I straighten my leggings and sweatshirt and tuck loose strands of hair behind my ears, feeling a little self-conscious about how I must look to him. He doesn’t take his eyes from me, a self-satisfied smirk on his lips.
“Do you think he’s still out there?”
“No.”
“Do you think he heard us?”
“Yes.” He tilts his head in such a sexy way I wonder if he’s ever had sex on his desk before and, if not, would he be interested in doing so, like, right now. “Does that bother you?”
I feel my cheeks flush. “No. It was kind of hot.”
He growls and takes my mouth in a punishing kiss. “Tonight,” he says like a warning and a promise.
I blink to clear the dizzying spin. “I have to work tonight.”
The desire in his eyes is replaced with a scowl of disapproval. “I thought you were quitting.”
“I am. Tonight.” I smooth his lapels that I had scrunched up in my fists. “I’m going to give my two weeks—”
“Two weeks.” He shakes his head. “That’s too long.”
“I need the money—”
“No, you don’t.”
“—and I’ll need a good recommendation.”
“I’ll give you a recomm—”
I place two fingers over his lips. “Stop. I do this my way, or I don’t do it at all.”
His brows pinch together.
“I like it when you’re bossy,” I say and slowly lick his lower lip. “But not when it comes to this. Cool?”
He grunts and nods.
“So…” I pat his chest. “I have a few things to take care of before my shift tonight, like getting my things from Lincoln’s. Can I borrow James for the day?”
“Of course. He’ll take you and bring you home from work as well.”
Home. Why does it sound so natural when he says it—as if we’ve lived together for years already?
“Awesome.” My head feels light and giddy, whether it’s from the recent orgasm or from the exciting change of direction my life just took, I don’t know. “So, I guess I’ll see you tonight after work?”
He nods and backs away. He seems to be thinking something over hard, an equation he’s trying to work out.
“Do you need to get to your meeting?”
“What?” he says absently. “Yeah.”
“Will you be shaking hands?” I lift a brow. “You might want to wash your hand.”
He blinks rapidly, then focuses on me. “Right.” The hint of a smile tilts his lips.
He disappears into his bathroom, and I take that time to walk around his office, checking out the décor. The first thing I notice is multiple computer monitors on his desk that I assume he uses for design. Off to the side is what looks like a drafting table, but upon closer inspection, it’s one gigantic digital screen. To think, I once wondered if the guy had ever seen a telephone, and here his office is Silicon Valley. I steer clear of the tech and search for personal touches. There is no art, no books, not a single knick-knack. Not even a family photo or picture of him and his brothers. Just a lot of dark wood, leather furniture, and functional office equipment. If this thing between us works out, I plan to have a photo of us framed for his desk.
“You ready?”
I turn to find him drying his hands on a black towel. “No photos?”
“Who would I have photos of?”
“Your family.”
“Why? I see them every day.”
“Okay, then maybe a photo of you doing something you love.”
“Why would I have a photo of me working in the space where I work?”
I roll my eyes. “What about a photo of you at the cabin or fishing or something?”
“A photo of myself,” he says dryly.
I shake my head. “Never mind.”
He hits the switch on the wall that turns the glass from foggy to clear. I’m grateful Hayes isn’t standing there waiting or my face might fill with so much blood it would explode.
Alexander walks me back to the elevator and waits with me until it arrives. He steps inside with me and hits the lobby button before stepping back out.
“I could’ve done that myself.” I’m a little disappointed he doesn’t kiss me goodbye.
“I know, but I wanted to do it for you. I’ll see you tonight.”
The doors close, and even though I didn’t get a goodbye kiss, his words are enough to send me on my way feeling adored.
Alexander
I don’t apologize for being late when I walk into the conference room. I’m of the belief that clients know within minutes if they’re going to approve my plans or not, and if they want what I propose, they don’t give a shit if I’m late or show up at all.
I take my seat at the end of the table and ignore Hayes’ glare while Savannah, our head of sales, continues with her presentation of my design.
My mind is still in my office, with Jordan pinned to the wall. The building could’ve caught on fire, and that still wouldn’t have been enough to drag me out of that room. This woman is magnetic, frustratingly arousing, and the first person who has managed to pull my mind from work without even trying.
“… has anything to add?”
Seven sets of eyes turn my way, and Savannah’s brows are raised as if she’s waiting for a response.
“No.”
She addresses our prospective client, Anderson Ray, who manages the money of the top ten percent of billionaires in the country and is building a new office in Los Angeles.
We stand in unison, and the Anderson Ray team tells Savannah they’ll be in touch soon. I shake hands, and she walks them out.
“I need a moment with Alexander, please.” Hayes kicks Mrs. Miller and two other assistants out of the room. He locks the door behind them.
Neither of us sits.
“You want to explain to me what is going on with you and Jordan Wilder?”
I frown and shake my head. “No.”
His lips form a tight line. “After the shit she pulled out there, you should have her arrested, not fuck her in your office.”
My jaw clenches. “She’s none of your business—”
“Not my business.” He laughs humorlessly. “They’re all my business. For the last ten years, they’ve been my business.”
I stare at the toes of my shoes, hating the reminder.
He mutters a string of curse words. “At least she signed the NDA.”
That’s right, she did. I remember her throwing it at my face. And even still, she agreed to move in with me. “I don’t want her gagged.”
He does a double-take. “What? Are you out of your mind,” he hisses.
“It’s her life, too. She should be able to talk about it if she wants.”
“Except that those few weeks of her life have the potential to screw this entire company.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I growl, feeling my muscles tense for a fight.
He tilts his head. “If you lose your temper even one time, hurt her in any way, even emotionally…”
Visions of me holding my rifle to her head, pulling the trigger, grabbing her by the neck, and pinning her to a tree. Biting her lip. Damn.