Secrets and Seductions by Francine Pascal Page B

didn’t feel that, too. Tell me, and I’ll walk away right now.”
    Annie glanced down. “No, I felt it, too.” She’d felt it all the way down to her toes.
    Bruce went forward into the guest bedroom. Annie followed, drawn by his magnetism, by the promise of what that bed offered. She walked right to him, and he took her into his arms.
    â€œBruce…” His lips were on hers again, just as she wanted them to be. Her head was a whirl of confusion: Did she even want this?
    Yes! Without a doubt, she did.
    Annie’s heart beat fast, and her body came alive. Suddenly they were standing in front of the bed, and then they toppled down onto it.
    Annie’s head felt dizzy with wine and buzzed with Bruce’s fierce kisses. The distant, logical part of her brain told her she needed to stop this. He was her client and the man her best friend loved. But all of that seemed so distant and so irrelevant, and so far away from the south of France and the need that rushed through her body.
    It had been so long since she’d had sex with anyone, and she realized she wanted to make love to Bruce. It was that simple. But it wasn’t.
    What about Elizabeth?
    If she did this, could she ever face her again? And what about the career she’d worked so hard to build? She’d be risking everything if she did this.
    â€œAnnie…” growled Bruce, his face flush with desire, his hands wrapped tightly in her hair. He tugged a little.
    Annie, lying there, panting, looked up at him. His blue eyes met hers, fierce and demanding and full of power. Her heart pounded and her mind raced. Somehow, she felt, this was the moment that could define everything.
    Would she do this? Could she do this?
    He pulled her to him; her lips went soft and wet.
    â€œWait,” she murmured as she pulled back.
    â€œWhat?” Confusion flickered across Bruce’s face.
    â€œI don’t want to get carried away,” Annie whispered, her voice low. This was a lie. Part of her did want to be carried away. Far, far away, with Bruce.
    â€œAnnie, come on. Look at what you did to me.” Bruce grabbed Annie’s hand and put it on the front of his pants. Annie could feel exactly what she’d done to him and the thought excited her; she couldn’t deny it.
    â€œI know, but…” There were so many buts. So much of the real world got in the way. “I don’t want to regret this.”
    â€œIf you tell me to go away I will.”
    She was silent. He moved his hand up along her thigh, under her skirt, and beneath her thong. He found her more than ready for him. She realized how weak her words sounded when her body told him the unflinching truth.
    â€œWhy fight it, Annie?” he said, moving his fingers against her, making her moan. “I know you want me as much as I want you.”
    â€œWait…” Annie murmured, trying to focus her thoughts. Everything was moving so fast, and the room seemed like it was spinning. “Wait, Bruce, I’m not sure about this….” And she wasn’t. Not at all. Yes, she wanted to do this, but should she? Could she risk her career—and Elizabeth’s friendship—over a tryst with Bruce?
    As Bruce’s hands roamed up her thigh, sending tingling sensations up her spine, she knew she had to make the decision now. Another moment, an instant more, and it would be too late.

Chapter Ten
    It might have been just a couple of months since Jessica had been back to work at VertPlus.net, but it seemed like an eternity. No matter how many ideas she pitched, her hostile new boss, Tracy, shot down every one of them.
    â€œI don’t know why she doesn’t like anything .” Jessica sighed and glanced over at her assistant, Emily. The plain, freckled redhead, wearing too much makeup as usual, shrugged.
    â€œWell, Tracy just has very high standards.”
    â€œExcuse me? Are you implying I don’t?” Jessica’s