by Leah Holt
“That's good to hear.” Reaching out, I cupped her elbow. “I'd be happy to help you forget.”
Taking a step back, she held up open palms. “Ash, look, we had one night. . .” Pausing, she left me right then, going inside her head. “One very amazing night.” Her voice trailed off as she plucked her lip and batted her lashes. “But it ends there, it has to.”
“Give me one good reason why, one reason that makes sense and I'll walk out that door and act like we never met before today.” Tilting my head, I waited for her to come up with something. But I knew there wasn't an answer she could ever give me that would push me away.
I felt something that night and I know she did too. There was no way I'd be able to forget her or the feelings that she left me with.
We were here now, some force outside our control had brought us back together. That had to mean something. There was no way I could have this woman in my head twenty-four seven, then meet her like this without it having any purpose at all.
Nola's chest lifted and fell in quick bursts, her eyes searching my face as she tried to pull something out of thin air that was believable.
“I'm your boss, that's all you need.”
Taking a long step in, I brought us chest to chest. “That isn't going to cut it. I need something more than just an I'm your boss line.”
Our bodies were so close, millimeters apart. I could feel her chest as it expanded to take in air, I could see the vein in her neck as it pulsed, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. I wanted to nibble her throat and lick her lips, I wanted to feel her tits pressed against my chest and her ass in my hands.
Flaring her nostrils, she exhaled hard. “This isn't up for debate.” Wriggling her fingers at her sides, her shoulders perked. “I don't need to give you an answer at all, you're lucky I even gave you that. What are you going to do, smear my name and tell everyone what happened?”
Smirking, I raked my fingers through my hair. “I'm a gentleman, remember? Do I look like an asshole?”
Hanging her head, she twisted her toe into the floor. “Look, I enjoyed what happened, I really did. But it's wrong, you work for me. Nothing like that can happen ever again, it just can't. It was a mistake on so many levels and it's wrong.”
“It's only wrong if you want it to be wrong.” Wrapping my arm around her waist, I yanked her into my chest. “Nothing about this is wrong, Nola.” Gently, I ran my fingers over her hair, tender and precise. “You know what is wrong?” I asked, tugging the ends of her silky locks.
“What?” Looking up at me, her eyes were wide, scanning my face for every answer she didn't have. She looked lost, trapped in this battle between what she wanted and what she thought was the right thing to do.
Lowering my lips to her ear, I whispered. “How I'm going to drop you on your desk and fuck you right now.” Gripping her waist tighter, pressed my body against hers, forcing her to step backwards.
Nola didn't resist, she didn't shove me away and tell me to get out. Her eyes gave me permission to take her, to make her mine, to have her how and where I wanted to.
Shoving the stuff on her desk to the side, I lifted her off her feet and sat her on the top. Her legs wrapped my hips as she moaned a soft, quiet moan that only I could hear. Digging my fingers into the small of her back, I pulled her ass closer to the edge.
There was no other word to describe what I felt right then other than savage. I took her outside and I wanted to take her inside. I wanted to claim every inch of her body, no matter where we were, as mine. I was a ferocious beast, ready to devour its prey.
“I don't ever want to hear you say this is wrong.” My words hung in the air between us as she held her breath for a long second. “Nothing about us is wrong and it never will be. When I want something, I take it, when I need something, I make it mine.” Driving my head into the curve of her neck, I bit her beating flesh. “And, Nola York, my mind is made up, you're mine and mine alone.”
Scraping her nails down my back, she clutched the fabric of my shirt as she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Her grip was dangerous, piercing my skin through the fibers.
Nola didn't protest my demand, she didn't refuse me of what I wanted. There was no battle of words flowing out of her mouth, telling me she wasn't mine to claim.
“I don't know how you do this, Ash. How you make me throw out everything I've stood for and give in without even having to think about it.” Sliding her fingers up my back, she traced the thick muscles, tickling over my neck and driving them into my hair.
“Don't ask questions, some things just are, and I think we're one of those things.” My lips found hers, fusing us together. “Let us be one of those things, Nola.” My voice growled out as it forced its way into her mouth between licking tongues and heavy air. “Can't you feel what I feel?”
“I know I haven't stopped thinking about you,” she said between kisses. “You've been in my fucking head every minute since we met.” Nola kept kissing me harder and more unhinged as her hands tangoed with my belt and button.
Breaking the button free, she didn't pause, shoving her hand down my pants and tearing my cock free. Pushing her panties to the side, she held my swollen crown against her wet lips, tracing her fingers over the pulsing veins under the thin skin.
Scooting her ass on the desk, she clutched my hips with her thighs and held me in place.
Curling my fingers under her ass, I pulled her so close to the edge she'd fall if I let her go. I didn't let go, I never wanted to let go.
Slamming my cock inside, Nola's head fell back as she captured the scream that was about to escape and forced it back inside her lungs. Biting her lower lip, she arched her back, allowing my dick to go deeper, to penetrate her to the core.
Her moans became louder, so I kissed her, I kissed her to silence her, to stifle the noises she was losing control of. Our lips tangled as her hands raked my scalp, messing up my hair. Swirling my tongue around hers, my heart beat erratically, drumming so hard I thought it might break free.
Thrusting in, I whispered. “I couldn't get you out of my head either.” Pulling out, I bit her bottom lip as I spoke. “And I never want to, I like you there.”
Pump after pump, I fucked the goddess of my dreams, the woman who had stolen my thoughts. She had somehow found her way into every image and thought I had.
When I closed my eyes she was there, when I opened them she was there. I saw her face on every woman I had passed by on the street and heard her voice whispering into my ear in the dark.
Nola was a drug—my drug.
The tips of her nails pierced my skin, sending violent goosebumps over my body. I could feel my balls start to draw up as her thighs quivered and her back jolted upright. With one final thrust, my dick stilled.
The orgasm filled my body, making my muscles stiffen and my length pulse violently. Nola's legs dropped off my waist, her eyes relaxing and amused by my little office distraction.
“I can't believe we just did that.” Standing up, she grabbed some tissues off her desk and handed me a few to clean up. Adjusting her skirt, she ran her hands through her hair and the pad of her fingers under her eyes and around her lips. “How do I look? Is my makeup messed up?”
“You're glowing and that color looks beautiful on you.” Running my thumb across her chin, I pinched it between my fingers and leaned in to kiss her. “I don't want you to worry about what everyone else thinks. I know what's at stake for you, we can keep this hush hush for as long as you want. . .” Pausing, I smirked. “Or until the rumors start, whichever comes first.”
Smiling, she tugged her bottom lip into her mouth. “I think that would be good for now.”
“Alright,” I said, running my fingers through my hair to straighten it. “I need to get back to work so my boss doesn't get pissed at me. You need to stop trying to seduce me, Ms. York, for Christ sake, we work together now.”
Giggling, she started fixing her desk. “Yeah, that's exactly what happened here.”
&nb
sp; “You know I'm not just some sex toy, you need to take me out to dinner too.” Pointing at her, I walked towards the door. “Tonight, seven o'clock, meet me at Sergio's.”
“It's a date,” she said, her cheeks still flushed the sexiest shade of red.
“It's a date.” Repeating her words, I opened the door and closed it behind me. My eyes were on the floor as I took a step forward, unaware of the man in front of me.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” Clint's voice scratched its way into my head, making me cringe.
“I was apologizing to my new boss for earlier.” Lifting my head slowly, my eyes stopped on his. “She was happy I took the initiative too.”
Oh and I fucked her, my cock wanted to apologize too.
Clint's jaw ground down as he let out a quiet growl. “Look, I know what you're doing, and I'm putting a stop to it right now. I'm going to tell you this one time and one time only; stay away from Nola.”
“Yeah, I don't want to be a dick here, but you don't get to give me orders. I'm pretty sure she's my boss, not you.”
“If you think I can't fire you, you're fucking stupid.” Taking a firm step in, Clint bumped his chest against mine. “I saw the way you looked at her, I know what's running through that fucking head of yours.” Poking my chest, he spoke through clenched teeth. “She's mine, keep your hands to yourself and we won't have a problem.”
Is he fucking serious?
Balling my fists at my sides, I took in a slow breath through my nose. I was ready to fucking lay the guy out. But I wasn't going to do that, at least not yet.
“Back up,” I barked as my lids lowered and my chest puffed. “I know you don't want me to embarrass you in front of everyone.”
The two of us stayed static, neither one wanting to step down. We were eye to eye, shoulder to shoulder, but he didn't fucking scare me.
“Clint,” Nola snapped, forcing us both to look at her. “Don't you have work you should be doing?” Her leg kicked out to the side, eyes firmly set on his. “I don't pay you to patronize our new employees.”
Clint's eyes hardened as he looked back at me, the vein in his forehead was twitching like a parasite under the skin. I was tempted, oh so fucking tempted, to snatch a pen off Beth's desk and pop that fucking creature free.
Leaning into my ear, he whispered. “This is your only warning, stay away from her, Ash. She's mine, everyone around here knows it.”
“Not a chance in hell, Mr. Strauss.” I whispered back, jerking my shoulders slightly and making him flinch. “Don't make a fool of yourself, Clint.”
“You're not even through your first day, you might want to watch yourself.” Pointing at me, he started to turn and walk away. “I'm fucking warning you asshole, I'm always watching.” Clint looked between Nola and myself, backing down the hall, his body stiff and rigid.
Smirking, my lips folded into a sick grin. “Sounds creepy, I wouldn't go around announcing stuff like that.”
“Ash,” Nola chirped, letting out a loud sigh. “Go back to your desk, you have work to do too.”
Looking in her direction I gave her a tender smile and nod. Starting for my desk, I glanced down the hall in time to watch Clint snap his head over his shoulder, his face contorted into a scowl. Giving me the middle finger, he disappeared around the corner.
I didn't give a damn what he wanted. He wasn't a threat to me, he could whine and cry all he wanted about losing his woman.
But he couldn't stop me from making her mine, he couldn't control what I did or the choices Nola decided to make.
I wasn't going to take orders from a stuck-up suit who already had his chance.
I was making her mine.
Chapter Four
Nola
Was it wrong that I drove home with a pit in my stomach? I don't get nervous. I don't get anxious. I don't get infatuated, let alone obsess over a man who was still a stranger.
I was normally in control of everything; my thoughts, my feelings, my body, my world. . . It had always been manipulated by my hand.
But today my body did things I didn't tell it to do, it was coaxed into arousal with nothing more than his bright green eyes and wolfish smirk.
I spent my time stealing glimpses of the man who had stormed into my heart, quickly taking small bits of it as his own. I made it a point to walk by his desk when I didn't need to, to leave my office and talk to Beth when all I really had to do was push a button.
It was as if I was tumbling down this rabbit hole, unsure of what I would find at the other end, but needing to see it anyway.
Tossing my keys onto the stand by my door, I dropped my bag and kicked off my heels. A small smile was holding my lips perked, my muscles buzzing with anticipation.
I have a date tonight. . .
The thought made my stomach tumble as tiny wings flapped against my ribs, causing my skin to bristle. It was a real date, with a real man. Not with a guy I couldn't stand, not with a man who couldn't tell the difference between romance and demands.
Ash was a real man. A man worth swooning over, a man worth the hot prickles and tornadoes in my gut.
Snatching an apple out of the fruit basket on my kitchen counter, I took a big bite, and headed for my room. Standing in front of my closet, I folded my arm across my torso, and stared into the rainbow colored curtain of dresses. I wanted something classy but sexy, something that bled elegance but screamed the word yes.
Holding up a pastel blue A-line, I twisted in the floor length mirror. Scrunching my face, I stuffed it back into the closet and pulled out a deep burgundy dress.
The neckline dropped to the crest of my breasts, the skirt had movement, swaying back and forth against my thighs. The open back would create a pallet of skin, showing off the contours of sleek muscle.
Perfect.
Turning on the shower, I washed my hair and shaved my legs. Soaping up my body, my hands ran over my nipples and Ash's face emerged in my mind. The way his fingers pinched my nipples, the feel of his firm hands on my hips.
My skin tingled as I felt the ghostly touch of memories on my body. Gentle fingers slipped down over my stomach as I closed my eyes. Sticking my head under the water, the soap washed away as the tip of my finger hit the sensitive bundle of nerves between my thighs.
I couldn't remember the last time a man had this power over me. I hadn't self-served with a real guy on my mind in forever.
Most of the time it was Ryan Reynolds who stole my breath at night while I laid alone in bed. But not today, today it was someone tangible. Someone who had already made my sex clench and throb. Someone who had been inside my body twice in the last three days.
Ash was going to be my weakness, and that thought scared me a little. The control was dwindling, my ability to see straight was crashing hard like the thin crest of a building wave.
Drying off, I slipped the dress over my head, and did my hair and makeup. I felt good, beautiful on the inside and out. Checking myself over one last time in the mirror, my anxiety peaked over how easy it was to get this lost in Ash.
The way he looked at me, the way his eyes would spark and the vein in his neck would go wild when he was close made my knees shake.
His eyes never left my face, as if he was etching every detail into his brain because he was afraid he would forget them the second I was gone.
Isn't that what I should want?
Grabbing my purse and keys, I locked my apartment and headed for the elevator. Standing on the sidewalk, a cab pulled up and stopped before I even had my hand up. Hesitating, I looked into the back before climbing in.
It's empty, he's probably just good at spotting a customer.
This was the city, you could never be too careful. A lone woman, all dressed up was just the same as holding out a raw piece of meat to a hungry lion. I wasn't naive, my father made sure of that.
Climbing into the back, I said, “Sergio's up on Tweny-third, please.” The car rolled forward, slipping right back into traffic as if the road was em
pty.
The restaurant was only a few blocks away, but I wouldn't dare try to walk that far in these heels. With my luck I'd trip and fall, spraining my ankle or at the very least the damn spike would break off, leaving me to wobble the rest of the way there.
Opening my door, I dug around in my purse. Pulling out my money, I asked, “How much?”
Waving his hand, the man's mouth turned down as he looked back at me and said, “No, you're all set.”
“All set?” Crooking a brow, I started counting the bills. “No, I should pay you, I don't want a free ride. You work hard and deserve to be paid for it—here.” Holding out the cash, I tried to force him to take it.
Brushing it away, he shook his head. “It's already been paid, you're all set.”
“Already paid? How's that possible?”
The man pointed his finger towards the restaurant, so I followed it. Leaning against the building, Ash was looking over at me, wearing that big smile he always seemed to have. Biting his bottom lip, he stood up straight and started over.
“Thank you, George.” Sticking his hand in the passenger side window, he shook the driver's hand. Taking a step to my side, he gripped the top of the door and looked down at me. “I told you, I'm a gentleman.” Ash reached inside, clasping his hand around mine and guiding me out of the car.
“That was a gamble, ordering me a cab and not telling me. What if I was early and grabbed a different one?”
“Does it matter?” His smile thickened, eyes twinkling under the street lights.
Smirking, I let my gaze settle on his. “You're a smart ass, you know that?”
“I never said I wasn't.” Placing his hand on the small of my back, he started forward. “Our table should be ready.”
Entering the restaurant, the girl at the front desk gave Ash a smile that seemed way too friendly and familiar. My insides twisted with something foreign, a feeling that I didn't quite recognize. . .
Jealousy.
Taking in a deep breath, I regained control of myself. It was stupid to feel so protective over something that wasn't even mine yet. We had just met, this entire thing—whatever the hell it was—hadn't been defined in any way.