Her lips tasted like cherries, probably from her lip gloss, and my kiss seemed to have a calming effect on her.
We ate the dinner I’d picked up on my way home from the office, and attempted to have normal conversation, pretending we we
ren’t going to potentially be naked in front of other people this evening. As the clock closed in on the other couple’s arrival, Ruby and I grew more excited and anxious.
I’d given Joseph’s name to the front desk so they could come straight up, and the soft knock on my door had Ruby leaping to her feet. She tucked a lock of her wavy hair behind her ear and flashed a nervous smile.
“Hey,” I said to them when I opened the door. I tossed a hand toward my living room. “Come on in.”
Noemi was tucked beside Joseph, one hand clasped in his, and a bottle of red wine in the other. She smiled shyly as they stepped inside.
“Can I take your coat?” I offered to her. Joseph was wearing a suit without a tie, but no overcoat.
It was electric when the women’s gazes met; it could be felt in the air. What did Noemi think of the beautiful brunette who stood in my kitchen, one hand resting on the counter and trying to appear casual? Ruby’s smile was bright, and then recognition flickered in her eyes.
“Joseph, Noemi, this is Ruby.”
They shook hands while I hung Noemi’s coat up, and when I joined them in the kitchen, Ruby glanced sideways at me. “Not famous, huh?”
Ah. She’d figured out who Noemi was, and the NDA probably made a lot more sense now. “You only asked if he was, counselor.”
Without a word, Joseph picked up the wine opener off the counter, took the bottle from Noemi, and worked to get it open. It was my apartment, and yet he seemed to be the one most at ease. Of course he was. He was in charge tonight. Everyone had desires for this evening, and his was to hold the reins. He’d never had power over three people at once.
Wine was poured and glasses handed out.
We stood around my counter, chatting casually about our day as Ruby got a sense of the couple, and they got to know her. She’d set her macarons out, and I wondered if everyone ate a cookie just to have something to do. White chocolate raspberry tonight, which went well with the wine.
By the time Joseph was refilling glasses, the atmosphere had relaxed. Ruby softened beside me, laughing as she listened to Noemi describe her horror at catching her father fooling around with his girlfriend in his office.
“He’d forgotten we had a lunch appointment,” Noemi said, shuddering.
Joseph looked confused. “You told me you didn’t see anything.”
“I didn’t, but when Claudia popped up from under his desk . . . uh, I don’t want to think about it.”
He chuckled, and then the conversation lulled at the mention of sex. It was a key turned in a lock, setting the desires for the evening free.
Joseph’s attention went to the back of the room and his gaze lingered on the bright blue upholstery. “That’s some couch.” He set his hand on Noemi’s arm. “You and Ruby will go sit beside each other there.”
His voice was light and easy, but his control fell in the room like a hammer.
Chapter
THIRTY-THREE
RUBY
Noemi Rosso was fresh-faced pretty, and looked even better in person than she did in photos. Of course, she wasn’t usually the focus of those pictures. It was her father who garnered the attention. But damn, did she look young. How old was she again? Early twenties at most.
Her fiancé looked considerably older. Joseph’s hair was so dark it was almost black, and his deep brown eyes matched. His build was similar to Kyle’s. Lean. Broad shoulders. Toned without being overly muscle-bound. I liked the look.
Joseph was late thirties, maybe even forty, and she was in her twenties. His hair was dark, while her long blonde hair hung past her breasts and curled softly at the ends. Joseph’s expression was intense and serious, whereas Noemi’s seemed bright and excited.
The juxtaposition of them worked, each perfectly complimenting the other. And the chemistry between them? It was undeniable. She flashed a smile to Joseph as she followed his command and sat on the blue couch, and he studied her intently the whole way. Examining to see if she was nervous?
I was nervous as hell.
In a good way, but still anxious. I clenched my glass of wine tighter as I made my way to the couch and sat beside her, leaving a few inches of space. Without thought, my gaze went to Kyle. When he nodded, I turned to Joseph, as if I needed to check in, show him I did as instructed, and if my proximity was all right.