“Well, I want to see them,” he murmured in that low, guttural voice of his.
Juliette tipped her head back and peered up into his face. “I might have gone a bit overboard.”
He shrugged the shoulder she wasn’t using as a pillow. “I have time.”
“What about the merger?”
“It’s not going anywhere.”
As crazy as it was, his offer was actually endearing. What man went out of his way to sit with a woman while she tried on clothes? But the fact that he wanted to returned the excitement Vi had killed with her careless disregard.
“Really?”
He lifted a hand to touch her chin lightly. “Really.”
Elated, she pushed out of his lap and dragged him along with her as she started for the door. He pushed them open as she chatted on about all the different outfits she had to go through to find the ones she really liked. He listened patiently the whole way to the bedroom where her bags had been set on the bed.
“This is overboard?” he asked as she shut the door behind them. “There’s only five bags here.”
Juliette frowned at him without heat. “That is overboard for someone who hasn’t bought a stitch of anything new in seven years! Now, sit somewhere. I’ll show you what I have.”
Hands up in surrender, Killian claimed a spot at the foot of the bed and watched as she scooped up the bags and hurried into the bathroom.
The clothing bonus hadn’t offered very many options, but she had made do with two skirts, two blouses, a dress and one pair of sandals and a pair of knee high boots. The combination was interchangeable and enough until her first paycheck. She could buy a new outfit with every pay and build her closet from there. But for now…
She wiggled into the pearl gray pencil skirt and black blouse with the sandals. The four inch heels were pinchy around the toes, but they made her legs look fantastic and that kind of made up for the minor pain. She twisted her hair up, more to keep it out of the way then a fashion thing. Then she reached for the door and tugged it open.
Killian hadn’t moved from his spot when she stepped out. He looked up when she walked towards him.
“What do you think?” she asked, twirling once so he could see the back.
“I’d hire you,” he said, making her laugh.
“As what?” she wondered.
He shrugged and gave his head a shake. “Doesn’t matter. Just to see you walk around in that.”
Still laughing, she walked back into the bathroom.
The second skirt was shorter, coming mid-thigh with a sliver of a slit at the back. She topped it off with a fat, gold belt and a scarlet blouse and the boots.
“I’d leave your hair down with that one,” Killian stated when she showed him the second outfit. “Curly.”
Juliette arched an eyebrow. “You seem to know quite a bit about women’s fashion. Something you’d like to share?”
He offered her a dry glower. “It’s how I would like to see it.”
Grinning, Juliette turned away. “One more.”
“Only one?” He seemed genuinely confused. “That’s only three outfits.”
She paused in the doorway of the bathroom and glanced back. “They didn’t give me a platinum credit card with unlimited funds. I had to make do with the amount I was given. No!” she warned when his frown deepened. She jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t you pull any strings or do your hocus pocus whatever it is you do. This is fine.”
With that, she ducked back into the bathroom to pull on the final outfit. Her favorite one. The moment she’d seen it, she knew she had to have it, even if it cost the entire bonus. Thankfully, it was part of some summer line and was knocked down by fifty percent, making it practically a steal. It only solidified her reasoning that it was meant to be hers, that and the fact that there was only one left and it was in her size. Absolute destiny.
The form fitting pencil dress came a sexy three inches off her knees and hugged every hill and curve of her body to perfection. The plaited front was cinched together by a gold clip that matched the one resting cool and shiny just below her collarbone, serving to keep the bodice together. A diamond peek-a-boo hole was cut into the material, plunging just low enough to show the hint of cleavage without becoming improper for work. Short sleeves hugged her arms and had little V-shaped slits to the shoulders. She added the sandals and the little something she’d picked up on a whim with Killian in mind. As an afterthought, she let down her hair and shook it out. She checked her face for smudged makeup before turning to the door.
Nervous for reasons unknown, she was less excited about her final reveal. Not that she didn’t think Killian would like the dress. It was only a dress after all. But it was the other thing, the surprise that made her palms sweat.
“Okay!” she called out before reaching for the doorknob. “I’m coming out.”
Knees wobbling, she stepped out into the bedroom and paused. Killian took her in, everything from her feet all the way up to the top of her head. His expression gave nothing away and that only intensified the anxiety clawing its way up into her throat.
“What do you think?” she asked, nervously.
“Sexy,” he said. “The body hugging material suits you.”
Her hands trembled as she ran them down the front of the dress. “Thanks. I really like this one.” She licked her lips. “Can … can you help me with the zipper? I can always get it up, but never down.”
Praying to God she didn’t stumble, or worse, face plant, she made her way towards him slowly on shaky legs. She scooped her hair up and over one shoulder. Her heart hammered in her chest as he rose and met her halfway. She turned, offering him the zipper running down her back. Her entire body seemed to vibrate with pent up anticipation. Her skin tingled all over. She held her breath and waited.
The first brush of his fingers along the nape of her neck nearly sent her clean out of her skin. She gave a violent jolt she hoped he hadn’t noticed. If he did, he never let on as he caught the tongue and rolled the zipper downward. The fabric gave inch by inch until the sleeves slipped down her arms. Juliette let the whole thing ripple to the ground in a puddle of black fabric. She stepped free and turned slowly to face the man behind her.
Her eyes locked with his.
“I also bought this,” she whispered, brushing a hand over the lacy scrap of fabric hugging her hips.
It matched the gel filled cups plumping up her breasts to firm, sexy globes. Both had cost her more than the dress and the shoes, but the look on Killian’s face … oh the look was worth every penny. It was raw lust in its truest form. It was feral and dangerous and she was in the center of all of it. It was enough to make a girl orgasm.
“Do you like it?” She reached for the first button on his dress shirt, her eyes never leaving his. “I thought of you when I picked it out.”
The second button gave as easily as the first. Then the third and fourth.
He never stopped her, nor did he speak. He watched her the way a hawk watches a mouse, with a focus that was both unnerving and arousing. She could feel herself growing wet. The bit of string tucked between her ass cheeks rubbed uncomfortably against her moist folds and she honestly couldn’t wait to be rid of it. But in the meantime…
She tore his top free from the waistband of his trousers, growing bolder the longer he didn’t stop her; there was something profoundly naughty about taking control of a man like Killian. Watching the play of fire and restraint across his face and knowing she was the cause. It was the sort of power that propelled her to lean forward and graze a kiss to the masterpiece that was his chest. Then another and another, all the way to his neck and the erratic little pulse giving away just how much she was affecting him.
Driven by her new found powers, she drew back and planted a palm against the center of his chest. His heart beat in a chaotic rhythm beneath her palm. The hot, toned skin made her want to explore all of him inch by inch, but she wasn’t sure how much she could push him before he regained control. For now, she had to use her time wisely. Next time, she’d look into getting scarves or handcuffs.