So, I have to think of something else.
I smile. “Hello.”
“Hello,” he says with a suspicious lilt in his voice that might as well be asking What the hell are you doing here? His eyes whirl around the room, looking for some hint to the reason. “What are you doing in here?”
“Sorry, am I not allowed?” I try to look innocent. “Victoria didn’t mention that. In fact, she said I could find the proofs for the latest ad campaign in here.”
“No.” Caleb still looks annoyed, but he crosses to the couch, and tosses his briefcase down. “I gave them to her last night. She probably forgot.”
“Whoops!” I shrug. “Then I’ll ask her. Thanks.”
He loosens his tie, and lets out a beleaguered sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. Clearly, that’s my cue to leave, and I’m just about to do so, edging towards the door, when I see it:
I left the bottom desk drawer open.
I freeze.
Caleb can’t see it right now from where he’s standing over there, but the minute he does…
He’ll know I’ve been rifling through his things.
Dammit!
I swallow hard, trying to think fast. I just need to stall him, I decide. Find some way of closing it again without him noticing.
“Rough day?” I ask casually.
He looks over at me. “Something like that.” He pauses. “And how are you settling in, Ms Nichols?”
How does he make my name sound so sexy? I try to ignore the shiver of desire, hearing it on his lips.
“Fine. Great! I’ve been introduced to about a thousand people, none of whom I’ll remember later, but so far, so good.”
He nods, his gaze skimming over me again. He looks satisfied when he says, “I see you got the clothes.”
I touch the cashmere of my sweater. “Yes.”
“I didn’t want you having any more… Wardrobe emergencies.” Caleb meets my eyes with a smirk. “I can’t always be there to bail you out.”
I flush.
“If it hadn’t been for you bumping into me, I wouldn’t have needed bailing out in the first place.” I point out, like the memory is just a nuisance.
And not the single sexiest moment of my life.
“Are you calling me clumsy?” he arches an eyebrow, moving closer.
I catch my breath. “No. Not exactly.”
“So what are you saying then?” he asks, moving closer still. “Be precise, Ms. Nichols.”
There it is again.
My pulse kicks, and I feel a rush of heat. Then I catch the hungry glint in his stormy blue eyes. Like a lion gazing at a gazelle.
He’s playing with me.
But I have a game of my own.
I neatly sidestep him, keeping him facing away from that open desk drawer. “I was thinking, about what you said to me in the elevator the other day,” I change the subject abruptly.
The glint turns downright smoldering. “Is that so?”
I nod. It’s not exactly a lie, I’ve been thinking about Caleb pretty much 24/7 since this whole thing began.
Thinking. Fantasizing.
“And what did you decide?” Caleb’s eyes are fixed on mine. His breath even. His whole presence a coiled spring, ready to pounce.
“I… I’m not sure just yet.” I glance up at him from under my lashes, and slowly bite my lip. “I think I need a little help to decide.”
I know I’m playing with fire here, but what’s the lesser of two evils:
My new boss thinking I’m an undercover agent… ? Or my new boss knowing just how much I want him?
The open desk drawer is just a few inches behind me. Caleb is moving closer. Any moment now, and he’ll see.
So I play the only card I have.
I reach up and kiss him.
Caleb is still for a moment, clearly surprised by my bold move. Hell, I am too. But then he yanks me closer, and I’m not the one controlling this kiss anymore.
He is. Completely.
His mouth crushes against mine, harsh and demanding. His hands encircle my waist, gripping me tightly as his tongue caresses me, sending a wave of pleasure pounding through my body. I sink back in his arms, utterly lost.
Dear Lord, this man can kiss.
No man has ever made me want him this way, made me crave him, ache for him.
I arch up, wanting more. Running my hands through that tousled hair, feeling the muscular expanse of his back. His thigh is boldly lodged between my legs and I can’t stop myself rocking closer, chasing the pressure against my core.
I hear him groan into my mouth, and feel the swell of him, hard against me.
Oh God. So hard.
It’s intoxicating, and wrong, and totally reckless, but somehow, I can’t pull away. This kiss is consuming. Devouring. Making me clench tight with desire and desperate with need.
Then a voice in the back of my mind sounds.
The drawer, dummy.
That’s right! I remember the whole point of this distraction, and carefully reach down to nudge it closed.
Mission accomplished.
Except Caleb hasn’t got the memo. He’s still kissing me ravenously, his hand sliding over the curve of my ass, gripping me even more tightly; molding me against the hard length of him, clear even through the fabric of his pants.
And damn, is he impressive in every way.
His mouth moves to my neck, kissing and nibbling on the sensitive skin there. “You’re fucking delicious,” he growls in my ear, and I shudder again at the raw, animal possession in his tone. His hand moves lower, hitching up my dress, moving slowly up my thighs…
It’s like I’m lost in a haze of desire, powerless to resist.
Take me, I want to say, dizzy with pleasure. Take everything, right now.
Then a noise comes from outside the office. Voices, loud. Close.
The sound is like a shock of cold water, reminding me where I am.
What I’m doing.
Who I’m doing it with.
Oh my god!
It was only meant to be a distraction, not… this! I duck out of Caleb’s arms, gasping for air. “I…I… ” I stammer, flustered. Panting.
Wet.
And Caleb just lounges there against the desk, looking at me. Smirking that smug, satisfied smile.
Inviting me to come back for more.
But I can’t.
I mustn’t!
“I’m sorry!” I yelp, then I do the only thing I can think of.
I turn on my heels, and run.
“I’m totally getting fired.”
Hours later, I’m sitting on my sofa back at the apartment, buried underneath an afghan, stuffing my face full of rocky road ice cream. It usually makes everything feel better, but not tonight.
“You won’t.” Kelsey reassures me.
“You didn’t see it. This wasn’t some grandmotherly peck,” I say, red even at the memory. “This was a kiss. Tongues and teeth. Panting. Hand up my dress. That kind of kiss.”
Her jaw drops. “On your first day at work? You made out with the CEO? Jules!”
“I know.” I wince in shame.
“I’m so proud of you!”
“What?”
“You were the one who said you could tell a lot about a guy by the way he kisses.” Kelsey beams. “And look at you, doing your research up front. So?” she leans closer. “Is what the ladies at the salon said true?”