"It will give you experience working in China."
"Bit of a consolation prize."
And they would be within two hours of each other. He could go see her on the weekends and vice versa. They could keep this going, but it was obviously a consolation prize to her. Couldn't lie and say it didn't sting.
"The guys are getting together in some bar. They told me to ask you," he lied.
"I saw something about it before." Good, they hadn't been inconsiderate pricks. "Not sure I'm in the mood."
"What are you in the mood for? I'm fucking starving."
Sitting down on a chair with her knee up, Mercy smiled tightly. She was wearing sweats and a t-shirt.
With a sigh, he looked at her. "Mr. Holland thinks you're a bright, young asset that he wants to develop. He would be more than happy to keep you here in Asia. There's more than just this job. If you leave now, you'll be skipping out on something that could work out really well, and I'm not just talking about you and me."
Biting her lip, she considered him and pure heat shot down into Lukas' body. She looked so sexy when she did that. "Seriously, though, I need to eat. And we should drop in on the boys. You did drag them all the way over here."
"I suppose," she finally said. He figured drawing on her innate sense of professionalism would get her eventually, once the shock had worn off.
"Some stupid little muffin thing is all I've had to eat today. My hands are going to start shaking soon."
"Are you blackmailing me? You're not going to get me to feel sorry for you. You have a job."
"Take the job in Guangzhou. We can hang out every weekend."
"I can't be in a relationship with you and have you as my boss."
"Why not? I am very reasonable. You'll like my discipline."
Mercy snorted, but Lukas was pleased, because he felt a little like he had her back—for now. The bigger issue was getting her to stay. The project management job reporting to him wasn't ideal, but it was a means of keeping her here permanently.
Chewing her lips for a moment, she considered him. "What do you want to eat?"
"Italian," he said. There was a nice, and rather expensive, Italian restaurant in the hotel, which meant it wouldn't take long. "Then maybe go for a couple of drinks with the boys."
"Fine," she said. "I'll change." Picking some black garment off the floor, she went into the bathroom.
Lukas lay back on her bed. "If you prefer to stay here and get naked, I would happily starve a bit longer."
"Don't push your luck," he heard from the bathroom. "I'm still outrageously annoyed with you."
"Will you still be annoyed with me at the end of the night?" With everything in him, he hoped not, because he still needed to be inside her at some point that night. "I'll let you hurt me if it makes you feel better."
"You are a twisted man, Lukas," she said, coming out wearing a black dress. Unfair. That dress was going to tease him all night. She couldn't leave; he wouldn't let her. All he wanted to do was take it off, even as his belly growled with displeasure.
13
RUNNING HER FINGERS lightly over Lukas abdomen, Mercy felt the slow, steady breaths. It was morning, the sun had risen and the city was probably frantically busy, but the noise and bustle were kept at a distance in the hotel room. Everything was quiet and Lukas slept. Actually, he was adorable when he slept.
They would spend the day together and she had determined to put all questions of what would happen after, out of her head. Obviously, she needed to go back to the office and pack up before she left, but no one had let her know about flights or anything yet. But there really wasn't any point in her hanging around. She'd lost the contest and now she was simply the loser hanging around like the proverbial bad smell.
Lukas still wanted her here, which was sweet, but it wasn't really up to him. The project manager job wasn't really an option either, and he knew it too, but she understood why he’d asked. It wasn't the right step for her career, and she wasn't the kind of girl to give up her career for a guy, particularly not one she'd known for a month—to then report to that guy, which in and of itself would turn into a nightmare.
Laying her hand flat, she felt his warm skin under her palm, feeling the muscles as she ran her hand along. He really was lovely and she felt the tingle of heat rearing inside her. If they really had a chance, she couldn't tell. This could all just be the passion and intensity of the business proposal, being thrown together in a foreign city, but it was lovely for what it was.
What they would do today, she didn't know. If they didn't end up leaving the hotel room, that wouldn’t be a shame, but equally, this was probably her last chance to explore Hong Kong. Come the start of next week, she needed to head back to the States. Her old job would be waiting for her until she decided on what would be her next course of action. Even though she didn't get the job, this project would have upped her value within the company.
Hunger started to gnaw inside her belly and she thought about getting up and ordering an omelet. Lukas liked the full English breakfast. Maybe she should order for the both of them. It would mean pulling herself from this warm and cozy cocoon. Time was running out for them and they may not have an opportunity to lie like this again. Well, hopefully they would have tomorrow, but she couldn't count on it.
Hunger drove her out of bed and she pulled on a t-shirt and walked over to the table where the menu lay. The pictures of steaming cups of coffee decided it for her and she picked up the phone and ordered.
Replacing the receiver, she sat down on the sofa and looked out on the harbor scene below. Yep, the city was alive and on the move. It never seemed to calm. Maybe they could take the ferry to Macau and wander around a bit, but it would mean they couldn't retreat here if they felt the need to. Still, it might be worth it.
A groan drew her attention and she turned to see Lukas drawing his hand over his belly where she had traced her fingers just before, as if he felt the aftereffects of her touch. "Come to bed," he croaked.
"The food will be here soon."
"We can be quick."
Mercy smiled. "You're going to have to be a good boy and wait."
"So cruel," he said and he turned his head, slipping away into sleep again. Mercy watched him, his chest bare, the sheet covering his lower half.
She couldn't begrudge him his victory. He had won, and in a way, she was proud of him, even if it was at her own expense. Nothing about this situation was his fault, and with his years living in Asia, he did have an advantage over her.
Sitting still, she waited for the food and simply watching him linger between sleep and consciousness. What did he dream about? But then she looked away. She had to leave here soon.
The chime of the doorbell eventually told her their food was there and her mouth watered. Lukas heard it too and he rolled out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans while Mercy walked to the door. The t-shirt was long enough to not be completely indecent, and she smiled at the young woman who appeared in a neat uniform, pushing a cart with a white tablecloth and covered plates. "Your breakfast, madam," she said and pushed the cart inside.
"Thank you." You didn't tip here and trying to resulted in awkwardness, she had learnt. The girl lifted the plates and the coffee cups and pot to the table, then left quickly. The smell of coffee filled the room.
Lukas sat down and lifted the cover off his plate. "Excellent."
Before she could sit however, her phone rang. Who could be calling her? Okay, maybe it wasn't exactly early. She didn't recognize the number, but then she had none of the Hong Kong numbers programmed into her phone except for Lukas'.
"Hello."
"Mercy," she heard Mr. Holland's voice.
"Hi, Mr. Holland. How are you?" She shrugged when Lukas looked over at her. "Are you at the office?"
"Just for a couple of hours. Now, I need to speak to you."
"Oh?"
"Well, I would like for you to go to Thailand and repeat what we just did."
"Thail
and?"
Lukas looked over at her sharply, listening intently.
"We have an opportunity with the defense force over there, and since you now have experience pushing solutions of this kind, I could use you over there."
"Uhh."
"I could use someone who goes where the projects are across the region here. It would mean a bit of moving around, but it would be an exciting job."
"Uhh, I don't know what—"
"We can send you over to the Bangkok office next week and then you can decide if you want to stay on. Unless you have something else on the go."
"Take it," Lukas said.
"Is that Lukas?" Mr. Holland asked.
"Yes, we're breakfasting together this morning," she said, trying to make it sound perfectly normal. He didn't need to know they were half naked. Then she brought her mind back to the discussion at hand. "I guess I could."
"Excellent. I'll have Jasmine book your tickets. It's a bit of a rush project, but you can handle that."
"Oh, okay," Mercy said, still trying to wrap her mind around what she'd just been talked into. In fact, Mr. Holland wasn't taking no for an answer and had hung up before she could say anything else.
Stunned, she put her phone down.
"Bangkok," Lukas said. "Only three hours flight away." He seemed pleased. A three-hour flight or a two-hour train ride wasn't perhaps all that different. It meant they could spend weekends together. "It's a good role. If you wanted Asia experience, this is going to give it to you in spades. I'm almost a bit jealous."
Her stomach was too much in uproar to eat for a moment. She would be staying nearby, cruising around Asian countries to wherever they had something on the go. The role would still report to Mr. Holland and would probably require her coming back to Hong Kong quite often. It would work out really well.
But she didn't get a chance to eat, because Lukas lifted her out of her seat and carried her to bed, placing her down so he could kiss her. "I guess you are here to stay," he said, settling down between her legs, pitched on his elbows. "Isn't that interesting."
"Is it?"
"Very."
"I think Mr. Holland knows we're sleeping together."
"You would have to be blind not to see it," Lukas replied. Leaning down, he kissed her, deepening it and grinding his body to hers. Heat flared deep inside her. It took very little—a mere touch and her body was drenched in desire. Trailing her fingers down, they ran over the firm curve of his backside, the taste of him still on her lips.
"My food is going to get cold," she said with a smile as he released her from the kiss.
"Don't care."
* * *
The End
Other books by Camille Oster
Rules of the Game - D’Arth Series.
Jane Burrows knows that the corporate environment is difficult to navigate at the best of times. It is especially difficult when the important account lead hates the very sight of her. Damon D'Arth is a corporate warrior who knows his way around the politics in the world for major infrastructure. Jane needs to stand up for herself and her mentor's interests.
This job is the key to Jane's future and she's been given a great opportunity, but now she needs to prove that her promotion was justified. She just isn't sure she can survive in this high-pressure environment with hidden dangers and equal exhilaration. Her mentor's support is the only thing that is keeping D'Arth from ripping her to pieces.
* * *
Marbella Nights - Marbella Series – Playboys, gold-diggers and general bitchiness.
The exclusive enclave that is Marbella in Spain, playground for the rich and the well-connected, holds many secrets and it’s hard to know what's real sometimes. Quentin Cartright grew up in this rarefied atmosphere, with every delight at his fingertips. But being part of the right crowd doesn’t necessarily assure real success when temptation and entitlement lingers.
The warm days and hot nights have also called to Adelaide Simon and Trish Daly, regular girls from downunder, seeking adventure and fun in a place with incomprehensible rules and structures. They’ve learned that the glitter of Marbella hides a multitude of sins, especially as Marbella also draws the ambitious—those seeking entry into the most exclusive circles, who will do anything to get where they want to be.
https://www.camilleoster.com/books
About the Author
I live in New Zealand and as a writer am a notorious genre hopper, including contemporary romance, historical romance, fantasy and murder mystery.
I love complex and flawed characters, and a story with high stakes.
www.camilleoster.com
Mail Room Delight
Khardine Gray
Mail Room Delight
Copyright © 2018 by Khardine Gray
All rights reserved.
* * *
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The author asserts that all characters and situations depicted in this work of fiction are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Mail Room Delight
A kiss is just a kiss.
No, actually it’s not.
Especially if the man you’re kissing is your boss.
Nothing could have prepared me for the trouble that damn kiss caused.
But honestly, if I must be honest, trouble probably came well before the kiss.
It started with that drunken note I left him telling him that he needed to get laid or possibly have a sex marathon. Then, as if that wasn’t bad enough I told him to contact me if he needed to discuss things further.
As if the super gorgeous, drool worthy, Jason Dempsey needed a break down of my take on how to get laid.
It was all trouble, all of it. The kiss, the note, him.
I know this, but still, I can’t resist his charm and it’s fruitless to even try.
All he has to do is walk into my office dressed in that suit of seduction and the world fades away.
Who could resist a man like that?
1
Paige
I giggled as I looked over the wad of paper in my hands. It came from a bunch of emails the new boss sent me.
His suggestions were so ridiculous I had to print them off to show Bernice, and maybe I secretly wanted to keep them to show others.
Apparently, my advice column needed to have more heart.
Right, that was real funny since I was the queen of hearts. The queen of romance.
I was Ask Paige.
That was me. Portrait Magazine’s relationship advice columnist.
I’d won several reader’s choice awards and several other awards I couldn’t think of now because the wine was starting to make my head spin.
But yet, this man…
I glanced at the top of the email again to get his name.
Jason Dempsey, that was his name. My new boss, the new owner of Portrait.
He wanted me to have more heart. That was at the top of the list of suggestions he had for my advice column that had made this magazine millions.
The emails were ten pages long with his lists of suggested things I needed to change.
I hadn’t met him yet. I’d been avoiding his requests for meetings to discuss my column, so he’d emailed.
“I think I may have to agree a little.” Bernice sai
d holding up the bottle of wine. I laughed as she tipped her head back and downed the rest.
I laughed even more when she brought her hand to her head and shook it sending her dark locks all over the place.
She looked a mess, and I know I did too.
We could be so bad sometimes. I knew we could have scheduled tonight’s drinking activities some place more appropriate. A bar, at either of our homes – mine might have been better because I had room for her to stay over – or heck we could have gone to my office.
Instead we came here, to the mail room. Bernice worked down here. She managed the team of workers who took care of the mail, but most of all she was the last person to sign off on all the proofs for the magazine on a Wednesday. She’d do this just before the final versions of Portrait went out to the printers to be prepped and ready every Friday for release.
“You agree with him?” I asked wrinkling my nose at her. How dare she? She was supposed to be on my side. “You don’t think I have heart?”
I looked at her, eager to hear what she had to say. There was no way that Bernice could agree that I had no heart.
“I do. It’s just how you express yourself. It’s like a donkey telling a chicken to mate with a pig.”
I burst out laughing. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
“Please, clarify.”
“I’m drunk. I can’t.”
We both started giggling again, then burst into fits of laughter. I drank the rest of the wine in my glass. I was drunk too. There was no point denying it, and no point making a perfectly good glass of fine wine go to waste.
We didn’t usually do this on a work night. It was only Wednesday.
I brought this today to cheer Bernice up because she needed it. Yesterday she found out that her ex-boyfriend, Tom, was getting married.
Seduction in a Suit: An Office Romance Collection Page 105