Billionaire's Contract Engagement (Kings of the Boardroom #3)(46)

Celia couldn’t help but notice the way Elle’s gaze drifted to Brock, who stood across the room talking with Jason Reagart. Brock turned and caught Elle’s gaze, and what Celia saw there made her pause.

Possession.

“I didn’t intend for it to happen,” Celia said. “I know better. Me of all people should know better. I’ve kept it secret, and it’s driving me insane. I worry over who’ll see us together and whether they’ll draw the wrong conclusion. I’m so tired of sneaking around. The worst part is I’m in love with him.”

Elle made a sound of sympathy and pulled Celia away from the others until they stood in a dark corner.

“You need to be honest and open about this, Celia. If you don’t, it’ll tear you apart,” Elle said earnestly.

Elle was so sincere and her words were so heartfelt that Celia wondered if she was speaking from personal experience. Was it possible that Elle was having a secret fling with Brock? If the looks between the two were any clue, there was some serious chemistry there.

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask, but she didn’t want to hurt Elle, especially if she didn’t want anyone to know.

Instead she squeezed Elle’s hand. “Thank you, Elle. I know you’re right. I just have to figure out how to handle this. It’s giving me a headache.”

“First thing you should do is enjoy your moment in the sun,” Elle returned. “This is your night to shine.

You worked hard for this, Celia. Go have some fun.”

“Okay, okay, Mom,” Celia teased. “I’m up for another drink if you are.”

Elle smiled and the two women headed for the bar for another round. Celia endured another series of toasts, backslaps and loudly yelled congratulations. Elle was right. This was her night. It was the culmination of weeks of hard work and long hours. Damn if she wouldn’t enjoy every minute of it.

Celia’s cab pulled up to her apartment, and she pulled out several bills to pay the driver. While she was far from toasted, she hadn’t wanted to chance driving home, so she’d left her Beamer at work and taken a cab from Rosa.

It was late, but not ungodly so, and she was still riding high from the celebration.

The cab pulled away and across the street she saw Evan leaning against his car, watching her. He started forward, and she stood there like a statue, watching him approach.

“Out celebrating?” Evan asked with a slight smile.

She nodded. “After-work thing. Took a cab back so I didn’t have to drive.”

“You should have called me. I would have had my driver take you home.”

“I don’t think that would have looked good if the man whose account I just landed sent a car to take me home after my celebration party.”

He regarded her with no expression. Then he asked, “Going to invite me in?”

As if she’d tell him no.

He fell into step beside her as they walked to her door. He waited while she unlocked the door and then followed her inside. As soon she as she locked up behind them, he had her in his arms.

Not again. She couldn’t lose all control of her senses the moment he touched her. It wasn’t normal.

“Do you have any idea how turned on I was watching you take control of that presentation this morning?” he said between kisses. “You were glowing and you were such a hardass. I wanted so bad to drag you into a closet and have wild, crazy sex.”

He always knew exactly what to say to melt any resistance on her part. He was a seducer with words.

He had her clothes off before they got to her bedroom. How he knew where it was, she didn’t know.

Maybe all men had a natural instinct for where to find the nearest bed.

They went hard and fast. No matter what their intentions, that first time was always desperate, like it was their last. She gripped him, he cradled her, she kissed him, he thrust into her.

It was crazy, irrational, it was the most erotic, bone-melting sex of her life.

And she loved him beyond all reason and sanity.

She lay under him, holding him close as he panted against her neck. She was positively weak, and thank God they were on the bed, because she wasn’t moving. It wasn’t possible.

Finally Evan rolled away and threw his arm across the bed with a groan.

“Every time, I swear, I’m going to take it slow, make love to you with all the finesse I’m capable of.

Then I see you and the teenage hormones start revving out of control, and I become some seventeen-year-old on steroids.”

Celia died laughing and then moaned when she moved too much. “I would have liked a seventeen-year-old on steroids with your sexual know-how when I was seventeen. All the boys I knew thought a kiss and quick grope was all the foreplay necessary before penetration.”

“I’d say what morons they are if I hadn’t just practically done the same thing to you,” he said in a pained voice.

She rolled into the crook of his arm and laid her head on his chest.

“You don’t hear me complaining, do you? I haven’t thrown you out for being an inconsiderate toad.”

He kissed the top of her head. “And for that I’m extremely grateful.”

She snuggled into his arms. “Are you going back to Seattle for the weekend?”

He went still and then tightened his arm around her. His hand lay possessively on her hip.