Industrial Magic
Page 53
Dare I ask? he whispered.
Jaime.
He started to laugh, but choked it back. Jaime and Carlos?
No, I said. Jaime and not Carlos. She decided five million wasnt enough.
His laugh escaped then, a burst of laughter that made me grin and squeeze his hand. I glanced back to see Carlos glaring after us. Guess I hadnt made a new friend. Too bad.
To be honest, I suspect its far less than five million by now, Lucas said as we walked. At the rate he goes through money, Id say Carlos is down to about five dollars. Hell have to hold out for the inheritance.
I thought five million was the inheritance.
No, the trust fund. His lips curved. Silence falls, as she refrains from stating the obvious, namely that her impoverished boyfriend is not as impoverished as she believed. Remember that next time you challenge me for paying cab fare.
Lucas pulled open the back door to the warehouse, and we stepped through into a lobby that would be the envy of any small-town courthouse. A few people milled about, but Lucas looked neither left nor right, just led me toward a set of interior double doors.
Somehow I suspect youre no more able to pay the cab fare now than you were ten minutes ago, I said. No trust-fund-dipping from this Cortez. You could be kidnapped by demon guerillas and still refuse to use any of it for the ransom.
True. He smiled down at me. But if youre ever kidnapped, Ill make an exception.
A swarthy young man in a suit and cap appeared at Lucass side. Mr. Cortez, sir?
Yes? Lucas said.
I work for the St. Clouds. Mr. St. Clouds driver.
Rick, isnt it?
The man smiled. Yes, thank you, sir. I just wanted to say we appreciate it, what you did, catching this guy. Griffins inside. Hell speak to you himself, but I wanted to add my thanks. And, uh His gaze flicked to the double doors. To say theres a back way in there, if youd rather take that.
Back way? I said.
Uh, yes, miss. Past the others. The Nasts and a few of the St. Clouds are in the waiting area. Theres another way into the courtroom. You and Mr. Cortez might be more comfortable using it.
Thank you, Lucas said. But well be fine.
Yes, sir.
The man backed away and slipped into a side hall. I glanced up at Lucass taut face. All the tension hed expelled on our walk into the building had returned double-strength. Once we walked through those doors, it was only going to get worse.
Lucas needed a distraction. As I glanced down the two sidehalls, I had an idea. Highly inappropriate but, sometimes, a little impropriety is exactly what you need.
Nearly forty-five minutes left, I said. Well be sitting all day. No need to rush in there.
Do you feel well enough to take a short walk?
Not what I had in mind.
I tugged him toward the nearest side hallway. His brows lifted, but when I didnt answer, he followed. I turned at the first branch, walked to the third door and opened it. An office. I tried the fourth. Locked. A quick unlock spell and the door opened into a large storage closet.
I flicked on the light. Perfect.
Dare I ask?
If you have to ask, you really are tired this morning.
He hesitated, then smiled.
Well? I said, backing into the closet.
He strode through the door, kicked it shut behind him, and cast a lock spell. I stepped back, but he grabbed me and pulled me to him in a deep kiss.
Damn, I said, gasping as I pulled back. Ive missed that, Cortez. Last night I was wondering how much weight my hospital bed held. Shouldve conducted a test.
Perhaps tonight.
Uh-uh. Tonight were springing for a hotel and a bed for two.
Are you sure you feel up to it?
I showed him how up to it I felt. After a few minutes of kissing, I slid my hands between us, unbuttoned his shirt, and ran my hands down his bare chest.
You know, Carlos got me thinking, I said. If Im going to be become a CEO wife
Co-CEO, wasnt it?
Sorry. Co-CEO. Its going to cost me a lot of blow jobs, isnt it?
Lucas laughed. Yes, a lot, Im afraid.
Then these few days in the hospital have put me behind on my quota. I have some serious catching up to do. I traced a finger down his chest and slipped it under his waistband. The doctor said no bending, but he didnt say anything about kneeling.
Lucass breath caught.
I grinned up at him. Well?
As loath as I am to refuse, you are still recovering. He reached down and hiked my skirt up to my hips, lips going to my ear. May I suggest something less taxing for now?
I pushed my skirt down. Uh-uh. Its a blow job or nothing. I stepped backward toward the door. Of course if youre not interested
He pulled me to him, then pressed my hand to his crotch. Interested enough?
Im not sure, I said, tracing my fingertips across the bulge in his pants. Its a bit hard
Jaime.
He started to laugh, but choked it back. Jaime and Carlos?
No, I said. Jaime and not Carlos. She decided five million wasnt enough.
His laugh escaped then, a burst of laughter that made me grin and squeeze his hand. I glanced back to see Carlos glaring after us. Guess I hadnt made a new friend. Too bad.
To be honest, I suspect its far less than five million by now, Lucas said as we walked. At the rate he goes through money, Id say Carlos is down to about five dollars. Hell have to hold out for the inheritance.
I thought five million was the inheritance.
No, the trust fund. His lips curved. Silence falls, as she refrains from stating the obvious, namely that her impoverished boyfriend is not as impoverished as she believed. Remember that next time you challenge me for paying cab fare.
Lucas pulled open the back door to the warehouse, and we stepped through into a lobby that would be the envy of any small-town courthouse. A few people milled about, but Lucas looked neither left nor right, just led me toward a set of interior double doors.
Somehow I suspect youre no more able to pay the cab fare now than you were ten minutes ago, I said. No trust-fund-dipping from this Cortez. You could be kidnapped by demon guerillas and still refuse to use any of it for the ransom.
True. He smiled down at me. But if youre ever kidnapped, Ill make an exception.
A swarthy young man in a suit and cap appeared at Lucass side. Mr. Cortez, sir?
Yes? Lucas said.
I work for the St. Clouds. Mr. St. Clouds driver.
Rick, isnt it?
The man smiled. Yes, thank you, sir. I just wanted to say we appreciate it, what you did, catching this guy. Griffins inside. Hell speak to you himself, but I wanted to add my thanks. And, uh His gaze flicked to the double doors. To say theres a back way in there, if youd rather take that.
Back way? I said.
Uh, yes, miss. Past the others. The Nasts and a few of the St. Clouds are in the waiting area. Theres another way into the courtroom. You and Mr. Cortez might be more comfortable using it.
Thank you, Lucas said. But well be fine.
Yes, sir.
The man backed away and slipped into a side hall. I glanced up at Lucass taut face. All the tension hed expelled on our walk into the building had returned double-strength. Once we walked through those doors, it was only going to get worse.
Lucas needed a distraction. As I glanced down the two sidehalls, I had an idea. Highly inappropriate but, sometimes, a little impropriety is exactly what you need.
Nearly forty-five minutes left, I said. Well be sitting all day. No need to rush in there.
Do you feel well enough to take a short walk?
Not what I had in mind.
I tugged him toward the nearest side hallway. His brows lifted, but when I didnt answer, he followed. I turned at the first branch, walked to the third door and opened it. An office. I tried the fourth. Locked. A quick unlock spell and the door opened into a large storage closet.
I flicked on the light. Perfect.
Dare I ask?
If you have to ask, you really are tired this morning.
He hesitated, then smiled.
Well? I said, backing into the closet.
He strode through the door, kicked it shut behind him, and cast a lock spell. I stepped back, but he grabbed me and pulled me to him in a deep kiss.
Damn, I said, gasping as I pulled back. Ive missed that, Cortez. Last night I was wondering how much weight my hospital bed held. Shouldve conducted a test.
Perhaps tonight.
Uh-uh. Tonight were springing for a hotel and a bed for two.
Are you sure you feel up to it?
I showed him how up to it I felt. After a few minutes of kissing, I slid my hands between us, unbuttoned his shirt, and ran my hands down his bare chest.
You know, Carlos got me thinking, I said. If Im going to be become a CEO wife
Co-CEO, wasnt it?
Sorry. Co-CEO. Its going to cost me a lot of blow jobs, isnt it?
Lucas laughed. Yes, a lot, Im afraid.
Then these few days in the hospital have put me behind on my quota. I have some serious catching up to do. I traced a finger down his chest and slipped it under his waistband. The doctor said no bending, but he didnt say anything about kneeling.
Lucass breath caught.
I grinned up at him. Well?
As loath as I am to refuse, you are still recovering. He reached down and hiked my skirt up to my hips, lips going to my ear. May I suggest something less taxing for now?
I pushed my skirt down. Uh-uh. Its a blow job or nothing. I stepped backward toward the door. Of course if youre not interested
He pulled me to him, then pressed my hand to his crotch. Interested enough?
Im not sure, I said, tracing my fingertips across the bulge in his pants. Its a bit hard
