Entangled To The CEO

Tasha’s [POV]

He was still admiring the view when I came back down the steps.

I’d switched out my pencil skirt for a brand-new pair of dark jeans and dainty but comfortable leather moccasins.

“I’ll drive,” I said. “My neighborhood can get a little confusing.” We wound down the tight little streets, past a rocky beach, and then over another crest to the corner by the bay where the native plant nursery lay.

Rainer jumped out of my car and opened the door for me. “I saw three bridges from the top of that crest,” Rainer said.

“I didn’t know any of this was here.” I rolled my eyes.

“No one ever thinks there’s anything outside of San Francisco.”

“Honestly,” Rainer said.

“I think I might like your view better than my own.” I had a flash of what he would look like standing in my living. The far-off city lights twinkle behind him.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

His shirt was loose and open when he turned to gather me into his arms. I slammed the car door harder than I intended. “Let’s just look at some plants,” I said.

Rainer had no idea what any of the plants were, but he listened intently. Then he pulled out his phone and got caught up. I tried to enjoy the lush nursery, all the green growing plants and bright blossoms reminding me of the house where Barbie and I grew up, but Rainer’s typing irritated me.

“It’s past two o’clock. That counts as a full work day for you, doesn’t it?” I asked. Rainer looked up from his phone. “Are we done?” “Yes,” I said.

“Go ahead and join up with your friends or whoever you’re texting.” He laughed and then turned his screen around so I could see. Rainer was sifting through GroGreen’s extensive reference tool and marking all the native plants he saw was available.

“All I have to do is take a photo of the leaves and GroGreen matches it to the plant index.”

“I know,” I said, not wanting to enjoy his pleased smile. “And, all I have to do is click it, and the plant is automatically placed in our garden blueprint. This is amazing,” Rainer said.

“You can stop now,” I said. I stopped by a colorful geranium and crossed my arms over my stomach.

“I know you’d rather be heading back to San Francisco. Dinner at some exclusive restaurant. Drinks on some amazing rooftops. Whatever it is, you can go now. You don’t have to pretend you want to stay.” Rainer’s smile disappeared, and I saw his jaw go rigid.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and in one step, loomed over me.

“I’m not pretending. I had a great day. Do you know how wonderful it is to get out of the office and do more than shake hands? I can’t wait to break ground and get down to the planting.” I slipped around him, but the aisle was tight between two wide wooden tables of green plants.

“So, you like all the hands-on work? I guess I’m the only one who likes the paperwork.”

“You do, don’t you?” Rainer’s smile returned, softer than before.

“You know what that means, right?” “That I’m just a boring, old pencil-pusher?” I asked. His eyebrows raised.

“No. I think that means that we make a great team. So, what’s next, boss?” I was tired.

Tired of fending off his warm charm and wondering why he smiled at me like that. It didn’t help that Barbie had reminded me of how I felt when Rainer and I first met. That magical holiday party had left me walking on air for the whole weekend.

Then he’d come back to his senses and didn’t even recognize me on Monday morning. I was too tired to pretend it didn’t hurt. It was taking every ounce of self-control I had to keep from wanting him again. I had spent months agonizing over why other women got to enjoy him, his flirtations, and his caresses.

Why didn’t I get the same treatment unless he was blind drunk? Because I was bored. According to the office rumors, I was the Ice Queen. Rainer would never be interested in me.

“How about we grab some dinner?” Rainer interrupted my thoughts. I shook my head.

“I’m done with high heels for the day. It’s time for take-out and stretching out on my couch.” Rainer stepped aside so I could head back toward my car.

“I’m overstaying my welcome, aren’t I?” I paused, wedged between him and the wide plant tables. The smell of honeysuckle was heavy around us and bees mumbled quietly.

I couldn’t tell if Rainer was playing a game or if he looked sad. “It’s not like I’m kicking you out of my neighborhood. You like it here?” I asked. Rainer leaned on the table behind him.

“What’s not to like? The city and all of that are far away. The winding roads, the hills, it all makes it seem like its own world. No wonder you’re so good at your job. Once you get here, you’re away from it all.”

“I thought you were admiring the view of places you’d rather be,” I said.

“I was admiring the distance. Why won’t you believe me when I say I had a good day out here?” Rainer asked. I was being unkind.

As my mentor repeatedly reminded me, when I got too paranoid about work, I started to turn into the very kind of co-worker I hated. I couldn’t see a single reason why Rainer would be lying, so I gave in.

“Well, if you like Thai food, then you’re welcome to have dinner with me.” It wasn’t until after we’d picked up the food, plus a bottle of red wine from my local market, that I started to panic. Rainer was walking up the steps to my condo.

The man who had just bought a mansion in Presidio Heights, the man who only dined at the finest restaurants with fawning women, was about to eat pad Thai off of paper plates in my tiny condo. My fingers fumbled with my keys.

“My place is a mess. It’s tiny. Maybe we should have eaten in the restaurant.” Rainer snorted.

“Too late now. You’re not the only one who wants to get out of uncomfortable dress shoes.”

I opened the door, still surprised when he slipped off his polished Italian shoes and padded into my cramped living room in his dress socks.

He peeled off his suit coat and tossed it over the back of a threadbare armchair, and didn’t say anything when he almost tripped over the oversized steamer trunk I used as a coffee table.

“Give me a second and I’ll find some clean plates,” I said.

“Paper plates are fine,” Rainer said.

“Who cares when we have this view to look at.” He walked to the window, and I remembered my flash fantasy with an uncomfortable twinge.

Rainer was completely at ease as he tore himself away from the view. I pulled two plates out of my cupboard with a loud rattle, determined that we’d at least eat on real china.

“I know it’s cramped in here, but it’s usually just me.”

“Well, I was going to say this place has everything you need until you said that.” Rainer pinned me with a long look. I cleared my throat and groped in a drawer, trying to get my thoughts under control.

It had been months since I had brought anyone home. Work was always such a good excuse, but Rainer wasn’t buying it. I tossed him a corkscrew.

“All I need is dinner and a glass of wine.” Rainer opened the wine and poured two large glasses.

“You don’t bring anyone home? I’m honored.” I heaped two plates to overflowing and skirted around him to my small table.

“You don’t count. You’re from work.” Rainer was right behind me when I put the plates down and turned around.

“Work’s over there. Far away. This is different.” I should have hated the thrill that ran up my back. I should have recited every name in the long list of his known office conquests in my head. I should have pushed him away and reminded us both that work was all we had. Instead, I kissed him. His sharp intake of breath assured me he was just as shocked as me.

His lips were tart with the first sip of his wine, but the second kiss was warmer, sweeter. I reached up on tiptoes to brush my lips against his again. Without my high heels, I felt small, slight against his wide chest.

His loose collar brushed my bare neckline and the caress of it made me want to lean in. He was tall and strong; there was so much power there.

At work, I spent every second guarding myself, holding myself up higher and straighter. It felt so good to let it go and sink against him. Rainer’s hands slipped around my waist, crushed me to him, and then backed off.

I felt the heat of them hovering just over my hips, and I longed to feel the pressure of his grasp again.

Then Rainer let out a delicious sigh that made my fingers flex. I was the one with the power, no matter my diminutive height.

Suddenly, the kiss caught fire. He was the one succumbing; I had the upper hand. “No.” I pushed to let go of his arms but stayed on tip-toe.

“This is different,” Rainer repeated with a ragged breath. Rainer had been different all day.

Or had I just seen a different side of him? I wanted to believe that under his smooth exterior, Rainer was different. I drew my hands up to his collar and slipped open the next button.

This was different, I realized. It felt inevitable. Ever since he stumbled into me at the office holiday party, I had known I wanted this, and there was no turning back now.

If I was going to be a rumor, then I at least wanted to enjoy what everyone would assume. I opened another button and then pressed my lips to his warm throat.

Rainer’s pulse was galloping, but his hands were slow. He gently tugged my blouse lose, unbuttoning the top of my jeans as he worked his way around my waist.

When Rainer’s hands slipped under my blouse and brushed against my bare skin, I lifted my lips from his throat.

“Tasha,” he whispered. He teased me with two kisses then tugged my blouse up and over my head.

I stepped back, suddenly self-conscious. I had seen the other women at the office he had been with.

Then I saw his eyes. Rainer didn’t blink as his eyes dropped from my lips to the white lace of my bra. The delicate and revealing lingerie seemed to captivate him.

He reached out both hands, palms up. I shook my head and reached for his shirt.

“Fair is fair.” I lost myself in the next kiss, the touch of his skin against mine, and only surfaced long enough to help him slip my jeans down over my hips.

Rainer fell back onto my couch and pulled me down onto his lap. I resisted, not wanting to lose the friction of my thin lace against his dark chest hair. I sat down astride him, reveling in his approving moan.

I pressed smiling lips against his mouth until his hands pulled me closer.

Rainer clasped me, and our bodies rubbed together, the tantalizing friction so acute between my legs that I moaned out loud. In response, he popped the clasp on my bra and peeled it out from between us.

Again, I moaned as he pressed me up against him and released me. I flowed against him like a wave.

When I felt the exquisite strokes bringing me higher than words, Rainer wrapped his arms around me and shifted me down onto my back on the couch.

My hands helped him as he tugged off my white lace panties and then reached for his waistline. We fumbled, and he laughed, bemused by his clumsiness.

I wanted that smile, wanted to feel it, and ran my hands up his arms to grasp his shoulders.

Rainer’s smile gave way to a hungry growl, and he lowered himself into my arms. We both moved slowly, his weight coming over me slowly as my feet drifted up his legs to wrap around his waist.

Then our lips touched, and Rainer devoured me with a kiss. I arched up, feeling him hard against me, then he shifted, and we suddenly fitted together.

So deep, so tight, his breath panting against my wet sigh of pleasure. I rocked upward, just a slight pull with my legs, and we both groaned in ecstasy.

Rainer’s lips never left mine even as our rhythm sped and slowed. He teased me, and himself, as he withdrew and went deeper.

I felt his muscles shudder, and contract, concentrating until the pressure pushed everything out of my mind.

There was nothing but a bright burst that radiated through every inch of me. The wild waves of it caught Rainer, and he dropped his head to my shoulder with a long, emptying sigh.

We waited, my hands drifting up and down his back, his lips drawing a trail from my ear to my shoulder and back again, until the waves subsided.

Then Rainer looked at me, the electricity back in his blue eyes, and I remembered the inevitable is rarely a good thing. What had I done?