UP IN FLAMES

Vanessa’s stare lingered on the woman’s chest, and she suddenly felt like she was rocking a training bra. Christ on a crutch, were those things real? Her gaze finally drifted up to the woman’s face and something about the pretty features was familiar… Holy fuck balls, wasn’t she a district attorney? Oh my.

Alaric cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to him. “We need to talk? Right now?” he asked.

For a moment, she couldn’t speak. Good God, this man…His dark brown hair was messy, and his broad shoulders seemed bigger now. His cheekbones were well defined and high, setting off a strong jawline and wide, expressive lips. The man was built like a heavyweight boxer.

Her gaze traveled down his throat, over the gap in his shirt at his neck, and then down his arms. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, exposing powerful forearms and large hands.

“Mrs Spencer?” Amusement colored Alaric’s voice.

Heat flooded her cheeks. Dear God, was she flustered? She was never flustered. An obnoxious giggle was building in her throat. Shit. Giggling? That ticked her off. Latching onto the irritation, she regained the use of her brain. “I know I’m interrupting…important business, but this can’t wait.”

“Is that so?” Alaric shifted his weight, and it was only then that she realized he was standing behind the woman. Was he about to…? Oh Lord in heaven, she couldn’t finish that thought. “Yes. I need to talk to you in private.”

Alaric said nothing.

She looked at the woman who had at least sat up, demurely crossing her legs, and then back at Alaric. Did she have to point out they weren’t alone? By the expectant look on his face, she was going to go with a yes. “We’re not alone.” She said,

“And you weren’t in here first.” he retorted. A small grin appeared on those lips. Just one side tipping up. “It would be rude of me to ask my friend to leave, and I wouldn’t want to be rude.”

Vanessa’s spine stiffened. Something about his tone told her that he was messing with her for his amusement. “I seriously doubt she’s your friend.” She shot back.

“And what do you think she is to me, Mrs Spencer?” When she opened her mouth, his dark eyes sharpened. “And think carefully before you make a statement.”

She bristled. “I’m not crude, Mr. Harper.”

“Really? That’s not what I’ve heard… and observed,”

A different kind of heat invaded her veins, and her fingers bit into the folder. The soft crinkle of paper reminded her why she was here, which was not to get into a verbal pissing match with Alaric. Taking a deep breath, she leveled her voice. “I need your help.”

Alaric’s chin tipped down, but his expression remained the same: remote and impassive. Not an ounce of emotion. Something about him, the intensity that he bled into the air around him, told her that this man would be a violent storm if he ever lost control.

Silence stretched out between them, broken by the soft, impatient sigh of the woman sitting on the chaise longue. It struck Vanessa then, in a way it hadn’t before, what she was doing. Coming to Alaric for help had seemed logical while she’d been in her apartment, but busting up in a sex club looking for him?

Ah, probably not the wisest of decisions. Not to mention supremely awkward, but there wasn’t anything she could do about that now. The note had rattled her. ‘I’ll be seeing you soon.’ Finding Alaric couldn’t wait, but now?

Holding her head high, she stepped back. “Perhaps another time will be better. When you’re not about to engage in hopefully protected sex.” She smiled tightly. “Good evening, Mr. Harper and…uh, Miss… That’s a really nice corset.”

The woman smiled. “Thank you.” She replied.

Vanessa made it to the door, feeling an odd burn in her skin. Humiliation? It had been a long, long time since she’d felt that way, and she didn’t much care for it now, either.

“Mrs Spencer.” Alaric’s deep voice stopped her.

She turned halfway. “What?”

He glanced at the woman. “I’m sorry, honey, but maybe we can pick this up again later?”

“I understand.” The woman stood, and at once, Vanessa felt like she belonged in the Lollipop Guild.

The woman strode past her, smiling. “Work is work.” She said.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Was that a dig? Vanessa couldn’t be sure, but then the door shut quietly behind her, and she was alone in the room with Alaric. In a room that he had most likely been about to have wild, lustful, animal-like, noise-making sex in. At that thought, an image of her on that chaise longue with Alaric behind her, his hands gripping her hips, filled her head. Warmth sparked in her belly and much, much lower. She really needed to get control of herself. She’d just lost her husband for goodness sake. They might not have been together for a while, but still.

Clearing her throat, she met his stare and flushed at the almost knowing gleam in his blue eyes. “You didn’t have to make her leave. We could’ve-”

“I think it was obvious that she needed to leave,” he cut in, crossing his arms across his broad chest. “So what is it that you need help with, Mrs Spencer?”

“But I was interrupting.”

He arched an eyebrow. “And I’m sure you knew that before you burst through that door, right?”

“Well, yes, but-” Actually, no. She hadn’t thought of anything except getting to Alaric. She refused to examine why the thought of reaching him had been the only thing that had calmed her pulse since receiving the note.

“But you now have my full, undivided attention.” Alaric took one step forward, and then he was right in front of her. It had to be those long legs that seemed to eat up the distance in one stride. “And that is a very, very rare occurrence.”

Swallowing again, she felt her gaze nervously flit over his shoulder. What the…? Were those handcuffs hanging against the wall? She was totally out of her element and off her game. Who could blame her? She was in a room used for all kinds of kinky sexual acts.

“I need your help,” she said, relieved to hear her voice was somewhat steady.

He unfolded his arms, and as he did, the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt brushed her hands, causing her body to jerk. That one-sided smile spread. “I think we’ve already established that, Mrs Spencer,” he replied.