Chapter 14

Natalia drummedher freshly manicured fingernails, painted bright white, against the side of her coffee mug. It was only when she annoyed herself with the rhythmic sound that she realized she was doing it.

Closing her hand into a fist, she snapped out of it and straightened. She gave the image on her computer screen a lingering look before closing it out. She’d almost missed the email from Samantha’s bookstore friend, expecting it to be junk from an unknown sender. When she opened it, she’d been met with an enormous picture of Samantha and her standing side by side in the small shop.

The unexpected sight of Samantha’s face, bright and smiling, had been a sucker-punch to the gut. It would have knocked the air out of a lesser woman, Natalia was sure. It was criminal how good they looked together.

Tall and dapper, Samantha exuded easy confidence. She moved through the world like she belonged. Like she’d never felt a moment of self-doubt.

Natalia felt the weight of Samantha’s arm around her body, holding her with just enough pressure to make her feel the warmth of her skin without also making her feel pinned down or trapped.

She glanced at the cellphone on her desk and debated picking it up. So she wanted to see her again. Talk to her again. That wasn’t so odd. They’d had sex. Good sex. Their chemistry was undeniable. And spending time together could only help Natalia earn her trust. For Zoe. For work.

Selfish thoughts slipped past her defenses as if proving a point. Samantha’s warm brown eyes that saw too much. That irresistible mind and thirst for knowledge. The way she challenged Natalia kept her guessing and off-balance.

Being with Samantha felt dangerous in a way Natalia hadn’t experienced before. Dangerous because she made Natalia want. Made her wish for more than hurried nights of passion that ended with Natalia stealing away before dawn.

Samantha made her imagine a different kind of connection. One where she didn’t feel the overwhelming desire to bolt. One where she could linger in strong arms that didn’t judge or try to possess. What the fuck was she supposed to do with that?

Her office phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Natalia,” a small voice squeaked from her speaker. Toni. The new receptionist. “This woman is here, but she doesn’t have an appointment and I was going to send her away, but Adriana said you’d want to know she was here and am I fired?”

Instead of making sense of Toni’s sniveling, she opened the security software on her computer. In a few clicks, she accessed one of the cameras in Dominion’s public spaces. Adriana’s instincts were always on point.

Leaning against the reception desk with a hand in the pocket of her tailored trousers, Samantha was adjusting her glasses. Natalia’s attention lingered on Samantha’s arm. If she closed her eyes, Natalia could visualize the tattoos hidden beneath the white fabric of her Oxford shirt.

“Shall I prepare the conference room?” Toni asked, tone wavering under the weight of uncertainty.

“No, I’ll see her in my office,” she said, her finger on the button to bring down the navy blue shades.

Natalia Flores didn’t get nervous. She didn’t get childish butterflies or allow her pulse to quicken in her throat. Certainly not in a situation like this. Not over a woman. She reminded herself of that before she pulled off her reading glasses and turned off her computer monitor.

Seconds crawled. Natalia debated getting up and meeting Samantha by the door. Had she been too quick to lower the shades? She wouldn’t see Samantha’s approach. Her attention flashed to her screen. She could check the security cameras.

She imagined Samantha and her confident stride reaching her office door. Unsure of how much time she had, Natalia pulled a contract from her to-do stack. Putting her glasses back on, she picked up a red pen and flipped to the middle of the document seconds before Samantha pushed open her door without knocking.

“Oh, shit. Excuse me.” Samantha exaggerated her tone as if she’d walked in on an unexpectedly naked stranger. “The girl up front must have called a different Natalia Flores and told her I was coming.”

Natalia leveled her with a look. One that turned her amusement into an icy death-ray.

Brimming with arrogant self-indulgence, Samantha strolled in and closed the door behind her. “Quite the nice spot you have here,” she said while pointing to the uncovered view. “I’m surprised you ever climb down from your perch to mingle with the unwashed masses.”

Leaning back, Natalia crossed one leg over the other. Predictably, Samantha’s attention flittered to her bare legs and dropped over the curve of her calf. Her pleased smirk disintegrated.

Upper hand regained, Natalia tipped her head to the side. “If you’re here, who’s minding your ivory tower?”

Samantha’s full and infinitely kissable lips bloomed into a smile. “And here I thought you’d be curious about what I’m doing here.”

“And unannounced.”

“You love that, huh?” Samantha did a terrible job of biting back her grin or looking contrite. “Well, despite what you might think, I didn’t stop by with the intention of distracting you.”

“Good to know my productivity was collateral damage.” Natalia pinned her with her unwavering gaze, but Samantha never receded from it.

Samantha chuckled. “And before you ask, no, I do not want to talk about the book.”

Natalia leaned forward and waited for Samantha to continue, refusing to reveal a hint of curiosity.

“I came to collect on your offer from the other night.” Samantha ran the tip of her tongue across her canine like she was one of the vampires in her myth. “For a date.”

Natalia flicked the end of one eyebrow. “Date?” She recalled the weight of Samantha’s lips, the crush of her body against hers. “Your memory must be compromised, Professor.”

“Oh, I must have misunderstood your breathy whispers while you were mauling me. I thought you wanted to see me again.” Samantha shot to her feet, her movements athletic while she went for the door. Moves that reminded Natalia of how confidently she’d handled her all those nights ago.

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Natalia said before Samantha’s fingers wrapped around the door handle. She wasn’t going to fall victim to such an amateurish negotiation tactic. “I would think you’d hate the concept of dating.” When Samantha turned around and sat down again, she continued, “I’m sure the whole thing has its seeds in women being chattel.”

Wearing her pleasure at being stopped from leaving on her face. In the color on her cheeks. In the amber of her eyes. Samantha plopped down, wearing amusement like a mask. “There’s almost nothing we can’t take back and make our own.” She crossed her ankle over her knee, exposing her Dior socks. “Do you want to go out on a date with me? A romantic one where the aim is to get to know each other. Maybe after that, I’ll invite you to my place for a nightcap.”

Natalia stopped short of smiling, her heart kicking up dust as it raced into her throat. “I’ve already had your nightcap, Professor. Have you forgotten?”

“I’ve not thought about anything else,” she shot back without hesitation.

The easy admission, when Natalia was expecting a denial, knocked her off course. Just enough to wobble, not fall.

“Dinner tonight?” Samantha filled the silence with her warm voice.

Natalia’s pulse was stomping in her ears, her body flushed with heat and skin buzzing. She called on decades of experience hiding her thoughts and emotions to keep her face blank and utterly unreadable.

“I’ll see if I can fit you in,” she replied, trying to sound noncommittal and mildly disinterested. But she wanted to go. Wanted to spend time with her. Every moment they spent together could only make convincing her to share her work with the world easier. It would be stupid not to try.

Samantha stood, but this time she didn’t go for the door. Instead, she leaned over Natalia’s desk. The scent of her took Natalia’s senses by the throat. It was the cedar-freshness of an alpine forest on a clear winter morning with a current of something richer, warmer — the smoldering essence of a campfire at sundown. And breaking through it all an intoxicating blend of leather and spice. A fragrance that shoved Natalia into remembering the sensation of Samantha’s body on top of hers.

“Ms. Flores,” Samantha whispered, her lips inches from Natalia’s jaw. “We both know that I fit like a glove.”