“Who are you, and what have you done with my boss?” she laughs.
“Am I really that bad?”
“Henry, you once made me walk back in the rain because the coffee shop got your order wrong.”
Shame burns in my chest. She doesn’t say it with malice, but it stings all the same. I don’t want to be that man anymore.
When she joins me at the sink, leaning against the counter, she speaks softly. “You know, there were times I wanted to throw my binders at your head. But I also saw how hard you were trying. You built a business from the ground up, dealt with your dad’s illness — you were carrying a lot. I’m not saying it excuses how you could be, but… I understand.”
Her honesty disarms me. I laugh, flicking water at her to break the tension, and she squeals, the sound lighting me up inside.
When the kitchen’s clean, we collapse onto the sofa. She curls up against me, her body fitting into mine like we were designed that way. I don’t remember feeling this content before — not in years.
“Can I ask you something?” I say, tracing lazy circles on her arm.
“Mmm?” she hums.
“What did you think of me when we first met?”
“At the interview?”
“Yeah.”
“I was terrified,” she admits, laughing softly. “You were… intimidating.”
I grin. “Why are you embarrassed?”
“I’d seen photos. You looked handsome enough, but in person you were… a lot.” She buries her face in my chest, hiding.
I tip her chin up. “When I first saw you, I thought you were beautiful. It actually pissed me off.”
She looks at me like I’ve grown another head. “Pissed you off?”
“I thought hiring you would be a huge mistake because I didn’t think I could sit across from you every day and get anything done.”
“Oh, stop it. You’re lying.”
“I’m not.” I hold her gaze until her smile falters into something softer.
“Then why were you such—” She stops herself.
“A dick?” I finish for her. “Because I figured if I kept you at a distance, I’d be able to focus. But work took over, my dad got sick, and… it just became who I was.”
She studies me for a long moment, then asks, “So why hire me at all?”
“Because I couldn’t let you walk out the door,” I admit quietly. “If it was a mistake, it’s the best one I’ve ever made.”
Her breath catches. “Henry…”
When she says my name like that — low and warm — it undoes me. Every thought, every ounce of restraint dissolves. Burning hot desire pours out of me like sugar from a bag. I pull her up onto my lap so either thigh is hugged over mine. Each time she moves my erection grows harder. I pull one strap at a time until her shoulders are bare and slide the dress down her breasts. She gasps as I slide my palms down her nipples. Her skin is hot matching the flush in her cheeks and I can’t stop my hands tracing her entire body. Working my way down until my hand is pressed underneath her dress between her legs. She arches into me and lets out a breathy moan and I fucking love how she responds to my touch. I’ve been with women but it’s never felt like this. I’ve never felt connected, like I need to pleasure her in every possible way to feel satisfied. I enter into her all while kissing her, chasing her lips as she builds in pleasure. Her hands unbuckle my belt letting me know what she needs. Releasing my hand and then myself I make love to her on the sofa. I can’t call this anything other than makinglove, because nothing is rushed, there is no selfish gain here, each touch, kiss, lick is to please the other and to be pleased. Everything is shared and savoured. Our bodies fit and never parting for a second until we’re both left panting and fucking drunk from our organisms. Her head lifts from my shoulder where she had rested it for a solid minute, she trails soft kisses up my jaw, then locks her eyes on mine and I swear when her eyes meet mine I know in that moment I will never have enough of this woman.
Thirty Two
Matilda
Henry and I had sex again last night.A lot of sex. After our time on the sofa, we showered together,where we had sex.Then made it to bed,where we had sex again.Today, everything I thought I knew feels like a blur. Waiting in line for coffee used to be the dullest part of my morning — a sign the long day was only just beginning. But now? Now there’s a buzz in the air, a giddy anticipation humming beneath my skin.
Henry dropped me off at the coffee shop so no one would see us arriving together. Waking up in his bed, tangled in his sheets with his perfect, warm body beside me… I’ve never had a better wake-up call in my life. Every thought circles back to last night — the way he touched me, the way he made me laugh until my stomach hurt. I never knew Henry could be so funny. Or so human. It’s addictive — he’s addictive.
