This is almost too simple to be much fun.

I am irresistible.

I could hardly believe my luck when I checked my schedule this morning. A meeting with Connie at two p.m. Yes, things are falling into place just fine.

After more than two years at Crystal Clear rarely encountering her, prowling, waiting and working my ass off, I finally set my sights on her and within twenty-four hours of doing so, I'm going to be in a meeting with her. Working closely on a project with her-her project.

She's already falling right into my trap, and Lapis and I have barely even begun. She has no idea what she's up against.

Slipping out of my office, I pull the door shut behind me and wander down the hall toward the elevator, nodding as I pass people, trying to withhold the yawn that wants to burst out of me. I'm on my fifth cup of coffee of the day and I still feel exhausted. Hell, Lapis commented on it first thing this morning, noting the bags under my eyes. Then someone suggested the soothing eye mask Crystal Clear had just launched and next thing I knew, I was lying on the couch in my office, wearing a gel eye mask and feeling like a sissy dipshit. It did help, though.

Ah, the perks of working at a cosmetics company. If my dad could see me now... I sigh and lean against the wall as the elevator comes up.

Despite the mask and the endless cups of coffee, I'm still tired. I couldn't sleep last night. Lapis tried to get me to come to bed with her, but I declined. She was the last thing I needed right then. She would have pumped me for details about my talk with Connie and then demand that I fuck her.

It was a hard no. Not with my head filled with thoughts of the innocent ebony beauty.

I'd gone home, taken a shower, and crawled into bed completely naked, my skin still damp, my thoughts hot. Closed my eyes and imagined Connie in bed with me. Pressing my lips against her soft, mocha skin, tasting her. Kissing her. Consuming her. Stroking her everywhere, my hand between her legs, discovering that she's hot and wet, just for me. Only for me.

Thinking of her like that had left me painfully hard, and that's something that needed to be terminated. Immediately. I'd jerked off twice to flashes of Connie in my mind. Naked and ass up face down in front of me, her gorgeous face against the bed as she cries out with every thrust, my hands clenching her hips as I hold her still and thrust deep. Deeper, deeper still... I ran a finger through the trail of cum on my stomach, wondering idly how long it'd take to be shooting off inside her.

Damn. I could get hard all over again just thinking about it.

"Whatcha doin'?"

I scowl silently at the elevator and turn to find Lapis standing in front of me, her hands resting on her hips, skeptical gaze resting on me. "Meeting upstairs." I grimace to myself as her eyes darken.

"With whom?"

This is a critical moment. Do I tell her the truth and risk being cut off from the plan? Or do I lie and risk something worse? "My department." I pause. "And Connie."

T

he crocodile grin that crosses her face is full of salaciousness and cruelty. "Why you wicked, wicked Diamond. Aren't you just a gem?"

"I only learn from the best." I murmur. "Also, keep your voice down." I glance around me briefly, trying not to seem anxious. She laughs as she steps closer to me.

"You'll come over later and give me.. every last detail, wont you, My Diamond?" she croons and places a dainty hand on my chest "You look delicious in this suit. I could just take you here and now. Gucchi?"

"Prada." The door slides open and I step away from Lapis touch and into the elevator. "Maybe I'll text you when I'm finished."

"Oh, yes. Please do," she calls as I press the number thirty-seven button. Connie's floor. "Give me all the juicy details, my love."

I turn to face Lapis, my face hardened and my eyes a glowing hot Pink as the doors slowly shut with a soft swoosh of air. She'll understand. She knows what I am, and what that means. Its my Diamond Authority face. I'm analyzing, mentally preparing myself, reminding myself of my power, letting the liquid light pulse through my veins. I could summon my shield right now if I wanted. I could kill everyone here and get away without anyone so much as batting an eye.

I do wonder, what sort of lions den am I about to enter?

B

ut Connie Mahaswaren is no lion. I doubt she'll give us much shit this first meeting, since it's all about ideas and concept. She's more like a soft, sweet little kitten. A fuzzy little ball of fluff who'll want to play with me and eventually beg for my attention. Who'll preen and rub against my leg and yowl for more of what only I can give her.

Soon. I can't get ahead of myself. First I need to earn her trust. Lapis needs to get her mouth around Johnson's dick. Which should be easy. Shes gorgeous and he's a cheating skankified piece of shit. We have lots of work to do. And not a lot of time to do it.

That's what makes it challenging, though. And I love a challenge, especially when the reward is so... appealing.

The elevator doors open again and I exit, briskly turning left and heading toward the conference room. I'm ten minutes early; I always am, and this gives me time to absorb the power I feel radiating in the air. The executive floor has a more hushed quality to it, an elegant, almost refined air compared to the kinetic energy on my floor. Here, I can almost smell the money as I wander by the offices filled with stupidly expensive desks and wall art. My shoulders broaden as I breathe in the silent royalty of it all.

This is what I want someday. Power. Here, on Earth. The confidence that I've finally outrun my past. And I want to do it by myself dammit, not ride Lapis coattails to an executive position at Crystal Clear or maybe some other cosmetics company. Considering I'm an associate director, the experience I've gained in this position could take me practically anywhere.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize I don't want to go anywhere else. I want to stay with Crystal Clear. I'm damn good at what I do, which still surprises me. The Diamonds would be shocked to see me quell my powers to play dress up with humans. No, that's not me at all.

What I really want is the job that Johnson is this close to getting. I want to get the hell out of here, away from Lapis and start over. A fresh start sounds like a fucking dream.

A dream I'm determined to make my reality.

The conference room is at the end of the hall and Connie's office is close. Last door on the left, and that door is currently open. Perfect. I pause at the edge of the mostly glass wall and peek around the corner to find her sitting behind her desk. She's staring at her computer screen, a dreamy expression on her beautiful face as she runs her fingers absently along the side of her bared neck. Her index finger slides up, gently playing with the diamond stud in her ear, and I'm as hard as the stone she touches. Just like that. The very last thing I need is to walk into a meeting with a tent in the front of my trousers.

Fuck.

Taking a deep breath, I tell myself to get my shit together. All I did was watch her touch her fucking earring. Big deal. I've seen better. I've watched all sorts of depraved things happen in front of me while bored out of my skull. I've shattered disabled and bubbled my own family, abandoned my home, killed people and watched people die in situations I could easily have saved them from. I've lived far too much, seen far too much, to think there's even a hint of innocence inside me. And there's not.

Not even close. My soul is hard. As hard as that damned diamond Connie is touching. But I'm black inside. Hard and black and ugly, and crazy fucker that I am, I revel in the blackness. That darkness. Lapis has told me more than once that sometimes I scare her.

Good. I should scare her. I may be the smooth businessman at work but during my off time, I can relax. Can become more my true self.

Underneath the expensive suit and high-end watch is a man who could have easily become a the next Hitler. Hell, I've been in jail. More than once.

But I'd been a juvenile and my record is sealed. Thank Christ.

If Connie knew about my past, she'd probably faint. She's one giant ball of weakness and fear. Something happened to her, something no one really talks about that sent her spiraling out of control. Daddy told her she had to get on medication and suck it up, or leave. She was back at work at Crystal Clear in a week and leaving every employee she worked with full of envy. Supposedly, they hate her.

At least, that's the story Lapis told me.

Blood thrumming with anticipation, I stroll past Connie window, pausing at her open door and knocking before I enter. I don't bother waiting for her to acknowledge me; I just stride inside, stopping short in front of her desk when I get a good look at her.

And just about have a fucking heartastroke.

Diamonds, what is she wearing? A sleek yellow dress that hugs her tits, accentuates her curvy hips and cuts off mid thigh. The look is simple but effective.

As in, one look at her and I'm immediately hungry for more. More skin, more Connie, more everything. The longer I look at her, the more I want that sexy dress off and her legs spread wide just for me.

"Steven." She blinks up at me, those sexy eyes gazing at me in surprise. "Wh-what are you d-doing here?"

I chuckle at her stutter, leaving her red faced. "We have a meeting in ..." I check my Rolex, then slide my gaze to hers. "Five minutes. Remember?" I remain standing, my gaze less than nonchalantly dropping to the neckline of her dress. Fuck. It just barely opens up slightly at the front, allowing me a glimpse of shadowy cleavage, and I catch sight of her plump breasts. No bra in sight. She must be wearing a pad.

I immediately break out in a sweat.

Her glossed over raspberry lips part as she stares at me. Shit, I'm going to fantasize later about my dick sticky with raspberry gloss-I can just see it. She gives herself a little shake. Like she's just as enraptured as I.

Interesting.

"Of course I remember. I was just about to head over after I had finished this." She shuts her computer without breaking her gaze and remains sitting.

"Same here. I'll join you, then." I don't bother asking, because it's not a choice.

"I was waiting for my sister, Stevonnie. She's going to sit in on the meeting, too." Connie nibbles her lower lip, her teeth sinking into glossily lush flesh, and holy fuck, who knew that sort of innocent look could be so sexy?

"I don't mind waiting for Stevonnie." I've spoken with her before. She's friendlier than Connie, much more open. "If you don't." I smile at her.

Connie tilts her head back, contemplating me, and I realize what a power position I have over her. She's still seated; she's the one behind the twenty-thousand-dollar desk. The daughter of the head and granddaughter of the founder. Truly, she's the one with the power over me, career-wise. I should be quaking in my tailor made suit.

But towering over her, I know that in this moment I'm all that she sees, all that she hears. I encompass her senses, and I fucking love it. It drives me wild, makes me hungry.

"No. I don't don't particularly care either way." She busies herself, gathering a notepad and a pen, grabbing her cell phone and setting it on top so everything is in a nice, neat pile. Her office is clean, not a hint of clutter to be found anywhere, and I bet where she lives is the same way.

Clearly this is a kitten who needs some rough and tumble playtime. Have some excitement in her life for once. I get the feeling she's a vanilla perfectionist when it comes to anything she touches.

That sounds infinitely boring.

"She should be here any second," Connie says when I remain quiet, as if she's desperate to fill the silence.

Watching her, seeing her hesitate, feeling the discomfort radiate off of her in near visible waves, I'm even more confident my plan will work. She's so weak, so unsure, such a damn easy mark. And she's beautiful. I can smell the uneasiness in the air.

I can smell her now, and I want to inhale her like a drug. I hear her shift in her seat, see her lick her already glossy upper lip, and my cock hardens. What would she do if I yanked her out of her chair, spread her out on top of her desk like butter on toast, and fucked silly her right here, right now? Anyone could pass by and see us, but we'd be too overcome with lust to care ...

Damn. I rub my hand across the back of my neck, tearing my gaze away from her. She's fucking tempting. This is the most excited I've been about a woman in a while. I make her uncomfortable, though. I sensed that last night and I'm sensing it again. Right now. I need to try and put her at ease. I can use that edgy discomfort to my advantage or I can throw it all out in the open and see how she reacts.

I let my gaze return to her, tracking her every movement, remaining locked on her fingers as she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear and fidgets uneasily. I'd like to be those fingers. Touching her, learning how soft her skin really is. "You want me to leave, don't you," I say, because that's completely logical. I hold back a grin, because I know it to be completely true.

Her eyes shift away guiltily. "Not at all."

"Because I make you uncomfortable." I take a small step forward. "I don't want to upset you, Connie," I lie, taking another one, until I'm right in front of her desk.

But I like affecting her. It turns me on. Makes my eyes want to flash with childish delight.

Her eyes now flash with a new emotion. Amusement. "I'm not a snowflake that needs to be treated gently, Steven Universe." The way she says my name, almost like a joke, makes me inhale slowly to compose myself. She checks her phone, huffs out a sound of irritation, and stands, gathering her things and tucking them under her arm. "We don't have time to wait for Stevonnie. She'll have to come in late and be embarrassed about it." She chortles.

Well, well, well. A show of a personality. I like it.

I fall into step beside her as she walks the short distance down the hall to the meeting room. I hurry ahead of her at the last moment, holding the door open, and she strides in before me, murmuring her thanks. I let my gaze fall to her ass, appreciating the way it shifts and moves beneath the fabric of her dress. The simple yellow heels she wears are really nothing close to simple, considering that recognizable red I see flash as she walks.

Christian Louboutins. I know because Lapis says she feels sexy when she wears them, and so she wears them all the damn time. I swear the man designs shoes so that women feel sexy and men want their women wearing Louboutins and nothing else when they fuck them.

Fuck.

"Is this everyone from your team? Are they ready?" She waves at the two men and two women sitting at the table waiting for us before she turns to face me, determination written all over her pretty face. I nod in response, immediately impressed.

"Good." She strides to the head of the table and pulls out a chair, settling in with a polite smile on her face. "Ready whenever you are, Mr. Universe."

So we're back to the formalities. Well, two can play at this. "Can't wait to discuss your new project, Mrs. Mahswaren." I settle in at the other end of the table, thankful we're not in one of the bigger conference rooms. Otherwise, we'd be shouting at one another.

Her gaze flickers at my saying her last name but other than that, no reaction.

"As you know, I've been working on creating my own cosmetics line. Something similar to what my grandmother did when she first started Crystal Clear."

"Yes, we're all aware. I hope you don't mind, though, that we didn't bring any initial concepts to you." I glance around the table at the other members of my packaging team. "We wanted to hear what you are looking for first. Best to come in with no preconceived notions, don't you think?"

"I do." She nods, looking pleased. "The line will be small. Sold at only the most high-end stores in a limited-edition run. It may come back, but we want them begging for more. We'll be using only the finest quality pigments and ingredients. High quality. I'm a big believer in saturated color. The cosmetics will be natural but vibrant. Something that says sexy and bold."

Connie has turned into the efficient businesswoman. I'd buy a single fucking cheeto from her in this moment. "What sort of packaging were you looking for?" I pull out my iPhone, ready to take a few notes, knowing that everyone else at this table is taking notes, too, and would give me theirs if I so asked. I prefer to listen.

Absorb.

Observe.

"I was talking about it with Stevonnie earlier and we both agreed it's top priority we get this packaging perfect," she continues, sending me a pointed look.

I sit up straighter. No chance am I going to disappoint her with this. "Packaging is definitely important, I agree."

"100%. It has to grab the customer's eye. It has to feel rich and elegant, glossy and perfect in their hands. And that's what I want. Glossy perfection." Those dark, calculating brown eyes meet mine. I'd call her lips glossy perfection, but I don't think she'd go for it. "Those are the two key words. Plus, I want something sexy, sophisticated. Rich. It needs to say 'high end' without screaming it."

"So nothing too obvious." I type hurriedly in the notes section on my phone, listing her key words.

"Exactly." She glances up when the door opens, and I turn to see Stevonnie hurrying in. She settles in a seat close to mine, sending me a smile before she looks at her sister.

"Sorry I'm late. I had another conference," Stevonnie explains. "It just let out."

"We were talking about glossy perfection," Connie tells her.

"Right, right!" Stevonnie turns to me, with a thoughtful look. She's as stunning as her sister, but I find Connie infinitely more attractive. "You know, kind of like Connie's lips. Did you happen to notice them today?" Her eyes spark with unbridled amusement.

I swallow hard. Damn Stevonnie Mahaswaren for bringing up her sister's to-die-for raspberry lips! "I didn't," I lie smoothly.

"Hmm," she purses her lips in thought. "Well, I think even the color is perfect. It would coordinate well with Crystal Clear current palette." Stevonnie waves a hand toward her sister and I lift my gaze, meeting Connie's from across the room.

She's blushing, licking her glossed lips and making me fucking crazy. "What's the name?" I ask.

"What?" Connie blinks, reminding me of a trapped animal about to face her doom.

"Of the lip gloss you're wearing." I smile blandly.

"Oh. It's called Ravenous Raspberry. Part of the Irresistible line." She blushes more and I'm captivated. I have never in my life encountered a woman so shy, so unsure of herself and her sexuality. Professionally, she seems on it, so fucking sexy it's almost ridiculous. Yet even a hint of flirtation comes and she's a bashful schoolgirl, completely unaware of herself and her attractiveness.

The contradiction is arousing. I know I have to have her. And soon.