Tick.
“A word?”
The weight grows heavier.
I nod. “Just gotta save this.”
She disappears into her office, leaving the door open.
Able to feel Holland’s gaze on me, I glance over at her. Her brows are pinched together in question.
What’s up? she mouths.
I shrug because I don’t know what’s up. I have no clue what Jessa wants, but I know it makes me feel uneasy. Makes that weight press down harder.
Part of me is worried she knows about Holland and me. Maybe she’s about to fire me and then fire Holland.
The other part is concerned that my father called her after the shitshow at the gala and she’s come to her senses about me and is firing me for that.
Nut up, Sutton. Just go in there and get it over with.
I click save on my report, then push out of my chair on unsteady legs and make my way into her office.
“Close the door behind you,” Jessa tells me as I cross the threshold. “Have a seat.”
I do as she asks.
“Would you like something to drink?” She rolls her chair toward the mini fridge in the corner of her office. “I have water, soda, and about half a bottle of wine I can be persuaded to share.”
I laugh. “I’m good. Thank you.”
“Suit yourself.”
She pulls a mini bottle of water free, cracks open the top, and takes a long pull. She recaps the water and sets it on her desk, then folds her hands on her lap. Her chair rocks gently back and forth as she regards me.
“The reason I asked you in here is I have some news.”
I don’t say anything because I don’t know what to say.
She didn’t specify whether it’s good or bad.
“As you know, Larry is retiring in two weeks. And as you know, I have been looking for a replacement project manager.”
I nod.
“Well, I have come to a decision, and though I am not ready to make a formal announcement yet, I wanted you to know that you are my choice for the promotion.”
I sit up straighter in the chair.
“I got the job?”
She chuckles at my reaction. “If you want it, yes. You got the job.”
Her words cause me to pause.
If you want it.
For the first time, I’m not sure that I do.
The only reason I even went into marketing was my father. He had a position he needed to fill, so I filled it.
I only applied for this job because it’s what I’ve been doing for the last four years. It’s what I know. And I’m damn good at it.
What did Marie Kondo say? If it doesn’t bring you joy, trash it, or some shit like that.
The logical part of my brain says to tell her yes right away. It’s a damn good opportunity, and I worked my ass off for it.
The part that is feeling truly free for the first time in my life is saying otherwise.
I’m just not sure which part to listen to.
Because I am good at what I do. It doesn’t bring me joy, but jobs aren’t there for joy. They’re there to pay the bills. To get you through life. To make it possible for you to do the things that bring you joy. I know I’d be a complete fool to turn this job down.
“Now,” she says, “I don’t want you to make any rash decisions today. I want you to take a week to think it over, to make sure you’re ready for this and it’s something you’d like to take on. If you do, fantastic. I would be honored to have you as project manager. And if you don’t, I understand. It was a tough choice choosing you, but I do have a very gifted runner-up.”
I want to ask if it’s Holland.
Oh fuck.
Holland.
I got the job and Holland didn’t.
But worse than that, I know I’m going to say yes…and I know I’m going to lose her because of it.
I’ve already broken my rule of sleeping with a coworker. There’s no way I could be Holland’s boss and still be sleeping with her.
Fuck, the fact that my first instinct was that Holland and I were caught when Jessa called me in here is a sure sign that we can’t keep this up any longer.
We’re playing with fire and practically begging it to burn us.
We have to end this.
We should have already ended this.
Fuck. We shouldn’t have even started it.
“Thank you,” I tell Jessa. “I appreciate the opportunity. It seems I have a lot to think about.”
“Yes, you do.” She smiles. “I’m not going to lie, Sutton, I do hope you will say yes and continue bringing some of that magic you’ve been producing since you started here into this position.” She lifts her hands in the air. “But that’s all I’ll say about that. I’m not here to coerce you into the job. I only want you to take it if you’re perfectly certain it’s for you, if you’re sure you’re able to handle all the responsibilities and new office dynamics that will come with it. Just thought I’d throw in my personal opinion.”
“Thank you,” I say again.
“Of course. One week,” she warns. “If I don’t hear anything from you, I’ll move on.”
I nod. “I understand.”
One week.
One week.
One fucking week.
It’s all that’s going through my head right now because it’s all I have left with Holland.
The urge to be with her hits me hard as I walk out of the office, and before I can think or take a moment to regret my decision, I pull my phone from my pocket.
* * *
Me: Meet me in my car.
* * *
I watch as she picks her phone up and reads it. She glances around, looking for me.
Our eyes meet, and there is no way she misses the desire in mine.
* * *
Me: Wait five minutes and then come.
* * *
She nibbles on her bottom lip, unsure.
Finally, she texts back.
* * *
Holland: Okay.
Me: Oh and, Holland? Don’t be wearing panties.
* * *
I don’t stick around to see her reaction. I pass Emma on the way out and give her a curt nod, heading for the stairs, not giving her a chance to stop and chat.
I take them two at a time, and by the time I reach my car, my cock is straining against my slacks.
I hop in the driver’s seat and wait.
The moment I see Holland, I free myself from my pants, ready for her.
She pops open the door and climbs inside.
“What’s going on? What did—”
Her eyes widen when she sees my hand moving up and down my cock, and her tongue darts out to wet her lips.
“S-Sutton…”
My name comes out a moan and I reach over, fisting my hand in her hair and tugging her mouth to mine.
I kiss her hard. Searing.
When I pull away, she’s panting.
“Panties,” I say.
“Huh?” She’s barely able to catch her breath.
I hold my hand out. “Give me your panties.”
“W-Why?”
“Because I want to know that for the rest of the day, you’ll be walking around without them.”
Her pupils grow at my salacious request, but she pulls them from her dress pocket and sets them in my waiting hand.
I slip them into my pocket, then push my fingers back into her hair.
“Now take your tits out and suck my cock.”
She doesn’t dare argue. Instead, she pulls at her dress until her tits are hanging free, then wraps her pretty mouth around it, taking me in as deep as she can.
“Fuck,” I mutter, one hand pinching at her hard nipples, the other pulling on her hair just how I know she likes it. She moves her mouth over me as if she were made to do it. “I swear your mouth is heaven. Almost as sweet as your pussy.”
She moans around me, and I feel it everywhere. I nearly explode right there.
/> Already teetering on the edge and needing to be inside her, I tug her up.
“Need you,” I mutter before crashing my mouth to hers.
She crawls over the center console, planting a leg on either side of my thighs. It’s a tight fit, but it’s worth it. I never take my lips off her as she bunches her skirt around her waist and sinks onto my aching cock.
The car fills with our groans as I bury myself inside of her.
It’s wrong. We shouldn’t be doing this.
We’re in the middle of a damn parking garage. Anyone could see us.
But I can’t fucking stop.
I nip and suck on her nipples, her pants growing louder with each stroke of my tongue. My hands grip her ass as she rides me, spreading her cheeks. I slide a finger between them, rubbing at the spot I haven’t yet explored.
“Oh god,” she moans. She doesn’t shy away, pushing back on my digit with eagerness as I add more pressure but don’t breach her hole. “You feel… It’s so good, Sutton. So damn good.”
Too good.
This thing between us…it’s too good.
The way I want her. The way I ache for her.
Need her.
It’s downright fucking terrifying the way my heart aches at the idea of telling her this is over, and I’m not sure if I can do it.
I grip her hips tighter as she fucks me faster, her head tossed back in ecstasy, chasing her orgasm.
I flick my finger against her clit, and it sends her over the edge. She spasms around me, and, unable to hold myself back any longer, I follow after her.
She sinks against me, completely spent as we work to regain our breaths.
“Holy fuck,” she murmurs. “I can’t believe we just did that.”
“I’m sorry. I just…I couldn’t wait.”
She sits up, grinning down at me. “Don’t you dare apologize for that amazing orgasm.”
“Then I take it back.”
“But maybe next time, let’s wait until we aren’t at work?”
Fuck.
Work.
All the same feelings as before come rushing back.
The panic of losing her. The realization that we’re completely fucking screwed and not just literally.
“So, what got all this started? Is it my dress? I did wear it because it’s a little low-cut and I wanted to tease you, but I didn’t think it would work that well.”
I’m losing you.
“I just needed you is all.”
She peeks up at me as she buttons her dress back up. “Needed me, huh?”
I wrap my hand in her hair, pulling her back to me, resting our foreheads together.
“Always,” I tell her truthfully.
Then I seal my mouth to hers.
I’ll tell her tomorrow.
It’s been three days and I’m still sitting on the news that I got the promotion. My chances to tell Holland are dwindling by the minute.
We’ve not fucked at work again.
Or at home.
In fact, every night when we get home, all I want to do is hold her.
I can’t bring myself to say goodbye just yet, and I know the moment I bury myself in her again, it’s going to be for the last time.
If she’s noticed anything is off with me, she hasn’t said anything.
“You wanna go grab dinner at The Gravy Train?” she asks, tossing her tablet onto my bedside table. “I’m starving.”
“What if we had something delivered?”
“That works too. Want Chinese or pizza? Oh! Maybe we can try that Thai place?”
“Whatever you want,” I tell her, not looking away from the TV.
I honestly have no idea what’s even on. I haven’t been paying attention at all.
Suddenly a leg is slung over me and Holland’s sitting in my lap.
“Okay.” She wraps her arms around my neck, fingers combing through my hair. “What’s going on with you?”
“What do you mean?”
She gives me a look that says she knows I’m full of shit. “You know what I mean, Sutton. You’ve been kind of in this…daze. For days now.” She nibbles on her bottom lip. “Is it…is it because of what happened between us at work?”
I hate the worry and uncertainty I see in her eyes.
But most of all, I hate that she’s not wrong.
What happened between us was nothing short of amazing, but it was just more proof that when it comes to Holland, I’m not able to keep myself in control.
I can’t keep handing over control to other people.
I did it with my family my entire life, and I can’t do it again.
I don’t have it in me.
I rest my hands on her waist, keeping her close.
“It’s…it’s not that.” The lie tastes sour on my tongue. “But we definitely shouldn’t have done it.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking,” I tell her. “I just regret that we weren’t more careful and more aware of our surroundings. Anybody could have seen us. I regret that I was so careless.”
“It wasn’t just you,” she assures me. “I was there too. I was part of it too. Don’t beat yourself up over it. I knew exactly what you wanted the moment you texted me, and I’m the one who agreed to meet you.”
But she’s not the one with so much to lose.
“So, are we good?” she asks.
Not even close. “Yeah, we’re good.”
“Good. Now, let’s order something. I’m starving.”
She looks so happy, so excited. I don’t want that grin pulling at her lips to fade.
So I give her ass cheeks a slap, then flip us effortlessly until I’m nestled between her legs, right where I belong.
“Actually, I have everything I need to eat right here.”
She giggles. “And just like that, he’s back.”
That night, I make love to her slowly, because I know it will be the last time.
17
Holland
For the first few days after the gala and everything that went down with our parents, everything seemed like it was finally coming full circle.
It felt like for the first time in a long damn time, things were going to be okay.
My dad and I had a long conversation about the fallout of our relationship—working and otherwise.
My mom? Well, that’s going to take some time.
And it seemed like Sutton was walking on air after coming to terms with his father and who he is.
But soon after, everything fell apart.
Something is wrong with Sutton.
He’s been off for days, and I don’t just mean because we didn’t have sex for three straight nights.
Even last night when he made love to me, it was different than before.
It was desperate.
It’s all in his eyes. In the way he looks at me like he’s about to lose me.
And though he says we’re okay after what happened in his car the other day, I can’t help but think he’s lying. He hasn’t been the same since.
He’s been…distant. And I can’t shake the feeling that he’s preparing to leave.
I don’t want him to leave.
In the last two months since Sutton and I have lived together, I’ve been happier than I have been in a long time. I’ve gotten used to having him around—and I don’t just mean in the bedroom.
That’s just been a bonus.
I’ve gotten used to him in so many other ways, not just what he does to my body.
He is so much more than meets the eye. More than the lewd jokes and holier-than-thou attitude.
He’s kind and funny, and I like spending time with him.
I like curling up on the couch and watching ridiculous TV together. I like watching him make breakfast even when he scolds me for putting ketchup on my eggs. I like watching him try to charm his way into the heart of every person he meets, and I like his confidence even when it borders on arrogance. I like the way he looks
first thing in the morning, his eyes puffy from sleep, and how he looks when he comes.
Most of all, I like the way he makes me feel.
So it’s not just about what he does to my body.
It’s what he does to my heart.
How every time he walks into the room, my eyes are drawn to him, and that steady pitter-patter of my heart turns into a rapid beat.
I don’t want to lose any of that. I don’t want to lose him.
Because I’m not so sure I can survive it.
“Have you seen Emma today?” April, a coworker, asks, stopping at my desk.
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t, and she was supposed to give me some numbers today so I can finish this report.”
“Ugh,” April gripes, tossing her head back. “I guess she’s not here, then. And neither is Larry…again. For someone retiring soon, he sure is missing a lot of work. Too bad—I could have really used some help on this project today.”
“Oh, well, I can give you a hand if you need it,” I tell her, pushing away from my desk. “I’m kinda stuck on the report right now anyway.”
“Really? Gosh, that would be such a relief. Thank you.” She leans into me conspiratorially. “You know, don’t tell anyone I said this, but I’m secretly rooting for you to be project manager.”
She winks, and I give her a warm smile.
“Thank you,” I say, but inside I’m worried as hell.
I was hoping with Larry retiring at the end of the month, Jessa would be announcing who she’s picked as a replacement soon. But I haven’t heard anything, and I’m starting to get the feeling that means it’s not me who got it.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t bummed about it.
I have been putting my all into this promotion and this company for the last few months.
And, I want it. I want it badly.
Even if I know it means losing Sutton.
We are already walking on a thin sheet of ice by sleeping together, and I know if I do get this promotion, there is absolutely no way it can continue.
But it’s not something I want to think about now.
Right now, I just want to be with him—no matter how wrong it is.
“Ms. Evans, Mr. Barnes, may I see you both in my office?”
Tempt Thy Neighbor (Roommate Romps) Page 15