Worth It: Worth The Scandal Part 18

"Things are different now." She jerked out of his hold, his eyes widening when she did so and he grabbed her again, hauling her close. So close, his hot body scalded her, even through the layers of clothes they wore.

"You don't have to be so standoffish, Tessa," he murmured, his voice a low, s.e.xy rumble that twisted her insides and confused her brain.

"What, are you going to demote me if I don't measure up?" The moment the words left her, she regretted it. His gaze darkened, his jaw went hard and his entire body stiffened against hers.

"You really believe I would do that to you? Degrade you that way?" He lowered his head so their gazes were level. "Do you think that low of me?"

149.

"I don't know what to think or how to feel." Her heart beat wildly, her vision blurred and tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. "What do you want from me, Alex?"

"I want you." Sounding full of pure agony, he crushed his mouth to hers, kissing her right there in the middle of the vast room, so close to the bank of elevators that anyone could catch them if the doors suddenly decided to slide open. "G.o.d, I want you so much, Tessa," he whispered harshly after he broke the kiss.

She wrapped her arms around him and tilted her head back, sighing when he licked a fiery path down her neck with his tongue. He whirled her around and walked her back into his office, his hands wandering all over her body before sliding beneath her s.h.i.+rt to streak his fingers across her trembling stomach.

Her knees wobbled and he swept her into his arms, carrying her with ease into his office and kicking the door shut. He set her on her feet, shoving the coat from her shoulders so it fell in a heap to the floor.

"I want you naked." The look in his eyes was feral as he continued to undress her, his movements methodical. He shoved off her skirt so that it fell around her feet, and she stepped out of it. Unb.u.t.toning her s.h.i.+rt and tugging it from her arms, unclasping her bra and sending it to the floor, his gaze locked for long moments upon her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"I want to taste you." As if he couldn't resist he leaned down and swiped his tongue first across one hard nipple, then the other. She cried out at the feel of his hot, wet tongue, her eyes sliding closed when he slipped his hand inside the front of her panties and touched her boldly.

"Wet," he murmured with approval before he tore the lacy sc.r.a.p completely off her body. She gasped, shocked at his savagery, her entire body on fire with the need for him to take her.

150.

He lifted her, his big hands grasping her b.u.t.tocks, his long, sure fingers pressing into her flesh. Setting her on the edge of his desk, he spread her legs wide, putting her on complete display. She braced herself, her hands splayed on the desk behind her, palms flat, body arched. She didn't care if he could see everything whereas normally she was modest, a little shy.

Tonight, she was too overcome with wanting him. Needing him.

Alex stroked the inside of her thighs, pus.h.i.+ng her wider as he knelt before her. She inhaled sharply, a low moan escaping her when she felt the first swipe of his velvety hot tongue. He devoured her, bringing her closer and closer to climax with every thrust of his tongue and fingers. She gripped his hair with one hand, tugging him close, not caring about her wanton behavior.

Her entire body shaking, her o.r.g.a.s.m drawing near, he ducked his head out of her grip and stood, his expression determined. Frustration filled her and she gripped the edge of the desk, her s.e.x throbbing and in need of release. "Please, Alex."

His expression determined, he reached for his belt buckle and undid it, pulling the sleek leather belt from the loops of his trousers and tossing it to the ground. He undid the snap of his trousers, slid down the zipper. Catching her watching him, he kissed her. His tongue thrust deep at the same moment he thrust his erection deep inside her body.

Alex filled her completely, his rhythm quick and unrestrained. It was like an animal had been unleashed upon her. His movements jerky, his hips b.u.mped against hers, his eyes wild and expression full of grim, pa.s.sionate determination.

She loved it. She loved him.

This was no long, drawn out lovemaking session conceived to drive her out of her ,ever-loving mind. It was out of control, deliciously exciting s.e.x. Like nothing she'd ever experienced before. That she did this to him, made such a 151.

powerful, commanding man lose all pretense and groan and shake uncontrollably as he took her so savagely, it was overwhelming.

And when he fell apart in her arms, when he came so deep inside her, he touched her very soul. Filled her with so much warmth, it wound around her heart, urging the love for him she'd guarded so closely to spill out in the form of tears.

They streaked down her cheeks, and she gazed up at the ceiling. That he'd lost every semblance of order and control to take her on his desk was unbelievable.

Amazing.

A moment she never wanted to forget.

152.

Chapter Thirteen.

The week flew by, Alex's days occupied with work, endless meetings, numerous long conference calls from England and pouring over reports. His desk was covered with papers, two laptops, a stack of manila folders and memories of Tessa's pert bottom hanging on the edge as he pumped deep inside her.

This was his problem. He could be completely composed and focused on work and then memories of Tessa naked in his arms would flood him, ruining his concentration. Make him want her again and again.

More and more.

His focus was so blown he'd wasted far too much time daydreaming, staring off into s.p.a.ce and thinking about Tessa. What would happen if they were to take their relations.h.i.+p to the next level? Did she want that? Or was she perfectly happy keeping their situation as is?

He could go back and forth about the matter all through the day and night and still not feel quite sure where he stood. Which was so unusual for him. He always took command of his relations.h.i.+ps. He called the shots and the women always agreed.

Not that he allowed Tessa to call the shots. She seemed perfectly happy leaving him in charge. He'd almost describe her as beautifully submissive. But she also left him so tied up in knots...

He'd gone out for a business dinner meeting earlier, his plan always to return to the office and wrap up a few details before heading home. Sending Tessa home had been difficult. Full of reluctance, she'd clung to him in the corner of his office, offering her lush mouth to him for a long, wet kiss.

Of course, he'd taken it. He couldn't get enough of her sweet taste, her sensuous ways. She'd suggested she work late as well, perhaps even wait for him but he had a feeling the meeting would run on and didn't want her to stay there too long.

They'd spent every night this week together so he planned on making it up to her by taking her somewhere special over the weekend. Maybe a bed and breakfast that was a little over an hour out of the city, a quaint little place he'd read about in a magazine somewhere.

A quiet, private spot where they could lie about in bed all weekend and make love, that sounded perfect.

His cell rang as he exited the car and he answered, knowing it was Hunter.

"What's going on?"

Their relations.h.i.+p had been strained the entire week over what happened with Tessa. Alex hated it but he wasn't about to apologize first. The ball rested in Hunter's court this time around.

"Where are you?" Hunter asked.

"Headed back into the office. I need to do a few things before I go home."

"You need to head up there and quick then. Someone just accessed your computer, Alex. The IT guy just called me. The search pattern is similar to our spy."

Fury filled Alex as he strode into the building toward the elevators. "I'm on it."

"Be careful, bro," Hunter warned and Alex laughed, stabbing his floor b.u.t.ton multiple times before the elevator door finally slid closed.

154.

"I'm not afraid. Now the little traitor? That's the one who should be scared s.h.i.+tless. I'll call you and let you know what I found." He ended the call and shoved his phone in his pocket.

Adrenaline thrummed through his veins, and he bounced on his heels. Since when had the elevator started moving so slow? The person who was stealing Worth secrets and leaking them to the press and their business rivals could be long gone by now.

Alex hoped like h.e.l.l that wasn't so.

Finally, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. He strode toward his office, saw the lights were still on though he didn't notice any movement within.

Drawing closer, he slowed his steps, kept himself angled so whoever might still be in there wouldn't see him approaching through the open doorway.

Noise sounded from within and he approached the door with quiet steps, holding his breath as he peeked around the corner.

And saw who sat behind his computer staring intently at the screen.

"Tessa?"

She jerked her head up, brown eyes wide, skin pale and looking like she just got caught.

He walked inside, his entire body stiff. Ice-cold shock rippled through him at seeing her in his chair, her hands curled around the edge of the desk, knuckles white. f.u.c.k, had Hunter been right all along?

"What are you doing?" His voice was so calm. Too calm even to his own ears.

"I-I didn't expect you back so soon."

"I told you to go home tonight." He paused, trying to compose himself. Rage wanted to leap out of him and lash out at her. "Why are you here?"

155.

She offered a trembling smile and pushed the chair away from his desk. "I didn't want to go home so I decided to stay and work late. I went to make some copies but the machine wasn't working right so I was in the copy room for twenty minutes at least before I finally fixed it. When I came back, I saw your office light was on and thought you'd already come back."

"I just got back now." Interesting how she had a complete alibi. Why did she feel the need to say she'd been gone for twenty minutes? So he would believe she couldn't possibly be the one who'd just tampered with his computer?

Bulls.h.i.+t.

Her cheeks flushed red. "I can see that."

He rounded the desk and glared at his monitor, fear trickling through him.

"How long have you been on my computer?"

"I came in to drop off the report you'd asked for and noticed the monitor was still on. I was just about to turn it off when I realized it was open on a page regarding the line that's going to be featured at the new London store." She sunk her teeth into her plump lower lip. "Did you leave it on there?"

"No." His tone was clipped, he saw her visibly flinch. "Were you looking for something, Tessa?"

Her eyes went even wider and she stood. "Are you accusing me of pulling up the information on your computer?"

"Are you confessing that you did?"

"No!" she gasped. "I would never do that."

He watched her, crossing his arms in front of his chest. G.o.d, how he wanted to believe her but it all fit too perfectly. She was here, in his office, with some lame alibi that sounded too practiced. Looking at information she had no business seeing. She was supposed to be someone he could trust. Not only as an employee but as a lover.

156.

Not that he'd ever trusted any of his lovers...

Tessa's betrayal cut like a knife, slicing clean through his heart.

"Get out," he said quietly.

"Wh-what?" She blinked at him.

"You heard me." He went to her, circled his fingers around her upper arm and jerked her toward the door. "I want you out of the building."

"But, Alex, I..."

"I've heard enough. Consider yourself terminated. I'll have the personal items from your desk delivered to your apartment tomorrow." He escorted her out of his office, past her desk and toward the elevators. Her entire body trembled, her breath coming in jerky spurts and he wanted to scream. Wanted to ask why, how could she do this to him? To the company? To his entire family?

Tears streamed down her face, her eyes bloodshot as she stared up at him.

"Why are you doing this? Why won't you let me explain?" Alex tugged her close, so close he could kiss her. He would never do that again. "Explain what? How you lied to me? How you deceived me into believing you actually care about your job and for-me?" He choked out the last word.

"How can you not believe me?" A sob escaped her, and she covered her lips with trembling fingers.

"Hunter called me just before I arrived." He watched her, wanting to see her reaction but she still looked the same. Wretched, full of tears and so achingly beautiful it hurt. "They knew someone was on my computer looking at confidential information."

"It wasn't me." She jerked out of his hold. "I told you. I was stuck in the copy room. It had to be someone else."

157.

"Convenient excuse, nothing else. You've been using me all this time. Trying to get close to me, pretending that you wanted this-relations.h.i.+p. All along, you've sold me out." Reaching out, he pushed the b.u.t.ton for the elevator. He had to get her out of here, couldn't stand hearing her excuses any longer.

"Check the cameras." She pointed at the one that pointed directly at the elevators. "You'll see who got off the floor and went to your office. It wasn't me, Alex. I swear it. Please believe me."

How he wanted to-but he couldn't.

Alex released his hold on her and pulled his cell out of his pants' pocket, hitting a b.u.t.ton on the speed dial. His dangerously angry gaze remained locked on her, so cold, so completely unapproachable. The person answered on the first ring and she realized quickly he'd called down to security, asking about the cameras and if the guard could review the tape in the last half hour.

Relief coursed through her and she slumped against the wall. He would realize his mistake and take back her termination. She just knew it. He was furious, had acted too rashly over her supposed betrayal but he would discover the truth and be contrite.

He had to. There was no other way around this.

Panic filled her when he turned away, murmuring into the phone. His shoulders were so tense and she wished she could go to him, ease his discomfort with a stroke of her hands. Hold him close and whisper that everything was going to be all right. They would find whoever was stealing company secrets and leaking them all over the Internet soon.

His call finished, he turned to face her once more, his expression like a stone wall. Disappointment flashed through her, her heart falling to her toes when she noted the coldness filling his gaze.

158.

"The camera was conveniently cut approximately an hour ago." He exhaled loudly, his nostrils flaring. She didn't think she'd ever seen him so angry. "What did you do to it?"