Seduction in a Suit: An Office Romance Collection

by Monica Corwin

  I guided her to our suite. It was a room on the first floor with glass windows and a glass floor. I had it designed to make it look like you were floating above the crowd in a glass jar. We can see outside, but no one can see in.

  We also have volume control and I turned the music down to make it more background music so we can talk.

  She looked mesmerized by the place, and the room. I liked watching her walk around looking at everything. When she turned back to face me I smiled again and point towards the booth. Bill has already seen to it that we have a choice of wine and other drinks.

  She sat opposite me and rested her hands in her lap.

  “You can sit next to me if you want.” I would have preferred for her to sit in my lap but next to me would be a start. “I don’t bite, unless if you want me to.”

  She rolled her eyes and moved closer to me, so she can still face me. The motion made her dress ride up her thighs showing me a little more of her golden skin. I’m dying here, trying my hardest to keep my hands to myself.

  I felt that electricity again between us, and I know she has to feel it too. It couldn’t just be me. I was usually right about my instincts and feelings when I use them, and I knew I was right now.

  “Okay Mr. Dempsey,” she began with her head tilted to the side.

  “Jason.” I cut in before she could continue. I wanted her to call me Jason, and not in that emphasized way that she said it yesterday.

  “Jason.” She said with a slight raise of her brows.

  It wasn’t what I wanted but it would do for now.

  “Yes, sweet thing.”

  She looked at me and tried to look annoyed but I could see that something in her had indeed softened since yesterday.

  “Other than this looking like an obvious date why am I here? This doesn’t look like we’re here for work.”

  “This is a date.” I clarified to her horror.

  “You tricked me.” She stated giving me a pointed look.

  “Nope. Paige I didn’t trick you one bit. Baby, if you suspected this was a date and didn’t want to be here with me, you wouldn’t have turned up. And definitely not dressed like that.” I loved stating the obvious, but I knew most people weren’t used to being around someone so blatant.

  I couldn’t help how I was, and wouldn’t change my character or personality for anything. Whoever is with me friend, foe, or lover, will always get the truth from me. It’s a given that I’m actually proud of.

  It means I don’t lie or cheat, and they know that what they get from me is the real me.

  “I came for my column and I always look good.” She retorted.

  I noticed the way how she’s still here.

  Her purse is next to her. The logical and normal thing to do if she didn’t want to be here on a date with me was to grab her purse and leave.

  I could have pointed that out to her but I restrained myself because in the short space of time that I knew her I’d managed to assess her personality.

  Paige liked to have the upper hand, so when challenged she’d retaliate by doing something a level above what she’d previously done. If I pushed her she would leave.

  Since I wanted her to stay I decided not to push.

  “Do you know what JLM stands for?” I asked steering the conversation towards work.

  “Not so much.”

  “Just like me. It stands for just like me.”

  “Just like me club.” She smirked. “That’s a little weird. I would have thought most people came to clubs for a quick pick up on the easiest person they could find.”

  “True, for most clubs I guess. But not this one. What’s your take on dating sites. Imagine someone writes in and asks you your opinion.”

  “I’d say that’s a great place to find serial killers and perverts so stay far away.” She nodded with conviction.

  “So you rule out all dating sites?”

  “Of course.”

  “What if I said there were some that were safe and transparent in everything they profess to do.”

  “It’s online. It’s not natural.” She argued.

  “Maybe so but in these modern times with everyone so busy, being online is often the only way that people can meet. I’m not saying that it’s the only way but it’s a way. Look at the people around us and tell me what you see.”

  She did as instructed and looked, gazing through the glass window at the couples on the dance floor and all around having fun as they danced to the music.

  The answer I was looking for was happiness. I looked too and both saw and felt it.

  “They look happy, like they’re having fun.”

  “They’re all couples. Married and dating. They all met on the Just Like Me website where they found someone who was just like them. Some have been together for years. They come here for the environment. There’s no pressure to meet someone, they’re just here having a good time.”

  She looked back to me with that raised eyebrow again. “You sure know an awful lot about the place.”

  “The owner usually does.” I smiled.

  Her glossy pink lips parted in surprise. “You own this place?”

  “Yup, and the site.”

  She looked intrigued. “Why? I wouldn’t figure you for being someone who would own such things. Wait, it must make a lot of money. Right?”

  “I don’t care about money.” I knew that sounded weird, because who didn’t care about money? I’d been born into wealth and raised by good people. My parents taught me that money was just a thing. What mattered in life were the things you couldn’t put a price on. Things like family, precious memories, love, opportunities. They’d always encouraged me to seek after those things if I wanted to be rich.

  “That’s interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that.” She does look intrigued, which means she’s warming up to me.

  “I’m not like most people sweet thing.”

  “So why would you do this?” she opened her palms.

  “Because people like you and I can make a difference in some small way. Women look to you for guidance. They see you as someone who they want to emulate. Strong-willed, successful and beautiful. Good advice is worth its weight in gold. That’s why you need to be careful with what you say, especially to those who look up to you.” I smiled when I saw that I struck a nerve. “And me. I provide a safe environment, online and off where people can get connected. They know that when they come to my club, or go on my site everything is exactly as it should be. My company takes all measures necessary to do this. So there aren’t any hidden surprises, would-be criminals or people with bad intentions luring others into a trap.”

  I held her gaze as she listened to me. “Oh. That’s really good…” she looked back to the crowd and I noticed something in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before. I couldn’t quite describe what that was though.

  “There’s a lot of people here. I can’t believe they all matched up from a dating site. How?” Again she looked back to me, intrigued.

  “They find someone who’s just like them.” I answered. The simplicity of my answer shocked her.

  “Do you know how hard that is?

  “No. It’s simple.” I laughed at the stern look she gave me.

  “It’s not simple. It’s a hard process.”

  “Process? You think it’s a process?” It actually didn’t surprise me that she thought that.

  “Of course. You have to be sure that you match properly.” She insisted.

  “Yeah sure, but that doesn’t have a process. People who truly match don’t care about process.”

  “Well there must be a process with all of this.” She insisted.

  “No. They simply go online and start talking, if they are interested to meet they meet here and take it from there.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like that, and with added peace of mind.”

  She looked like she wanted to challenge me again, so I thought of what I could do to challenge her ins
tead.

  “It’s that simple?” she asked.

  “Yes Paige, when people click there is no process. Like how we’re clicking right now.” I knew I’d grab her attention by saying that.

  “We’re not clicking. This is a work thing and you’re my boss.”

  “News flash sweet thing we aren’t at work, and yes we are clicking. There was no process to that. Just raw emotion.”

  “I don’t have any emotion towards you, other than annoyance.” She blinked a few times, lashes long and thick over her green eyes.

  “I beg to differ.”

  “Are you kidding me? Of course I’m annoyed at you.”

  “But you also like me.”

  “No, not really.” She shook her head.

  “Okay, well if that’s true kiss me.” I laughed again at the look on her face. I was done talking about work now. I said what I wanted to say and made my point, which simply was she was a source that people turned to, and she needed to consider more than what she did when she gave advice.

  I thought that I’d gotten the point across too, if only in small amounts. It was enough to at least make her think.

  Now on to better things, which the shocked look on her face told me was going to take some maneuvering.

  I looked over her lips and felt the desire for the kiss take me.

  “I’m not kissing you.” She smirked. “You must be insane.”

  “Are you scared you may feel something?” Here was my play. If she took this one level ahead of me her instinct would be to prove me wrong. She could only do that by kissing me.

  “No. I know I don’t feel anything.”

  “Right, I see. You’re scared you may like me more than you already do,” I chuckled.

  “I don’t and I’m not.”

  “Okay so kiss me. Prove me wrong. Show me that we don’t click and I won’t hit on you again.” Excitement swelled within me as I noted the change in her demeanor. She looked like she was considering it.

  “So the kiss will give me freedom from you?”

  “Yes sweet thing? I know you aren’t seeing anyone so you have no excuses.” I was trying hard now not to just take hold of her tiny waist and pull her on to my lap. “Come here.” I crooked my finger at her, beckoning her to come closer.

  She looked uncertain at first, so I made the first move and tried to act like I couldn’t feel the excitement that rippled through me. It was the anticipation of claiming a difficult woman.

  God, she actually looked nervous. That guard she’d placed up at being so tough and not interested in me was fading.

  She was still as I lowered to her lips. I paused for a second so I could see what it was like to be so close to her. I savoured the look she gave me and proceeded to her lips.

  The minute I pressed my lips to hers I felt a blast of energy wash over me. My lips actually burn from the intensity, and the heat.

  She jumped back, pulling away before we really got going and looked panicked.

  I knew she felt that surge too. I could see it written all over her face.

  “I can’t.” She said through a labored breath.

  “Why?” I needed her again. The kiss was too brief.

  “I…” she looked worried.

  “It’s just kissing Paige.” I assured her, because I saw that she wanted me too. “It doesn’t have to mean anything. It’s just kissing.”

  “Just kissing.” She breathed.

  I smiled as she inched back to me. I lowered to her lips again and relished the moment she truly dropped her guard and kissed me back too.

  8

  Paige

  My body tingled everywhere.

  There wasn’t an ounce of me left that I could control, and I felt my consciousness leave me the more he kissed me.

  The mere touch of his hand sent a jolt of electricity through me and I couldn’t control the intense need I had for more.

  Kissing him shattered my control and the guard I’d placed up to shield my heart from everything.

  All I knew in this moment here and now was that I wanted him and nothing else mattered.

  His tongue explored the recesses of my mouth, and I explored him too, loving the taste of him.

  He tasted like something forbidden, like pure, raw temptation that I needed so badly. His kiss sent spirals of ecstasy through me quenching my thirst, filling the hunger I didn’t even know I felt.

  I was only mildly aware of his hand creeping up the side of my waist. When his fingers brushed the underside of my breasts I wanted him to touch me more, to take me right here.

  And, it was that sudden, intense want that knocked my senses back into me.

  This wasn’t just kissing. There was too much passion, too much desire.

  Just too much.

  I wasn’t ready for what he had to offer. I wasn’t ready for this kiss, and if I didn’t stop now I would allow him to take me if he wanted to.

  I moved back again. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  Confusion filled his handsome face and he caught my arm before I could move.

  “Paige stay. It’s just kissing.”

  “It’s not.” I shook my head at him. No way in hell was that just kissing.

  “Okay, it wasn’t. It can be more.” He stared at me, and I swore he could see how lonely I must be. “It can be more if you want it to be.”

  I hated myself for admitting that I do want more. I want it to be more. But I’m not ready and I didn’t know him well enough to explain that.

  He was the first man I’d kissed in three years. I didn’t know why I felt that I wouldn’t feel anything when I kissed him.

  “Jason, I can’t.” That took strength. “I just…”

  Frustration filled me, and I felt annoyed at myself now. When he released me I moved and didn’t look back.

  I just went straight to my car and drove home.

  As I stepped through the door the first thing I saw was the large wedding picture of Paul and I.

  It was the larger version to the picture I had in the bedroom. I looked at his smiling face as he looked at me in my truly beautiful dress and I felt so bad tears filled my eyes.

  I knew I agreed that I would try to let him go. I agreed to it earlier when I spoke to Bernice but then my readers and my work was on my mind. I decided that meeting Jason tonight was about that.

  But that wasn’t the complete truth.

  I had to be honest with myself about this. There must have been some part of me that wanted to see Jason outside of those reasons. A part of me that wanted to give in to that attraction that sparked between us.

  And maybe that was the part of me that wanted some ounce of a normal life. It was the part of me that wanted to feel. It wanted to feel wanted, desired, emotions.

  Jason had awakened that part of me tonight. It was pure and simply the person I used to be. The part of me had a name.

  It was the old Paige.

  The problem was I wasn’t sure that awakening her was a good thing, because then I’d really be letting Paul go.

  I didn’t bother to hide the fact that something was wrong with me when I saw Bernice the next day.

  As I walked into the mail room she took one look at me and knew.

  I told her all that happened and it felt good to get it off my chest.

  “Dios Mios.” She gasped when I was finished. She took a sip of her mocha and rested it back on the table.

  “Is that all you can say?” I widened my eyes at her.

  “Yes. Come on you know that was an oh my God moment. The Spanish was for greater effect. I could add Santa Maria too.”

  “This isn’t funny Bernice. He’s my boss.”

  Bernice laughed. “You know there’s no restriction on office romance here. And hey, you know that wouldn’t stop most people if such a rule existed. I must also make you aware that at least ninety percent of the women here are planning on how they can get their hands on him. me included, except now that he’s yours he’s off limits to me.”

/>   “No, he’s not mine. I barely know him.” I thought saying all the things I knew I should be thinking about would help. Like that advice about reading aloud. It did something to your brain to make the information stick better.

  “Sweetie, you know you’re talking to me right? I think I’m the one person you can be real with. You can tell me how you feel, not how you think you should feel.” Bernice laughed when I didn’t answer.

  “I feel bad.”

  “Why?” she glared at me. “The man is super hot Paige.”

  “I know, but he’s…the last man I was with was Paul. I haven’t been on a date in three years.”

  Bernice’s mouth dropped. I knew that would come as a complete shock to her. That was my fault for making her think otherwise. I’d always talked about the guys that asked me out and I guessed that she’d assumed I’d gone out with them.

  I didn’t. Again, I wasn’t ready.

  “What are you saying to me?”

  “I know.”

  “I thought you’d dated. I’m sorry I didn’t –”

  “No. It was a sensitive subject. You don’t have to apologize.” That really was my fault. It was part of the same problem of my friends and family not knowing when they could talk to me about Paul.

  I gave them permission by talking about the subject first, and I figured they’d gaged the conversation based on what I said. Going further and asking for details would maybe seem insensitive on their part.

  I thought I’d feel like that if our situations were reversed.

  “Paige,” Bernice lowered her voice. “Are you saying you haven’t had sex in three years? Maybe more given the length of time Paul was sick.”

  I actually laughed, but then I nodded and brought my hands up to my cheeks.

  “Dios mios. Lord girl. We have to fix that.”

  “No, I…” I looked away and fixed my gaze on the stacks of shelves with the different compartments for the mail.