Page 30 of Christian Clause

“Now, that’s a proper way to say good morning,” Christian mutters beside me and I duck my head. I resolve inwardly to make sure I either come earlier than this to the office or make sure Christian is already here before I arrive for work. Although I want him desperately, I don’t want him to think I’m some cheap woman he can grab and smooch at will. Where’s my self-respect?

After putting my hair and my clothes in order, I stand seemingly aloof from Christian, achingly aware of him.

“Ready?” he asks as he reaches to press the elevator button.

I nod, avoiding looking at him. When the elevator takes us to our office floor, I scramble out, praying Clara is already there. I’m afraid the canoodling might continue if we’re alone in the office.

I let out a small sigh of relief when I see the old woman’s smiling face. Her brows rise when she sees Christian walking behind me. I quickly purse my lips, swollen from Christian’s devastating kisses.

Christian and I carry on as if we didn’t share scalding kisses in the elevator and set each other on fire. The rest of the day is sheer torture for me because everywhere I look, I see Christian. He doesn’t help matters by catching my eyes now and again with the promise of continuing what we started in the elevator reflected in them. I make a lot of mistakes that day, but he doesn’t say a word of complaint. He knows the effect he has on me, and that annoys me greatly.

By the time I get home that day, I’m an immense mass of nerves. I’m afraid that Debra will take one look at me and know what’s going on with me. Fortunately, she’s busy doing something with Aria; she doesn’t pay me much attention. I go up to my room and go over the things that happened that day. One thing I’m afraid of is falling for Christian if all he wants from me is sex. I don’t mind having sex with him but falling in love with him is a definite no-no. It will mess up our working relationship.

I let out a heavy sigh. What am I going to do?

Chapter Fifteen

Hope

“You look stunning.”

A smile spreads across my face at Christian’s words. I know I do because I spent quite some time preparing for the date. I went to a hair salon in the mall to get my hair washed, conditioned, and straightened, and I love the way it hangs around my shoulders.

The burgundy chiffon-bell-sleeve sheath dress falls just above my knees. I paired it with a pair of heeled dark tan knee-length boots that bring out my dress’s color.

The low cut of the dress accentuates my breasts with tantalizing glimpses of my cleavage. I feel so sexy in the dress that hugs my curves. The dress is complemented by a gold pendant that belonged to my mom and a gold clutch. I stared at myself in the mirror and couldn’t believe I gained my confidence back after what Terrance did to me. When I held on to him, sobbing my heart out, begging for him not to leave me, I never knew that someday I would get my self-assurance back. It feels great.

“It’s not that you aren’t always stunning,” Christian adds, “but tonight, you look very sophisticated.”

A smile spreads across my face, and I look away from him to the exquisite décor of the exclusive restaurant. I hear one can’t get a reservation there unless one books months ahead. So, it’s quite surprising that Christian managed it in a few days. Christian chose a secluded part of the restaurant, but I enjoy a view of the entire place. Lovely spidery chandeliers hang on the spiral ceiling. Heavily decorated small Christmas trees stand in the corners of the restaurant, offering the spirit of the season, while garlands and Christmas lights spread across one of the walls. They did the décor in shades of red, gold, and green.

I like the Christmas feeling of the place as sharply dressed waiters and waitresses move around the tables and chairs, attending to customers.

I return my gaze to Christian and find him watching me with those mesmerizing and scorching eyes of his. My throat runs dry once more. When he picked me up earlier, his black suit impressed me, along with his pale blue shirt and gold tie. My mouth never fails to water when I see him in a suit. Tonight isn’t any different.

Silly butterflies flutter in my stomach as his face slowly breaks into a grin. I recall opening the door to him that night and his eyes roaming my body with an appraisal that left my knees weak. Since I told Debra that I was going out on a date with someone from work, even though her eyes told me she didn’t believe me, I hurried away from the front door into his Ferrari. The cool interior of the posh car helped to quench the raging fire inside me. But then, his musky scent filled the car and ignited the fire in me again.

Darn! The tightness in my stomach threatens to be my undoing as Christian continues to smile at me as if he knows what his magnetic presence is doing to me. How do I get myself to stop behaving like a shy schoolgirl on her first date?

I reach for the glass of vintage wine Christian ordered, and take a sip to quench the fire inside me.

"Do you want to order now?” he asks in his smooth voice.

I nod. Eating will keep me busy and stop me from ogling him. “Yes, please.”

He gets the attention of the waiter who has been hovering. I sigh. The perks of being a wealthy man. I study the menu for a minute and order chicken and salad while Christian orders steak and salad. He also orders more wine. I wonder if he intends to get me drunk.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I can’t help asking.

Christian lips lift with a rakish smile. “Would I succeed?”

I shrug with a smile. “I don’t know, but be warned, when I’m drunk, I sing off-key in a high pitch voice. You’ll probably send your bodyguards to bundle me out of here.”

More laughter erupts from his throat.

With great curiosity, I ask, “Have you ever been drunk?” I don’t see him as they type to get drunk; probably tipsy, but never drunk.

He lifts and drops his shoulders in a careless shrug. “A couple of times.”

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