Eva
I’m trying to go about my life as normal. I’m trying not to think about our incredible chemistry.
But it’s hard when Tanner keeps sitting in on meetings and doing an actual CEO’s job of being involved, learning about the running of the company.
He asks surprisingly insightful questions, always defers to those more experienced, and treats women and men with the exact same deference.
Every time there’s a lull in the meeting, he looks up at me with those starry night sky eyes, and his cut jaw goes all hard, his expression suddenly intense…
For the first time, I’m finding it hard to focus at work.
I’ve spent most of my career complaining about people being unprofessional, and here I am imagining spreading myself on the table for the interim CEO.
The meeting I was in just finished, and while I make some changes to a benefits proposal I’ve been working on for a few years, everyone seems to have left the room but me and the evil, sexy interim CEO that I can’t seem to shake off.
Tanner leans back in his chair, messing with something at his wrist as he grins over at me.
A wave of heat moves through me. I already feel a low-level sexual ache at all times whenever he’s around, as though he’s casting a shadow of pure lust.
It abates almost suddenly, and he’s eyeing me calmly, still messing with those bands on his wrist.
I’m beginning to get a bit suspicious about this man.
About how he shows up whenever I need him. About the incredible effect he has on me. About the way I seem to be the only one to capture his attention.
And about how I seem to relate to him and, deep down, wonder slightly if he doesn’t have some connection to those ways I have always been different.
It’s just an instinct and I can’t explain it, but it’s like I’ve always lived in a separate, different world from everyone else, no matter how I try to relate to them. When I’m around Tanner, it feels like someone is in that world with me.
And I don’t know what to do.
“I have to admit I’m getting impatient, though it is fun playing CEO with you.” He cocks his head, and a dark lock falls to one side of his forehead rakishly. “When are we going to talk about this?”
“Talk about what?” I stutter, because if I acknowledge this thing out loud, everything is going to change, and I’m not ready for that. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“This thing between us.” He gestures with his hand. “You’ve never felt this way, even close to this way, before, admit it.”
I swallow awkwardly. “How would you know?”
His dark eyes are frank, so beautiful I can’t think straight. “I feel it too.”
I keep my breaths light and even, trying not to show how nervous I really am.
Ever since I met him, he’s consumed my thoughts. Changed everything I thought about my future.
During and after my parents’ divorce, there really wasn’t time to talk about how I was special or ran too fast or too long or was extra strong. Everything was just chaos, just trying to survive the storm of two people fighting for everything they want, tearing each other apart in the process.
So I buried everything—my surfacing teenage uniqueness, my tension, my doubts—and focused on school. Then a career. Then I found a family here at Qualtechnics, and that’s the end of the story.
At least I meant for that to be the end of the story. Before Tanner.
“I’ve been trying not to push you,” he says quietly. “But I don’t have as much time as I’d like to wait for you to come to the conclusion I came to the minute we met.”
My throat is tight. “What conclusion is that?”
“That we’re made for each other,” he says simply, leaning that sleek, muscled body back in his chair and just letting me take it all in.
But I can’t do this. I can’t have my world turned upside down right now. Deep down, I know I’m not facing something, but if I face it, chaos will ensue.
I just want to blend in. Help the company. There are so many people I can help right here without being “special.”
“I’m not trying to scare you,” he says. “But I’m not trying to lie to you either. I know that you feel something for me, something you might not even understand.”
I keep my breathing steady, smoothing my hands over my skirt and trying not to think about the fact that I’m already wet for him. “I think it’s just that you’re an exceedingly attractive man. You know that.”
“You know that,” he says. “I don’t think about my own attractiveness.” His dark eyes go smoky. “All I think about is you. How beautiful and fierce you are. How much I want you.” He blinks his long lashes slowly, then pierces me again with his gaze. “So why shouldn’t we explore this?”
The tension hits a near-breaking point in me, and I gasp, pushing up out of my chair to get out of the room because the air is just no longer breathable.
“I can’t, not with someone I work with,” I say. “And all I’m focusing on right now is my job. Helping the company through this transition and working my benefits plan so people like Karen, a single mom down in customer service, can get medical care for their sick children.”
“We can still do all of that,” Tanner says, looking like he doesn’t see the problem.
I shake my head. “I like being your friend, Tanner, and I’m happy for your help with the company because you’ve never once talked down to me like every single other man here has. But I don’t have time for romance.” I can practically hear my vagina shrieking in disagreement, but I tell her to shut up.
He shrugs one shoulder. “Why would exploring this thing between us interfere in work? There’s nothing in the company rules about dating as long as the two workers are at the same management level. Which we are.”
“You read the handbook,” I say, eyes widening. “No one reads the handbook.”
He’s thorough. He’s probably thorough in bed too, I think, flushing deeply and hoping he doesn’t notice.
No luck.
He walks around the table, catching me before I can open the door to escape him. He puts a hand above me, pushing the door shut, pinning me with his heat and his gaze. “Well, I’ll respect it if you want to be professional.” His eyes dart to my lips, and I nearly melt into a puddle. “But just know that, eventually, you won’t be able to resist me.”
I run my tongue over my lower lip, wetting it to distract myself. “I think I can.”
“And when you do explore things with me”—he continues in a low voice—“I’m going to give you pleasure unlike anything you’ve imagined. And I’m slowly going to pull out the power inside you. Make you aware of everything you are.”
“What am I?” I ask breathlessly.
“Special,” he says simply. “Look, I’m going to go… fix the printer. You know the room. And if you want to join me there while I’m fixing it…”
I know what he’s saying. Neither of us can resist much longer.
I meet his eyes, exasperated by my own temptation. “Do you want us to get fired for misconduct?”
His eyes take a long, luxurious stroll over my body, and as heat rises, I know he likes what his sees.
His lips curl up in a smirk. “What kind of misconduct were you thinking?”
I gasp in shock, finally finding the strength to push him away and get the door open.
He needs to take this more seriously. This thing between us can wait. I need to focus on my job.
Then again, I have missed a lot of vacations. Skipped lunches. Skipped breaks…
Tanner just laughs, following me out the door as I stomp toward my office.
As promised, he turns right to go to the printer room, which is rarely ever used, in a part of the office where no one has any desks.
He knows damn well it’s the perfect place for a rendezvous. As always, he’s one step ahead and much smarter than I give him credit for.
Or does he actually just
care about the fact that I mentioned earlier in the meeting that our printer hasn’t worked in ages? I keep having to run down the street to make copies.
Either way, I’m not following him in there. I’m not.
9
Eva
He goes into the room and closes the door behind him, and I walk over to my office, glancing back to see if he’s coming out yet.
A few minutes tick by, feeling like hours, and at this point I’m not sure if I’m worried about the printer or worried that soon he’ll stop waiting for me and come out.
Then my chance will be gone.
I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s break time, and I usually take a lunch after everyone else is back a couple hours from now.
There should be time… at least to just talk to him. Convince him of how foolish all of this is.
I glance around the empty office and then creep over to the printer room, feeling an ache in my body that gets stronger as I get closer to where he is.
My heart is pounding.
When I open the door, I see him on the other side of the printer, looking curiously at one of the open trays. I guess he was actually trying to fix it, and that only makes the heat in me rise.
Because, of course, on top of being extremely hot and competent and strong, he has to also be a good listener and caring.
I walk forward, kicking the door shut behind me as I put both hands on the printer, trying to look casual but leaning against it for strength.
“So…” I let out a sigh because I don’t think I can resist him anymore. “Do you really think—”
He’s there in a moment, coming around the printer to pull me into a kiss that’s like something I’ve only seen from a movie.
His hand dives into my hair, cradling my head gently, while his firm, strong arm wraps around my waist, holding me tight.
I can feel his body, the hard pecs, the perfect abs, the silky feel of his perfectly tailored suit.
And there’s something rougher beneath, dangerous and dark, that just turns on all my senses and makes me come alive.
His kiss is gentle at first, almost playful, as he fits his lips against mine, adjusting to find the perfect fit as he presses our bodies together, letting me feel how much he wants me.
And based on that giant, deliciously hard thing pressing against me, he wants me a lot.
It’s a thrill, being wanted by him. Enough that I’m letting him push me back and kiss me against a printer, his tongue gently parting my lips and entering with pure fire.
His hand stroking and lightly gripping my curves, making me feel so feminine and desirable.
His fingertips brushing along my scalp and the nape of my neck, playing with the shell of my ear, making me shiver.
I moan, the sound muffled by the way his tongue is turning me on. I didn’t know anyone could use their tongue that way, and I’m so wet I can barely stand it.
When my legs are trembling, he pulls back, one hand on my hip and the other on my shoulder, steadying me.
I don’t know what I look like right now, but I can only guess disheveled.
“Eva,” he says, his hoarse voice the only sign he’s as close to losing control as I am. “Tell me you want this. Or I’ll stop.”
“I want this,” I choke out because nothing has ever been truer for me. “I don’t care where it happens. I just want this right now.”
He smiles, then reaches down and catches me by the waist and lifts me up on the printer as if I weigh nothing, setting me on the flattest part.
Then, before I can realize what he’s doing, he’s taking a knee, pushing my pencil skirt up around my waist, pulling my panties down.
I gasp, but my hands are behind me, holding me in a sitting position on the printer, leaving me vulnerable to his mouth.
Just the way my body is aching for.
I glance at the door, hoping no one decides to open it.
At first, Tanner’s just staring intently at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen and he’s never going to get another chance.
But then he sees my expression and glances over at the door.
He sighs, getting up and grabbing an extremely heavy cabinet we left in here because no one wanted to use it.
My eyes widen as he lifts it with one hand and easily moves it in front of the door.
“There,” he says, that husky tone still in his voice, the most amazing clean, musky male scent filling the room, making my nerves stand on end. “Now no one can see you. Because this?” He walks forward, standing between my legs as he reaches between them and strokes gently along my slit. He licks his finger slowly, carefully, keeping his hot eyes on mine. “This is only for me.”
I bite my lip, letting my head fall back as he lowers himself again to a knee in front of me, apparently ready for another taste.
Should I be mad he’s already being so possessive? I don’t know anymore.
I just know there’s no one else I’ve ever wanted, so sure, for now I’ll be his.
Then his tongue closes over my clit, sending lightning through me, and I let out a moan I have to bring up my own hand to stifle.
Oh yes, I’m fine with being his.
Another jolt of pleasure moves through me as he licks down my slit and gently presses into me just enough to tease me and make me moan and writhe before he moves back up to swirl his tongue over my clit.
“So good,” I gasp out. “So good, Tanner. Don’t stop.”
“Never,” he says darkly, his lips tickling my sex in the best possible way. “Never, until you’re satisfied.”
He kisses down over my clit again, gently, slowing the tension that was rocketing though me.
“Oh God,” I moan.
“You’re the only one I want,” he says roughly, flicking his tongue out against my clit again. “And I know you don’t understand what’s happening between us, but you will someday.” He swirls his tongue around my swollen, aching bud. My whole body trembles, so close to the edge, and I can’t believe I’m holding on to a printer for dear life.
He reaches up and grabs my hands, moving them to his firm, warm, broad shoulders.
Then he looks up from between my legs, his gaze wicked, his tongue posed above me, my entire body trembling on the edge. “You’re special, Eva. Special to me, special in general, and it’s time you knew it.”
His words turn me on even as his lips grazing my sensitive sex make it impossible to hold on any longer.
Then he puts his entire mouth on me, kissing me desperately, voraciously, as if not only pleasuring me, but making a promise. The way he thoroughly conquered my mouth.
And then I’m coming, covering my mouth with one hand so the scream that comes tearing out of my throat is muffled.
Tanner comes up in an instant, covering my lips with his, stroking gently with his tongue until the fire abates within me, holding me until every wave has finally calmed, leaving me shaking in the aftermath.
Finally, I start to come back to myself, and I sink my head in against his chest, closing my eyes and just letting my body savor the sensation.
I’ve already been a very bad girl in the office. I might as well enjoy it a little longer.
As I wrap my arms around him, enjoying having him close, I have an odd sensation, like hair falling around my face. It must have fallen out of my ponytail, I suppose.
I let out a sigh, finally ready to see his face again, and open my eyes as I reach back to tuck my hair back into a ponytail again.
But no, it’s still perfect. Every strand in place. So what was I feeling?
I laugh to myself, thinking of course Tanner would make me orgasm so hard I feel things that aren’t there.
But when I meet his eyes, I see a look I’ve never seen before. It’s so tender it takes my breath away.
Until someone knocks on the door to the printer room.
“Eva, are you in there? One of the new hires needs orientation.”
I gasp, looking over at the door an
d then down at my overall state of dishevelment.
“I’m helping her fix the printer,” Tanner calls out. “But it’s going to be awhile. Have someone else in HR do it.”
“Oh, Tanner. Right, if the CEO says so.”
Tanner rolls his eyes at the way they deferred to him, but I can only appreciate that he spoke up so I didn’t have to call out.
I’m not sure I can even talk right now.
“Here,” he says, eyes sparkling warmly as he pushes a bracelet onto his wrist, along with another one. “I’ll help put you back together.”
“Thanks,” I say finally as he helps me off the printer and gives me a hand in rearranging my clothing. When I’m finally presentable, when the air has cleared enough to breathe, it finally hits me what has just happened.
I fall back against the printer, but Tanner catches me instantly with an arm around my waist.
“Is this blackmail?” I ask half seriously. “Because I really shouldn’t have done that, and… honestly, Tanner, I don’t know what you want.”
His smile only deepens. “No blackmail. And as for what I want? For now, I’d settle for lunch with you later. We can talk more, and—”
“This is a mistake,” I say. “I do want you, I do like you, but this is risky for me. This job is all I have, and—”
He lets out an exasperated breath, running a hand through his hair. “Eva, it won’t always be that way. You could have so much more. You deserve so much more.”
I shake my head. “But I want this.”
He sighs, finally nodding. “Then I want whatever you want. I don’t see how us being together will ruin things, but I’ll keep it professional as long as you want to.” His lips curve up. “As long as you can.”
I shake my head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“True,” he says. “So lunch?”
“Fine,” I say, walking past him to grab an out of order sign to put on the printer room door so no one comes in. I’m also going to lock it, and no one else has the keys but me. “We’ll do lunch, but no funny business.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, striding away with his hands in his pockets. He turns to look back at me over his shoulder, so devastatingly sexy I almost melt into the floor once again. “See you at lunch.”
Defended By Darkness: Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 2 Page 5