"I think it is very much my business," seethed Vane, "considering I feature very prominently in your little happy snaps."
"These don't belong to you."
"Let's call the cops and find out, shall we?"
"Yes, let's. I'm sure they'll like to hear about how you broke into my office."
His gaze shifted briefly from Abbey to Lucy, then back again.
"Abbey, I want to discuss this with you."
Lucy stiffened. "I'm not leaving —"
"Lucy, it's okay," Abbey said. "I can deal with him."
Lucy glanced from one to the other and sighed. "I know you can, but I'll be just outside if you need me." She turned, squeezed Abbey's arm and left.
Damien's eyes locked with Abbey's for a long moment. She'd never seen him so angry. There was so much steam rising from his ears it was amazing his head didn't blow off.
His eyes flashed like black fire at her, and the muscle in his neck pulsed. He didn't waver, even as he took a step closer to her. Abbey straightened and remained where she was. If he was trying to intimidate her, it wasn't going to work.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
He sucked in a deep breath. "I came to see you."
Abbey threw her arms wide. "Well, here I am."
His hand flew to his hair and he made a grunting sound at the back of his throat as he ruffled it. "I came to find out what the hell was going on."
He must be stupid if he hadn't worked that out after seeing the photos. But she certainly wasn't going to make this easy for him. He may be good in bed—damn good—but the bottom line was, he was a creep who cheated on his wife. She had to remember that. She had to!
"You must have a fair idea since you're here and saw those photos." She crossed her arms over her chest. He did the same.
"Why did you lie to me?" He nodded at the photos that Lucy had put back on the desk. "Is it to do with those?"
Abbey swallowed. She could tell him the truth or she could lie. Again. She didn't like it but the lying option was safest right now.
She couldn't tell him that Lucy was going to send the photos to his wife so she could finally know for sure that he was cheating on her. That would only make it awkward for Mrs. Vane and she didn't want to do that. She was Lucy's client and Lucy had signed a confidentiality agreement. Besides, Abbey didn't particularly want to unleash this man's anger on someone else, no matter who she was to him.
So, how the hell was she going to explain this?
Damien's hand shot out and grabbed her arm. He pulled her to him, her body almost touching his. Something sizzled in the pocket of air between them. "Tell me," he growled.
Abbey jerked her arm out of his grip. How dare he think he could push her around!
"Let me go!"
She jerked her arm free. And just because she felt like it, she reached up to slap him.
But he caught her hand. For one long moment it seemed he didn't know what to do next. Then his mouth twitched and descended on hers.
His kiss was fierce and hot.
CHAPTER 8
Nick picked Abbey up and placed her on the desk, sliding her bottom backwards. The envelope with the photos dropped to the floor unnoticed and she bumped into the laptop. He reached behind her and thrust it carelessly aside.
She lay down, legs dangling over the side beneath him, as he bent over her body and continued his ferocious kissing, suddenly unable to get enough of her.
She tasted good. Too damn good.
Abbey made a small sound of protest but he kissed it away. Her body certainly wasn't giving him any negative vibes. In fact, her body was inviting him to go further.
She undid the buttons on his shirt, exposing his chest and shoulders. She caressed and stroked his chest, pinching his ni**les and rubbing his smooth skin. Her hips gyrated up to meet him, pressing against his rock hard erection.
She looked tantalizing, spread before him on the desk, just as hot for him as he was for her.
It took all his self control to hold back and not rip her skirt off.
Instead, he pushed the skirt over her hips and fingered the flesh at the edge of her panties. Smooth, warm. Inviting.
He bent to kiss the exposed flesh and she sighed, then gasped as he moved upwards, thrusting aside the panties. Moments later Abbey was panting, her arms flailing across the desk, groping. She knocked over a pencil holder, some files and a bunch of paperclips.
She didn't notice. She was intent on her orgasm. Nick could feel it rising inside her. Bubbling, ready to explode. Suddenly she went very still, then her skin puckered into tiny goose bumps as she began to quiver uncontrollably. She cried out and arched her body up to meet his tongue. He stopped, unable to resist teasing her, to make the moment last, then as she thrust herself up again, he brought her home, enjoying the way her body convulsed in delicious spasms.
"Oh, Abbey," he whispered against her flesh. He hauled himself up on the desk, straddled her and peered down. Her eyes were closed tight, savoring the final throes of passion.
He reached down and undid the buttons on her white, sleeveless shirt. He slipped his hand inside and brushed the warm skin with his fingertips. When his hand touched a nipple, Abbey sucked in a breath through her teeth. He smiled. Every pore of her was still sensitive to his touch.
Good. He liked her when she was like this. Lulled, yet still wanting. He loved the way she melted into him, allowed him to hold her and touch her as if she trusted him.
Nick's hand delved a little further, sliding under her bra. He reached behind her and undid the clasp, then returned to her br**sts, the other hand supporting him on the desk as he leaned over her.
He rubbed one red nipple, took it between his lips as it puckered and softly nibbled. Abbey moaned and arched her back up to him.
He moved his mouth to the other one, then traveled downwards. When he reached her moist thighs, he pulled down the panties that he'd hastily drawn to one side. Then he undid the fly on his trousers, and the button on his shorts.
He let out a long sigh as his erection was freed. It pulsed in time to his heart beat, rapid and heavy. He leaned forward and kissed her, tasting her need and desire as she kissed him back. Her hands linked together behind his head and she drew him down, hungrily tasting him.
Nick's erection screamed for action, to be allowed to taste her the way his lips were tasting her. He obliged and lowered himself. When sensitive skin touched sensitive skin he sucked in a frayed breath and settled himself to plunge into her heat.
Just as he was poised to plunder, Abbey clamped her legs together. He heard her catch her breath and she suddenly stopped kissing him.