Chapter 12 #2
She was about to tell him that she did not like being bossed around when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
She hadn’t expected the kiss, but she sure did welcome it.
He slid his tongue deep inside her mouth, then began having his way with hers.
She couldn’t fight back the moan his kiss elicited.
It was as if she couldn’t get enough of him.
They were interrupted by the buzz of the intercom on her desk. Breaking the kiss, she licked her lips before reaching behind her and pressing the button. Desiree drew in a deep breath, released it, and then, in the most composed voice she could muster, said, “Yes, Karlie?”
She must have still sounded rather breathy since Karlie hesitated a moment before answering, “I just wanted to let you know I’m back from lunch, Ms. Sharpe.”
Desiree drew in another deep breath and released it. “Okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
She looked at Cobra, and before she could say anything, he leaned in, lightly chafing his beard across her jaw before kissing her again. This kiss was brief but just as potent. Then he looked her up and down and said, “You look very nice today.”
“Thanks.” She was wearing a red pantsuit. Conservative enough for the office but still flattering. She received numerous compliments today, even one from Saul Lawrence, her grandfather’s second-in-command.
“Come on, let’s get out of here before we get into trouble,” Cobra said.
She nodded, then opened one of the drawers to her desk and grabbed her purse.
He took her hand, and when they walked out of her office, she saw the surprise on Karlie’s face.
She almost laughed. When Karlie had gone for lunch, Desiree had one handsome man in her office.
Now she was walking out with another one.
But this one was far superior, in Desiree’s opinion. Cobra had more masculinity in his pinkie finger than Aimery had in his entire body. “I’m leaving for lunch now, Karlie.”
Her administrative assistant’s eyes were glued to Cobra, as if spellbound, when she answered, “Alright, Ms. Sharpe.”
Desiree inwardly smiled, understanding Karlie’s reaction completely.
***
By the time they walked into the Whirlwind Restaurant, some of the anger had left Cobra’s body.
Some of it, but not all. He knew the hotel where the man was staying.
Hell, thanks to the guy’s big mouth, he even knew his room number.
What he should do is pay the bastard a surprise visit and beat the hell out of him for what he had said to Desiree.
He hoped she hadn’t believed what Aimery LeBlanc had said about her sexual inadequacies. But she’d mentioned it once before, so he knew it bothered her, at least a little.
Cobra was looking forward to proving to Desiree just how wrong that sorry excuse for a man was.
Now more than ever, he was glad that he had given her the kind of kiss she had deserved last Saturday night.
He knew it had likely been Aimery who’d dropped the ball in the bedroom and placed the blame on her. What an ass.
He doubted Desiree had any idea how hard it had been to kiss her goodnight at her door the last two nights and leave. He had been so tempted to go inside with her and offer her a repeat of Saturday night. Only, instead of his finger, he would have used his tongue.
“Do you want a private room, Mr. Masters?” the ma?tre d’ asked.
“Yes. The Belgium will work, Thomas, if it’s not being used.” The Belgium Room was where he frequently met with his clients for lunch to discuss sensitive matters and ensure maximum discretion.
“It’s not reserved. This way, please.” The man led them to the back of the spacious restaurant and toward a bank of elevators.
“Why do we need a private room?” Desiree leaned in to ask.
“So that we can talk privately.”
She frowned at him. “If you plan to ask me anything about Aimery, forget it. Nothing about him is open for discussion. What we shared ended over two years ago.”
As far as Cobra was concerned, she hadn’t shared anything with the man. At least nothing solid. “Whatever.” She would discover soon enough that lovers could talk in other ways.
When he’d awakened that morning, it hit him that he would be leaving town and wouldn’t see her for a few days.
That bothered him. And after seeing that Aimery guy and knowing the man would be in New York while Cobra was in Savannah, didn’t sit well with him, either.
What the hell was wrong with him? He was acting like a jealous boyfriend, but the idea was ridiculous.
He’d never worried about what a woman was doing before, so why was he doing it now?
“Here you are, Sir,” Thomas said, opening the door to the private room. “The menus are on the table. I’ll return in a few minutes to take your orders.”
“No rush, Thomas. I’ll text you when we’re ready.”
“Yes, Mr. Masters.” Then the man left.
Cobra watched Desiree glance around the room with a curious eye. In addition to the dining table, there were a couple of sofas in the room, a private bar, a huge television on the wall, and specialized audiovisual equipment.
The Belgium Room was not only located in the back of the restaurant but also on another floor.
Diners had to take an elevator to reach it.
The expansive room provided a secluded, intimate atmosphere ideal for discreet, upscale lunches or dinner business meetings.
A few years ago, he and four other businessmen formed a co-op to sub-lease this room.
Given their clientele, they saw it as a valuable investment.
So far, Cobra had always used it for business, but not today.
He removed his jacket and hung it up on a nearby coat rack by the door.
Without Desiree noticing, he locked the door, then moved toward her.
She certainly looked good today. That red pantsuit looked sexy as hell on her, and the color seemed to make her eyes appear more vibrant.
The tunic portion of the pantsuit had a square neckline with a button-down front, and the hem ended just short of her hipline, framing her feminine curves. She looked both professional and sexy.
Desiree took a step back when he approached, assuming he was about to pull out the chair for her to sit at the dining table, then gasped when, instead, he swept her into his arms and carried her over to one of the sofas.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked in an indignant tone when he sat down with her in his lap.
“I told you we would talk, but there’s more than one way to communicate, Desiree. Today I plan to demonstrate another way.” Then he swooped down and took her mouth in a sizzling kiss.