AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As much as she wanted to find out, she was scared. She was starting to care for him, and now she was in deeper danger. She might lose her heart to him. Again she warned herself about falling for an overbearing man.
“So how about it? We could call ahead so we don’t have to wait long.”
“If it doesn’t have anchovies, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.”
They agreed to meet at six o’clock, then he switched subjects back to work so fast she was baffled and scrambling to keep up.
She scrawled notes as he spoke. She needed to get out a company-wide email about Mr. Newman’s going-away party, consult with Thompson, Connor’s admin, on flight arrangements for the Dallas trip the next week and ensure that everything had been handled correctly for Seward’s dismissal the following day when he reported for duty.
Though she tried to concentrate, she was thinking about the night ahead.
“And, Ms. Lane?”
She regarded him. This morning, he wore a charcoal-colored suit, so dark it was nearly black, with a pale yellow tie. For a moment, before she derailed the thought, she entertained the idea that he might pin her face down on the desk and join her wrists at the small of her back, confining her with deft twists of that tie. “Mr. Donovan?”
“I enjoyed fucking you last night.”
Her mouth dropped open.
His cell phone rang, and he picked it up and glanced at the caller identification. “If you’ll excuse me?”
“Of course.” She stood and left, closing the door behind her.
Kelsey paused for a second, shoulders against the wall.
The juxtaposition between intimacy then being shut out when his phone rang jarred her.
This, she told herself, is a good reason not to date the boss.
It didn’t make any difference whom he talked to. He had every right to his privacy. Still…she was curious.
For the next few hours, she handled what felt like a million administrative tasks, calling Zoe McBride, working out the details for Nathan’s Dallas trip, checking in with Lawrence to be sure they were on track for Seward’s termination.
Then she sent an email to Thompson, Connor’s assistant. The man responded immediately, also asking for their arrival dates at the family’s annual meeting.
She promised to get back to him as quickly as possible then set a reminder on Nathan’s calendar.
Kelsey decided to head to Marvin’s for a much-needed coffee before facing the rest of the day. Last night, she’d slept worse than usual. Nathan had offered to stay, but she’d insisted she was fine. Truthfully, being in his arms would have helped. The wax play, the over-the-knee punishment from his belt, the sex… It had been a lot to process, no matter how strong she pretended to be.
Her phone vibrated, and she checked the message. She was a bit surprised that it was from Andi.
Erin-Fucking-Donovan called me. She’s coming in this week. I’ll buy your martini next time we get together.
Kelsey shook her head. Before she could reply, asking what happened to her BOGO service, she received a second message from Andi.
Your boss is a rock star. Have fun Saturday night. I almost wish I could be there to see him beat your ass.
Kelsey sat back. She was sure he’d be glad to know there was another member of the Nathan Donovan fan club.
The rest of the day passed in a flurry of calls, emails, discussions with Zoe and the Newmans about the upcoming party, lunch at her desk and impersonal, businesslike conversation with Nathan that left her feeling a little raw.
He was in his office with the door closed when she picked up her bag and took the elevator to the fitness center.
After twenty minutes on the elliptical machine, Kelsey hit the circuit equipment to work her legs and upper body. She used more weight than normal and forced herself to concentrate on her form, shutting out all other thoughts.
When she was on the final go-round, she noticed Nathan, his hips propped against the air-conditioning unit, arms folded across his broad chest, studying her.
She froze. Then deliberately she got back to her workout.
When she finished the final twenty-five reps on the ab board, he was standing next to her, holding a towel.
With a small smile, she accepted. “Thank you.”
“Take your time,” he told her. “I can wait while you shower, or you can shower at my house, either way.”
“I’ll do it here,” she said.
“Good. I assume you have your butt plug with you?”
She felt her face drain of color.
“Please put it in. I’ll check for it when we get in the elevator.”
“Do you…” She struggled to find the right words. “Do you always…?”
“Think about you?” he suggested. “Plan what I’m going to do next? I suspect you know the answer.”
