The sex was slow and gentle that night. His body rocked into mine as our mouths melded together. I couldn’t get him close enough. I felt like my heart was chipping into pieces, but each of his kisses put it back together. Piece by piece. He kissed away my tears and buried his face in my hair.
“I love you so much,” Daniel murmured in my ear, gliding in and out of me. “Don’t ever think you aren’t worth it.”
“I love you too,” I whimpered and looped my arms around his neck before meeting him for another kiss.
As my orgasm worked its way down my spine and made my muscles start to tighten, Daniel picked up pace. I gasped when I came, and he swallowed the sound with a hard kiss before groaning against my mouth as he came too, both of us quaking.
I felt raw. Like I’d been ripped open, splayed for the whole world to see. My whole life I had sought acceptance. Love.
With Daniel, I finally found it.
The next morning, I woke before the alarm and padded into the bathroom, cringing when I saw my red-rimmed eyes. They looked puffy and swollen from all my stupid crying. I quickly showered, then got dressed.
Daniel was just getting out of bed when I sat down to put on my shoes.
“You’re up early,” he said in his gruff morning voice.
“I need to go into work early.” I walked over and wrapped my arms around him. His skin was warm from being under the covers.
“Why?”
“Forgot to make your travel arrangements for your one o’clock meeting today,” I lied. “I want to do it first thing so there’s time to sort it out. But if need be, I can always drive you. If it comes to that.”
“Give me time to get dressed, and I’ll go with you.”
“No, it’s okay,” I said before kissing his collarbone and stepping away. “I’ll see you when you get there.”
Before I could let him talk me out of it, I hopped in my car and drove to the office. After parking, I walked inside the building… and went straight to the fourth floor. It was where the higher-ups like the board of directors, CEO, and the human resources officer were located. With my stomach rolling and me feeling like I was going to pass out, I walked down the hall, checking the doors until I found the one I was after.
Jeremy Blake, Human Resources Officer.
I knocked on the door and hoped he was inside. The handle jiggled, and I breathed a relieved sigh. Relief that was quickly followed by that same knotting of fear in my gut. I was probably out of my mind… and Daniel was going to be pissed. But I had to do it.
“Can I help you?” Jeremy asked after answering the door. His coat was still on, so he must’ve gotten there right before me.
“I hope it’s not too early, but I’m Reed Nolan from marketing,” I said, holding out my hand. He took it. “I need to talk to you about something. It’s important.”
“Come in.” Jeremy held the door open and motioned for me to come inside. I walked past him and to the chair he’d pointed to. “What can I do for you, Mr. Nolan?”
HR was in charge of office administration, firing, hiring, and company policy regulation. The person who held Daniel’s and my jobs in their hands. If Daniel talked to him, I suspected he’d walk out without a job. I was doing this for him, even if meant sacrificing my job because of it.
I sat down and tried to remember the speech I’d mulled over in my head on the way there. My mind was blank.
“Mr. Nolan?” Jeremy pressed.
“Sorry. I spaced for a minute.” I cleared my throat and shifted in the seat.
“It’s okay. Just tell me what’s on your mind.”
I took a deep breath, held it, then released it. Everything would change after this. But I was prepared for whatever repercussions it caused. I looked at Jeremy.
“This isn’t going to sound good, and I’m fully aware of how inappropriate it is and stuff, but…” I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. “I’m dating my boss.”
Chapter Eighteen
Daniel
Right as I stepped off the elevator to the third floor, I bumped into Jennifer.
“Oh, good morning, Mr. Sawyer,” she stammered, going red in the face. “Reed’s not with you?”
“I thought he was already here,” I said, confused.
“I haven’t seen him.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I want you to know I’m not going to say anything. What you two do outside of work is your own business. Sorry I got weird when I saw you guys last night. It just… shocked me. And then I told you I was poly, and people usually judge me for it, and that made me even more awkward. I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
No wonder she and Reed were friends. Both had a rambling problem.
“Well, I don’t judge you for it,” I said. “If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.” If only it was that simple with my relationship. Which reminded me of what I was about to do. “Not to be rude, but I need to go.”
“Of course. Don’t let me keep you.”
I walked toward my office. I had wanted to stop by and see Reed before I went to talk to the HR officer, but he wasn’t at his desk. Knowing him, he’d more than likely started talking to someone on his way to make coffee and got sidetracked. After hanging up my coat, I headed toward the stairwell and took the stairs up to the fourth floor.
You can do this, I told myself as I walked to the HR office.
But as I reached it, the door opened… and Reed stepped out.
“Reed?” I asked, my heart hammering like crazy. “What are you doing up here?”
“He was speaking with me,” Jeremy Blake said, opening the door wider. He pushed his glasses up his nose and offered a thin smile. “Since you’re here, you might as well come in too. You’re free to go, Mr. Nolan.”
Jeremy went back inside the room, giving us a brief moment to speak privately.
“I’m sorry,” Reed said to me, his eyes watery. “I couldn’t let you take the fall for everything.”
“What did you do?” I growled under my breath as we stood outside the office.
“Definitely something that’s gonna make you mad.”
“Mr. Sawyer?” Jeremy said, standing beside his desk, hands in his pockets. “The sooner we take care of this, the better.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” Reed said, giving me a half-hearted smile before walking away.
I stared after him in shock before walking inside the office and shutting the door behind me. My hands were shaking. I was both pissed and worried.
“Have a seat, Mr. Sawyer.” Jeremy motioned to the chair in front of his desk.
“What did Reed tell you?”
“That you two are dating,” he answered, taking a seat. I did the same, though my nerves were too wired for me to sit still, so I bounced my knee. “He was… more detailed than necessary, and he rambled a lot.”
Sounds like him. But I couldn’t find the strength to smile at the thought. I was too anxious.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware,” Jeremy continued, “but there’s nothing in the company regulations that mentions workplace romances.”