The boss lady is focused on the papers on her desk, ignoring us. Once she dismisses you, all that's left to do is walk out the door. I'd learned this about Raisa Volkov after two full days as her slave.
Now she's handing me over to Chance. As his slave. My body loves the idea, but my brain keeps warning me to watch out.
Chance opens the door for me as we exit Raisa's office. He lays a hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the office that previously belonged to Lucas Miller. They must have changed the sign on the door early this morning, because it now says "Chance Dixon."
He holds the door open for me. "Slaves enter first."
I want to scowl at him, but I pull myself together and stay professional. "Thank you, Mr. Dixon."
"Call me Chance."
"Rather not. Sir." It's dumb, but I hope calling him mister and sir will put some kind of distance between us.
Yeah, I said it was dumb.
He shuts the door while I take a seat in front of his desk, then he sits down in the spiffy executive chair. The office is spacious, though not as big as Raisa's. This is her firm, after all. Still, Chance's office features large windows that catch the morning sun at the perfect angle to make his gorgeous face look even more beautiful. The rays of golden sunshine kiss his skin, spilling down his face, onto his throat.
"I had no idea you worked here," he says. "But I'm glad to see you. After the way you ran off---"
"No running. I walked. And you never called me, so you're the one who has explaining to do."
"You gave me the wrong number. I had a lovely conversation with the owner of an Italian deli, but he didn't know any Elena." Chance rocks his chair slowly, keeping his focus on me. "I wondered if you gave me the wrong number on purpose."
"I wouldn't do that. Sorry I got it wrong, but I was kind of, um, confused." I fidget in my chair, which seems to be made of pins and needles. Or maybe that sensation is a figment of my freaking-out mind. "After hearing you argue with somebody on the phone, I started to think I'd made a big mistake."
"Do you still feel that way? Because I don't. I wanted more time with you."
His voice is soothing and stimulating at the same time, an odd combination that compels me to relax. "I don't regret it."
"I'm glad." He sinks back in his chair, shoulders slumped, and rubs his eyes. "It was Raisa on the phone that night."
And she's still into him. That much is obvious.
Does he want to reconcile with her?
Chance drops his hand, fixing me with an earnest look. "I shouldn't have shagged you in an elevator. But you were the most enchanting, sexiest woman I'd ever seen, and I had to have you. I've never done anything of the sort before."
I shrug. "What's done is done. I'm your employee now, which means it's strictly business between us from this moment on. Agreed?"
He studies me, those sapphire eyes sparking in the sunlight. "I don't want only business with you, Elena."
I love the way he says my name in that delicious British accent, with that husky timbre in his voice. Though my body wants me to crawl across the desk and curl up on his lap, I straighten, clear my throat, and say, "Strictly business. Please. I need this job, and my boss is clearly still in love with you."
"But I'm not in love with her." He strokes the smooth desktop with his long fingers, caressing it like he's making love to the polished wood. "I want you, Elena, not her. If it weren't completely inappropriate, I'd have you on this desk right now."
My body reaffirms its desire to do anything he wants, making me feel warm all over. No way will I have sex with him at work. Never going to happen. Never, never, never.
I gaze into his eyes, and his lips slide into a soft smile.
Not today, at least.
"Please have dinner with me," he says. "Let me make up for my behavior the other night."
Holy heaven, I want to say yes. Dinner with a sexy, gorgeous, charming British man? Double yes, count me in. But I have to say no.
"That would be inappropriate," I say. "You're my boss."
"I agree, but I can't resist a woman who knows at least twelve German numbers and who makes me so hard I could pound nails into a wall with my cock."
A laugh splutters out of me. "That's the silliest thing I've ever heard."
He grins. "At least I made you laugh."
It's not fair for him to be so cute and so swoon-worthy at the same time.
"Our relationship has to be professional," I tell him. "Nothing more."
He sighs. "All right, I'll give it a go. But I can't stop myself from wanting you, and I can't swear I won't at least try to kiss you."
"I'm sure you can restrain yourself if you really work at it."
"For you, I'll try anything." He leans back in his chair, but his fingers still stroke the desktop. "Raisa has it wrong. I am your slave, Miss Linwood."
Having no clue what to say to that, I excuse myself and head back to my desk in the cubicle zone.
And I keep thinking about him.
Chapter Three
Chance
I show extraordinary willpower by keeping my hands off Elena for a full three hours. But honestly, it's her fault when my resolve slips. I call her to ask for a file, and she says she'll bring it to me. A few seconds later, she sashays past the open door of my office on her way to the file room, hips swaying, head held high. A slight smile tugs at her mouth, but she doesn't glance my way. The sight of her tight arse and those breasts, covered but not really concealed by her clothes, does me in. I grab a paperweight off my desk and fist my hand around it. Loosen my fist. Tighten it. Loosen. Tighten.
But in my mind, I'm closing my hand around one of those perfect breasts.
Maybe I haven't seen her naked yet and don't actually know what her breasts look like, but I'm positive they are perfect. Elena Linwood has curves in all my favorite places and a mouth that I loved kissing.
How can I work with her and never touch her again?
I should resign immediately, then drag Elena into the nearest closet and shag her until she screams.
But I can't. First of all, it would be very wrong. After the way I behaved on Friday night, I want to prove to Elena I'm not an arse who cares only about his own pleasure. Second, I promised Raisa I'd help her with her little problem. If she thinks she can use this situation to seduce me into taking her back, she will be severely disappointed. I don't love her anymore. I respect her legal skills and determination, and I know deep down she's not a rotten bitch. Still, I don't approve of the way she's been treating her employees lately. Maybe I can convince her to stop taking her frustrations out on them. I'm the reason she's acting this way, so it's my responsibility to set things right.
How the bloody hell will I pull that off?
Maybe I should've accepted Garth Leonard's offer. I'd be in New Hampshire now, far away from Raisa.