I’m pacing when there’s another knock on the door.
“Can I come in?” It’s Izzy, her voice low.
“Sure.”
She takes a few steps into the room. White shirt, buttoned tight, hip-hugging black skirt, and black tights that make me jealous, make me wish I were an item of clothing.
“I’ve got the income reports,” she murmurs. “I think Kenny was supposed to get them to you today?”
“Hmm,” I say, nodding to my desk. “Thank you.”
She walks past me, her gaze lowered. She’s clearly nervous. Do I frighten her now?
She bites her lip and glances at me. My fantasies from the shower spear my mind, making me feel no better than Kenny. I force them away and focus on the beautiful person in front of me, not the wild thing she was in my mind.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she says.
“I don’t tolerate sexual harassment,” I assure her.
“Thank you,” she replies. “Really. In this industry… yeah, it means a lot, Dom. But grabbing him, going berserk.”
“Berserk,” I repeat. “Is that what I did?”
She flinches. Her cheeks glowing red. I don’t want to scare or put her off. But what would she think if she knew I wanted to grab her right now, sink my hands greedily into her ample hips, and pull her against me?
“I don’t know,” she says quietly.
“If I wentberserk,” I grunt, approaching her slowly. If I move any faster, my instincts might take over. I’ll give in to this ache in my gut, telling me to stop messing around and just grab her.Kiss her. Own her. All my life, all these years, looking out for everybody else. When am I going to get a chance to live?
“It was because what he did was unacceptable,” I go on, stopping just short of her. An alarm bell rings in my mind, telling me I’m no better than Kenny.
“I can take care of myself,” she murmurs.
I raise my hand and gently brush my fingers along her neck. Her gasping sound is the most irresistible I’ve ever experienced. Every sinew in me responds, but I somehow fight them down. For now.
“No necklace today?” I murmur.
She turns her head toward my hand, as if she’s seeking the warmth of the touch. It’s stunning how natural this feels. It has no right to. After several days of avoiding her, I’m receptive to her every look, every touch, every sound.
“It’s not that,” she murmurs.
“What, then?”
She glances at me, clearly nervous. “It’s… nothing.”
I move even closer. We’re barely inches apart from each other now. A few subtle movements, and my fantasies could burst to life. “It’s not nothing. So tell me.”
“You’re being very bossy,” she murmurs, her voice going breathy.
Say that like it doesn’t drive you wild.
“Well,” I reply, smirking. “I am the boss.”
She sighs and walks to the window. She looks so small from behind, fragile. Perhaps that’s an unkind thought, reducing her to that. But the urge to protect her is overwhelming.
“It’s Kenny,” she says. “I don’t want to make it a big deal, but he’s the reason I stopped wearing the necklace. He kept complimenting it. Even after I told him to stop.”
What thefuck? My hands curl into tight fists. I should’ve thrown that prick through the wall. He’s my old friend, a good worker, but this is beyond fucked.
