Page 67 of At His Beck & Call

I wanted to, though. More than anything.

I check my hair in the glass of the conference room on my way down the hall, then scowl at my reflection as I drop my hand to my side.

There’s a really good chance that the last thing she wants to do is be with me right now. And if that’s the case, I certainly won’t push the issue.

But damn, it won’t be easy.

Walking down the hallway, I nod to a few of the junior lawyers on my team, stopping to chat with Ruth, the senior associate on the Clarendon case, to see how Lewis is doing. Against all odds, things appear to be running smoothly, but she still looks overwhelmed and tired.

Rounding the corner at the end of the hall, my eyes land immediately on Lissa, and I can’t help but stare. Adelaide has her back to me, talking to Noah about something as she clutches a folder in her hand, but I’m only interested in Lissa.

She’s wearing a nicer suit than I’m used to seeing her in. I think it might be the same one she wore for her interview. Her hair is loose in waves, and she’s wearing more makeup than usual, making her gorgeous eyes stand out.

I walk by, clearing my throat, worried that if I speak, my voice will betray all the lust I’m feeling just from being in her presence.

I’m not sure what’s come over me, but it’s unusual and unwelcome. There haven’t been a lot of women in my past, but those there have been, I have fucked and parted ways with, without looking back. I’ve never experienced this all-consumingneedfor them before.

I want to lock her in my office, shove my cock inside her, and never pull out.

“Good morning, Mr. Heath,” Adelaide says, and I nod to her with a tight smile. “How was the second meeting with Mrs. Reynolds?”

“Tedious and way too long,” I murmur, fighting the urge to turn around, throw Lissa over my shoulder, and carry her into my office like a caveman. “Any calls?”

“Just from Larry Fleet, he’s the man who called last week about your order.”

Ah, yes, my toy supplier. If he were here right now, I would order everything he had in stock.

“Thanks, Adelaide,” I say, turning slowly, knowing it would be inappropriate for me not to ask Lissa how she’s doing, but the strange fluttering in my stomach isn’t helping me keep my voice steady. “How’s your son doing, Lissa?” I ask stiffly, and her eyebrows raise as she gives me a beautiful, soft smile.

“He’s doing really well. Everything went smoothly.”

A tiny knot between my shoulder blades loosens at her words. “That’s good.” Her eyes hold mine for a fraction too long before she looks away.

Get a grip, man.

“It’s good to have you back.”

Cursing inwardly at myself, I go into my office, not looking at Adelaide, but I can feel her eyes on me as I close the door.

It’s good to have you back? What the fuck is wrong with me?

Palming my traitorous dick, I go and sit down at my desk, giving myself a stern, internal talking to as I attempt to pull my wayward emotions back under control.

By the time 5 o’clock rolls around, I’ve mostly regained my composure. Adelaide has come in a few times to hand me things to sign and update me on Noah’s progress with the Reynolds files, but otherwise it’s been an uneventful afternoon.

I stare at the button on my desk, wondering whether to push it. It’s absurd to think like this, that I should be worrying over Lissa not being ‘in the mood’, but that’s exactly what’s going through my head.

She’s probably had a hellish few days, her son unhappy, in pain, and in a hospital bed. Not only that, but it would have been compounded by her having to come back to work.

I talked with Adelaide about that on Monday, asking whether we could give Lissa a week off, but apparently, she requested to return today and refused to take any more days. I don’t know what to do with that.

Should I insist she go be with her son? Fuck…

I glare at my hard cock. It feels as if I’ve been hard since I got back, maybe I have. I want her, that much is irrefutable, but I don’t want to push her. I don’t care what her job is; this is a mutual partnership.

My finger presses the button before I can overthink it anymore, and Lissa is through the door and inside before I’ve even removed my finger from it.

Was she waiting by the door or something?