Free Alluring by Sarah Curtis

you."
    She gave him a soft smile.  "Thanks, Steve."
     
    Alexis came out of the employee lounge and spotted Jack leaning against a nearby wall.  A cocktail waitress who from the back looked like Erica, was talking to him.  His eyes were on her, but he looked bored.
    He must have caught her movement out of the corner of his eye, because when she came into view, his head raised and his eyes locked with hers.  He stood from the wall, said something to the person talking to him, and started toward her.
    The person turned, and to her chagrin, it was Erica.  Great.  What was she going to do?  Jack was headed straight for her, and he wasn't shy about PDA.  Erica was the last person she would want, seeing something like that.  She wouldn't hesitate to start gossip, making Alexis look bad, so she could go after her position in the high roller section. 
    She took a step back giving Jack wide eyes and a hard stare.  He seemed to get the hint because he came to stop about two feet from her, lowered his head a little, and whispered, "What?"
    Speaking low herself, she said, "I don't want you doing your, Jack thing, in front of my coworkers."
    She watched him shake his head, then said again, sounding slightly bemused, "What?"
    She hissed in a low voice, "You know, coming in close, hugging me, and attacking my neck."
    He tipped his head back and laughed.  He then, tipped it forward again, humor in his eyes, still talking low.  "Attack is a rather strong word, don't you think?"
    "Whatever, what I'm saying is, my coworkers can't know about us.  They'll gossip.  They'll think I'm sleeping my way to the top.  They're already suspicious about how I got the high roller section in such a short time, this will only confirm their suspicions."
    That sobered him up, quick.  Anger transformed his features.  "People talking shit about you?"
    "It's work politics, Jack.  There's always talk."
    "Jealousy."
    "What?"  Now, it was her turn to sound bewildered.
    "They're jealous.  You're funny, sweet, sexy as hell, beautiful and your smile lights up a fuckin' room.  They cut you down, in the only way they can cut you down, and that's by accusing you of sleeping your way to the top.  It makes them look and feel better about themselves because if they admitted, you did all that on your own merit, they'd be wondering what the hell was wrong with them, and they don't want anything to be wrong with them, they want something to be wrong with you."
    "Jack,"  Alexis said softly, unconsciously closing the distance between them.  She quickly blinked her eyes, trying to dissipate the sudden moisture that formed.
    "But baby, what they don't understand is, you are perfect."  At the word perfect her head plopped against his chest.  "Can I do my, Jack thing, now?"
    Alexis giggled, her whole body shaking, but still managed to nod.  Jack wrapped his arms around her and lowered his lips to her ear.  "Good, 'cause there's nothing I like better, than attacking your neck."
    Alexis erupted in laughter.
     
    Jack took her up to his penthouse.  She noted, not for the first time, it's grandeur, but did note for the first time, the details.  The last time she was here she was so set on escape, she didn't notice the finer points.  Like the beautiful beveled mirror, hanging above a black marble fireplace.  The black leather couch, with cream and light-gray throw pillows, atop a thick cream carpet.  Huge floor-to-ceiling windows, that had no coverings, and that she planed on staying well away from, seeing as she was scared of heights. 
    A hall (that previously had the voice coming from it) was to the right, but she didn't know what was down it.  The stairs led to Jack's bedroom, but again, she had no idea what else was up there.  As she looked around, taking it all in, Jack stayed at her back.
    "You have a lovely home,"  she said, turning to face him.
    "It's lovelier now,"  he said, taking a step closer to her.
    Alexis giggled.
    "What?"
    "That was a