. She couldn’t remember ever being this furious before.
But as the vehicle headed towards their hotel, she wasn’t sure if she was angry that her privacy had been violated, or if she was embarrassed by the contents of the box.
She wasn’t sure about the particulars in this second box, but she was pretty sure she wasn’t going to like it any more than the first.
Okay, she knew that she was being irrational.
She didn’t like the fact that Laith, with all of his urbane sophistication, had seen the unwelcome scene that had been sent to her.
She didn’t know if it was a threat or if the sender had meant the diorama as an invitation.
Either way, she definitely wasn’t into pain.
The S&M scene was fine for those who enjoyed it, but Andi didn’t want Laith to think that she was one of them.
Hell, she wasn’t particularly into sex at all! Sex was fine and good…for men. But the few times she’d had sex it hadn’t been anything exciting.
Plus, Andi knew that she wasn’t the only woman who thought like that. Most women that she knew, including most of her friends, thought that sex was only okay. She and Carys had discussed their sexual “adventures” over the years and they agreed that men got to enjoy sex far more than women.
Which didn’t explain why she got so hot and bothered whenever Laith touched her. And it definitely didn’t explain why she was so angry about the boxes, other than her embarrassment that Laith knew that someone was sending such things to her.
“I want to see the box,” she blurted out.
He blinked at her. “Why?”
She considered her words carefully, then explained, “Because I don’t know if it’s a threat or an invitation. Or some third option.”
“Are you into S&M?”
Andi shook her head, not even trying to hide her horror at his question. “Absolutely not. I’m not a fan of pain.” She nervously rubbed her hands over her thighs. “It was another diorama, wasn’t it?”
He nodded slowly. “Yes. Ball gag and bondage. The male doll was standing over the female doll with a whip in the air.”
Andi shuddered with revulsion. “No, that’s definitely not something that interests me.”
“So, let my security team handle it.”
Her fingers tightened into fists. “I will not be treated like some idiot who can’t take care of herself!”
The SUV pulled up to the hotel. Andi was so angry, she didn’t wait for his answer.
Instead, she jumped out of the SUV and hurried into the hotel.
She made a bee line to the bank of elevators, determined to get away from Laith.
She needed to be alone, to figure out what was going on in her head.
She was confused and so turned on by Laith’s small touches throughout the evening.
“We’re not finished discussing this,” he snapped, then pulled her over to a separate elevator that was partially screened by a wall. Andi didn’t try to pull her arm away because they were already making a scene. Other hotel guests were turning to stare at them, so she sighed and followed.
They rode the elevator in silence, accompanied by the two men that had followed her and Laith in from the car. Andi’s mind whirled with fury. Laith was being a bully! Or was she just embarrassed? Was she making more of this than she should?
When the elevator opened on the top floor of the hotel, Andi tried to escape. But Laith anticipated her retreat and grabbed her arm, pulling her through the only door on the floor, and slamming it behind them.
“Okay, we’re alone now. Explain!” he demanded.
Andi glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. “You may be my boss, but you are not in charge of me,” she hissed.
“My personal mail isn’t your concern.” Her head spun.
One moment, she was fighting back the need to…
do something with this man, something sexual.
And the next moment, she was angry because he was delving into something Andi considered private.
She couldn’t seem to separate one issue from the other!
Andi watched with a mixture of anger and a warped sense of satisfaction as Laith paced back and forth, obviously trying to organize his thoughts. She felt a touch of glee when she realized that he was just as confused as she was.
However, before she could make sense of her rioting thoughts, Laith spun around, fisting his hands on his hips. “I am in charge of this company. So, when someone uses my company to send threatening packages through the mail, then yes, that’s my concern.”
Andi wanted to hit him. He was right, but also wrong. Unfortunately, he pulled off his jacket in that moment and her mind, already in a whirlwind, went blank at the sight of his shoulders in only a thin dress shirt.
Her mouth went dry at the sight of all those muscles. He was…awesome! She could see the biceps rippling when he tossed his jacket over the sofa. Then his shoulder muscles shifted when he turned to glare at her.
Then there was a long silence. Both of them stared at each other, breathing heavily.
“Damnit, Andi!” he groaned.
A split second later, they were moving towards each other.
In that moment, Andi wasn’t sure what she’d planned.
But before she could form a thought, they were kissing.
Andi lifted up onto her tiptoes while he pulled her into his arms, lifting her almost off her feet as they kissed, tongues tangling and she gasped at the amazing sensation of finally experiencing the feeling of his hard, muscular chest against her breasts.
She could feel her nipples tingling, desperate for his touch.
He reached out, cupping her left breast and she cried out, pulling him closer as their mouths hovered a breath apart.
He smiled against her lips as his thumb flicked over her nipple and her knees almost gave out.
Her only salvation was his strong arm around her waist.
Andi reached up and pressed his hand more firmly against her breast, needing more. She nearly tore at his shirt as her fingertips sought, and found, his hot skin. She moaned again, desperate for more.
The feeling of his skin under her fingers made her head spin wildly.
By the time her brain righted itself, he’d torn off his shirt, revealing tanned, rippling muscles.
She leaned forward, pressing her lips to the heated skin, but that wasn’t enough.
Her tongue flicked out, tasting him while her fingers explored the newly exposed skin.
“More!” she gasped, ripping at his belt buckle. Somehow, they were in a bedroom. Had he carried her there?
Laith pushed her hands out of the way, making Andi moan a little in protest. He stepped back and shoved his slacks down, kicking his clothes out of the way.
He stood before her completely nude. Unfortunately, he didn’t give Andi time to process the magnificence of his full glory.
He knelt down, tugging at her skirt and panties.
How her blouse and bra vanished was a mystery, but she was beyond caring.
Laith lifted her into his arms and tumbled backwards onto the bed. She wrapped her legs around his hips, straddling him, needing to find that part of him that she knew would make her whole.
She wrapped her fingers firmly around his throbbing erection, staring into his eyes as she hovered over him. Without breaking eye contact, she lowered herself over him, taking his shaft into her body with a groan of satisfaction as he filled her up.
But that moment was broken when he gripped her hips, forcing her to move.
It was just one thrust, but Andi gasped at the beautiful friction.
Then she took over, rising and sinking as she dug her nails into his chest. It was the most beautiful and frustrating moment of her entire life.
Every shift against him was perfect and yet, not enough. She needed more.
She was so close, but then he rolled them over, flinging her onto her back as he hovered over her.
“You’re mine!” Laith growled, thrusting into her. He grabbed her wrists, pinning them over her head. “Say it, Andi!”
Andi could only moan. But he was adamant. “Say it! Say you’re mine!” he demanded, then stopped moving.
Andi was so startled, her eyes popped open. She tried unsuccessfully to pull her hands out of his grip, wanting to grab his hips and force him to keep going, but he had the upper hand.
When she stared up at him, unconsciously licking her lips and writhing against him, she noticed the sweat forming on his forehead and realized that he was only just hanging onto his control.
She was awash in desire and urgent, devastating need.
She’d never experienced sexual pleasure like this.
Never! This was all new to her and she wasn’t sure how to control these sensations.
“I’m yours,” she gasped, giving in to his command.
He stayed still for another moment, but the triumph gleaming in his eyes told her that the words had given him something that she didn’t fully understand.
Finally, he began to move, thrusting hard and fast. Andi screamed, arching her back, shifting her hips against him.
And that threw her right over the edge. He continued to move, faster and harder, pulling her hips against his, which sent her over the edge to a second climax, one that she couldn’t control.
All she could do was hold onto his shoulders as he gripped her hips, pounding into her heat.
Andi felt his shaft thicken and she screamed his name as yet another, smaller, climax overwhelmed her before he collapsed into her arms.
They lay, entwined, as they slowly remembered how to breathe. Andi shivered, enjoying the sensation of his warm breath washing over the back of her neck as exhaustion took over and she fell asleep.