“Tally, I need the Charter file.” Lucian stepped from his office, a scowl on his face as he stared over at her.
She lifted a brow with cool inquiry. “The Charter contract was dropped last week.”
She turned back to the computer and saved the data information before picking up the file she had been working on and placing it on the side of her desk with a dozen others. She could practically hear Lucian grinding his teeth.
“Did I ask you when it was dropped?” he questioned her softly. “I don’t believe I did.”
Now that voice… Tally tensed to control the shiver that wanted to work up her spine. It took all her control, but she kept her movements smooth, languid, as she exited the program then sat back in her chair before swiveling around to meet his gaze once again.
She crossed her legs lazily, ignoring the thrill of excitement as his gaze flickered to the silk-covered flesh and heated up with a flare of lust. And if she wasn’t mistaken, he was definitely aroused.
Keeping her expression calm in the face of the sudden fire flickering in his green eyes wasn’t easy. His hard features were almost savagely outlined, the full curve of his lower lip tightening as his gaze rose to hers once again.
She lifted a brow slowly, more than aware that the perfect arch of the wing-tipped brow would make him furious. If he was angry, he was off balance. An out-of-control Lucian she could handle. The calm, determined Lucian had sent trepidation skittering through her system.
His brows snapped into a frown as his green eyes darkened for long seconds. Then, like the calm before a storm, his expression cleared. This could be interesting. She forced herself to remain relaxed as his face hardened.
“The Charter file,” he said carefully. “Now.”
She sighed with exaggerated forbearance. “Very well. Though I don’t understand why you need to go over a contract that was obviously dropped a week ago. Besides, the owner is a maggot. You wouldn’t like him.”
She rose to her feet and walked slowly over to the file cabinet as she restrained her own anger. Whereas Jesse had most likely understood her reluctance to deal with the tall, imposing metal cabinets, Lucian merely stood negligently against the doorframe and watched her with narrowed eyes.
He would want a file that was stored in the upper drawer. The cabinet was over five and a half feet tall; Tally was barely five two. Pulling the drawer out, she stood on her tiptoes and began riffling through the files until she found the one he wanted. Lifting it out, she pushed the drawer in and walked sedately over to him.
His gaze was hot, but not from anger now.
“Your file, Mr. Conover.” She handed it to him, fighting the flush she could feel gathering on her cheeks as his gaze dropped to her br**sts. She couldn’t keep her br**sts from tingling, though, or her ni**les from heating beneath his gaze. She breathed slow and evenly, but her heart was racing out of control.
“Your shirt…” He ignored the file, his hand reaching out as his finger slid beneath the parted fabric.
Tally dropped her gaze, almost flinching as his finger slid beneath the edge of her lacy, low-cut bra. The two buttons had somehow slid free on the white silk shirt, leaving her all but bare to his gaze. The sight of his flesh, dark, yet not as dark as her own, sent vibrant trails of awareness blazing through her body.
Suddenly, the memory of him naked, his c**k working between Terrie’s thighs, sent anger pouring through her system. Unaccountable, uncharacteristic anger. She shouldn’t care who he f**ked or how often he did it. It shouldn’t matter.
She lifted her hand, casting him a look from beneath her lashes as she ran her finger up one side of the parted fabric.
“Do you want this file?” she asked him, her voice low, seductive at first. A second later she raised her gaze, and allowed the ice beneath the surface free rein. “Or the one I’ll present later for sexual harassment if you don’t move your hand?”
His gaze rose slowly back to hers and the heat in his eyes nearly seared her. She could feel her pu**y swelling, her clit aching in response to that look. She lifted her brow in haughty inquiry.
“Would you?” he asked her. “I never figured you for a hypocrite, Tally. But if that’s the way you want to play…”
He pulled his hand back reluctantly as he took the file from her hand. A small smile edged the corner of his sensual lips.
No, she wasn’t a hypocrite, but she would use whatever edge she could get.
“If that’s all you need then, I’ll be going to lunch.” Without looking she casually re-buttoned her shirt before turning away from him.
“It’s a half hour before lunch, Tally,” he reminded her smoothly. “I’ll have to dock your pay.”
Tally shrugged in unconcern. It would be worth it.
“I’ll survive.” She collected her purse and headed for the door.
“I didn’t take you for a coward. Maybe I was wrong.” His voice had her stopping, anger seething through her body as she turned back to him.
“A coward?” She lifted her brow as she assumed an expression of haughty disdain. “And you came to this conclusion how?”
She crossed her arms beneath her br**sts as she stared back at him. Damn him for the arrogant ass he was.
“Because you want me. You know it and I know it, yet you fight it.” His voice was low, dark and husky. She hated it when he used that voice. Hated the way it made her pu**y pulse and tingle, made her yearn for his touch. Unfortunately, she was also well aware of the fact that there wasn’t a chance in hell it could work.
“My dear Mr. Conover.” She sighed mockingly. “I’m old enough that I understand I can’t have everything I want in this life. Perhaps this is a lesson you should learn as well.”
It was one she took to heart. Some things, men like Lucian topping the list, just weren’t good for the emotions or the general stability of life. Tally prided herself on her stability. If she had thought for one moment that she could go to bed with him, enjoy a few hours of wild sex and have it done with, then it would be a different matter. Something warned her that this would not be the case, though.
She stood still, in control, as he paced over to her slowly. He was tall, broad, and if the bulge in those slacks was any indication, he was fully aroused and just as large as he had looked while f**king Terrie.
He stopped directly in front of her, staring down at her, forcing her to raise her head to stare back at him in unconcern.