Page 15 of Personal Research

Bottom line, he wasn’t ready to leave, not until his instincts told him the time had come. And right now, his instincts were telling him he needed to find out more about Bella, and not just how she felt around his cock, as amazing as that had been.

Besides, he liked helping his uncle. His sideline in computers was more a hobby than anything else, just something he’d picked up along the way. Languages were his true love, and what he intended to teach. He loved the poetry of English, the mystery and depth to it. Hardly surprising that he’d become fascinated by a woman who wielded words in such intriguing ways.

Enzo returned to the law offices just before five. He’d picked up dinner on the way, two sandwiches with the works. His intention being, of course, to woo the woman with dark red hair that reminded him somehow of an Italian sunset with the promise of a bologna sandwich, cold root beer and hot sex.

Maybe it was stupid to think she’d be pleased to share such a casual meal with him, but she didn’t seem like the prissy type. He’d take her out for a real dinner sometime, if she allowed things to get that far.

But tonight, his hunger forherwas stronger than for any food.

He took the back stairs toward her office and made an effort to relax his grip on the paper bag. His ribs hurt and not from the exertion of climbing a single flight of stairs. God, he was already breathing hard at the thought of seeing her again. Just one look. That was all he wanted. He’d suck down a single glimpse of her and content himself with that until he’d updated two more computers.

Then he’d stop by her office and?—

And she wasn’t there.

He swallowed his bitter disappointment as he came around the corner and took in her empty room. The vacant space taunted him, the blank face of her sleeping computer a brutal slap.

She’d gone home.

He turned and let his gaze drift around the department. A few cubicle dwellers remained, but the place emptied out fast. Five o’clock, especially on a Friday night, meant happy hour, and most people didn’t want to start their weekend hanging around the office. Apparently, neither did Bella.

She’d left. Plain and simple.

He let out a breath and set down his stuff on the desk he’d cleared for himself that morning in the corner of the room opposite Elena’s office. He’d picked the spot intentionally, as it offered him a great view of her office. She was a first for him. He’d never been so drawn to a woman before, and that it had paid off so unspectacularly didn’t say much for his powers of sexual persuasion.

Thing was, he’d thought he had her pegged. Shy woman, in need of a little attention and a lot of encouragement. She’d surprised him with her agreement to climb up on her desk last night every bit as much as she’d stunned him with her blithe smile this morning.

Maybe some guys would lose interest upon discovering they were wrong. Not him. All it proved was that he’d been right she had more under the surface than she let people see. He just hadn’t guessed that more would bubble up and spill over so readily, or that she’d stroll away once he’d turned up the heat.

He dropped the paper sack on his desk and sank into his chair. Friday night was date night, and she could have a boyfriend. Just because she’d said she was single didn’t mean she was. Hell, maybe she was dating a bunch of guys, although she’d seemed tentative enough at first last night that he didn’t think so.

There was always the possibility she had plans. A drink out with friends, club hopping…but that didn’t seem to fit either. He wouldn’t have been nearly as intrigued by her if she’d been one of the giggly types more interested in alcohol than substance.

Then again, what did he know about her? Her first name was Elena, and her breasts filled his hands. Her mouth had tasted of fresh squeezed orange juice, and she’d kissed him as if he were an apparition about to dissolve at any instant. If he closed his eyes, he could smell the delicate vanilla scent of her hair, feel the caress of her soft palms. And her pussy had squeezed him like heaven, if the trip north involved a twisty detour through the dark pleasures of hell first.

He powered up his computer and lifted his hand in a halfhearted wave as Candace sashayed past on her way out the door. Now that was exactly the kind of woman he didn’t want. Obvious didn’t turn him on. He liked mystery in a woman, enjoyed exploring all the hidden places inside her.

Despite himself, his lips twitched. Literally and figuratively.

His uncle passed by and admonished him not to work too late. Ten minutes later, the place had cleared out. He didn’t mind. His mood deserved some isolation. He’d just started running the updates when the lights flickered. Odd. He braced a hand on the desk he was sitting at and felt around for the power strip on the floor, wondering if maybe someone had overloaded a circuit. Even so, that shouldn’t affect anything but that particular cluster of stations. He didn’t hear any thunder outside. Why else would the lights flicker? No one else was here.

He was alone. Completely, totally alone.

Shrugging, he headed into Bella’s office and roused her machine. He found himself smiling at her computer background of pink and purple hearts. Did she crave romance? Her spicy writing indicated so. But her ruthlessly organized desk showed she also craved order. Did the two mesh? Probably she’d slotted passion into the evening hours just before sleep.

He didn’t work like that. He wanted a life of adventure and excitement. That didn’t necessarily mean traveling the world—though he’d done that too—or participating in risky sports or sex, but it did mean he didn’t believe in coloring inside the lines.

If he saw something he wanted, he took it. And if he didn’t win, he sure as hell didn’t regret making the attempt.

Like Bella. He blew out a breath and tapped keys to start the software update. He’d attempted to gain her attention, and he’d succeeded for a memorable thirty minutes or so.

Once the download begun, he amused himself by clicking through her files. Everything was neatly labeled and tucked into folders. No stray, randomly named items here. He checked her recently accessed documents and clicked on the one at the top of the list, just for the hell of it.

Legal briefs. Oh, the thrill.

What he found definitely exceeded his expectations.

It was her book,Swells of Love. His smile returned. What a hokey title, one that didn’t do justice to the scorching, inventive sex contained within its pages. Guilt surfaced briefly and was immediately squelched.

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