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When I glance over my shoulder at him, I see him shrug. “I just chose the ones that I thought were the prettiest and had them mix them together.”
Oh no, he has an eye for floral arrangements, too? That spells bad news for my desire to keep a polite distance between us. My face burns with warmth, and I wonder why my heart seems to be missing every other beat. Either I’ve developed a heart condition, or I’m worse off than I thought.
“Of course, they're nowhere near as beautiful as you are.” His gaze meets mine and I can barely breath as heat sears through me once more.
“Such a charmer,” I say as the liquid heat moves through my entire body.
He shakes his head. “No, just honest. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.”
The nervous excitement in my belly intensifies as he gives me a look that makes me feel like he wants me for his next meal. He closes the gap between us. “I need you,” he whispers as he brings his lips down on mine.
Oh, I need him, too.
My lips part for him and my body cries out for more as he parts my thighs with one leg. A moment later pleasure races through me as his lips claim mine, and his thigh puts just the right amount of pressure on that delicate bundle of nerves between my thighs. I can’t hold back a whimper and he swallows the sound, his hands on my hips, rocking me forward and back in an intoxicating rhythm that overloads my system, short circuits the part of my brain that would tell me this is too risky, and sends pleasure screaming through my body.
His kiss feels like coming home, his hands are heaven, and I want what he’s doing more than anything. No, scratch that, I want him to take me right here on my perfectly-organized desk. I want to feel him inside me again, want the pleasure of exploding around him as he pushes home inside me. I want his closeness, his scent, the feeling of his flesh under my fingertips.
I want him.
A sharp knock at the door has us leaping apart as Melly opens the door, talking like nothing happened. “I wanted to show Sarah the beautiful arrangement,” she says as I bend over to pick up an invisible fuzzy from the carpet and Clifton runs a hand through his hair and pulls out his phone to respond to a text. We’re acting perfectly normal because we are. Ahem.
“Oh, they are beautiful,” Sarah says as I gulp deep breaths in an attempt to calm my galloping heart. That was so close. We were milliseconds from being caught. And that solidifies my need to be more careful. A moment that got away from us could have been a disaster.
The humming between my thighs won’t let up and I want him more than anything... except maybe my need to not get caught. When the women finally leave, I can't bring myself to look at Clifton.
“I think it’s about time for me to leave for the day,” I say, unable to meet his gaze. Without another word, I grab my purse, phone, and keys and make a beeline for the door.
As I rush off, I notice security seems to be preoccupied. But I need to go now, and I’m not about to bother them. So I slip past and make my way out to my car. I can handle more of Sterling’s stupid notes, but I definitely don't want to draw any more attention to myself when I'm so hot and bothered.
I unlock my car with my key fob in time to see Sterling step out of the shadows. I'd expected a note, but not the man, and icy fear floods my being as I stop in place.
He lifts both hands, as if making fun of the fact that I'm afraid. “I’d like to take you out to dinner.” He takes another step closer to me, and I realize he is between me and my escape plan - my car. How can I get around him without being obvious?
Of course, he doesn't have anything to say to make me feel better. “I've been watching you. I know that you and Clifton haven't been out together again. You're being such a good girl; I'd like to reward you.”
His words send a shiver through me, and I resist the urge to gag.
“No thank you, I’m not feeling well and just want to go home and rest.” I know the lie is a mistake the second it leaves my mouth.
“I could tuck you in and take care of you until you feel better.” Too bad he's not self-aware enough to realize he's part of the problem.
“No, thank you,” I say again.
His expression shifts to anger. “Are you ready for the world to know your secret?”
I can't hold back a squeak of terror as he moves closer to me, his fists balling at his sides.
“Are you ready to add blackmail charges to the stalking and trespassing charges you're going to face if you keep this up?” At Clifton’s voice, relief surges through me and my body relaxes.
Sterling seems to run out of things to say and leaves.
As the last little bit of terror leaves my body, I throw myself into Clifton’s arms and cling to his shoulders. “Sorry, I should have had security walk me out-”
Before I can even finish the thought, Clifton speaks softly into my ear. “You have nothing to apologize for; this isn't your fault.”
His words nearly bring me to tears.
“Come home with me,” I whisper. I'm tired of pretending like I don't want to be with him.
