She’d known her heart was at stake from the past week they spent together. For the first time in her life, she felt cracked open to her vulnerable, mushy center. A deep connection burned between them on a level she had never reached with another man. Her gut knew he felt the same way, but Arianna didn’t know if he’d ever admit his feelings. How could she fight a ghost from the past? An experience that had shaped the man he was today?
She didn’t need to find any of the answers tonight. She only knew she wanted to be with him, for as long as it lasted.
“You said you trusted me,” he said.
She spoke softly. “I do. Grant, I’m not looking for validation of our relationship. I’m not looking for explanations every time you have a meeting or flirtation with a student. I can separate business from pleasure and I’m not jealous. I just don’t want to be judged on a past experience I can’t fight.”
“You’re nothing like my ex-wife.”
“I know. But are you going to be suspicious every time I watch another student come on to you? Are you going to worry that I’ll turn against you and cause another break in your school?”
“Missy likes the way she’s feeling and she’s transferred the emotions to me. I’ve seen it before.”
Arianna couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her lips. “I used the same excuse to keep from falling for you. Convinced myself it was like a therapist.”
“Sometimes it is.” He didn’t speak for a while, and she knew he was uneasy. “Is that what you think we have?”
She reached down and stroked his erection with her hand. He was slippery from her juices and warm to the touch. Grant gasped and gave himself up to her ministrations, but before he could explode he pushed her away again, breathing deep.
“Let go,” she whispered. “I want to please you.”
“You do. But I follow tantra, so I don’t allow myself to come often. My body holds all of the sexual energy and I can go deeper into my practices.” His eyes glittered with raw hunger. “I also get my satisfaction from you. Your pleasure is mine. We’re linked.”
“Grant?
“Hmmm?”
“You’re an amazing teacher. And I love the way yoga has changed my life. But I’m not sleeping with you because I’m getting off on secretly screwing my instructor.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. “Not even a little?”
She punched him in the arm. “If you need more time to work this out, I’m okay with keeping us a secret. Just don’t get upset when I call things the way I see them.”
“Deal. Now come home with me.”
“I have to get up so early and—“
He kissed her hard and deep. “Arianna, I want you to sleep in my bed tonight. Even if it’s just for a little while.”
The wall holding back her heart shook on its foundation, then slowly steadied. She nodded. They got dressed and walked out together hand in hand.
Chapter Six
“You got it.”
Arianna looked up at Tim. He stood in the doorway with a half smile on his face. “Got what?” she asked.
He shook his head in amazement. “The promotion. Un-frikkin' believable. Sanders promoted you.”
The file dropped from her fingers as his words shot through her brain and squeezed with clarity. “You’re joking.”
“Not. He wants you to lead the team for the Rosebud account. Damn, Arianna, he’s sending you to Chicago.”
The reality of her situation crashed over her. Sheer excitement fought with pure emotion.
Grant. She would have to leave Grant.
Arianna pushed the thought aside and stood up. “Is this official? How do you know?” she demanded as she made her way through the corridor to her manager’s office. “Don’t start this crap with me that a rumor was started and I have to keep it quiet. You know I don’t play that game well.”
He trotted after her. “Don’t know what you have against the grapevine. It works for me.
Never wrong either. You can’t just barge into his office and announce you heard a rumor.
Arianna, wait till he offers you the position, for God’s sake.” She knocked on the door and tossed him a cheeky grin. “Too late. I won’t mention your name.” Tim’s groan echoed in the background as she shut the door behind her.
She was moving to Chicago.
Arianna sat in her office with her blinds drawn, struggling to process the last few hours.
Tim had told the truth. It was hers. As the head of the Creative Services Department, she’d closed a few big accounts at G & B, but the Rosebud account was in a different league. She assumed Sanders would go with one of the more senior leaders for such an important victory.
But he didn’t. He’d taken a chance on her, and now she was the youngest executive in the company to be piloting an account out of New York.
She’d spent the last five years working toward one goaclass="underline" to showcase her talent and head a big account. Chicago was the key. She would be in charge of the whole damn division. The lead person on the biggest advertising deal of the century.
They were creating an ad for the Superbowl. Just a few precious seconds of television exposure, but during the most watched game of the year.
Millions of dollars were at stake, months of preparation for the one pitch that would land G & B into the big leagues. The future stretched before her like the yellow brick road of Oz.
The knock on her door caused her to jump. “Yes?” she called out.
Grant opened the door and stepped in. “I thought I’d stop by to check out the corporate world. Do you think if I passed out business cards I would get some new students?” She laughed. “Hell, yes. If Tricia let you in, you must have seen her facial tick. I think corporate sponsors could open up a whole new world for you.” He looked thoughtful. “You’re right. I never thought to expand into the corporate environment, but it’s a whole untapped market.”
“What are you doing here?”
Onyx eyes heated and gleamed. “I wanted to see you. I know you’re working late for the next few nights so I thought I’d stop by.”
“I’m glad you did.” She crossed to him and linked her arms around his neck. He moved in to kiss her long and deep, his tongue lazily exploring her slick mouth with the command of a lover who knows every inch of his mate. She let herself go and sank into the embrace, automatically fitting her hips to cradle his, her breasts flattened against his hard chest. The familiar energy sparked around them, then settled to a low hum.
“I like your place.”
She let her gaze slide over her office. Arianna had been proud to get a small space of her own, and had to work her way up the ranks from a cubicle to sharing an office with many, to her own. The bright red splashes of color lent a creative air to the space with the wine carpeting and bold watercolors on the wall. Dark cherry wood accents with the desk and matching chair added richness. A lush palm tree stood in the corner, its leafy greens blending with the stark simplicity of the room. Framed photos of inspiring words and mottos hung from the walls.
Grant paused at one of the quotes. “Dare to Suck.” One dark brow lifted. “Very poetic.”
“It is. You gotta love Aerosmith. If you don’t, I think our affair will be doomed.”
“Love the guy.”
“Good choice,” she said. “He talked about songwriting and freedom. If you’re going to shoot for mastery, you have to dare to suck first. It clicked with me.” He gave her another hard kiss. “Amazing. I probably could have quoted a guru master in a paragraph. I think you covered it with three words. Would you like to come speak at my next conference?”
“Only if I get the same fringe benefits I did in Boston.”