The tingling on Thea’s skin spread. Travelled up her arms to her neck. He had to be talking about her impromptu strip and run in the corridor. “Oh?”
Felix undid the top three buttons of his shirt, eyeing her steadily. “Since I’ve been on TV, it’s quite shocking the extent some people will go to for my attention.”
The smirk on his lips, the lazy gaze he hung on her, confirmed her worst fears. Her heart hammered. How was she ever going to have sex with him now? He’d seen her in nothing but paper knickers with a magazine strapped to her boobs. Not to mention the assault on his pot plant. How was he ever going to find her sexy with that mental image?
“You look ravishing, by the way. The dress is perfect. I would have bought you flowers, but I didn’t know what you’d prefer. Roses or a potted palm.”
Thea’s mouth dropped, and she gaped for words. “I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“Oh, don’t be sorry,” he said, his smirk turning into a full smile. “You made the day of at least three security guards. Once I heard, I obviously had to review the footage myself. For safety reasons.” Felix winked.
Thea took a step towards him, catching a faint waft of his cologne. Damn, he smelled good.
“It disappointed me you turned my face outwards. I’d have much preferred facing the other direction.”
“Oh, shit. You saw it all? I knew I should’ve just called for help. I’m such an idiot.”
Felix took a step towards her, shaking his head. He took her in his arms and pulled her close, burying his face into her silky hair. “Shh. You’re gorgeous.”
“But I’m a grown woman. I should know better than to run around hotels half naked or loiter around chocolate fountains in white clothes and no bra.”
Felix snickered. “If this is you grown up, I only regret not knowing you in your younger, wilder days.”
Felix pulled away and gave Thea a knee-trembling, smouldering look. He reached for her chin, tipping it up gently, then leaned in and kissed her, applying the softest pressure. Thea’s breath petered out, and she ached for him to devour her. To press into her and claim her mouth. Unable to wait, she pushed her lips into his and with a deep chuckle, Felix kissed her back. Hard. So hard that she thought she’d disintegrate under him.
His tongue teased hers until she couldn’t stand anymore, and he moved her slowly backwards, pushing her up against the door. He lifted her hands above her head and held them against the wood.
As they kissed, Felix pressed a solid thigh between her legs, applying just enough pressure to respond to the throb that pulsed there. Thea wanted to move her hands, run them allover his body, but he kept the pressure at her wrists as she ground back against him.
“Careful,” the low rasp of his voice against her lips hit her where their bodies met, and it was all she could do not to come right there, in amongst his suits. “I don’t want to mess you up. That’s a job for later.” He kissed her again, softer this time, his lips lingering. “I’m sorry I had business commitments all day. I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Felix kissed her a third time, hot, deep and damn, if this was how he made up for it, she’d happily sign him up for overtime.
Eventually, Felix broke off the kiss, letting go of Thea’s wrists, and she calmed her breath under his intense stare. She steadied herself against a rack of shirts.
“I’ve missed you,” he ground out as he ran his eyes over her face, down to her feet, and back again. “And as much as I’d love to stay and discuss inside leg measurements and lapel cuts with you, I need to shower.”
Thea gripped the fabric at her fingers, crushing the soft cotton. The thought of hot, steamy water cascading over Felix’s body sent her into a world of mental and bodily pain.
With a final, lingering look over Thea in the dress he chose for her, Felix leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder, taking her hand. “Preferably cold,” he whispered, and with a gentle squeeze of her fingers, he was gone. The heat of his breath lingering on her skin was the only clue he’d been there.
After a bit of loitering at the door for her own moral safety and to avoid ruining her dress, she’d walked past Felix’s bathroom. A low humming and the sound of running water hit her ears as she headed down the floating stairs. The clack of her heels on the wood beat out the rhythm of her heart.
She wandered past the harp, the pristine couch, and into the kitchen. Earlier, a quiet young man named Max had arrived to make her a coffee. She would have done it herself but didn’t know how to use the machine. He must’ve returned becausewhen she entered, two chilled glasses of champagne had magically appeared on the bench, along with a big bowl of sugared strawberries.
With a smile, she pulled out one of the high stools and took a seat. The whole invisible staff thing was so weird. In fact, Felix’s whole perfect Stepford Wives life was weird. A world where anything he could ever need or want materialised for him. Forher. Maybe she could hire some of Felix’s faceless staff to help at the farm. If she never had to muck out another stable, she would even consider growing her nails.
Thea dipped a strawberry into the champagne, then the sugar that coated the edge of the bowl, before sucking on its soft flesh. Her mind drifted back to Small Oaks. To home. This odd, impersonal world that Felix inhabited bore no resemblance to real life—to most people’s reality. His regimented, joy-free existence had nagged at her all day. Still, in the interests of the promises he’d made about “relaxing”, she’d crammed them down inside. No wonder Lucas was struggling. Living in a glass castle would be no fun for a kid.
Footsteps alerted Thea to Felix’s arrival. Every nerve under Thea’s skin stood to attention, and she held a breath. Soon after, the heat of another body enveloped her and soft fingers traced down her spine. A rash of goosebumps raced over her skin, and her nipples hardened. Damn Felix and his talented digits.
“Never has my kitchen looked so tempting.”
Thea let out her breath, and her lips curled. Perhaps he had a thing for kitchens after all. She picked up the second glass of champagne and turned on her stool, passing it to Felix. He wore an immaculate tuxedo that even James Bond would envy and midnight blue cufflinks. Never taking his eyes off hers, he tipped back the champagne, finishing the whole drink.
“Like that, is it?”
He gave a low, growly laugh. “It’s been a hell of a day, and tonight is going to be a killer.”
“Yes, I got the gist. You need to impress someone important in order to get them to agree to something they might not want to agree to, right?”
