Invisible Love excerpt

CHAPTER ONE

Remind me to fire my assistant when I get home.  Elliott Duncan shifted his hip against the hard surface of the chair.  Bad enough to have a two-hour layover, but the steel rods in the airport waiting room surplus chairs were killing him. 

Demanding.  Driven.  Ruthless.  Type A.  That’s what people thought when his name popped up.  Along with, go-getter, winner and the one person who never turned his back on a challenge.  He’d never backed down from a fight, personal or corporate until a month ago.  Call it burnout, he wasn’t sure but he was at his wits end, tired, fed up, lonely and disgusted all rolled up into one big package. 

The last breakup was so bad, he’d sworn off women and relationships forever. Bury myself in my work.  The more the better.  He flipped open his briefcase, pulled out the personal organizer and began making notes on which venture to conquer next.   Again, with the pain in his back, shoulders and butt.  Cheap airport furniture was agony on his six feet, five inch frame.  He loosened his tie, shifted and grunted when he realized there would be no comfort until he could settle into his seat on the plane.  He glanced at his wristwatch, rolled his eyes at the time and let out a disgusted sigh. 

Elliott had a weakness for coffee, the stronger the better.  Rich, smooth, African dark chocolate and . . . his gaze settled on the figure sitting across the room. . . that.

His gaze slid up her silhouette.  Long, long legs.  Curvaceous hips. Ample breast.  Soft, jet black dreadlocks resting gently on her shoulders.  The vibrantly colored rust, orange and yellow sarong dress flowed across her body like water, dipping into her cleavage just enough to make him lick his lips.  The matching Mules accentuated each painted toe.  Oh, how he wondered what she would do if he drew each toe into his mouth and sucked, slow and hard until she screamed.  No rings on her hands except for the large gold and filigree on her right middle finger.  In today’s world one can’t be so sure about those things, but that was good.  She definitely looked like a woman who would wear her medals out in the open.  She shifted and wrapped her legs around each other making his respiration hitch.  The knot in his groin tightened, causing his heart rate to escalate.  He wiped the tiny beads of sweat from his top lip and diverted his gaze to the floor.  Bad news.  Don’t even think about it.  Gave that up, remember. 

She shifted her weight and rewrapped her legs in the other direction. He jumped when the butterflies fluttered around in his stomach and the pulsing of blood in his thigh became too evident.

Elliott’s lips curved into a frown.  He didn’t like the idea of a woman having that affect on him.  Sworn off.  She fidgeted, turned and tried to reposition.  Yeah, he understood.  He was just as uncomfortable as she was.  Who wouldn’t be?  Hard pleather seats incased steel rods.  He was used to real, soft, Italian leather.  Sofas, chairs, chaise lounges.  Whatever he could find. 

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply trying to remember that fresh smell of new leather. . . nothing.  In disgust, he opened his eyes.  The pain in his back and shoulders almost shadowed the discomfort in his groin.  Elliott realized he was staring at the woman.  He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  She was like a magnet. 

After a deep sigh, she drew her arms over her head and stretched.  Bringing her arms back down, she reached into the tote placed beside her and pulled out a Walkman, earphones and Skittles.  Skittles?  Elliott almost laughed, but caught himself before it escaped his throat.  He reached up and pulled the tie from around his neck and watched her run her fingers over her hair, smoothing it.  He wondered if she knew how she looked in that dress, how her breast spilled over the edge when she moved, how every curve could tighten the band around a man’s chest each time she moved.

Again, the sensations in his stomach distracted him.  He didn’t understand.  He didn’t know if he wanted to either.  Eyes not moving, she just stared into space.  He realized his mouth slowly chewed imaginary candy as she popped them into her mouth one at a time.  She stuck her tongue out to the rim of her lip, placed the candy onto the tip and sucked it into her mouth.  She chewed each one slow, determined.  It didn’t matter what color or flavor.  So much care went into each piece.  Elliott wondered what her lips tasted like.  Cherry, grape, lemon or a magnificent fruit punch. 

He shook his head and tried to stave off the sudden thoughts of sliding his tongue across her lips and tasting her.  He glanced at the watch pinching his wrist.  Maybe it needed to be tighter.  Time ticked by slowly.  He continued to watch her, sometimes boldly, sometimes as if it was a secret.  Every once in awhile, she would look at him.  He would look away, but continue to glance at her from the corner of his eyes.

Her head bounced to the beat of the music in her ears.  The smile tilting the corners of her mouth reached her eyes and sent his heart skipping to the unheard beat.  Small beads of sweat trickled down his back when her tongue slid out of her mouth and leisurely removed remnants of skittle juice from her lips and fingertips.  What in ‘Gods’ name is wrong with me?  This is not right.  He knew she was exquisite like a cultured pearl.  No, that’s not beautiful enough.  She illuminated the room like a diamond.  Her hair black as onyx, her eyes as radiant as the most expensive sapphire and emeralds.  Her lips like rubies.  Her hands links of gold he wanted wrapped around his neck.

Elliott shivered inward.  This was inappropriate to say the least.  Not his character at all.  It was one thing to be infatuated, but another thing to be possessed.  In the past, when he saw something he liked or desired he took it.  Never taking no for an answer had its advantages.  But this, this could be trouble if he didn’t get it in check.  He didn’t need or want the distraction. 

He had been offered the position of Vice President of the Genesis Enterprises Corporation.  One of the largest, most profitable marketing firms on the east coast and Midwest and steadily growing to the Pacific.  Even though he had not given them his final decision, he was given the opportunity to see how their team worked.  How they ticked together.  The cruise was Genesis’ idea of employee appreciation.  The top players would be on this week’s adventure to the Bahamas. 

Elliott wasn’t sure whom, if anyone knew him or why he was there.  He hoped not.  The next few days were going to be interesting.  Why they needed to go on a cruise was beyond him.  Give them a monetary bonus and keep them at work.  More could get done and it wouldn’t affect the budget as much either. 

He scanned the room and settled his gaze once again on her face.  A secretive, seductive smile tilted her lips.  His heart thudded in his chest, but this time he didn’t look away.  Her gaze bore through him.  He wished he could read her thoughts.  Who was she?  Where was her travel companion?  He wished it were him.

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Alana Collins knew someone watched her.  People always did.  Her senses astute, all of them.  Well, maybe not all of them.  She wished she was one hundred percent, one hundred percent of the time, but she knew that was an unrealistic goal.  Goals are suppose to be short term, obtainable and realistic.  Too many people set goals that they will never reach.  Be president.  Win the lottery.  Get your eyesight back.  Have multiple orgasms.  Shucks, have an orgasm. 

She arched her eyebrows.  Where’d that thought come from?  She knew the last goal was as unobtainable as getting her sight back.  Her mind wondered to the upcoming days.  She hated this trip as much as she hated not having a life outside of work.  It was a shame they wouldn’t take no for an answer when she requested money instead of a cruise.  Give me something I can put in my hand.  Something I’ll have tomorrow.  Pooh, on the cruise.  She was out numbered.  Whoever came up with the idea of a working vacation on a damn cruise ship should have been shot as soon as the words left their mouth.  Maybe even sooner if she’d known.  She already knew she was going to hate it.

Elana worked at Genesis for the past eight years.  Mostly out of the Norfolk, Virginia office, but frequently she traveled to the other offices throughout the eastern United States.  Being the company representative for employee conflict resolution was a cush job. Great hours, excellent money and it allowed her to utilize the psych doctorate she worked so hard at during her earlier years in college.

She loved getting into people’s minds.  She hated she could analyze and fix other people no matter what the problem, but couldn’t fix herself.  She was a lost cause.  Stick to the work and the other people and everything worked out.  Don’t get too close to anyone because they will eventually break your heart.  Trust no one. 

She pulled the earphones from her ears and listened to the overhead announcement.  She sighed.  It was almost time.  They would start boarding soon.  One more leg to Miami and then the cruise.  Let the games begin. 

Elliott watched her as she wrapped the earphones around her finger, tucked them along with the Walkman into her tote.  She looked up to absorb the words and listened to the flight attendant who approached her.  Elliott tilted his head as if he could hear, but knew he was too far away.  She smiled, nodded and stood.  Her hands gently smoothed her dress down the long lines of her body.  Elliott’s gaze slid from her face down her body to her thighs, legs and feet and back up her legs.

Long exquisite legs.  They went on forever.  Wrapped around me would be a great start.  He blinked and his eyes shot back up her body, stopping briefly at her breast.  Ample, lovely.  He wondered how big her nipples got when stimulated.  How they tasted, felt against the contrast of his tongue as it wrapped around them.  Damn perfect came to mind. 

The woman turned when they called for people needing assistance.  The attendant stepped up to her, grabbed her hand and placed it at his elbow.  He paused, spoke more words in her ear and turned toward the gangway.  She pulled a cane, red tipped.  It snapped into place, straight, erect, firm.  He was jolted.  How could someone so beautiful be blind?  She had an aura about her that showed power, intelligence and education.  Her walk, brisk and confident. 

Elliott knew she was self-assured.    He wanted to know her.  A lot.  What made her tick?  What made her angry and what made her purr or did she growl like a lioness at those important times in a woman’s life.  His eyes never left her as she walked through the door leading to the passageway to the plane.  Even after the door shut tight, he continued to stare at it.