The Geek Tycoon Read online

  After all, they were alone and only one floor away from her bedroom. Tony had amazing powers of concentration and she’d often fantasized what would happen if he ever trained all that mental firepower on making love to her. But tonight, despite his reaction to her, he wasn’t in favor of office romances. Jeopardizing their friendship plus her job didn’t seem very smart.

  The first batch of cookies came out of the oven and she inhaled the sweet aroma. Apparently she’d have to be satisfied with nibbling on them instead of on Tony. Using a spatula, she transferred them from the baking sheets to the waxed paper she’d spread on the counter.

  Partially melted chocolate dotted the warm, soft dough. When one cookie broke on impact, she justified eating it although she had to be careful not to burn her tongue. It tasted amazing and she tried to convince herself it could replace sex.

  “I used to love eating the dough.”

  She turned to find Tony standing in the kitchen doorway looking longingly in her direction. But since she was standing right by the cookies and the bowl of cookie dough, they could be the attraction. She opened a drawer, grabbed a spoon and held it out. “Help yourself.”

  “Thanks.” Walking over to her, he took the spoon and scooped out some dough. Then he turned the spoon upside down before putting it in his mouth so he could scrape it clean with his tongue. And he moaned.

  His appreciative moan resonated deep in her lady parts. He’s your boss and you don’t even know if he likes you in that way. She had a tough time remembering the parameters when he stood in her kitchen sucking on a spoonful of cookie dough.

  After licking every last trace away, he gazed at her. “Even better than I remembered.”

  “I got the recipe from our family chef before I left home.”

  “So you bake cookies a lot?”

  “Not really.” She realized he’d drifted closer, within touching distance. “But I’ve decided to do it more often.”

  “Excellent idea.” His voice had taken on a husky quality. “The world needs more chocolate chip cookies.”

  “Oh, I agree. Could be the answer to world peace.” Her heart beat faster. With any other man, she’d think he was going to kiss her. He had that certain gleam in his eyes that men had when they were about to make a move.

  She held his gaze. He’d never looked at her this way before and his breathing had definitely changed. Good grief, he was going to kiss her!

  She wondered if he’d considered how that would affect his proposed office policy. She wouldn’t remind him. If he made the first move, that changed everything. She waited, heart pounding.

  With a groan of frustration, he turned away and tossed the spoon on the counter. “God, how I want you!”

  She gasped. “You . . . do?”

  “Yes, damn it!” He spun around and glared at her. “And I swore I would never let you know.”

  “Why?”

  He took a breath and started to answer but then he shook his head. “Never mind.”

  Since he hadn’t given their working relationship as a reason, she had a hunch the issue went deeper than that. She swallowed. “When did you take this oath of silence?”

  “At the first school dance in seventh grade.”

  Seventh grade. Dear God. No wonder he hadn’t asked her to dance that night. She’d thought he wasn’t into dancing. He’d wanted her for years? She couldn’t get her head around it. “But you’ve had girlfriends.”

  “Of course I’ve had girlfriends. I vowed to stay silent not celibate.”

  Then she had a new thought, a happy thought. “Did you hire me thinking we might eventually get together now that I’m single?”

  “Hell, no.”

  The finality of that answer told her all she needed to know. He’d hidden his feelings because he was convinced she’d reject him. At one time she might have, so he’d been wise to be cautious. Her voice softened. “Then why did you hire me?”

  “Because you’d be an asset to the company.”

  “That’s it?”

  “No.” He ran his fingers through his already mussed hair. “I loved the idea that I’d get to see you five days a week.”

  Her heart softened like warm cookie dough. “I’ve loved that, too.”

  “And now it’s over, right?” His voice filled with anguish. “You’re quitting.”

  “Quitting? No!”

  “But you used the past tense, loved. Or maybe it’s past perfect – I have loved. But it’s definitely in the past and not the present.”

  “You’re overthinking it.”

  “A habit of mine.”

  “For your information, I have no intention of quitting, although it would solve our problem. And we do have one.”

  “I’m well aware of it. I just admitted to lusting after one of my employees. If you want to laugh and make fun of me, go right ahead. I wouldn’t blame you in the least.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “No, really, it’s okay. I make no sense whatsoever. At dinner I told you the company needed a policy about this very thing and here I am longing to violate the policy before it’s even written.”

  Every word out of his mouth was an incredible gift. “You can’t know how much that means to me.”

  “You like that I’m wishy-washy?”

  “I adore it. One person’s wishy-washy is another person’s flexible approach to life.”

  “I’m not sure I understand.”

  She took a deep breath and turned off the oven. The time for chit-chat was over. “Tony, I freely admit I haven’t always appreciated how great you are, but now I get it. I’ve had a chance to observe you in your element – this company. I love your easygoing management style and the camaraderie with the guys. Working closely with you I’ve . . . been affected in ways that aren’t strictly professional.”

  He looked at her in stunned silence. Obviously he hadn’t expected to hear that. Ever.

  “In other words, I think you’re extremely sexy and I want you, too. Desperately.”

  He sucked in a breath.

  “But you’re concerned about office romances lousing up the company dynamic and I –”

  “To hell with that.” Tossing his glasses on the counter, he pulled her into his arms and his mouth came down on hers.

  Her startled exclamation of surprise meant her mouth was open at the time, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. At the first touch of his lips she went rigid with shock. Tony was kissing her! There was no going back, now.

  Then he put his tongue in her mouth and there really was no going back. The blatant suggestion in each thrust sent a lightning bolt of sensation through every nerve. Shaking in reaction, she clutched his shoulders for support and her fingertips encountered firm muscle beneath the soft cotton of his shirt.

  She wanted to feel those muscles move without the barrier of clothing. He must have had the same idea, because he’d started unbuttoning her blouse.

  Catching his hands, she drew away from his eager mouth.

  He went very still and his voice was strained. “Please don’t tell me to stop.”

  “Only until we get upstairs.”

  “Logical move.” He grabbed her hand and started out of the kitchen.

  “There’s nothing logical about this.” Breathing hard, she hurried to keep up with his long strides. “There could be consequences.”

  He came to an abrupt stop. “You don’t have condoms?”

  “I do. Upstairs.”

  “Excellent.” Still clutching her hand, he headed for the staircase.

  “I meant emotional consequences. Professional consequences.”

  He turned at the base of the steps and gathered her into his arms. “Are you worried?”

  “Not when you’re kissing me.”

  “I can fix that.” And he proceeded to wipe out every single reservation with his talented mouth and tongue. Cupping her bottom, he scooped her in close and settled the bulge of his cock between her thighs.

  H
e was so hard, so hot, so exactly what she wanted right this minute. She plastered herself against him and wished their clothes would melt. A few more minutes of this and they might.

  They were both panting when he lifted his head to gaze down at her. “Better, now?”

  “Mm.”

  “Let’s go.” Catching her hand again, he started up the stairs.

  “Can you see where you’re going?”

  “Well enough.”

  Dizzy with anticipation, she followed. “End of the hall.”

  “I figured.” Halfway there he turned and pulled her close for another potent kiss. “Don’t want you to lose momentum,” he whispered against her mouth. “Besides, you taste like cookies.” And he delved deep.

  She was so involved in the kiss and the way her body tightened in response that she didn’t realize he’d backed her against the wall until she felt it touch her shoulder blades. He’d also unbuttoned her blouse the rest of the way and had begun kissing his way to the hollow of her throat.

  Now that her blouse hung open he was free to cup her lace-covered breasts and flip open the front clasp of her bra. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as he licked one erect nipple and captured it between his teeth. Moaning, she arched her back. He accepted the invitation and drew her aching nipple into his mouth.

  Heaven. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the sensation that intensified the longer he lavished attention on her tingling breast. Her body clenched, wanting more, wanting . . . oh, yes, his hand there, stroking her through the damp fabric of her slacks. He unbuckled her belt and unfastened the button and zipper with the dexterity of a man who could install a motherboard without breaking a sweat.

  When those nimble fingers slipped inside her drenched panties, she knew she was in the hands of a master. He found his way unerringly to her base of operations and proceeded to drive her out of her mind. Her climax hit with devastating force and she cried out, overcome by the rich pleasure.

  Slowly he withdrew his damp fingers and trailed them over her stomach, between her quivering breasts and up to her mouth where he stroked them over her bottom lip. “It’s the first time you’ve come for me,” he murmured. “But it won’t be the last.”

  Just like that, she was wild for him again. Grabbing him by the back of the head, she drew him down and gave him an open-mouthed kiss that told him how much she agreed with that sexy statement. One orgasm in the hallway was only the beginning.

  To her surprise, he picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. She hadn’t expected that, but the gesture thrilled her. Laying her on the bed, he followed her down. As he pressed her to the yielding surface, she felt the hard ridge of his cock against her thigh.

  The next chapter of their sexual saga was about to occur and the box of condoms weren’t within reach. Cupping his cheeks, she forced his head up. “Condoms are in my bathroom.”

  He stared down at her, his eyes glazed with lust. “What?”

  “In the bathroom. One of us has to get them.”

  Gradually comprehension dawned. “Oh.” He took a shaky breath. “Where’s your bathroom?”

  “Through the door behind you. The box is under the sink.”

  With obvious effort he pushed himself off the bed. “Don’t go away.”

  “Not a chance.”

  He was back in no time and set the box firmly on the bedside table. “Only six.”

  She gulped. “Only?”

  “When a man has waited almost fifteen years, six might not be enough.” He stripped off his shirt.

  Taking her cue from the urgency in his voice, she wiggled out of her slacks and panties. Then she sat up so she could slip off her blouse and bra.

  As she did, he came to a full stop and stared at her.

  That made her self-conscious enough to pull her blouse together again.

  He groaned. “Please don’t.”

  “But I’m not your type.”

  “Who says?”

  “Me. You date skinny flat-chested women.”

  He heaved a sigh. “Good hypothesis, wrong conclusion. You’re my type, Charlotte.”

  She had trouble believing he’d wanted her but instead had sex with skinny ladies. “Then why pick women who were the exact opposite?”

  “Do you have to ask?”

  “Yes, yes I do.”

  “If I had sex with women who resembled you, guaranteed I’d pretend they were you and probably call them by your name. It would have been a recipe for disaster.”

  “Oh.”

  Crossing to the bed, he sat down beside her. “I love your body. I couldn’t make it all the way to the bedroom without touching you. I’ve dreamed about doing that for so long.” As he lowered his head to kiss her, he pushed her blouse and bra straps over her shoulders. Then he tossed the clothes aside and cradled a breast in each hand.

  His fingers flexed and his thumbs brushed lazily over her tight nipples as he continued to savor her mouth. Shifting his angle and going deeper, he gently pushed her back onto the pillows. Then his sweet assault began in earnest.

  Slowly he nibbled his way down her throat. Holding her breasts captive, he teased and licked, nipped and squeezed until her breath came in shallow gasps and she writhed against the comforter. She’d wondered if his single-mindedness would affect how he made love and the answer was yes.

  He journeyed lower, finding ticklish spots between her ribs and making her squeal by sliding his tongue into her navel. When he eased onto the bed and maneuvered between her thighs, she caught his head in both hands. “I don’t think I know you that well.”

  He smiled. “Then it’s time we became better acquainted.”

  Chapter Five

  With the woman of his dreams lying naked in his arms, Tony knew he might have a problem if he grabbed a condom, suited up and consummated this relationship ASAP. Dear God how he wanted to. But he might last eight seconds if he was lucky, less if he wasn’t.

  So his current plan was to give her as many orgasms as possible before the big moment and maybe she wouldn’t notice that he had the staying power of a gnat. Apparently she’d decided to go along with his program because after her initial protest she relaxed her thighs in the most stirring surrender he’d ever experienced.

  “No sense in being coy.” Her voice quivered with excitement. “You can have me any way you want me, Tony. Any way at all.”

  He nearly lost it. Somehow he stayed focused when he longed to rip off the rest of his clothes and bury his aching cock in her warmth. Any way you want me. She might not say that if she knew the countless hours he’d spent imagining X-rated scenarios involving Charlotte Wingate.

  But he’d never thought he’d be here, in her house and in her bedroom, with his head between her creamy thighs and his mouth inches from nirvana. By some miracle he’d managed that amazing feat, which was a thousand times better than reaching the expert level in any video game ever invented. He was determined to make the experience memorable for both of them.

  To his surprise, he seemed to have a talent for pleasing women sexually. But he’d assumed Charlotte would never know. Thanks to tech issues and chocolate chip cookies, he’d ended up in the perfect position to show her.

  He thought he might be good at this because he loved the way a woman’s secret parts looked and tasted. The velvet texture and the sweet aroma of arousal tempted him more than any gourmet dinner at a five-star restaurant. He always started gradually with casual movements of his tongue. No woman wanted to be startled or alarmed when she’d allowed herself to be vulnerable.

  He valued the trust involved. Specifically he valued Charlotte’s trust. Sure, she had confidence in him as a boss and as the leader of a new company. She had confidence in his abilities as a technological wizard.

  But tonight as she’d opened her thighs to him, she’d trusted him to treat her with respect as a sensual being and give her nothing but pleasure. He didn’t take that lightly. Every movement of his mouth and tongue was intended to show that respect while giv
ing her immense pleasure.

  Judging from her response, he was doing pretty well. She moaned and called his name. Her fingertips dug into his scalp as she lifted her hips in a silent appeal for more, much more.

  He slid one hand under her firm bottom and lifted her toward his mouth. Holding her steady, he slipped two fingers into her warm, pulsing channel. A few quick strokes and she arched off the bed. He continued to tease and lap until she came a second time, yelling his name at the top of her lungs.

  As she sank back to the mattress she gasped out his name again. Then she said it once more in a deeper tone followed by an earthy request he’d never expected to hear from her sweet lips. When he lifted his head, he discovered she’d propped herself on her elbows.

  She sent him a smoldering glance. “Did you hear me?”

  “Yes.” Even without his glasses he could see that her eyes were darkened with lust. Her low, sultry voice set fire to his blood.

  She tilted her head toward the box on the bedside table.

  His already hard cock stiffened to the point of pain. “Right.” Climbing from the bed, he toed off his shoes while he unbuckled his belt.

  Although his balls tightened at the sight of her stretched out on the bed waiting for him, looking away wasn’t an option. Instead he clenched his jaw against the pounding urgency in his groin while he catalogued every delicious curve as best he could. His view was slightly blurry but he could sharpen the focus in his head. He couldn’t predict whether any of this would ever happen again so he needed to memorize her from head to toe.

  She followed his movements as he eased down the zipper over his aching package. Her intense focus on his crotch didn’t help matters. Searching for a distraction, any distraction, he turned the issue into an engineering problem. He simply had to adjust the regulatory mechanism as increased pressure tested the limits of the system.

  Theoretically he could think his way to calmness by giving his brain a challenge that would require blood being redirected there. He tried calculus problems, baseball stats and the Periodic Table of Elements. Nothing worked. The prospect of making love to Charlotte trumped everything and apparently he was doomed to climax at the speed of light.