Claire smiled as he walked around his desk. With each step, he assessed the woman before him. Having her return—as she’d said she would—propelled his senses to an unexpected high.

“That should be your tagline.” Claire said as he stopped mere inches away.

“Oh, but you are so right. I don’t like being disappointed.”

“I remember that about you.” She hesitated. He said a silent prayer that Claire would lean forward—press toward him—and he’d feel her warmth against his chest. Maintaining their distance, Claire continued, “Your car has been returned in one piece, scarcely a scratch.”

The tips of his lips twitched, and his eyebrow cocked. “A scratch?”

Claire’s grin broadened. “Wasn’t that your concern, that I might scratch it?”

Tony took the initiative and closed the gap. Was it her erratic heartbeat that he felt or his own? “I don’t recall being concerned with a scratch. The whole damn car can be replaced. I believe my concern was with your safe return.” His willpower was suddenly spent. Wanting Claire closer, he wrapped his arm around the small of her back and pulled her against him as he cupped her chin, maintaining his gaze of her sparkling emerald eyes.

Her words slowed with breathy expectation. “I have returned.”

“You, my dear, are continually teaching me new things.”

“What, pray tell, have I taught you?”

His lips tenderly brushed hers. “I believe I mentioned before that I liked the black panties. The other night, the light blue satin bra strap monopolized my thoughts. Every time I looked at you, I wondered if it was part of a matching set.” Claire nodded, their noses brushing one another’s with the movement. “And just now, I realized how much more satisfying it is to have you bring yourself home, freely, willingly, than to know you have been driven—perhaps reluctantly.”

“It seems…” Claire giggled. “…you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

His hearty laugh rumbled from his chest.

She went on, “And as I recall, you’ve taught me quite a few things, too.”

“I had been thinking about the pool, but I’m up for review if you’re willing?” By Claire’s expression, she knew he was speaking literally. No other woman in the world could take him from angst on the phone to the edge of ecstasy in such a short time. Would she allow it?

Her hands reached up to his hair as her eyes opened wide. He pulled her closer, pressing his hips to hers and flattening her growing breasts. They fit together perfectly. When their lips connected, the room around them disappeared. Tony no longer cared about Mr. George or Sophia. Rawlings Industries could crash and his estate could burn. Tony didn’t care. What he wanted was in his arms, after returning completely on her own. He needed more. When she parted her lips, his tongue plunged deeper, tasting her sweetness and feeling her warmth.

He bent down, touching his nose to hers and asked, “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

Tony didn’t ask again as he bent slightly and scooped Claire into his arms. He carried her away from the office, past the grand staircase, and down the corridor to his room. With each step, he fantasized about the woman in his arms. Once they arrived, he laid Claire on his bed and slowly, reverently, began to remove her clothes. With each item, their eyes met. The sultry gaze he saw was one that he hoped he was mirroring. Today, she wore pink underwear, matching the color of her top. He slowly removed the lace bra, freeing her beautiful breasts. There was no doubt they were growing, and by the way her nipples hardened and her back arched, they were ultrasensitive to his touch. As he suckled the pink nubs and she called out his name, Tony’s slacks grew uncomfortably tight. The small bow below her bellybutton again reminded him of a present—never had anything been wrapped so beautifully or presented so perfectly.

He wanted to reconnect in a way like never before. He longed to feel her hugging him, surrounding him, and responding to him, but before they made love, he needed to be confident that she was with him willingly. As he was about to ask again, Claire called out, removing all doubt and breaking all barriers. “Oh, please, Tony, I need you.”

Midday turned to early afternoon as they reached new heights and took their reunification to the next level. With his sheet covering them and the sun streaming through the uncovered window, Claire nestled her head on his shoulder and asked, “Do you think we could have lunch at the pool and enjoy some of this day outside?”

He turned to her with a grin. Could her preoccupation with food also include an appetite for sex? Both seemed somewhat insatiable, not that he was complaining. With a sultry tone, he replied, “I’d like to stay here forever, but I like the idea of getting you more sun.”

Her lips found his neck and began to roam, and between suckles, she said, “At this second, I wouldn’t argue with staying here.” A low growl rumbled from his throat as she continued, “But I’m hungry, and that sky looks beautiful.”

He rolled her onto her back. As her long, brown hair fanned the pillow, he studied her glowing pink cheeks and swollen red lips. “Not as beautiful as you look this moment.” He nuzzled her collar bone and moved south.

“Mr. Rawlings, I believe we were discussing lunch?”

It amused him how she continually worked food into the conversation. With a sigh, he stopped his descent, allowing her to sit up. It was then she stammered, “T-Tony, h-how long have you had that there?”