by Ella Arden
Chloe must see something in my face. “They don’t think you’re that bad,” she says lightly. “A jerk sometimes, sure, but your employees respect you and the work you put in. I’d rather work for a boss like you than some pushover who doesn’t care.”
Her answer is surprisingly sincere.
“Do you think I’m a jerk?” I ask her, only half joking.
She hesitates and her soft brown eyes meet mine. “I’m...not sure. Some days, maybe. But I imagine you must be under a lot of pressure and I see how much you do. Still, I don’t think it would hurt you to be a bit more considerate.”
Immediately, she looks like she wishes she could take the words back but I don’t care. I like how she’s never afraid to speak her mind. Her boldness is sexy and no one else talks to me the way she does.
“Considerate, huh?”
She huffs out a little laugh. “Yeah, you know, like telling someone when they do something right instead of just pointing out what they’ve done wrong. Saying thank you. Acting like you don’t take people for granted. Giving them a choice sometimes.”
There's a bitter tinge to her words. “You seem to feel quite strongly about this.”
Her eyebrow goes up. “Well, I might have had dinner plans with my mom tonight. I haven’t seen her in a while and it was her birthday yesterday. I had to cancel since you didn’t think it was worth asking if I had a previous engagement.”
Guilt sucker-punches me in the stomach. No wonder she’s angry. And hearing her point this out makes me wonder what other asshole moves I’ve made with her.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her sincerely. “I forget sometimes that just because this job has become my life, it’s not that way for everyone. I’ll try to be more considerate in the future if you agree to be honest with me when you have other plans.”
She gifts me a sweet little smile. “I’d say that’s a more than fair deal, Mr. Decker. And for the record, I would have stayed. It's just nice to feel like I have a choice sometimes.”
I have no doubt she would have. “Call me Holden, please.” As much as I love the way she says it, Mr. Decker was my father and I want to hear my name on her lips.
Her smile broadens. “Okay, Holden. I suppose, since I’ve already insulted you several times tonight and we might die in here, you’re welcome to call me Chloe.”
I can’t help but laugh. “We’re not going to die. I’m sure the fire department will be here soon.”
Though, I can think of much worse ways to spend my night then trapped in an elevator with Chloe Johnson. I certainly won’t be upset if they take their time.
“Will your dog be okay if you’re late?” I ask, and her eyes go wide with surprise. “I saw you have a picture of him on your desk.”
“That’s Blue. I asked my sister to stop by and feed him since I was working late tonight.” Her whole body softens when she talks about him. “He’ll be fine, he just gets a bit mopey when I’m not home on time. A big drama queen.”
I know exactly what she means. “My dog, Cooper, is the same way. I mean, he’s used to me getting home late by now, but he still gives me the silent treatment every time. He’ll sit in the middle of the kitchen and refuse to look at me for at least five minutes.”
She laughs, eyes crinkling adorably. “I didn’t know you had a dog. He sounds like he’d get along with Blue.”
I pull out my phone and pull up a picture of Cooper. He’s a German Shepard that I rescued last year and he has those big ears and soft eyes people can never resist. Sure enough, Chloe leans across the space between us to look, cooing at him. He is definitely getting a treat when I get home.
Her eyes flick up to me and I realize how close we are. I could easily lean down and kiss her, pull her to me with no effort. There’s a look in her eyes, a thick tension in the air that makes me think she wouldn’t mind.
She clears her throat softly and sits back against the opposite wall, looking away. I can see her fingers digging into her skirt, her thighs pressing together tightly.
This is going to be the most torturous wait of my life.
CHAPTER THREE
CHLOE
It feels like we’ve been here forever and the air is beyond stuffy. I’m sweating, flushed, and my hair is stuck to my neck—a flattering look, I’m sure.
“It’s ridiculously hot in here,” I huff, shifting uncomfortably on the floor.
Mr. Decker—or, Holden, at least while we’re trapped in here—just looks sexier than usual with a slight sheen of sweat on his golden skin.
“Agreed. I would kill for a glass of water.”
Ugh, that makes two of us. All I’ve got in my purse are mints and a granola bar, neither of which are particularly thirst quenching. And now I just feel even hotter imagining a cool glass of water.
It’s not just the physical heat of being trapped in here—talking with Holden has made my whole body hot. Seeing this nice, caring side of him is beyond dangerous. It’s making my brain feel fuzzy, like the fact that he’s my boss really shouldn’t matter when I’m this ridiculously attracted to him.
My fingers go to the buttons of my pink blouse. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, “I know this is unprofessional but I’m dying.” I’ve got a tank top on underneath but I still feel self conscious when Holden’s eyes are on me as I shrug out of my blouse. I don’t feel much better but at least it isn’t sticking against my skin anymore. For good measure, I shift against the floor, hiking my skirt up to mid-thigh. Nothing scandalous but enough to let more of the slightly cooler metal floor press against my skin.
His eyes leave scorching trails across my body as he watches. Electricity crackles in the air between us and I lick my lips.
Before, it was just harmless attraction. Now, it’s something more. Desire and need.
“Don’t apologize,” Holden rumbles, his voice deeper than usual. “That's a good idea.” As I watch, he slips his tie free of his neck then undoes a few of his buttons. I try not to stare at the bare skin of his collarbone and chest and completely fail.
He moves to his cuffs, struggling with the small buttons for a second.
“Here, let me.” I don’t know why the words are coming out of my mouth but it’s too late to take them back. Our eyes meet and something inside me shivers with excitement.
I cross the small space between us, kneeling beside him. I can feel the heat of his body and smell the sandalwood of his masculine cologne. When I lean in to undo the buttons of his cuff, I can barely breathe.
I undo the first one, letting my fingertips brush and linger against the skin of his wrist where I can feel his pulse racing. Before I can move to the second cuff though, he grabs my wrist, stilling my hand.
“Chloe,” he rasps, and the sound of my name said so roughly sends heat racing down my spine. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I think I do,” I whisper, meeting his eyes.
He looks hungry.
And when he leans in to kiss me, his mouth devours mine.
His hands twist in my hair as he kisses me desperately, tongue plunging between my lips to taste me. His mouth is hot and demanding against mine, his kiss almost bruising in its intensity, and I can’t get enough. I cradle his jaw in my hands, catching his lower lip between my teeth as he groans. Heat flares between my legs at the sound.
God, what am I doing? This is my boss. I should be pushing him away and making it very clear this isn’t going to happen.
Except I want it to. I want him. There’s no point in denying it, my body is screaming at me to finally give into the tension between us. Tension that I’ve been struggling to control since the first day I met him, if I’m being honest.
I sink into his kiss with a moan, arching into his body, urging him on. I can tell that I’m not the only one who spent these last few weeks thinking about this.
Holden pulls away from me, his hand in my hair pulling back to expose my throat to his lips. He sucks and nips at the sensitive skin, his breath so hot against me.
“Please,” I beg immediately, my nipples hard and aching, my core pulsing between my thighs. I might die if he doesn’t.
His hand slides under my thin tank top to map the curve of my spine before pulling me flush against him. Fingertips dig into my skin, on the edge of too tight, too rough, but the possessiveness of his touch thrills me. And when that same hand comes around to cup my breast through my bra, thumb rubbing at my peaked nipple, I whole body jolts.
“Fuck,” I gasp into his mouth.
He pulls back slightly and I’m entranced by how wrecked he looks. His normally neat hair is a mussed mess, his pupils blown wide with desire, his lips parted slightly and swollen from my kisses.
He’s stunning.
He surprises me, grabbing my waist with both hands and pulling me into his lap so I’m sitting astride his thighs, my skirt hiked up around my hips and my aching breasts against the heat of his chest. I roll my hips and then the solid length of his erection is pressing against my core, a light tease of friction. He grabs my ass and pulls me closer, grinding himself into me with a tortured groan.
My tank top is gone a second later, my bra off a second after that. His eyes darken as he gazes down at my bare breasts.
“You are absolutely gorgeous,” he murmurs.
I inhale sharply as his lips and tongue tease my tight nipples. When his teeth graze the sensitive peak, a shockwave of sensation courses through my body. My underwear is soaking wet between my thighs and as his free hand cups my other breast, rolling my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, I can’t help but arch into his caress, grinding against his hard cock.
“I’ve been wanting to touch these perky tits since I first saw you,” he confesses into my skin. “I knew they were perfect, made to fit in my hands.”
His words are turning me on almost as much as his touch, making me throb with desire
I rip at his shirt with needy hands, finally pulling it off and baring his skin to me. He’s smooth and scorching hot and I follow the planes of his chest down to his pants. They come undone easily and I don’t hesitate to take his cock in my hand. I work him slowly, feeling how huge and hard he is, throbbing against my palm. He’s slick with precome and I find myself thinking that I want to taste him. But more than that, I want him inside of me.
Holden seems to read my mind, lifting me up enough to pull my underwear down my legs. My skirt is still on—folded up around my waist but I don’t want to waste the time taking it off—and I’m sure it’s not a great look, but he doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he leans back to stare at me, taking in my mostly naked body like I’m the most tempting thing he’s ever seen. I feel my face get warm under his awestruck gaze.
He pulls me in for another demanding kiss as his hand strokes my bare thighs, working up to my aching core.
“Holden,” I cry out as two long digits slide into me, stretching just enough to make me shiver.
“Say it again.”
“Holden,” I breathe, rocking into his touch.
His fingers feel so good as he pumps them in an agonizingly slow rhythm inside of me, hitting every spot that makes me shudder and moan. The world narrows down to just his touch and the heat pulsing inside of me.
“I need you inside of me,” I gasp, feeling myself dancing around the edge of an orgasm. “Please.”
“Anything you want.” I’m still on top of him so he reaches between us, positioning his erection at my entrance. His hard cock slides against my slick core, parting me and nudging at my swollen clit.
Slowly, my breath catching in my throat, I lower myself onto him.
I shudder as he fills me up just right.
“Better than I imagined,” he groans and I nearly combust at the thought of him seated at his desk, thinking about fucking me.
We move together, discovering what brings the most pleasure as I ride my boss on the floor of the elevator. He moans and grabs my waist, lifting me up and down on his cock, hitting that perfect spot that makes me cry out. He’s thrusting up as I rock my hips down and we fall into a perfect rhythm.
I skim my nails down his back and my name tumbles from his lips, as sharp as a curse but so much sweeter.
Our eyes meet and a connection thrums between us. My nerve endings feel alive, sizzling and crackling across my body as his hands caress me and his cock fills me.
“More, Holden, I’m close,” I cry out, my thighs shaking as I pick up my pace, chasing my looming orgasm.
“I’ve got you,” he tells me. “Come for me. Let me feel you.”
His hand dives down to press tight, quick circles to my clit and I can’t hold back any longer. I clench around him as I fall over the edge, stars exploding in front of my eyes. My orgasm crests with little tremors and ripples that I feel in every corner of my body as I ride it out, clinging to him desperately.
He thrusts up into me two more times before he goes still, every inch of his body taut with tension as he moans my name. He pulses within me, his eyes never once leaving mine as he comes for me. There’s a look on his face, something in his eyes, a devotion and longing so fierce that it makes my heart race in my chest.
I’m limp and boneless on top of him, panting into his shoulder. At some point, my senses are going to come back to me in a horrifying rush but for right now, I’m just going to enjoy being in his arms.
“Incredible,” he murmurs into my hair and I feel so light. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to do that.”
I really didn’t. I had no clue.
Behind us, the emergency phone crackles to life. “Mr. Decker, the fire department is here. They’re heading up to get you out.”
Oh, God.
I scramble off of Holden, my heart about to explode out of my chest. Where the hell did my bra go? And my shoes, I don’t even remember taking them off.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter, yanking my skirt down and hooking my bra. Any second, the fire department is going to pry the door open and find me half naked, looking like I definitely just had the best sex of my life.
Holden is much calmer, zipping his pants back up and buttoning his shirt, looking put together in two seconds. He comes over and holds my blouse up for me to get my arms into, then grabs my shoes. I cling onto his shoulder as I step into them, shaking with nerves.
I’ve just managed to get my blouse tucked into my skirt when I hear voices. There are a few clanging sounds followed by a loud creak as the elevator doors are pried open.
“You okay in there?” a fireman asks, peering in.
He doesn’t seem to notice anything amiss and I’m dizzy with relief. The floor is thankfully only about two feet up so with a little help, I get out easily enough. The cool air might be the most refreshing thing I’ve ever felt, clearing my head.
“Phew, got a bit hot in there, didn’t it?” the fireman says and I blush. He has no idea.
I glance over at Holden but he’s busy talking with the security guard. Their conversation goes on and on as I stand there awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot. Does he not see me waiting over here?
“I, uh, guess I’ll go home,” I say to the fireman nearest to me.
He nods, seeming surprised to see that I’m even still there. “We’ve got this all handled here, no reason for you to stick around.”
I guess not. I wanted to talk to Holden but I feel almost like he’s pointedly not looking over at me.
It hurts but I know how to take a hint.
I should have known better than to be so stupid. A one night stand I could handle, but this...the aching in my chest and tightness is my throat tells me what I don’t want to believe—I’ve caught feelings.
Damn him and his dog and his questions and his surprising sweetness, the way he’s managed to sneak into my heart these last few weeks even when he was being a hardass. I guess I always knew there was more to him than met the eye.
I walk away from him, te
rrified of my feelings. I can’t let this happen, not with my boss, and certainly not with my job on the line.
Now I’ve got all night to figure out how to go to work tomorrow with my head held high and act like nothing happened.
CHAPTER FOUR
HOLDEN
I get to the office early and pace back and forth waiting for Chloe to show up. She’d disappeared last night while I was going over everything with Dan, gone before I could offer to drive her home and talk about what had happened.
I still can’t believe it. Having Chloe on top of me, gasping my name, her perfect pussy tight around me…it was my ultimate fantasy come to life. I’d been up all night wondering why she’d run off. Trying to figure out what I was going to say to her today. How I can sneak her out of the office and get her on top of me again.
Her beautiful laugh floats through the door and I have to stop myself from racing out there. I’m planning on being calm and testing the waters, trying to see how she’s feeling before approaching her. Then I look out the door to see Brad Smith leaning against her desk with a shiteating grin as she laughs again at something he’s said.
“Mr. Smith,” I say, striding over to them. “Don’t you have work to do?”
Chloe stiffens in her chair, not looking at me. I, though, can’t keep my eyes off her if I tried. She looks divine, her deep blue blouse making her skin look extra soft, her face framed in soft curls. Seeing her so put together this morning only makes me think of how sinful she looked last night.
“I’m actually not on the clock yet,” Brad respondes easily, then sees the look I’m giving him and swallows heavily. “But I guess I can start early?”
“Good idea.” I watch him slink away to his desk.