I chuckled internally. It seemed my burning hatred had turned into a burning desire.
Could be worse.
The energy crackling between us was explosive, and if the elevator hadn’t been full when we entered, it would have been a very different kind of ride. Instead, we stood in a corner and he worked his hand up the back of my skirt, right between my thighs, and slipped his fingers inside me. I was forced to turn into his shoulder in order not to embarrass myself with the moan that was sealed behind my lips.
When the elevator arrived at our floor, he motioned for me to walk in front of him before he moved to my other side and rested his hand on my lower back. We continued toward his office, but he made sure I didn’t miss him sucking my juices from the tips of his fingers.
Heat flooded my cheeks, and as soon as we crossed the threshold of his office I grabbed at his waist, the hot head of his cock pressing against my palm. The sound of the door shutting and locking registered as I worked to get his belt unhooked. He tilted my head back, and a shock left me as his lips pressed against mine.
With his hands on my hips, he walked me backward while I continued with his belt. I had the loop out and the zipper down, my fingers popping the button, and I reached beneath the elastic waistband of his briefs. I grazed the hot, silky head, earning a hiss from him. His blue eyes were dark and the ache between my legs increased.
A moan left me as his large hands grabbed my thighs, lifting me over the edge of his desk.
“Your papers,” I argued.
“Fuck them,” he growled as he pushed my skirt up my thighs and over my hips. His fingers brushed against my clit, making me moan as he pushed my panties aside. “Fuck, you’re so ready for me.”
Before I could respond, I was silenced by his cock pressing all the way inside me. My jaw dropped and a guttural sound came from me at the sudden overwhelming pleasure that crashed down on me.
His thrusts were fast, hard, and I could feel the tightness in my abdomen growing. A shiver rolled through me as his hand snaked up my waist and across my breast to rest lightly at the base of my neck.
Just the closeness to my neck, the slight pressure pinning me down, sent a spike of heat blasting through me and I broke. I trembled beneath him as a strangled sob rocked me.
“Fuck,” he hissed. His hard thrusts continued as my walls pulsed around him. With a few hard grunts and groans his hips stilled, and I felt each twitch as he came.
His hand slid from my collarbone to the desk beside my head, using that to prop himself up as his muscles loosened. We were both breathing hard, staring deep into each other’s eyes.
Somehow, it didn’t feel as if it was just some office romp to blow off steam. As his blue eyes bore into mine, it felt like something deep inside of me unlocked.
After a few moments, he stepped back and I felt a rush leave me, but he was quick to clean it up with some tissue. I sat up and worked on adjusting my clothes but stayed on the edge of his desk, not trusting my legs to hold me up.
“Are you available for dinner on Friday?” he asked as he pulled his pants back up.
My head snapped to him. “Are you asking me on a date?” I’d already turned him down once. Going on a date with him was everything I wanted.
And everything I feared.
“Yes… Is there a problem with that? I’m giving you multiple days of warning.”
I brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. For weeks, we’d had banter and chemistry and a few explosive sessions of release I had desperately needed.
But that was all I could do, even if I wanted more.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Now why not?” he asked, clearly exasperated. “You’re attracted to me. I’m attracted to you. I want to get to know you more. Is that so bad?”
I swallowed hard, and my chest tightened. As much as we’d connected, his words still haunted me. While he could accept me, experience had shown me there was no way he could accept Kinsey. Therefore, all we could have was what we had and nothing more.
“Look, this has been fun, but it’s not going to work past that. We’re not a good fit.”
He stepped forward, forcing me to look up at him. “Oh, I think I just proved we are a very good fit.”
“I can’t. I just can’t.” As much as I want to.
“Why not?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“It just won’t work.” I hopped off the desk and pushed past him to make my way out. The knot in my stomach was tightening, and I had to get away.
“Roe…”
I didn’t pause, just continued my way out of his office. “Goodnight, Mr. Carthwright. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Walking out on Thane—again—was difficult. Shot down not once, but twice, and I couldn’t seem to stop doing it. The fear that filled me took over and refused to even entertain the idea. My mind was beating out my body and my heart. I was trying to save myself by not getting close. If I didn’t get close, he couldn’t leave me.
As I rode the train, I blew out a breath as I pulled up my phone and typed out a message.
Roe: Are you ready for it? I did it. I fucked him. Twice. It was wonderful and glorious and hot and OMG I didn’t know anything could feel THAT good. But then he asked me out to dinner. I turned him down because I know that as soon as he finds out about Kinsey, he’s gone.
I hated the unease that filled me. Maybe I should have told him, but the longer I withheld, the longer I could keep hold of the lie to myself. If he didn’t know… but what if he did? Part of me was curious, but the dark part of my heart already knew and silenced any hope that remained.
My phone buzzed right as the train stopped at the station.
Lizzie: YES! I’m so happy for you! Why are you hiding that beautiful baby from him? You’re torn because you have feelings for him. Tell him, and then ask him if he’s still interested. That’s the only way you’ll ever know. Now that your pussy is thoroughly used, stop being one and talk to him. Love you!
I loved Lizzie’s exuberance, but I didn’t like her pointing out that I had feelings for him.
Because I did, and it would hurt when he was no longer interested because of Kinsey.
The next morning, we had a meeting scheduled together with some of the Worthington executives. When I arrived, it was so silent I thought he wasn’t in yet.
“Good morning,” I said when I found him at his desk glued to his screen. There was no response so I stepped closer, thinking maybe he had earbuds in and couldn’t hear me. “Good morning.”
He picked something up from his desk and thrust it at me. “I need this sent to Shannon so he can get the contract going.”
“Okay,” I said as I took the folder from him. He still hadn’t looked at me, and I didn’t like the pit forming in my stomach. “Do you need some coffee?”
“I already have some,” he replied, still not looking at me.
I didn’t move, refusing to do so until he acknowledged me.
“Is there a reason you aren’t getting that done?” he asked in a clipped tone.
“Is there a reason you won’t look at me?”
His jaw flexed and he turned to me, a cool detachment in his gaze. “Now will you leave me alone?”
“That’s something I’ve tried to do for weeks. Why so hostile now?”