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  Staying on her toes was the only thing that had kept her sane.

  Yet, that underlying threat of danger Luke exuded felt different from the peril Jonathan brought into their marriage. Danger made Luke appealing, exciting. Peril made Jonathan look maniacal, diabolical.

  "I have to admit I'm surprised at your decision to let go of the Bryce account," Matt Levinson said. He leaned back on his chair and looked at Gracie over the rim of his glasses, his dark hair falling over his forehead. "Why are you giving all of your hard work away?"

  "I'm not giving it away. I've done everything that needs to be done." Gracie shrugged. "Besides, you need my help with other accounts. Veronica can monitor this one. Any questions then she can ask me."

  "Hhhmm..." was Matt's non-committal answer while he perused his copy of the accounts annotating it while Gracie did the same on her copy. "Okay, I'll allow it only because there's another client account I want you to look at. This time, you'll be auditing them."

  "Sounds good." Gracie's mouth lifted to a half smile. Problem solved. She brushed aside the tinge of regret that sank squarely on her chest.

  Matt's phone rang.

  "Yes," he answered. Surprise registered on his face. "Okay."

  He returned the receiver to its cradle before looking at Gracie in bemusement.

  "What is it?" she asked.

  "Luke Bryce is outside in reception," he murmured. "He wants to talk to you."

  "Me? Whatever for?" Gracie's pulse rate suddenly jacked up. She couldn't help the stirrings of excitement harvesting a host of butterflies in her belly.

  Matt shrugged. "I haven’t told them that you're letting go."

  "He didn't have to come to the office," she muttered.

  "Why wouldn't he?" He frowned in puzzlement. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

  Gracie inhaled slowly to stem her racing pulse. "None. It's okay. I'll deal with it." Standing up, she smoothed down her skirt, then took a moment to make sure her legs weren't wobbly before walking towards the door. "Might as well see what he wants. After this, you can hand the account over to Veronica. She's very good at her job."

  Matt stood up as well and nodded. "Okay. That will give you more time to go through the other accounts we have." He gathered the papers strewn across his desk to put them together in a neat stack. "Any plans for the weekend?"

  She chuckled. "Apart from getting loads of sleep which I sorely need now? Spending quality time with Flynn is my priority. Haven't been able to do that."

  "Sorry, Gracie." Matt sounded sheepish as he gave her a rueful glance.

  "It isn't your fault, Matt. Never think of it that way."

  She didn't need to elaborate, but they both knew the reason. Matt got so enamoured with the temp secretary he got for Gracie that he didn't realize that the quality of her work left a lot to be desired.

  Once out in the narrow carpeted corridor, Gracie exhaled. She couldn't let her imagination run wild. Luke might just want to go over something in the report or he was just in the neighbourhood. Unless he lived close by in one of the loft conversions in the centre of the city, this wasn't exactly someone's regular neighbourhood. Then again, what would she know?

  She had to pass through reception before reaching her office. Her heart started to beat louder the closer she got to reception, not dissimilar to the pounding beat of the "Jaws" theme. Her eyes widened fractionally, and she stopped in her tracks.

  Luke Bryce was leaning against her office door. He wore denims and a pastel blue Ralph Lauren button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show his muscular forearms. The logo was discreet unlike the brand's other shirts that seemed to scream that the horse and rider were just about to join the charge of the Light Brigade.

  She resumed walking.

  "Mr. Bryce, you should have waited for me to get you from reception," she said, trying to inject displeasure in her tone when she was feeling the opposite.

  "It's Luke, Gracie. I want you to call me that."

  Her eyebrow lifted of its own volition.

  "What is it you wanted?" she asked, not bothering to say his name. Irritation flashed in his eyes before it was gone. Slight apprehension uncoiled inside her. Gracie hacked it with a mental knife.

  This man wasn't Jonathan. This man was the opposite and her body knew it.

  "Let's talk inside your office."

  Gracie saw that the receptionist had left her post and was watching their exchange with interest.

  "Very well," she muttered, walking towards him to open the door. As she did, his cologne drifted to her nose, and she inhaled deeply. His body heat embraced her, ratcheting her awareness of this virile man who had no problem invading her personal space, making her very aware of his sex appeal. He was so near that when he exhaled she could feel his breath close to her temple. Her sex pulsed at the contact.

  She twisted the doorknob, walked ahead, and waited for him to come in. When she turned around after closing the door, he was standing so close to her that she had to tilt her head up. Her breath hitched when she saw his eyes smoulder, the heat in them burning a trail down her sternum to spread across her breasts. Heart in her throat and excitement running through her bloodstream, she took in everything Luke Bryce was. From the shadow that covered his jaw, to his deep set eyes that seemed to look into her very soul, and his wide mouth that she desperately wanted to kiss. Oh God, she wanted what he was offering. Her mind battled against itself. She wanted to move away and yet wanted to stay. He used her moment of indecision to cage her in with his hands against the door by her shoulders. If lust had a scent, Gracie knew what it was. Freaking hot, delicious, and damn good. It swirled around her in a sensual blanket, and she could feel her pulse throbbing in her clit, causing her core to moisten in response. Her nipples also responded by budding inside her bra, the lace sensually abrasive against the points.

  "You lied to me," he said softly.

  "Excuse me." Her eyes snapped to his deep blues.

  He was unperturbed at her consternation. "You said you were married."

  "I am Mrs. Sinclair."

  "Yes, you are. Widow of Jonathan Sinclair."

  She sucked in a sharp breath.

  "It doesn't matter how I know, Gracie," he admonished gently, answering the unspoken question in her eyes. "Why did you make me believe you were still married?"

  "What's it to you?"

  “Why didn't you want to go out with me?"

  She sighed, closing her eyes. Try as she might, she couldn't open them again as excitement seeped through her pores and pleasure slowly built inside her, warming her thighs, circling inside her belly before going up slowly, languidly to tease her nipples and add to the rapid rate of her heart. Oh God, this man was wreaking havoc on her body. Her lips parted when she felt Luke's breath brush her cheek, her face angling towards his involuntarily. She made a sound between a gasp and a moan when his tongue caressed her earlobe before tracing the shell of her ear. She felt like falling and raised her hands to push him away but as soon as her palms touched his chest, they heated, her fingers nearly curling against his pectorals. The flicker of desire inside her roared to life. Luke moved forward, pinning her to the door. She was not able to stop the soft and rapid pants coming out of her lips, and could feel her sex moisten further at the hardness of his arousal against her belly, igniting the fire that had been dormant for so long. She brushed her lips against his jaw. Luke didn't need any further prodding and turned his head to capture her mouth.

  Sweet joy stormed into her very soul. Luke's tongue seared the seam of her lips, teasing, coaxing, exploring, before he parted the barrier her teeth put up to invade her mouth. He claimed her tongue, tasting it, flicking it, playing with it until Gracie growled softly and deepened the kiss. The kiss was rough and filled with unbridled need. Their tongues greedily explored, staked, and claimed. Their breaths became hot and heavy, each wanting to give and take as much as they could. Gracie moaned against Luke's mouth as her arms encircled his neck. She slanted
her mouth to give him more access and the more he swirled his tongue with hers, the more he nibbled on her lips, the more liquid heat flowed from her core. Her mouth parted against his lips, taking in his breath as Luke's hands lifted her skirt to skim her stockings, teasing the lace band that held it up before drifting towards her mound. Gracie's breath came short and fast, and she moaned when Luke's finger teased her against the wet silken fabric.

  "So wet, Mrs. Sinclair," he rasped. "Did I do this? Let me see if I've done a good job." He slipped his finger inside her panties and found her engorged bundle of nerves, spreading her wetness over it. "Yes, baby. It seems I did." His mouth dipped to suck the skin against her erratically beating pulse. Slowly, he rubbed, but Gracie couldn't get enough. He was toying with her. When she moved to direct his digit, Luke would move it away.

  "Please." She sighed. He raised his head, his gaze filled with lust made her melt to a quivering mass. Her hips moved of their own volition, urging him to take her. "Luke."

  That was all he needed to insert his finger inside her.

  Gracie almost buckled had it not been for Luke's arm around her waist. She leaned into his neck, her mouth automatically kissing his throat, her eyes closing at the pleasure she was receiving. Her hips bucked against his finger, her clit seeking to be pampered, her whole being attuned to Luke's finger that teased and played with her, enjoying the sensation of his callused digit going in and out of her. She whimpered when he took his finger out to lazily swirl it around her clit, spreading more of her wetness before inserting two fingers inside her.

  "So wet," he said, his voice rough with his own arousal. "That's it, baby. Feel my fingers fucking you." Luke bent down to nibble her ear lobe before he whispered, "My cock wants to fuck you too so much."

  "I thought we were just supposed to go out...oh God." Gracie's voice was soft but shrill. Her hand clamped down on Luke's wrist. He lifted his head and her eyes flew up to his, and she was ensnared in those depths where she knew his passion lay. Luke hissed before he stopped what he was doing, his eyes burning with a hunger that matched hers. Then his finger began to move again. Gracie's breath hitched, yet she didn't stop him, her hand still holding him. The more the pleasure suffused her, the harder she held. Her hips followed the tempo of Luke's finger on her clit. He was the maestro and she the violin. Gracie spread her legs wider and gave a silent cry as she closed her eyes, her head thrown back against the door that silently creaked on its hinges. Gracie couldn't help herself. Her movements added to the sound that was thankfully muffled by the carpet. Luke's fingers stoked the building desire inside her. Almost there. She panted, her lips parted. She melted against Luke when he placed open mouth kisses against the column of her throat. His breath was also ragged, his arousal a raging beast against her belly.

  "Do you like what I'm doing to you?" His voice was harsh with lust in her ear.

  "Yes..." Her answer came from a breath and a sigh. Gracie moaned, the sound becoming louder. She was melting, and she wouldn't be surprised if she became a puddle on the floor. Her stomach quivered and knees almost buckled underneath her as Luke continued to entice her surrender, circling her and going back inside her, hooking his fingers to touch her G-spot. She was so close, she could feel her climax about to crest. He stifled her whimpers with a hard kiss, swallowing her cry of pleasure, and Gracie couldn't do anything but hold on to him.

  The shrill ring of the phone slammed into her senses, pulling her away from their lust-filled cocoon. In a daze, she looked at him before the third ring became the bucket of water pulling her back to reality. In alarm, she immediately moved away from Luke, gasping at the way his fingers slowly slid away from inside her. She straightened her skirt and on stilted legs walked to her desk. Her quim was so wet that she almost stumbled.

  "Hello."

  "Gracie, is everything all right?" Matt asked.

  "Yes, everything's fine." Her voice sounded shrill even to her. "Why wouldn't it be?"

  "What did Luke Bryce want?"

  Me. He wanted me.

  "There was something he didn't understand with the figures," she lied. "But it's all sorted."

  "Okay," Matt said. "Are you still sure you want to have Veronica deal with the Bryce account?"

  "Yes, I'm sure," she said firmly. If what had just happened was anything to go by, she wouldn't get any work done. And that was the last thing she wanted to happen.

  She also refused to get hurt.

  Again.

  Chapter Seven

  Gracie replaced the receiver in its cradle, staying behind her desk to put a barrier between them. She almost gave in to the throaty sound that nearly fell from her lips when Luke pinned her with his gaze as he licked off her cream from his fingers. He walked to her, his gait like a puma knowing it had its prey. She couldn't take her eyes off him, her breath hitching when he raised his hand to trace her bottom lip with his thumb.

  "The only figure I can't understand is yours and why you can't give it to me," he whispered.

  "That's being presumptuous, Luke."

  His mouth slightly lifted and pleasure lit his eyes. "At least you've said my name."

  Gracie sighed, loving the feel of his rough padded digit against her lip. Before she could stop herself, her tongue swiped at his thumb before sucking on it. She heard his harsh intake of breath and her mouth curved into a smile. She looked up at his eyes and could feel herself drowning in their dark blue depths. Regretfully, she stopped sucking his finger and gave it one last chaste kiss. She just couldn't do it.

  "This is not going to work out," she said quietly. "I've only met you by accident Thursday night and knew who you really are last Friday." She gave a nervous laugh. "Allowed you to go to second base without even landing on first, and I don't know about tomorrow."

  "Let me show you tomorrow now."

  Gracie breathed out. Her body begged her to give in but her heart closed in on itself, not wanting to feel the same hurt again.

  "Gracie, I haven't given you any doubt that I want you. I've wanted you from the moment you looked at me after picking up those folders. You knew that and still moved away. Now that I know you're free, I will stake my claim. Have no doubt about that," Luke said, cupping and caressing her neck. "Let's talk figures and the most desirable one is standing right in front of me. I want you lying underneath me as my cock thrusts in and out of you. I want you to climax in my bed, on my kitchen counter, in my shower, in the lounge. I want your liquid heat on my fingers, my mouth, around my shaft. I want to hear your cries begging me to take you higher until there's no more altitude left. Then I will wait until you come down, until you come back to my arms that will hold you and keep you safe."

  The heat of Luke's words was enough to make her melt like butter. Each word he spoke felt like multiple vibrating charges striking the bundle of nerves between her damp folds. His husky voice eviscerated any doubts of his intentions, and she could have given him her second orgasm right there and then.

  "Dear Lord, stop!" Her voice whooshed out of her. Her body was so sensitive to Luke's very presence that she wasn't so sure if she would be able to control the urge to fling herself at him. "I can't do this."

  She squeaked when he gripped her upper arms. Her eyes flew to his in alarm, her breath catching in her throat.

  "Why?" His eyes were the darkest blue she had ever seen. The blue flames fed her own fire and she just wanted to lean towards him. The look he gave her could have burned her entire office and she wouldn't care. Then his eyes narrowed. "Did your husband hurt you?"

  His sudden question startled her before hysterical laughter bubbled up her throat. She shook her head, turning her face away from him, trying to break loose from his hold, but he was too strong. She wasn't sure anymore if she wanted to either.

  "It's none of your business, Mr. Bryce."

  "After sinking my fingers into your pussy, surely we should be on a first name basis." His voice rumbled and her body thrummed in response. "The name is Luke."

  Gracie swa
llowed hard, colour flushing her face, but she continued, "What's just happened was totally wrong. You're a client."

  "I want to be more than a client. Now that I know you're not really married, I want to see more of you. I want you in every way."

  "No, please. Don't talk like that." Her voice came out huskier than she would have wanted.

  Instead of moving away, Luke tilted her chin. She couldn't turn away. Her eyes flew to his and almost melted at the sudden gentleness she saw in them.

  "I am not your husband, Gracie."

  She sighed, shaking her head. One hand held on to the edge of her desk when all she wanted to do was to hold him.

  "I'm too old for you, Luke."

  To her chagrin, tears pooled in her eyes before falling down her cheeks. She pushed away, and Luke finally let go. Gracie moved away to wipe the wetness from her cheeks. From her peripheral vision, she saw that Luke's hands ball into fists as though he was finding it hard to control himself.

  "Give me a chance, Gracie. I'm not a monster. I'm not going to hurt you. I will make you forget the pain you've been through and create beautiful memories for you with me."

  She swallowed hard. God, this man was so sure of himself! He was an arrogant son of a bitch, and she despised herself for wanting him in her bed. His sweet words stroked at her core and stoked the spark inside her. While his words were raw and full of sexual innuendo, they were no different from the words that Jonathan used on her. Enticing her to give in only to be tossed aside. To feel that she was worthy of being wanted, of being cherished was something she had longed for. Most of all she wanted a man she could trust again. She just didn't know if she could move beyond the memories that kept her under lock and key. Luke was tempting her to try once more.