Page 21 of A Private Affair
“I hired a decorator.”
He nodded. “Who knew you well.”
He stood then and walked around. Her style was contemporary, the colors in this area of her home were soft gray, crisp black and cool white. There was glass, sterling silver, light-colored wood flooring covered in the center by a plush gray rug.
Chaz was in her space. His tall, broad form seeming to dominate the area. He wore a black suit, slim-fit pants and a jacket, stark white shirt that added casual to the professional, shined Tom Ford loafers and a stainless steel Tag Heuer watch on his left arm. She was more than intrigued by the deep hue of his skin, the strong edge of his jaw and the shadow of a mustache and beard he wore.
“This is an interesting piece.”
Riley was not pleased by the instant pang of awareness she felt when he turned to face her, holding the phallus-shaped rose quartz in his hand. The soft warm color of the crystal against Chaz’s dark clothing was a jolting contrast that put Riley on edge.
“I liked the color.” That wasn’t what she wanted to say. It wasn’t how she wanted to say it. She sounded like an idiot.
Chaz looked down at it, holding it in his hands in the same way he’d held his erection.
“A paperweight?”
There was amusement in his tone.
Riley jumped from the couch and crossed to stand near him by the mantel where the piece—the Heart, as she’d called it—had been placed.
“A decoration,” she said and reached for it.
He moved his hand just out of her reach.
“A decoration that sparks something in your eyes.”
She looked away from him but that made her feel like a coward, so she returned her gaze to meet his. “I use it when I meditate. The healing properties of the crystal assist in seeking calm and restoring energy.” She left out self-confidence and contentment because he didn’t need to know that she fought hard to maintain those things. And he definitely did not need to know that the idea of meditation had come from the therapist she’d been seeing for the past three years.
“Does it work?”
His fingers were still wrapped around the crystal, palm toward the wider base, thumb rubbing over the smooth tip. Her pussy throbbed and her heart rate increased.
“How frequently do you meditate with it?”
She swallowed when she finally looked up from his fingers to meet Chaz’s gaze. His eyes had grown darker, his voice deeper.
“That’s private,” she said in a tone that also seemed huskier.
“There’s no one here but me and you. Show me, Riley.”
No. She couldn’t. It was a ritual she’d developed for herself. A safe space that refilled her when she struggled, empowered her when she felt weak and comforted her when the privacy she craved began to strangle her.
He stepped closer and took Riley’s hand. He kept his eyes locked on hers while wrapping her fingers around the crystal. It was warm from his touch and the intense sexual energy he exuded seeped into her palm. He was silently daring her to share this very intimate part of herself with him. She shouldn’t, but she wanted to.
Snatching it from his hand, Riley walked away. When she realized he was still standing in the same spot, she looked over her shoulder and asked, “Are you coming?”
CHAPTER NINE
SECONDSAFTERENTERINGher bedroom, Riley lowered the blinds. She placed the crystal on her bed and turned on the lamp on the nightstand. After moving to the stand on the other side of the bed she turned on the second lamp, and the room was cast in a warm glow.
Chaz stood in the doorway. Riley pointed toward the beige couch adorned with pillows near the window.
“The best view is from over there,” she told him.
He moved in silence over the beige carpet.
Once he was seated, Riley stepped out of her shoes. She placed them neatly at the end of her bed instead of going into her closet as she normally did. There was nothing normal about this night. She unzipped her skirt and pushed it down her legs, noting the soft scrape of material over her nylon-covered legs. The jacket came next and she folded the garments, draping them over the end of the bed. When she chanced a look at Chaz, his gaze was riveted on her. A warm tendril of desire slipped slowly down her spine. Her bra, nylons, the thin wisp of lace panties were all removed and Riley climbed onto her bed.
