It’s probably the lighting. That, or I’m just imagining things…
“So, Grace…” Mr. Graves leans back in his chair, relaxed as can be. “How do you like working here?”
“I mean, it pays the bills. Ms. Novak is an amazing boss. I don’t have anything to complain about.”
“Hmm.” He nods, thoughtful. “I only ask because… well, because it seems for the past week you’ve been—how do I put this—a taddistracted.”
“Distracted?” A pang of guilt constricts my chest as I take in his words. I’ve absolutely been distracted, stressed, and anxiety-ridden because of what’s been happening with Red 7, but I didn’t think it was noticeable to anyone at work. Especially not myboss.“I guess I’ve been dealing with a few things. I’ll do my best to leave it at home from now on.”
He shakes his head slowly. “You misunderstand me, Grace. I’mworriedabout you.”
“Worried?” I squeak. “About me?”
He chuckles. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’re one of my best employees. I don’t want to see you get burned out and quit.”
Oh. Of course.I try to ignore the pang of disappointment and pull my mouth into a smile. “That’s very kind of you. I really am okay, though.”
Feeling exposed and vulnerable, I finish the rest of my drink in silence. Placing the cup at the edge of his desk, I say, “Thankyou again for the save and the tea. I should… probably get back to my numbers now.”
“Oh! Of course.” Mr. Graves puts down his cup and steps to my side, holding his hand out to help me up from the chair. My body floods with warmth as soon as my fingertips brush his, tiny sparks of electricity racing over every inch of my skin.
“I’ll see you later, Grace.” He brings my hand up to his mouth, pressing a quick kiss to my knuckles. “It was nice spending time with you.”
He drops my hand, leaving me cold and wanting, and I follow him numbly to the exit, unable to look him in the eye as I pass through the door and hasten to my desk, worried my knees will give out.
As soon as I plop down in my chair, I let out a sigh. Hanging out with the boss will get me in trouble. I know I should stop, but I don’t know if I have the willpower to pull away from the temptation.And it seems like I’m not the only one.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SEVEN
Midnight…
I sit crisscross on my bed, staring intently at the wall of screens showing Grace’s apartment. My spine protests from being in the same position for the past six hours, but I can’t seem to move. I’m worried if I move, if I blink, I’ll miss something adorable that Grace does.
Of course, I’m not doing much of anything right now. I haven't since she got home from work. As soon as she walked through the front door, she hopped into the shower, got in her pj’s, and climbed into bed. For hours, she’s been sitting there doing nothing except occasionally picking up her phone to doom scroll.
It’s hours past her bedtime now, but she doesn’t show any signs of going to sleep. Shewouldbe, if she bothered to make herself a cup of warm, soothing, drugged tea. But no luck tonight.
At the thought of tea, my mind wanders back to earlier in the day, my balls tightening when I remember Grace’s sweet lips wrapping around the cup of tea I made her. I wasn’t sure if shewould drink it—cum does add a strange taste to things—but to my utter surprise and glee, she finished the entire thing.
My hands itch to move to my hardening length, to find the release my body is begging for. But no. There’s something much better I could be doing. Watching Grace is no good. I want to be with her. It’s the only thing that will do.
I slip on my tactical gear and mask and head next door to Grace’s, slipping inside quietly and locking the door tight behind. My steps silent, I head into her bedroom, using the dense shadows crowding her apartment as cover so she doesn’t spot me right away.
For a moment, I stand there, watching her scroll through a news article on her phone. Her frown deepens when she comes across a particularly troublesome passage, and with a heavy sigh, she turns it off and throws it to her nightstand.
I shift my weight, and the floorboards creak, giving my position away. Immediately, Grace’s eyes jerk up, searching the shadows until her gaze lands on mine.
She doesn’t scream like last time—in fact, she seems a little resigned. There are dark circles under her eyes, a harsh line to her mouth, and when she speaks, her voice holds nothing but exhaustion.
“I knew you’d be here eventually.”
I move to the side of her bed and sit at the edge, the mattress dipping heavily with the added weight. Though I want to, I don’t reach out to touch her just yet. I don't know how to respond to her coldness, and I don't realize what could have happened to make her look at me like that.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” I ask the first thing that comes to mind.
“Not tired.”
