Page 9 of The Soul of Archer
"Guess so. I suppose I need to call the old company and tell them what's going on." She mused moving closer to watch Tony.
"Already handled. I called them before I got started. They said your final bill is on the way and I even talked them into waving the disconnect fee since you still had a year on your contract." Tony winked.
"You did? Oh, thank you Tony, that was sweet." She beamed.
"No problem." Tony shrugged turning back to the wires in his lap.
"Ms. St. James..." Lance began.
"Just call me Alora, please." Alora interrupted.
"Very well Alora," he nodded. "Let me show you what I've done out back."
Alora barely hid the shiver when he said her name. It was the same feeling when he called her tigress the day before. His southern baritone voice was like smooth melted chocolate and did funny things to her. He held open the back door for her and when she felt his hand on the small of her back she damn neared whimpered. What the hell was wrong with her?
***
Lance didn't miss her reactions to him. He was feeling his own body wanting to react to her, but he held back. What was it about her that peaked his interest? Sure, she was beautiful...okay drop fucking dead gorgeous, but it wasn't like him to react like this to a client. He guided her into the lot and turned to face the building.
"So, I've installed cameras here. They're hidden under the flood lights and just like at your home, once you set the alarm, they will activate." He explained.
"I can't even see them," she said squinting at the lamps.
Lance moved behind her and pointed. "There and there."
This time Alora couldn't stop herself as a delicious shock wave washed through her. His large frame pressed against her. All those muscles shielding her back, hiding her in front of him. Unconsciously, her body pressed back against him more.
Lance bit back a moan when the petite woman pressed into him. God, she felt good against him. For a second, he stood there breathing her in. She smelled like chocolate and wildflowers. His devious mind flashed with a brief image of her under him, her face a picture of sexual bliss as he drove inside of her. Instantly he hardened and there was no way to hide it from her with how she stood against him.
"Ohh…" she breathed.
Lance didn't stop and think. He gripped her shoulders, spun her around, and without giving her a chance to back away he bent down capturing her lips with his. It took only a second before the woman in his arms melted against him, returning his kiss. When she began mewing like a kitten, he pulled her tighter and deepened the kiss.
Slowly, Lance slowed the kiss before gently pulling away. Her eyes fluttered opened, her lips swollen from his kiss. She looked so beautiful in this moment. With her eyes still locked on his, she licked her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry." Lance sighed. "I don't usually kiss clients, it was inappropriate of me."
Alora's body when from hot and bothered to rigid in a flash. She quickly slipped into what her employees called Boss Lady Mode. "It's okay Mr. Archer. It's just one of those lapses in judgment. Everyone's guilty of them from time to time."
She moved out of his arms and calmly turned back toward the building. Without a backward glance, she walked back inside. Work. Yeah that's what she needed to do. Taking a couple slow breaths, she moved toward the next project on the day's list and went to work, pushing all thoughts of Lance Archer from her mind.
***
Lance stormed into his house, the large oak door slamming behind him. What the hell had he been thinking? Kissing a client? That was a line he swore he would never cross. Mixing business and pleasure was never a good idea. However, a part of him brought up that it seemed to work out fine for Ethan and Krista.
"That's different. They had a past." He growled to himself as he went to his basement gym.
He walked to the cabinet that always held a set of work-out clothes. He stripped out of his work attire, pulled on his running shorts, socks then moved to the bench to lace up his sneakers. Once laced up, he moved to his treadmill, programmed a run and started running.
Ever since he and Tony had left Alora's bakery he had been in a mood. Tony had wisely kept his mouth shut. Once back at Blackout, Lance went to his office and spent the rest of the day doing the paperwork he had been putting off. Anything to try and keep Alora St. James off his mind. It didn't work.
'Fuck me, what am I going to do? I can't forget what I did. Nor that she kissed me back. Damn if she didn't taste good,'he thought pumping his legs harder.
He could still taste her on his lips. And the way she kissed him, yeah, he had been right when he called her tigress. He bet she would be hot as hell in bed. No, no he wasn't going there. He wasn't going to cross another line. Once you started doing that, it always led to trouble. When his quads started screaming, he slowed to a jog, then a walk and finally ended his run.
Sweat poured off his face as he caught his breath. Yet the feel and taste of Alora was still on his mind. Groaning, he stepped off the treadmill, snatched up a towel and went to grab a shower. He started this and damnit he'd find a way to fix it. Hopefully.
Chapter 5
