by A. Zavarelli
He kissed me like he’d been starving for me. I definitely had, so I gave it just as good as I got. We weren’t speaking anymore. Nothing else needed to be said as he moved above me. I could feel him everywhere. Inside of me, on top of me, all around me. His hands explored my body, making me come alive. Only Kane could do this. Only Kane could make me feel this way.
I detonated around him again, and then he poured his release into me with a long and ragged groan. It was perfect. Unforgettable. Better than I ever could have imagined.
Until he pulled out of me and a look of panic washed over his face.
“Shit, Aspen. I got so caught up I forgot a condom.”
He looked so worried that I couldn’t bear to look at him. This was the cold, hard reminder of what I was to Kane. I was still on a cloud of happiness, and all he could think about was the horrifying possibility that he might have gotten me pregnant.
“It’s okay,” I assured him. “I’m on the pill. You don’t have to worry, Kane.”
I moved to get up, but he stopped me.
“That isn’t what I meant.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed me softly. “I just want you to know, I’m clean. I don’t ever, you know… without a condom. This was the first time…”
He stumbled over the words and it was kind of adorable. I’d never seen this side of Kane before. I relaxed against him and he pulled down the covers, cocooning us inside. I curled up against his chest, feeling the beat of his heart against my cheek. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
“That was…” He cleared his throat.
A part of me wondered if he regretted it. If he worried I was going to go all stage five clinger on him. But I wanted him to know that wasn’t the case as much as it hurt. Come Monday, I’d still be on a plane to Florida. And my heart would be broken, but at least I’d have the memories. I wanted to make the most of the time we had together.
“That was fun,” I said.
He stiffened against me, and we were both quiet. The word didn’t do it justice, and we both knew it. But this was how Kane operated. He didn’t get serious, and he made that very clear with the women he dated.
“Aspen, I…”
I pressed my lips against his and closed my eyes to keep the tears from falling.
“Kane, let’s just have this one night,” I pleaded. “We don’t have to talk about it. I’m leaving, so things aren’t going to be weird. It’s the perfect way to say goodbye.”
If I didn’t know any better, I thought I saw hurt flash through his eyes. But a moment later it was gone.
“You’re right,” he whispered against my lips. “If tonight is all we have, we better make it count.”
8
I woke to sunlight streaming through the window.
Kane was still asleep, his breathing heavy and relaxed. He looked so beautiful that for a moment, I just stared at him, committing every detail to memory. I didn’t know how I was going to walk away from him. I didn’t know how I would survive.
But I needed to. And for my self-preservation, I needed to do it before he woke up. It was the only way.
So I placed the softest of kisses against his cheek and whispered the only truth that I knew.
“I love you, Kane Stryker. I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”
A tear slid down my cheek as I climbed out of bed and tiptoed down the hall, collecting my clothing as I went. Kane had a landline, so I used that to call for a tow truck. Then I opened my purse and stared at the letter.
There was no point in leaving my resignation now. I thought it would only make it worse if I did. So instead, I scrawled a note for him.
* * *
Kane,
Thank you for the best night of my life.
Aspen
* * *
It would probably freak him out. But I didn’t care. I would be long gone. So with a deep breath and more confidence than I felt, I walked out the door. And out of Kane’s life. For good.
My dad drove to meet me at the tow truck company. I gave him the appropriate smiles and hugs, but even still, he knew something was off. I’d been quiet the entire drive back to Hartford. And when we pulled into the driveway of my childhood home, he turned off the ignition and looked over at me.
“You know you don’t have to do this, honey.”
“What do you mean dad?” I asked.
“You don’t have to go to Florida,” he said. “You could move back home if you want.”
He looked so forlorn at the thought of losing me that I felt a lump of guilt in my throat. At least in New York, I could visit them every couple weeks. It was only a few hours between us. But not Florida.
“I know dad,” I replied softly. “And I appreciate it, but…”
“You know everyone always thinks they want to move to the warmer climates. But it’s really not that great. After a while, you just feel hot and sticky all the time. It gets old, real quick.”
I smiled and opened the door of the truck. “C’mon dad, let’s just go enjoy Christmas okay? I have a feeling it’s going to be the best year yet.”
It was a lie. But my dad agreed anyway. We both walked into the house with a black cloud hanging over us.
9
Christmas Eve at the Keller house had been quite the affair. My parents could never settle for just one day of celebrations. They always made it a big ordeal.
I loved them for it, and usually, it was the highlight of my year. Family and friends gathered around the table, dining and drinking and engaging in the general merriment that accompanied this time of year.
But this time, it drained me. I smiled and laughed when appropriate and engaged in plenty of conversation. I even put up with our neighbor Brad kissing me every time I got remotely close to the mistletoe.
By seven o’ clock, I was over it.
I padded up to my room and changed into my pajamas, glancing at my phone one last time. Kane hadn’t called or texted. I didn’t expect him to.
So why did it still hurt?
Christmas morning.
We were all gathered around the tree, opening presents. I was on my second Hot Toddy. My mother shot me a worried glance as I polished off the delicious concoction.
“Really Aspen, it isn’t even ten yet,” she chided.
“It’s Christmas, mom.” I smiled sweetly.
She rolled her eyes.
The doorbell rang and she padded off, prattling on about who that could be. I was certain it was just more family coming out of the woodworks. The room was already filled to the brim, but what was a couple more? The Keller family was big and loud, and I loved them all the more for it.
I was unwrapping a gift from my Aunt Betty when my mother cleared her voice across the room.
“Look, everybody, Aspen’s friend has decided to join us this year. Isn’t that lovely?”
I glanced up with what was no doubt a horrified expression when I saw Kane standing there. Surely, I had to be hallucinating.
Kane smiled politely and glanced around the room at all the faces staring back at him. This was probably super weird for him.
I got up and walked towards him, intending to take him in the other room and ask him what this was about. But then he spoke.
“Hello, everyone,” he said. “For those who don’t know me, I’m Aspen’s crazy boss, Kane.”
“Oh, stop.” My mother waved her hand with a blush and a giggle. Geez. Even she wasn’t immune to his charms.
“We know who you are,” she said. “Aspen never stops talking about you and how amazing you are.”
Oh, God. My face was on fire. And Kane was grinning back at me like a loon.
I took a few steps closer and tried to pull him from the room. He wasn’t budging though.
My mother clapped her hands in delight and pointed above us. “Oh look, you’re under the mistletoe. You have to kiss now!”
Kane’s eyes trailed over my face, and there was something different in his expression. I couldn’t quite place
it, but it made me nervous as hell.
“I’d like nothing more,” he stated, pulling me against his chest.
He gave me a kiss that was definitely not family-friendly, and I tried to resist him for all of two seconds before giving in. When he finally finished with me, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and I knew they were all waiting eagerly to see what happened next.
“What are you doing here?” I croaked.
His face was still close to mine, his eyes roving over me. He looked around again, and I knew everyone was still listening. Typical Keller affair.
“Well, that’s a good question, Aspen.” He cleared his throat nervously and pulled me against his side as he spoke to my family. “I contacted your mother yesterday, and she gave me directions and an invite.”
I shot a quick glance at my mom, and her over the top happy expression confirmed it. They’d planned this. How weird.
“He said you ran out on him yesterday,” my mother chided. “And he wanted nothing more than to spend Christmas with you.”
“You did?” I blinked up at him. “But why?”
Kane smiled and looked back at the room full of people. “As most of you may know, it’s true that Aspen has been my assistant for the last three years. But she’s also been so much more than that.”
His eyes found mine as he continued. “My morning doesn’t officially start until you walk into the office,” he whispered. “It’s the best part of my day. And the reason I make you work so much, is simply because I hate it when you aren’t around. But I realize that things need to change.”
“They do?” I croaked.
“They do,” he continued, bending down on one knee. “There’s a different role that I’ve had in mind for a while. And I know it’s going to sound completely crazy…”
He reached into his pocket and produced a little black velvet box. I thought I was going to faint.
“But when you know, you know,” he explained. “And I’ve known for the last two years. I’ve been too much of an idiot to admit it. It took you leaving for me to realize I can’t ever lose you again.”
My mother choked up beside me, and there were tears streaming down my own face now.
“So, Aspen Keller, would you make me the luckiest bastard on this planet by agreeing to be my wife?”
He didn’t even get a chance to pop open the ring box before I said yes. He laughed and pulled me into his arms, kissing me all over the face as my family erupted in happy applause.
“Is this really happening?” I murmured.
He kissed me long and hard, and I didn’t even care who was watching anymore. “It’s really happening, Aspen.” He squeezed me in his arms. “I love you. So don’t ever run off on me again.”
I clasped his cheek in my palm and smiled. “Never,” I agreed.
The End
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading Defying the Boss. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads.
BOOKS by A. ZAVARELLI
Boston Underworld Series
CROW: Boston Underworld #1
REAPER: Boston Underworld #2
GHOST: Boston Underworld #3
SAINT: Boston Underworld #4
THIEF: Boston Underworld #5
Bleeding Hearts Series
Echo: A Bleeding Hearts Novel Volume One
Stutter: A Bleeding Hearts Novel Volume Two
Twisted Ever After Series
BEAST: Twisted Ever After #1
Standalones
Tap Left
Falling Series
Novellas
Unwrapping Mr. King
Defying the Boss
* * *
For a complete list of books and audios, visit http://www.azavarelli.com/books
About the Author
A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.
* * *
She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and putting her characters through hell. Her tales have been known to flirt with darkness and sometimes court it unabashedly altogether. Revenge themes and tortured souls are her favorites to write and this gives her an excuse to watch bizarre and twisted documentaries in her spare time.
* * *
She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
* * *
Sign Up for A. Zavarelli’s Newsletter:
www.subscribepage.com/AZavarelli
* * *
Like A. Zavarelli on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/azavarelliauthor
* * *
Join A. Zavarelli’s Reader Group:
www.facebook.com/femmefatales
* * *
Follow A. Zavarelli on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/azavarelli