“I came on to you? Look who’s calling the kettle black! I did nothing of the sort,” she huffed and braced her hands on her hips, an action that pushed her breasts out even more prominently. Damn, even now this woman looked so fucking tempting. “You were the one who suggested a hotel.”
“Only after you rejected my invitation to dinner, because you obviously preferred to suck my cock instead.” At the recollection of how she’d used him, rage boiled up. And he’d actually thought he wanted to see her again. What an idiot he’d been. She was just like all the other women who tried to seduce him, once they knew who he was. Only Rochelle apparently wasn’t after his money, but after confidential information.
Rochelle’s chin dropped and she glared at him. “You, you—”
He was only a yard away from her now and stood there, legs wide. “Yes, I. Is this how the SEC operates these days? Is this how you plan to prove I committed insider trading? By sneaking into my bed?”
“I’d be careful with those accusations,” she warned. “I’m here in an official capacity. If I find out that you seduced me last night, because you found out about the impending investigation, there will be consequences. To try and influence an SEC agent is a crime.”
Zach let out a bitter laugh. “You want to warn me? Don’t throw stones when you’re sitting in a glass house.” He jammed his index finger into her shoulder. “You were in my territory; I wasn’t in yours. And I didn’t know that the SEC was going to investigate me, nor did I know you were going to be the agent in charge. Therefore, explain to me how I could have known to target you. Let’s be clear. You’re the one who’s in the wrong. You tried to influence me.”
He could see in Rochelle’s eyes that she was contemplating his words. While she remained silent, his gaze dropped to her chest, which rose and fell. Unfortunately that movement reminded him of their lovemaking the night before. How she’d submitted to him. How she’d climaxed. How she’d sucked him with such ardor.
Despite his rage, he couldn’t get the pictures out of his mind and felt his body heat with desire. He wanted to toss her onto his desk and fuck her until she told him the truth, until she admitted that she’d come on to him knowing full well who he was.
“It was an unfortunate coincidence,” Rochelle finally snapped. “You could have damn well told me your last name.”
“You didn’t tell me your last name either.”
“I’ve done nothing wrong.” She took a deep breath. “So let’s talk business.”
“No wonder you didn’t want to give me your telephone number,” Zach continued, ignoring her comment, because he wasn’t ready to talk business, not for a long time.
“As if you would have called me! Do I have NAIVE tattooed on my forehead? Don’t think I’m stupid. It was clear from the get-go that you only wanted sex. And now you want to make me believe that you would have called me? Please! I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“You’re wrong if you—”
A short knock at the door interrupted him. Both he and Rochelle fell silent. A moment later, Jessica entered carrying a tray with coffee and pastries.
“Where to?” Jessica asked and eyed him cautiously as if she knew that something was going on.
“In the seating area, please,” Zach instructed.
While his assistant placed the tray on the low table between the sofa and the two large leather armchairs and set out the cups and plates, Zach motioned in her direction.
“Miss Wright, I apologize. Where are my manners? I haven’t even offered you a seat yet. I’ve been too fascinated by our conversation. Please.” He pointed to the sofa and armchairs once more.
With a clenched jaw, Rochelle nodded. “Thank you.”
“Would that be all, sir?” Jessica asked.
“Thank you, Jessica. And please make sure we’re not interrupted.”
His assistant nodded. “Of course, sir.”
Then he addressed Rochelle, “Sugar for your coffee, Miss Wright?”
She met his eyes. The smile she forced onto her lips was clearly only for Jessica’s benefit, who now turned to the door. “No, thank you.”
“Really? No sugar?” Zach asked and glanced at the door, which finally closed behind Jessica. “And there I thought you liked things sweet. At least that’s the impression I got from last night. With all the sugary-sweet crap you were feeding me.”
Rochelle shot up from the couch. “That’s enough!”