AllFreeNovel
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“Fine. Come on.”Finally, some sense!He grabs my hand and tows me into the living room, where the majority of our coworkers are mingling. The energy here has shifted since people first arrived. It’s more lively, more intoxicating. The Christmas tree in the corner mocks me, reminding me exactly where we are.
I pull my hand out of his, refusing to let anyone see what’s going on. He winks at me but doesn’t try to take it back, simply walking towards the front door. Will we go to his place or mine? Do I even want him at my place? I’m pretty sure I left my dishes from earlier in the sink. I can’t let him see that!
We reach the entryway but he surprises me by turning left towards the stairs behind the wall that separates the living room. When he takes a step up, I start laughing. He turns and faces me with his lips curled into a predatory smile. There’s humor in it… but something much darker, too.
“You can’t be serious,” I whisper, looking around to make sure we’re alone. His smile only deepens, his eyes clouded by lust, and I realize he’s one hundred percent serious. I also realize he’s bat shit crazy.
“Be that badass for one more night, Kate. No one ever has to know and—”
I burst into laughter. He’s out of his fucking mind. “No one has to know? You understand you’re walking up the stairs ofRowan’shouse. Our boss!” It hits me again, the insanity of all of this. That this random man standing in front of me pretended to be my boyfriend after I assaulted my ex-boyfriend. And now, he’s going to be working with me. He alreadyisworking with me.
This is downright reckless.
“You know how to be quiet, don’t you?” His eyes study mine and when I don’t respond, he adds, “I bet you getrealwild when you’re fucking. I bet—”
“This is inappropriate! And rude. And just so…. Ah!” The frustration I’m feeling boils over. Because I want him and I shouldn’t. If he really wants to do this, why doesn’t he take me on a date? Get to know me?
That’s right. He doesn’t want to be my boyfriend. Which is fine, right? I’ve sworn off men. I don’t want to be with him, either.
He moves off the step, standing directly in front of me. I crane my neck up and stare into his eyes. They’re still dark and full of all the wicked things he’s offering, but there’s something else, too.
“I tell it like it is, princess. You don’t want this? Walk out that door right now. I won’t stop you. I won’t take anything from you you’re not willing to give. But don’t keep telling me that this isn’t who you are, or that you’re not feeling exactly what I’m feeling.”
“And what is that, exactly?”
“You know.” His fingers stroke down my arm with a featherlight touch, and I lean into it without reservation.
I should just go. I should do exactly as he said and walk out that door, order my Uber home, and forget this ever happened. We’ll run into each other in the office from time to time, and this will all be a strange, hazy memory that we can pretend never existed.
“Isawyou last night, Kate. I saw the smoke rising in your eyes from the ashes.Youwere the fire. Keep telling yourself that’s not who you are. But all you’re doing is dousing the flames within you.”
Fire? Flames? What in the world is he talking about? I’m a calm, collected person. Punching and hitting my ex in his junk was a… fluke. Right? It doesn’t matter that I felt a rush, that it did make me feel more alive than I have in a long time. Possibly ever.
“Come on, I’ll walk you out and wait for your ride.” He takes a step towards the front door and I throw my hand out, curling my fingers around his upper arm. I can’t help but admire the power emitting from his muscles. I squeeze and he flexes, responding to me as though by instinct.
What are you doing?
“You have to promise me that you won’t tell asoulabout this. Not even your roommate.” My voice is still a whisper. He slowly faces me, his eyes seeking mine out. One side of his lips tilt up in that smirk. I’m finding myself drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
Or maybe I’m the flame, like he said.
“Your secrets are safe with me, Kate. Always.”
I only nod my head, my heart racing with the realization of what I’ve agreed to. We’re about to have sex. In our boss’s house.
I’m shocked by the thrill it sends rippling through me. But the logical,louder,part of my brain screams at me that this is stupid.
“Why don’t we go to one of our places?” I say. I glance back towards the party but no one’s attention is on this tucked away, poorly lit area. I look up the stairs; it’s even darker up there and completely silent.
My eyes return to Lorenzo’s. He’s completely focused on me, amusement etched into his features. My breath hitches when I realize he also looks fiercely determined.
“As much as I would enjoy meeting Felix, I may have lied earlier. Maybe I am a wild animal.” He winks before pivoting and tiptoeing up the steps. I look around one more time before throwing caution to the wind in complete reckless abandon and follow him.
Turn around now! Go home. Don’t do this. You could be caught. You could be fired!
My brain screams, shouts, and pleads with me, but for a reason I can’t—or won’t—identify, I ignore it. I follow Lorenzo as he turns left down the hall. There’s a door at the end of it, which I have to assume is the master bedroom. Lorenzo cracks open the first door to our right. From over his shoulder, I see a navy blue painted room with a twin bed in the corner and a racecar lamp on the nightstand.
This must be Rowan and Lily’s son’s room.
