by Erika Rose
She kept herself busy with her phone the entire flight home. Every time she moved her muscles protested, a ruthless reminder of her night with Cayden. A ruthless reminder that it wouldn’t be repeated.
Anna had only been with two other men in her life, but none had lit her up like Cayden. Neither of them had sent her flying with multiple orgasms and neither of them had made her so hungry for their touch.
With Cayden a mere look or an arrogant grin had her blood coursing with desire. How was she going to remain detached around him every day?
How was she going to pretend he didn’t touch her, didn’t drive her over the edge, and didn’t make her crazy for him?
Anna didn’t have the answers and decided to focus on her job instead. With an action plan well thought out, she hid all memories of her night with Cayden under a thin veil of pride for self-preservation.
CHAPTER 9
The next few weeks Cayden did everything in his power to ignore the blue eyed brunette sitting only a few feet from him.
They had successfully put their interlude in Los Angeles behind them; no mention had been made of that night since their limo ride to the airport.
Not even Elizabeth knew what had happened, and she had a way of knowing everything.
Only Cayden didn’t forget. To him that night was crystal clear in his mind, the feel of her satiny skin under his hands, the way she called his name every time just before she came, even the scent of her shampoo had remained with him. Hoping to exorcise himself from the torture Cayden had gone on two dates in the past few weeks, but had excused himself every time before dessert claiming an emergency at work.
He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t be with another woman when Anna’s body still had his body humming.
Her bright blue eyes had grown cold towards him, he couldn’t blame her. But whenever he looked close enough there were flashes of heat in them, only momentarily, but they were there reminding him of the passion they had shared. Small flashes that sparked at random times reminding him what it was like to be inside her.
Cayden had arranged overnight visits to three of his franchises just to get away from her, not even putting distance between them had helped.
He would wake in the middle of the night finding himself hard and throbbing for her. Two nights ago it had been so bad he had jerked off just to relieve the pressure, something he hadn’t done since he had been a teenager.
He looked out of his office to where she was sitting behind her desk. Her long coffee brown hair hung generously over her back; Cayden knew it would smell like the coconut shampoo she used.
Never before had he needed the self restraint he imposed on himself now. Never before had he denied himself a woman he wanted. Now he knew why. It was excruciating, especially if you worked with her and saw her every day.
If you saw the way other men looked at her, the easy way she laughed with the staff. Cayden couldn’t help that his temper was consistently in snapping mode.
Elizabeth had expressed concern about his temper, but Cayden had just shrugged it off explaining to her he just had a lot on his plate with the new franchise opening.
He swiveled his chair to face to ocean, something he had done more over the past few weeks than ever before, more to avoid the sight of Anna than to look at the ocean.
He had a lot of work to do today but couldn’t seem to focus, no surprise there, he thought watching fishing boat bobble on the sea.
Pushing all thoughts of Anna aside he turned back to his desk when she knocked on his door, making him fail even before he started.
She was wearing a red knit dress to ward off the fall chill with knee high brown boots. Cayden couldn’t help but imagine having her while she was wearing only those boots. Her eyes met his, momentarily flashing heat and desire before she composed herself.
“These just came in,” she said, holding a sheath of paper. “It’s the mockups for the Tuesday specials. If we go through them today and decide, we can have the specials running by next week.”
Cayden sighed and beckoned for her to come in. The cost projections had revealed the best course of action would be free pizzas for each child accompanying a fully paid adult meal.
Anna placed the five different mockups of the advertisement and hook lines in front of him.
He caught a whiff of her spicy perfume briefly before she sat down.
Cayden skimmed over the hook lines, they were all catchy. “The designers really put effort into these hook lines.” He said paging through.
Anna cleared her throat. “Actually I gave them the hook lines and asked them to design around it.
Cayden was surprised by her originality but didn’t compliment her; that would require looking at her, something Cayden was avoiding by all cost.
“I like this one best.” Anna said sliding one to the top.
It was an image of a family sitting at a table in a Rosi’s restaurant. The parents were looking affectionately at the children as they dug into a large pizza. On top of it the tagline read. “Make the munchkins happy at Rosi’s on Tuesdays.”
It would be effective, Cayden thought but it wouldn’t be something they only associated with Rosi’s, and it wouldn’t encourage the parents to spend money.
They went over all the options a few more times and Cayden remained undecided. They were all good, but he didn’t find the one that stood out.
Finally he stood up and walked over to the small side table in his office. He laid out all five designs and walked to the glass wall overlooking the ocean. “Give me a few minutes, Anna. I think if I look at it with fresh perspective it’ll jump out to me.”
Anna nodded and sat quietly as Cayden watched over the sea. The atmosphere in the office was heavy with suppressed desire.
Finally Cayden turned around and his eyes met Anna’s. He read the same desire there as did weeks ago in Los Angeles. Chastening himself he turned back to the designs on the table.
He walked towards them and just like he said, the right one popped out at him with a fresh perspective immediately.
SIT BACK, RELAX AND LET MAMA ROSI HANDLE TUESDAYS.
Kids eat free, mom get’s the night off and dad gets the discount!
Cayden picked up the flyer, a family standing in front of Rosi’s, everyone smiling and knew that was the right one.
“This one. It speaks to everyone, that way the whole family will feel they get something.”
“I agree.” Anna said smiling at Cayden as she stood next to him.
Suddenly Cayden realized the office had grown quiet. A quick look on his wrist watch confirmed his suspicions, they were alone in the office and it was dark outside.
The suppressed desire that had been hanging over them since Anna had stepped into his office now snapped and sizzled between them.
Cayden chanced it and looked into her eyes. The warmth and desire he had fallen into in Los Angeles was evident as she looked at him.
He knew he had to get out before he did something he’d regret in the morning, before he could excuse himself Anna huffed, “Cayden this is ridiculous. We can’t keep going on like this…”
The temper in her voice drove him over the edge; he grabbed and gruffly pulled her against him. His mouth crashed against hers with a hunger that had been haunting him for weeks. She softly gasped against his mouth; he swallowed it fervently wanting to touch her.
Her soft curves pressed against him, her seductive sultry scent surrounding him, Cayden had no restraint left as he pulled her hips against his pulsing groin.
Hesitant at first, she now returned his fervor. Giving herself to him without question. Her hands bunched in his hair, pulling him closer.
Cayden roughly pulled up her dress, his fingers skimming over the smooth skin underneath. He picked her up, her legs encircling his waist and set her down on the table. The mockups drifted to the floor as he swiped them aside.
He pushed his heat against her hot core as he devoured her
mouth.
There were no slow moves this time, no subtlety, no restraint. Cayden pushed her legs together reaching underneath her dress to pull her panties off. He tugged them over her boots and stepped between her legs.
His fingers slid over her heat before teasing her entrance, she gasped into his mouth. Cayden rewarded her with thrusting two fingers deep inside her.
He felt her tense around his hand and realized this wouldn’t be enough. He reached for his wallet in his back pocket and pulled out a foil wrapper, even as Anna fumbled with his pants.
She had just released his throbbing cock from the fabric prison it had come to accept over the past few weeks when he slid on the protection.
He thrusted into her; the table shifting at the force. Anna’s fingers dug into his back as she held on for purchase.
He thrusted again and again, inching them both towards ecstasy every time. He slid a finger into her folds finding the bundle of nerves that ached for his attention. He circled it over and over again as he pumped into her.
Their eyes held each other captive. Almost translucent blue against dark chocolate, neither looking away.
Cayden watched as her eyelids grew heavy as she edged towards release.
“Cayden!” He felt her pulse around him, her pupils dilating even as they grew heavy. He pumped harder a few more times until he found his own release.
By the time the pulsing and shudders had subsided Cayden smiled at her arrogantly. “I’ve been thinking about doing that ever since I left your bed in Los Angeles.”
Anna smiled lazily. “So did I.”
Cayden leaned in and kissed her thoroughly as his hands held onto her smooth thighs.
How was he ever going to get her out of his system?
He slid out of her and handed her back her panties.
Without a word Anna slid off the table and slid on her panties. She smiled at him briefly. “Good night Cayden.”
And with that she left without another word.
Cayden didn’t know what he was expecting but he didn’t expect her to leave immediately, without even talking about what had just happened. With any other woman there would’ve been a conversation to follow the hot sex they had just had.
But not with Anna.
Cayden stood there, his pants still open, her perfume and the distinct smell of sex still hanging in the air as he realized he had no idea what he was going to do about her.
He had just had her and already wanted her again.
CHAPTER 10
Anna walked out of Cayden’s office with her head held high, even though her heart had just sunk to her shoes while her body was still recovering from ecstasy.
She wouldn’t ask him about the way forward, she wouldn’t let him know how desperate she was to know what was going on between them. Or to let him know how she thought of him every day and every night.
No, she grabbed her purse and headed home. She wouldn’t humiliate herself. Anna wanted to glance back and see if he was as stunned by their interlude as she was, but she refrained. Because if he was watching her, too much would be revealed in her eyes at that moment.
She drove home with warbled thoughts and once she arrived she had no recollection of the journey. But she had a play by play recollection of what had just happened between her and her boss.
Cayden was her boss, she reminded herself. Anna had always loathed woman who used sex to advance their careers and now she feared being one of them. Although he only fucked her after congratulating her on a job well done. Fuck. It was such a crude word but what they had just done had been driven by lust, not love.
When she walked into his office this afternoon, she wanted nothing more than to get in and out quickly before the others left. But time had flown as they had discussed the various options and taglines. While they were going over the options Anna had felt her opinion was valued. His praise had both satisfied and shocked her. He chose one of her hooks without any changes, not even the artwork needed to be modified.
So was it really sleeping your way to the top if you did your job well and there wasn’t a promotion in sight? Anna unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside.
Finally the fragrant candles she had placed throughout the apartment had transformed the scent from industrial cleaner to home. She placed her bag on the kitchen island and headed straight to the shower.
She needed to wash away the sex along with all thoughts of Cayden. Although she wasn’t sure her soap would be strong enough.
The following morning Cayden wasn’t in his office when Anna arrived. It didn’t bother her; she tried to fool herself as she repeated it over and over in her mind. He was the boss; he could come and go as he pleased. And yet she missed him.
Obviously her thorough soak and scrub last night didn’t work. She still wanted him. Wanted to feel his hands glide along her body, feel him rock inside her.
“Anna.”
Anna’s head bobbed up straight at the sound of Elizabeth’s voice. “Yes? What can I do for you?”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes before smiling tersely. “Not for me for Cayden, he asked me to ask you to meet him downstairs, now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, he’s waiting for you.”
Anna nodded and pushed away from her desk. This couldn’t be good. Why would he want to see her in the restaurant at 9am in the morning? It wasn’t even open yet. Shit, she thought as she headed downstairs, he’s going to fire me.
Anna swallowed the fear down and started thinking of a comeback. He was eager the first time and all but jumped her last night. He can’t fire her for wanting her can he?
As Anna walked into the restaurant she noticed Cayden sitting in the furthest corner by the window. The restaurant was eerily quiet. No chatter of guests, music from the stereo or the clatter of pots from the kitchen to break it. Only a few lights were switched on in main areas, the rest would be switched on at 10am when the kitchen staff arrived. In the eerily quiet restaurant with morning light highlighting his features, he took Anna’s breath away.
She walked towards him letting her eyes travel over the interior of the restaurant, anything but eye contact.
“Hi Anna, thanks for joining me.” Cayden said and stood to welcome her.
“I’m not sure why I’m joining you, something wrong with your office?”
His mouth stretched wide in a sexy smile as he sat down, his delicious scent drifting over her. “No, please sit down.”
Anna nodded and sat down across from him.
“The reason I asked you to meet me here is because my office tends to have eyes and ears.” He winked and Anna realized he spoke about Elizabeth.
Even though she sat on the opposite side of the building, Elizabeth knew everyone’s business.
“Right, so what so confidential? Are you firing me?” Anna asked petulantly.
Cayden laughed a sonorous sound in the empty restaurant. “And why would I fire you Anna? You’ve proven yourself to be an essential part of my team. You basically single-handedly arranged a Tuesday Night Special from concept to execution and you’ve given the storage room new life.”
Anna smiled relieved. “Alright, so what is it?”
Cayden chewed his cheek and narrowed his eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Anna flicked a look over her shoulder and leaned forward whispering, “Cayden you can’t talk about that here?”
“The security cameras are off for maintenance, the staff is only coming in at ten and to be quite fucking frank Anna, I can’t wait until tonight to talk to you. I barely slept last night.”
Anna kept quiet and watched him.
“And to be honest I wasn’t sure you’d agree to see me tonight.”
Anna nodded and cocked a brow indicating he should continue.
Cayden took a deep breath and rested his forearms on the table. “I don’t know what this is between us, but I know I can’t ignore it. I can’t ignor
e you.”
“Cayden, you’re my boss. I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“I know, and that’s why I’ve come up with a plan.”
“A plan?”
“I want to sleep with you Anna, as frequent as I possibly can.” That arrogant smile of his turned her knees week under the table and had heat pooling to her groin. “So I don’t think we should stop. Let’s just keep it separate from work. No one needs to know, it can be our secret.”
Anna wanted to say no, she wanted to deny him if only to ensure her reputation would be safe, but she found herself nodding, “me too.”
Cayden let out a deep breath. “Shit, I’m glad you agreed. I’ve been hard for you since you walked out on me last night.”
Anna couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips or the satisfying feeling that swept through her. She affected him as much as he affected her.
“Can I see you tonight?” Cayden asked reaching for her hand across the table.
Excitement pulsed through her system at the thought of having a whole night with him. “I’d like that,” Anna said trying her best not to jump him.
“Great.” He checked his watched and flashed her a grin. “Only ten hours to go.” Cayden stood and smiled at her briefly before heading upstairs to the office.
As Anna sat and digested what had just happened a feeling of shame or something close settled over her. It would be their little secret. Somehow it felt like Anna was his dirty little secret, and the first time in years she felt like the girl from the trailer park no one was allowed to know about.
CHAPTER 11
“I’d call that a great success.” Elizabeth said as she walked up the stairs to the office with Cayden. They had been gone for two days visiting some of the franchises. For Cayden it had felt like two months.
Ever since he and Anna had started their secret affair they had spent almost every night together. Over the past few weeks he had gotten three hours of sleep per night at most. He had her in every position and on every surface in her apartment. And although her apartment was small, they had gotten creative. For some reason she had insisted he come to her, she hadn’t even been to his apartment yet.