Page 15 of Her Every Fantasy

What the hell had Dan given her that I couldn’t?

You know exactly what! She never made it a secret.

I smothered the voice in my head and rose from the desk. What the hell did it matter now? She’d broken a trust that had probably been only one-sided to begin with, all so she could chase some stupid dream of happily-ever-after. A dream I’d tried to tell her was a figment of her imagination.

And, like me, she’d been left with a pile of ashes. Only problem was, our friendship had been sacrificed in those flames too. Worse thing was, even after all that, a part of me had yearned to reach out, to ease the pain she must’ve been feeling during her acrimonious divorce.

Or perhaps I was projecting...

Whatever. I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth, made my way to the door and dismissed Tandy for the evening.

Downstairs, I slid behind the wheel of my Ferrari and lost myself for a moment in the smooth throb of the engine.

All too soon I was pulling up to The Sylph.

Normally this was the moment I took a minute or three to look up at the building I’d poured my heart and soul into. The steel and blue-green smoked glass masterpiece that had taken two long years, singular focus and some deep, untapped desire to leave something beautiful, something memorable behind.

Without looking I knew the structure in the pleasing shape of a slender woman’s torso, half turned, perhaps to view her lover over her shoulder, would be gleaming beautifully against the dying rays of the setting sun. That soon lights from within and those reflected from surrounding buildings across the bay would bathe it in a stunning silhouette that drew awed gasps.

But tonight my pride and joy paled in comparison to my interest in the silver town car idling in the designated parking space beneath the wide double portico of my building.

Parked a dozen feet behind it, I watched Savvie step out, her long, shapely legs extending in that way that only models and trained dancers could execute without appearing pretentious or awkward. Her heels were a shiny rose-gold colour that drew attention to her delicate ankles. I’d gripped those same ankles ten days ago, as I’d spread her thighs and bared her wet, beautiful pussy to my hungry gaze.

Was she wearing another of those mind-blowing scraps of silk underwear? Did she have a garter belt on under that short, flared black skirt whispering against her thighs in the light breeze? My gaze climbed up her body to the black off-the-shoulder top baring her throat and the top of her cleavage, my hands gripping the wheel as the image of those full, heavy breasts emblazoned itself on my mind.

The girl and young woman I knew in school and university had been breathtaking when I’d eventually forced my head out of the sand and acknowledged her womanhood. But the woman I was looking at now had an extra layer of tenacity to her. I’d noticed it when she’d first walked into my apartment. She’d confirmed it when she’d issued that bold dare, then held her head high in the face of my less than stellar behaviour afterwards.

Now, she rested one hip against the boot, her head slightly cocked as she watched me, the corners of her incredible lips slightly tilted as if I amused her. Cowering behind the wheel, holding on for dear life, I guessed I was hilarious.

With a muted curse, I threw my door open and stepped out. Her light, alluring perfume reached out and curled around me as I approached. Her hair was up in a loose knot and the breeze caught at a few errant strands as she stared up at me.

‘Thank you for accommodating me, Bryce,’ she murmured, tucking a clutch the same colour as her shoes under one arm before reaching out to brush a runaway curl from her cheek.

I was jealous of that curl, jealous of the breeze whispering over her face, the rosy gloss clinging to her lips.

Bloody hell, get a grip.

‘No problem. Shall we?’ I turned away from her, stared up at the building I poured my blood and sweat into. From all angles it was a masterpiece. One I was supremely proud of.

She followed my gaze and for several seconds neither of us spoke.

‘It’s a beautiful building, Bryce.’

Sincerity oozed from her and for a moment she was the woman I’d once called my best friend.

‘Thanks.’ The word emerged gruff.

She smiled and that illusion grew. What the hell was I doing wanting to smile back? She’druinedus.

We entered the lobby that was empty save for the three security guards seated behind the newly installed monitoring desk. I waved the senior guard away when he offered to escort us, which probably wasn’t the best idea considering being alone with her wouldn’t help the situation percolating in my trousers. But damned if I was going to risk firing a valuable employee for ogling her the way the three guys were doing now.

‘This way.’ I strode across the atrium to the bank of lifts set against the east wall.

She kept up, her heels clicking in tandem with mine. ‘When is the opening of the building?’

‘Unofficially, it’s open. Businesses are moving in but the official ceremony is two weeks after your opening.’

I stabbed the button for the lift, and waited for her to precede me when the doors slid open. She strolled to the back of the carriage, turned and rested her shoulders against the polished mirrored wall. She angled her body in a way that subtly thrust her chest and hips forward and it was all I could do not to drool at the lush display of her figure. Her clutch was still tucked under one arm and she was toying with the clasp of a diamond tennis bracelet. My gaze dropped to her wrist, and I wondered if her pulse was as erratic as mine. What it would taste like.

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