Private Sessions. Tori Carrington

held on to the feminine digits, rubbing his thumb slowly along the back.

      He watched her pupils grow large in her dark green irises at the unabashed liberty he took. But rather than immediately try to pull away, she held his gaze, allowing the fiery spark that ignited between them to flare, running from her skin over to his. The heat sped downward and settled pleasantly in his groin.

      He allowed himself a moment to imagine removing that barely there bikini in his fantasy to leave her fully bare …

      Bryna cleared her throat and slowly withdrew her hand, taking the sexy image with her.

      “I have three proposals I’d like to submit to you,” she said, sitting in one of the two high-backed visitor’s chairs and putting her case down at her crossed ankles. Slender, shapely ankles that drew his attention. She took documents out of her briefcase and held them out to him.

      He made no move to take them. Instead, he permitted his gaze to rake up her calves to where the hem of her skirt had hiked up to just above her pleasing knees.

      Bryna placed the proposals on the desk he stood next to.

      “I’m sure that once you’ve had a chance to review them, you’ll see that a partnership with Metaxas Limited would be in everyone’s best interest.”

      Having her open her knees a little wider would be in his best interest. Would she be wearing plain white panties, he wondered. Black? Red? Or would she surprise him by going commando?

      The idea nudged his temperature gauge up more than a few notches.

      He lifted his telltale gaze back to her face. “Does Troy know you’re here?”

      He’d met both brothers on several occasions, but he’d gotten the distinct impression that the elder was in charge of all business dealings. And a control freak. Much like he, himself, was.

      He was intrigued by the way Bryna avoided his gaze.

      If he were to guess, he’d say that no one was aware that she was there.

      Caleb knew himself well enough to recognize his growing attraction to the young woman sitting in his visitor’s chair. And judging by her reaction when they’d touched, he knew it would be all too easy to draw her into a sexual liaison. A few carefully placed caresses, whispered words, and she’d melt like butter on his toast.

      The telecom buzzed.

      His secretary. He’d instructed her to interrupt the meeting at minute five.

      The problem lay in that he wasn’t all too sure he wanted to end his time with Bryna Metaxas.

      “Excuse me,” he said.

      “Sure. Go ahead.”

      He picked up the phone and listened for a moment, his gaze roving hungrily over Bryna’s soft curves, before hanging up.

      “I’m sorry,” he said, going for feigned reluctance and surprised to actually be feeling it. “But there appears to be an overseas call I really must take.”

      She twisted lips that were full and lush and made for a man’s kiss. “Of course.” She got up from the chair. “I’m grateful for the time you’ve extended me. Just give my office a call when you’ve had a chance to review the proposals so we can set up another meeting.” She began to turn away, then lifted a finger and swiveled back. Her mouth was slightly open, as if prepared to say something, but his expression—which he was sure revealed his naked interest in her—must have caused her to hesitate.

      Her pink tongue darted out and moistened those provocative lips.

      “Actually,” she said quietly, then cleared her throat, “I’ll, um, call you.”

      Caleb found himself crossing the room to be nearer to her. The musky scent of her perfume filled his senses. He dragged his gaze away from her mouth up to her eyes and then crossed his arms over his chest, as much to keep from touching her as to maintain the distance he wasn’t sure why he suddenly required. “Why did you choose me, Miss Metaxas?”

      She was clearly as aware of him as he was of her … and thrown by his close proximity. He watched her elegant throat work around a swallow. “I don’t understand?”

      “Why didn’t you go straight to Philippidis himself?”

      Her smile was soft, tinged with a bit of wryness. “I thought my chances of putting together something with you were better, considering the circumstances.” She took in the width of his shoulders, his height. “I mean, you’re an independent consultant, right? While you’re associated with Philippidis, you’re not his employee.” She shrugged, the action looking anything but nonchalant. “We can’t sell Philippidis, but perhaps we—you and I—can work together to sell the idea to someone else.”

      He liked her confidence … her awareness of herself as a woman. And he admired her poise; obviously she’d put a lot of thought into her approach, even though she knew the chances of him taking her up on her offer were remote.

      He picked up the folders, glanced at the top one, then held them out to her.

      “While flattered, Miss Metaxas, I’m afraid I’m not interested.”

      Inaccurate to the nth degree. The problem lay in that he was very interested in her … only on a much more personal level.

      She hesitantly took the proposals, but the look in her eyes told him that she saw him; possibly saw right through him.

      Caleb cocked a brow.

      “Are you sure there isn’t … something I can do to persuade you differently….” she asked quietly, leadingly.

      He’d been playing the man v. woman game for long enough that he understood some had the killer instinct, were born with a natural understanding of basic human need and how to bend it to their advantage, and some didn’t.

      Sexy Miss Bryna Metaxas had been born with it. She might not understand exactly how best to use it, but she knew enough to make her very enticing, indeed.

      He smiled. “I’m sure.”

      He drew closer to her, estimating that he had a good five inches on her and years of experience. While she demonstrated good instinctive skills, she was no match for him in any department.

      Why, then, did he want to see just how much of challenge she’d present?

      He was a breath away from her. She didn’t blink. Didn’t move. Didn’t indicate one way or another if he intimidated her. To the contrary, she appeared equally as enthralled by the chemistry that existed between them.

      “I feel it only fair to tell you that this won’t be the last you hear from me,” she said so quietly it was nearly a whisper.

      Caleb’s gaze slid over her face, taking in the hint of heated color and her decadent mouth before returning to her eyes.

      “I certainly hope not, Miss Metaxas.”

      He watched as she gave him one last smile and then turned to leave. He stood for long moments after the door closed behind her.

      Fascinating.

      He walked back behind his desk and picked up the phone to ask his secretary to place a call for him. Then noticed that the sly bird had left the proposals on his desk despite his handing them back to her.

      He grinned, giving her points for moxie.

      And scoring her highly across the board….

       3

      BRYNA SAT IN HER CAR in the parking lot of Metaxas Limited. Despite the routine forty-five-minute drive from the city back to Earnest, she felt oddly shaken, as if she’d just escaped being run down by a speeding car … and she wanted to step right back into its path.

      She’d heard that Caleb Payne was not a man to