Crossing the Line

by Maggie Cole

  I think it’s my nerves, but when she shudders, I laugh. As I push past her slit and slide into her, she whimpers, and I give her one last out. “Tell me to go. Tell me you don’t want me.”

  If she tells me to go and she doesn’t want me, I know that it’s over. I know that there is no hope. I will accept that I need to leave her alone, and I’ll go to Bennett and tell him what I’ve done and that I need to leave the firm.

  But she doesn’t respond. So I quickly bring her to her peak, needing to feel her tremble, wanting to give her pleasure instead of the hatred and mistrust she always feels toward me.

  “Noah,” she cries out, shaking against my hand.

  “Tonight you’re mine,” I declare to her, knowing full well that I don’t just want her for only one night, then claim her mouth with my lips while she’s still trembling.

  “I can’t destroy my life,” she whispers.

  “I’m not going to change my mind about you, Piper.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Let me show you.”

  She’s still kissing me, so I take that as permission. Swiveling her chair, I pick her up, and she holds tight to my neck while wrapping her legs around my waist. I slap her laptop shut and toss it on the chair then slide everything else off, before placing her on the desk.

  “I’ve missed you,” I mumble.

  “What did you miss?”

  “Everything about you.” It’s the truth, and I’ve never been able to tell that to any woman before.

  “It’s only been a day.”

  “Too long a day,” I murmur back.

  Piper tugs at my belt, and I hold her hands, but I keep kissing her.

  “Let’s go back to the hotel.”

  “What’s wrong with here?”

  “I lied. You can’t be mine tonight. I’m not doing this if it’s only for tonight.”

  She angrily pushes me away and jumps off the desk. “We shouldn’t be doing this.” Grabbing her laptop, she shoves it in her bag and zips it up.

  “Piper, stop.”

  But she won’t look at me. She tries to leave, but I get to the door first and stand in front of it.

  “Move, Noah.”

  “No.”

  “I said move.”

  “No.”

  “Get out of the way.”

  “No. We aren’t doing this again.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Going backward. We need to do better than this.”

  She throws her hands in the air. “We? There is no we, Noah.”

  I cross my arms over my chest. “Yes, there is.”

  “No, there isn’t.”

  “Yes, there is. So stop denying it.”

  “I don’t want to ruin my career. I don’t want to lose everything I’ve worked for over a fling.”

  “This isn’t a fling. You know it isn’t.”

  “No, I don’t. Besides, you’re just an asshole,” she spits out.

  “No, I’m not, and you know I’m not. I was only an asshole because you told me to be.”

  “You didn’t give me much of an option, and that was a mistake.”

  “You’re right. The mistake was that I was an asshole and didn’t give you what you need.”

  She smirks at me. “What I need? What’s that, Noah?”

  “Respect. Attention. Someone you can count on.”

  “You’re too late. I’m not interested anymore.”

  “That’s a lie.”

  “No, it’s not. I’m not going to ruin my career over you.”

  “You aren’t going to ruin your career, so stop using it as an excuse to not be with me.”

  Piper points at me. “Easy for you to say. You hold all the cards.”

  “I told you that isn’t the case, but why don’t you let me handle this instead of just assuming I’m out to ruin you.”

  “Oh yeah, I’m sure Bennett’s going to love to hear I’m sleeping with the boss...and in the office. That will definitely get me the VP spot, or, if I do get it, everyone will think it’s because I slept with you.”

  “Bennett will be fine, and I’ll handle him. This isn’t going to affect your promotion, and no one is going to think that.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “Yeah, because it’s the truth.”

  Piper’s face turns red with anger. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Why? Why can’t you believe me?”

  Her voice gets lower. “You don’t get it.”

  “Fill me in.”

  She shoots daggers at me.

  I rub my face. “Why don’t you stop blaming me for what other douchebags did to you.”

  She crosses her arms. “I’m not.”

  “You are. You think I’m going to wake up one day and leave you because you can’t have kids. I’m not.”

  She blinks back tears. “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do. So stop assuming things that aren’t true.”

  Glaring at me, she shakes her head. “I’ve been down this road before. I’m not going to put my career on the line over it.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you I would never hurt your career over us.”

  “Your job is to be my boss. So be my fucking boss. Now move.”

  “Piper—”

  Through clenched teeth she barks, “I’m not going to tell you again, Noah. Move.”

  Throwing my hands up, I step aside and realize it’s now officially over. Piper is never going to allow me to love her.

  21

  Piper

  I storm out of the elevator and into the lobby, and my phone rings. I assume it’s Noah, don’t read the caller id, and cry out, “Just leave it!”

  “Whoa! What am I leaving?” Quinn asks.

  I freeze then sit down on the couch. “Shit, I’m sorry, Quinn.”

  “Piper, what’s going on?”

  I begin to cry.

  “Piper?”

  “I don’t even know where to start.”

  Quinn’s voice is low. “Where are you?”

  “In the lobby at work.”

  “You’re back in Chicago already?”

  “No, the New York office.”

  “Tell me what’s going on.”

  I sniffle.

  “Piper, what happened?”

  I sniffle. “Noah just came into the office, and we got into it.”

  “Into it, like had hot office sex?”

  “Almost, but he stopped me and told me that if I wasn’t going to commit to him, then he wasn’t having sex with me. Last night, I told him I can’t have kids, and he told me he loved me, and I got angry and left his room.”

  “Why did you get angry?”

  “He’s my boss. One day soon, he’ll wake up and realize what my reality means for our future, and my career will be affected by this.”

  Quinn exhales loudly. “Piper, I know you’re sensitive about what happened, but those other idiots you dated were just that—idiots. Noah is different.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I don’t think he’s in the same hemisphere as your other boyfriends. And you can’t hold what they did against him.”

  “So, I’m supposed to trust that he won’t regret being with me and risk my career?”

  “I don’t think it’ll affect your career. But what did Noah say about the subject?”

  “Well, we got into it, and he claims he will deal with Bennett and not to worry about it, and he keeps telling me it isn’t going to affect my position.”

  “Okay...”

  “What’s the okay for?”

  Quinn groans. “Piper, if he’s telling you that, what’s the problem? Disclose it to HR and move on.”

  “It’s not that easy.”

  “Why can’t it be?”

  I don’t answer her.

  “Does he lie to you?”

  Has Noah lied to me? I wrack my brain, but all I can admit is, “He hasn’t lied.”

  “Then why do you think
he is lying to you now?”

  More tears flow. “Because everyone else has.”

  “Oh, Piper, you can’t hold that against Noah. It isn’t fair to him or you. Those other guys are turds.”

  I chuckle through my tears. “Yeah, they are.” I close my eyes. “Quinn, you aren’t helping me hate him very much.”

  “Maybe you should stop trying to hate him.”

  “Ugh! I don’t want to lose everything I’ve worked for.”

  “Did you tell him that?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did he say?”

  “That I wouldn’t, and he would make sure I didn’t.”

  Quinn gets quiet again.

  “What? Whatever you’re thinking, just tell me.”

  “Piper, you said he loves you. Do you love him?”

  I groan. “I want to tell you no.”

  “But you can’t?”

  “No. I can’t tell you that. I love him. I don’t want to, but I do.”

  “Why are you still talking to me, then?”

  “Ugh!”

  “Piper, go tell him you’re sorry. You’re obviously miserable without him.”

  “I don’t know. There’s no guarantee on this.”

  “Piper, I know you believe life is two plus two equals four. But it’s not. You have to step into the gray area at some point.”

  “He’s definitely gray area.”

  “Well, you aren’t getting any younger, so maybe it’s time to jump in.”

  “Ha, ha.”

  “Seriously. Stop trying to be perfect. Life isn’t perfect. Someone is at my door. I have to go. Call me later.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  I hang up and sink back into the couch, tapping my fingers on my thigh.

  You want him.

  It could blow up in your face.

  But you want him.

  Everyone in the office is going to think you slept your way to the top.

  You’re a fourth-level director. You got here on your own. Screw anyone who thinks different.

  I take a deep breath, turn toward to the elevator, and Noah is standing there.

  My stomach flips.

  How much did he hear?

  He shakes his head, bends down, and smashes his lips into mine. Lightning bolts shoot through me as he wraps his arms tight around me.

  “I love you, too,” he mumbles between kisses.

  “You weren’t supposed to hear that,” I murmur.

  “Well, I did, and you aren’t taking it back.”

  “You’ll deal with Bennett and HR?”

  “Yes. I promise.” His lips move across my jaw and near my ear as heat moves through my veins.

  I pull Noah’s body tighter to me and whisper, “I can trust you?”

  He puts his forehead to mine and scans my eyes. “Yes.”

  “Okay.”

  He picks me up and sits me down on his lap. “Stay with me all night.”

  I bite my lip.

  Noah brushes my hair off my face. “I’m serious. Don’t leave this time. I don’t just want you tonight, or only in New York, Piper. I don’t want to go backward tomorrow.”

  “Okay, let’s not, then.” I run my fingers through his hair and claim his lips and tongue as mine. A slow burn creeps through me as everything about Noah feels right while also still scary.

  Noah pulls back. “Let’s go to the hotel and get changed.”

  “Changed?”

  A cocky grin appears on his face. “Yep. It’s about time I took you on a date.”

  I’m in my hotel room getting changed into a formfitting little black dress and a pair of black stilettos. I don’t know where Noah is taking me, but he said somewhere nice.

  My stomach is full of butterflies, and I don’t know why because I spend more time next to Noah during my week than anyone else. But I am. I’ve agreed to make this real, and I’m taking the plunge but still nervous.

  There’s a knock on the door, and when I open it, Noah’s grin grows. “Wow! You look beautiful.” He leans in and kisses me, riling up my butterflies.

  “Hey,” I say almost shyly when I pull back. “You look and smell nice.”

  Noah’s wearing black dress pants, a white T-shirt, and a slim-fit black sport coat. He laughs. “You can sniff me all night if you want.”

  “Ha, ha!” But I’m glad he makes me laugh and breaks up some of my nerves.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes.” I grab my clutch purse and he takes my hand. In the hall, I ask, “So, where are you taking me?”

  “To one of the hottest restaurants in New York. Kip Carter’s La Tease.”

  I gape at him. “Really?” Kip Carter has been getting massive press and awards around the globe for his restaurant.

  “Yes.”

  “How did you get reservations? I heard it’s a six-month wait.”

  Noah laughs. “Are you a foodie?”

  Heat creeps up my neck and I shrug. “Maybe.”

  “I’m going to have to bring you to New York more often, then.”

  “You do know Chicago has some pretty good restaurants, right?”

  Noah puts his arm around my waist. “I haven’t really gone out much in Chicago, minus the weekend Xander was in town.”

  “You need to get out more.”

  “I think you’re going to have to help me with that.”

  I laugh. “If you’re a good boy, I will.”

  He leans and murmurs in my ear. “I can be any type of boy you want.”

  Shivers roll down my spine.

  He kisses my neck but I tease, “Focus Noah.”

  He laughs. “Okay.”

  “So, how did you get a reservation?”

  “I called Kip.”

  My mouth falls open. “You know Kip?”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  We step into the elevator. No one else is in it, and Noah presses closer to me and kisses me. “You look really nice tonight.”

  My stomach erupts in flutters again. “You already told me that.”

  “You’re so gorgeous it’s worth mentioning more than once.”

  “Ha, ha!”

  Noah nibbles at my ear.

  “Little frisky, aren’t you?”

  He shoots me a cocky grin, takes another nibble, and then stops as the elevator opens. Putting his hand around my waist, he steers me through the lobby and outside to the waiting car.

  Once we’re settled in the back seat, he rolls up the divider window and pulls me onto his lap.

  I put my arms around him. “So, we’re doing this?”

  Noah’s face gets serious. “Yes. Don’t start questioning it, Piper.”

  Shaking my head, I tell him, “I’m not. I’m just...”

  “Just what?” His jaw clenches.

  Calm down, Piper. He’s right. Stop questioning it.

  “Just wondering if we’ll be staying in my room or yours.”

  “Wherever you want. As long as I wake up with you in my arms tomorrow morning, I’m a happy man.”

  After I give Noah a soft kiss, I ask, “Do you think you’ll move back to New York?”

  “I can’t. It’s not part of the deal.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I told you, I have to be in Chicago to be the successor.”

  “Okay, but once you take over, you can make a different decision.”

  Noah shrugs. “I suppose I could, but why are you asking me this?”

  “I can tell you really love New York.”

  “I do. But I’ll get to love Chicago, I suppose.”

  “But if you had the chance, would you move back? I mean, you still have your office here.”

  “Piper, are you worried I’m going to move back and leave you in Chicago?”

  I want to say no, but I can’t without lying because a part of me wonders.

  Noah holds both sides of my face. “I wouldn’t just up and leave, Piper. You mean more to me than New York.”

  My heart flutters. “Good,” I murmu
r against his lips.

  The car stops, and the driver comes around and opens our door. Noah steps out and helps me out of the car. There are paparazzi and a line around the corner of the building.

  Once again, Noah knows the bouncer and the hostess, and we are seated within a few minutes in a quiet booth.

  The waiter tells us about the special menu the chef has prepared. It’s six courses of French cuisine with different wines, and he asks us if we want that or would like to see the menu.

  “Piper?” Noah raises his eyebrow in question.

  Smiling, I nod. “That sounds great.”

  We quickly have our first glass of wine in our hands and a basket of fresh, warm, crusty bread and dipping oils on the table.

  Noah puts his hand over mine. “I don’t want to talk about work all night, but you added a lot of really good input today.”

  Beaming at him, I flush a bit. “Yeah?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think Bennett is going to know I wasn’t actually face-to-face?”

  “No, but I’m going to tell him when we return.”

  Panic runs through me. “Isn’t he going to be upset?”

  He tightens his arms around me. “I think he will be fine, but he isn’t going to be upset with you.”

  “Noah—”

  “Don’t.”

  “Don’t?” I stare at him in question.

  “Don’t start freaking out. Piper, I need you to trust that I have your back and am never going to put you in a shitty position.”

  Slowly, I let out a big breath. “Okay.”

  “Plus, if Bennett finds out, and it doesn’t come from me, then I’ve put you in a position to lie to him.”

  “All right. What you’re saying makes sense.”

  Noah strokes my hand. “So, tell me what you like to do in Chicago.”

  “Do I still get my twenty-four hours?”

  He raises an eyebrow. “You still want my office, huh?”

  I laugh. “Actually, I wasn’t thinking about that. I thought maybe I could show you Chicago so it doesn’t feel so foreign to you.”

  “I’d like that. But tell me what you’re into.”

  I shrug. “Yoga, plays, dancing. The beach is nice in the summer.”

  A sly expression crosses his face. “I’m more into cardio and weights but will totally go to a yoga class, especially if I get the mat behind yours.”