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My team glances at me as I walk by them in the idea room, and then they go right back to talking about where and when to start drinking. I may have been their leader for this project, but I’m not one of them. I’m still an outsider, and I’m okay with that.
I step into Emery’s office and lock the door behind me. He’s leaning back in his chair and staring at me as I stop right inside the doorway. The look in his eyes burns into me, and part of me wants to turn around and walk back to my office. This is the last time I can turn back, the last time that we’ll ever be able to have a normal office relationship.
“You didn’t come when I texted,” he growls.
I frown. “I just saw your message. It’s only been fifteen minutes.”
He stands up and begins closing the blinds to the office. I catch people glancing up as he does. Everyone in the office knows that I’m in here with him. Alone.
When the blinds are all closed, he says, “I thought you were ignoring me.” He takes another couple of steps toward me, and it feels like he’s towering over me. It’s terrifying how serious he is. And then I remember last night. The animal that fucked me against that wall and turned dreams into reality.
“Bend over the desk and hike up your skirt.”
No small talk. No banter. Just bend over. I can see the desperation in his eyes.
I do exactly as he says, stepping up to the desk and bending over it. Reaching around, I flip my skirt up to show him I’m not wearing any panties.
I swallow hard as he approaches, but I have to look away. It terrifies me to think about him doing this, even though I desperately want it. My eyes are glued to the blinds while the blood rushes to my face and embarrassment fills every inch of my body.
Emery’s hand runs over my ass, slowly and intimately in a way that he hasn’t done before. “You’re perfect,” he says as his fingers slip between my lips.
How can those two words send shivers through me? They feel more intimate than his fingers sliding inside me. Every other time we’ve been naked around each other, it’s been this wild and raw experience that leaves us sore and exhausted.
But this is nothing like that. He’s touching me like he did after he was done with me, sending chills through me rather than fire and lightning.
He slips his finger out of me, and there’s a sense of loss and disappointment. Why isn’t he using me yet? I turn around and see the fire in his eyes as he looks at me.
His gaze moves to my face, and I don’t see that desperate need in his eyes. It’s something else.
He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “Stand up, Madison.”
Why? Aren’t we going to do dirty things like he said we would? Maybe he has something else in mind.
I stand up and turn around to face him, my skirt still hanging not quite right, and I notice the bulge in his pants. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
He shakes his head and turns around to face the blind-covered windows. “I have to go out tonight, but I don’t want to.”
Oh. “I assume that means you’re taking some movie star out with you?” I ask. This is what I’ve been afraid of since the beginning, and I can’t help the sense of fear that boils up. Or the anger.
He nods. “It’s part of my job.”
“Fucking women is part of your job?” I say before I can stop myself. I knew this was who he was. He never promised me anything different.
He shakes his head and turns to me. That fire is still in his eyes. Not the hungry one that I’ve become used to. No, this is something different. Something deeper.
“I won’t fuck anyone tonight, Madison. I have to make an appearance, and that means I have to be seen with at least one beautiful woman. I promise I won’t be doing anything beyond making the public appearance.”
I grit my teeth loud enough that I’m sure Emery can hear it. “Do whatever you need to do. It’s not like I can stop you.”
He moves closer to me, his arms wrapping around me and his body nearly touching me, but not quite. It’s enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his body, though.
His hands press against the desk behind me, trapping me. He growls, “Madison, I don’t want anything to do with any other woman. I want you, but this is part of my job, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Emery Brooks has to make an appearance tonight.”
This is the point where I have to decide whether I trust Emery. There’s no more postponing it or hoping that things will be different. I can either accept his words as truth or walk away.
I already know the answer. Even if the anger inside me wants to boil out. I hate the idea of him going to some fancy event with another woman, but I hate the idea of walking out even more.
His face is inches away from mine, and I smile. “Then I’d better remind you of what you’re choosing.”
