Bared to You: Chapter 2

'His tie was silver and his shirt brilliantly white, the stark absence of color emphasizing those amazing blue irises. As he stood there with his jacket open and his hands shoved casually into his pants pockets, the sight of him was like running smack into a wall I hadn't known was there.' 

She nearly misses the elevator while contemplating the texture of his hair, which for whatever reason is described as 'like whipped cream topping on a hot-fudge brownie sundae.' Being the gentleman that he is, this as yet nameless, long-haired mystery pushes the button to re-open the doors, stating that there's plenty of room for both of them. She contemplates telling him that she's waiting for someone, but then realises that since he's been in the building two days in a row now, he probably works there and it's unlikely she can avoid him forever.

'I couldn't avoid him every time I saw him, and why should I? If I wanted to get to the point where I could look at him and take his hotness for granted, I needed to see him often enough that he became like furniture.' 

She gets into the elevator and immediately regrets her decision. The tension is palpable, and her breathing becomes ragged. You'd think this would be pretty noticeable in a small enclosed space with only one other person, but maybe its got really loud machinery. He asks if she enjoyed her first day, and she answers coldly, which he doesn't really deserve at this point in the story. Finally, though, it's time to leave the elevator.

'I waited impatiently as the elevator emptied, and the first chance I got, I took a step forward. His hand settled firmly at the small of my back and he walked out beside me, steering me. The sensation of his touch on such a vulnerable place rippled through me.' -- Well it would, wouldn't it? Since you're obviously at least colleagues, but basically strangers, and his hand has absolutely no business being anywhere on your body at this moment. Is it too much for me to hope you smack him in the next paragraph?

'We reached the turnstiles and his hand fell away, leaving me feeling oddly bereft.' -- Yep, guess so.

The next morning, Eva arrives at work with a mild hangover, because she went out drinking with Cary the night before.

'My choices were either too much alcohol or a whirl with my vibrator, and I was damned if I'd have a battery-powered orgasm starring Dark and Dangerous. Not that he'd know or even care that he made me so horny I couldn't see straight, but I'd know, and I didn't want to give the fantasy of him the satisfaction.' -- What.

When her boss, Mark, arrives, he's very excited and asks if she can work late. They've received a request for a proposal to do the marketing for some vodka brand, and apparently he's been asked for by name. She agrees, and they spend the whole day working. A little after 7pm, Mark's boyfriend (husband? it's not really clear) calls and asks if they've eaten yet. They haven't, so Steve, being the gem that he is, brings Chinese. They eat, and Steve tries a bit of banter with Eva.

'"Damn, girl," Steven said with a whistle, as I went for a third helping. "You can put it away. Where does it go?"

I shrugged. "To the gym with me. Maybe that helps . . .?"

.......

"I might have to take her out to lunch with the crew. I could win money betting on how much she can eat."

I smiled. "That could be fun."

"Ha. I knew you had a bit of a wild streak. It's in your smile."

Looking down at my food, I refused to let my mind wander into memories of just how wild I'd been in my rebellious, self-destructive phase.' -- I mean, aside from the painfully sloppy foreshadowing, is her ability to eat large quantities of food really indicative of her having a 'wild streak'? Man, would he be impressed with what I can do to a pizza.

The next day, they work tirelessly on their proposal to get it ready in time for their 4 o'clock meeting. They go up to the very top floor of the building, walk into the conference room, and somehow, we're supposed to be surprised at who they find sitting at the table.

'My abrupt stop bottlenecked the threshold and Mark ran into my back, sending me stumbling forward. Dark and Dangerous caught me by the waist, hauling me off my feet and directly into his chest. The air left my lungs in a rush, followed immediately by every bit of common sense I possessed. Even through the layers of clothing between us, his biceps were like stone beneath my palms, his stomach a hard slab of muscle against my own. When he sucked in a sharp breath, my nipples tightened, stimulated by the expansion of his chest.' -- YOU. ARE. AT. WORK. Keep your shit together, for fuck sake. Also, are you expecting me to believe that in a room full of people, no one found it weird that instead of helpfully keeping you standing, he lifted you off the ground and pulled you against his body? Really?

The meeting goes well, and Cross (we've now learned Dark and Dangerous's last name) escorts Eva and her boss to the elevator. He lets Mark get in, but tells Eva he'd like a word.

'Cross said nothing until the car was on its way down; then he pushed the call button again and asked, "Are you sleeping with anyone?"

The question was asked so casually, it took a second to process what he'd said.

I inhaled sharply. "Why is that any business of yours?" 

.....

"Because I want to fuck you, Eva. I need to know what's standing in my way, if anything."' -- Well. I mean. Consent, for one thing. 

The elevator arrives and she takes it downstairs. Her boss is naturally concerned, but she doesn't tell him anything. She suggests he celebrate the meeting going well, and makes reservations for him and Steve at a restaurant. 

Once home, Eva relays the exchange to Cary, who seems way too eager for her to take Cross up on his offer. He says Cross wasn't giving her boss the vodka account on accident, but wants to get close to her. He then shows her a picture of her building and announces that Gideon Cross owns it - at an incredible 28 years old. So now Dark and Dangerous has not just a last name, but also a first name, an age, and a building. The problem is that Eva doesn't really want to sleep with him at the moment because it would be awkward seeing him at work, and she's irritated at the way he put himself out there. She's more than a vagina with legs, guys. 

'He shut his netbook with a decisive snap. 'What should we do tonight?'

'I was thinking I'd like to go check out that Krav Maga studio in Brooklyn.' I'd done a little research after meeting Parker Smith during my workout at Equinox, and as the week passed, the thought of having that kind of raw, physical outlet for stress seemed more and more ideal.

I knew it wouldn't be anything close to banging the hell out of Gideon Cross, but I suspected it would be a lot less dangerous to my health."