Page 76 of Wanted

The lion is on his throne, commanding his jungle of concrete and steel.

Lionel is sitting at his desk, so that’s where I’m headed. He has removed his jacket and has the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows. He has removed his tie as well, so that triangle of skin under his throat is in plain view and I want to put my lips on it. As soon as I’m within his reach, he takes my hand to settle me into his lap. Immediately he buries his face in my neck, filling his lungs with my perfume, then his lips caress me from top to bottom making my skin stand on end.

“Do you want us to go ahead with the auction proposal?” A man’s voice from the other end of the line fills the silence. “We have everything ready to proceed as soon as you give us the green light.”

Lionel smiles, the feline is about to devour its prey. Surely this is going to be a very good business deal.

“Several acres in Calabasas in a prime location,” he responds in a firm voice as his hand climbs up my white linen skirt. Hearing him speak like that awakens the butterflies that lately live in my stomach. “I know what they are offering me, but to continue working with their agency, I need to make sure they’re taking care of my money. For this to be profitable, we have to stick to a budget.”

The man talking to Lionel clears his throat before speaking again. “Our experience allows us to offer you the best service, you can rest easy, Mr. Kral.”

“Very good,” adds Lionel. “I hope to receive news tomorrow before the end of the day. On Monday I can send a surveying team to carry out work while we adjust the deeds and other legal issues.”

“Consider it done.”

Lionel ends the call without much ceremony. His hands take me by the waist to get up. He runs his eyes over me from head to toe and as he does this my heart speeds up.

His actions have the potential to escalate into more.

“How many houses are you going to build this time?” I ask him, showing interest in his work. I value his business as much as he does my own.

“Enough for my wife to buy many dresses like this.” And a soft kiss falls on my lips.

“I appreciate the interest, Mr. Kral. But I’m also proud to inform you that this has been purchased with my own money. I’m not a princess looking for her Prince Charming.”

“I’m glad, because I’m certainly not a prince, I’m the fucking king.”

“So modest, Mr. Kral,” I rebuke him and we both laugh.

“You look amazing,” he compliments me, a smile tugging at his sexy lips, his hand on mine, lacing our fingers together. A combination of pride and understanding shines in his dark eyes.

“I’m glad you like it.” I smile. I’m not wearing anything out of this world. It’s one of my purchases for the day, a white linen dress with a brown leather belt and flat sandals. This is my new favorite dress.

Also, I cut my hair down to the middle of my back and Pierre, the stylist who did my hair, cut a few strands to frame my face, making me look neater.

“I love it.” He stands up, his eyes fixed on mine, his hands on my waist connecting our bodies. “As much as I love you.”

Hearing him say the L word makes me shudder. Since we reconciled we have been very cautious in announcing our feelings, although the distance seems to be shorter and shorter with each passing day.

His lips touch mine and soon enough our kiss starts to get out of control, my fingers are in his hair, while he seeks to feel my skin with his.

“You were working and I need to go home.” I give him a gentle push, trying to pull myself together, his hands on my back not giving an inch. He isn’t willing to let me go. “I just wanted to show you the results of my excursion and also see where you work.”

The office is fancy and classy. On the walls hang old photos of the city and a heavy desk reigns in the space. Behind the leather chair I was sitting in when I entered there’s a huge bookcase full of special editions, the kind with spines printed in gold letters. The result is as imposing as the man who rules this place.

“You are such a tease,” he accuses me, but he’s the one tempting me. He knows how to touch me so that I’m unable to carry out my plans. When he kisses me like that, I’m unable to deny him anything. “But I should inform you, Mrs. Kral, that my work here is finished. So now I’m all yours, let’s go out for dinner. You look beautiful and I want others to see how lucky I am.”

His words make me feel very good. He’s a man to whom life has treated him kindly, even after a complicated beginning.

“We could just go home. You know, to start with dessert and all that.”

Yes, I’ve become a fiend who is not afraid to ask for what she really wants.

“That sounds great, but it turns out I haven’t had lunch and I’m sure you haven’t either. Let’s go eat something, I know for a fact that you will need that energy later.”

I don’t even have time to comment or ask him what this plan is, where I’ll need all my energy. Holding my hand, Lionel takes his suit jacket from a coatrack in the corner and we leave the office, earning the glances of his employees.

I hope they get used to it, this is a scene that they will see many times in the future.

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