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I could hear the low thump of music from the event hall, the entire company packed inside the massive room to dance, drink, and eat. It was a celebration of landing one of the biggest deals for the company, and Jareth and the other higher-ups had put together the party as a thank you to everyone. And everyone had helped, in some way, shape, or form.
It didn’t matter how small your position was—if you were part of the maintenance department or an executive assistant. We were all equal when it came to working as a team.
We all made an impact on the company, and Jareth and the other bosses wanted to show their thanks and gratitude, which meant one big-ass bash.
I shoved my lipstick in my small clutch, moved a piece of hair away from my forehead, and gave myself a tentative smile. Time really went fast when you’re happy, and that’s how it was for me, with Ryker and Jareth.
My three days with each of them went by so quickly it was almost as if it didn’t even happen. Here I was with Jareth again, my time with Ryker having been incredible but seemingly ended so soon.
That’s how it felt each and every time I was with them, and I couldn’t help but start to think how it would be if we didn’t have to split up.
Our time… if we were all together and there were no rules.
I made my way down the hall, my heels clicking on the polished marble floor. The banquet hall the company had rented out for the evening was ornate and luxurious, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, Faberge eggs on display, and a price tag big enough to give somebody a heart attack.
But that was the thing with Jareth and the other bosses. They treated their employees well and showered us with lavish as hell things when the time called for it.
I smoothed my hands down my dress and stepped into the room, the space massive, with a ceiling that resembled a starry night, the fiber optic lights twinkling above. It was gorgeous, more like a piece of artwork than a place to throw a party. But in the city, there were lots of hidden gems.
Although the hidden gems my wallet and I were more familiar with were the off the beaten path pizza joints that were open all night and served beer with the slices.
I glanced around the massive room, everyone mingling, drinks in their hands, waiters in black-and-white attire moving fluidly between everyone with platters of champagne and hors d’oeuvres in their hands. There was a DJ off to the side, up-lighting on every wall, and the whole place almost gave off the feeling that you were at a ritzy wedding reception. A very expensive, very elaborate wedding reception.
I spotted Jareth and a few of the other executives off to the side. No doubt they were talking business. They did that a lot, even if they weren’t at work. But I supposed, when you were in a position such as they were, work was everything. It had to be, if they wanted to be and stay as successful as they were.
I stood there just people watching, wondering about their lives, what they were thinking about, what he’d be doing after this. Would some of them go home with each other? Would they let the copious amounts of alcohol they’d been consuming tonight affect their inhibitions?
I looked over at Jareth again, my heart jumping in my throat when I saw he was watching me. He had this intense expression on his face, his focus screaming one thing.
Mine.
Although there were official rules about not having relationships within the company, I knew it was probably frowned upon, because I could imagine the complications a breakup would cause. But nobody talked about it, despite the fact that I knew there were several employees who were getting it on, even sneaking off together during their lunch breaks for a nooner.
And although Jareth and I had never made our relationship official, there was no doubt in my mind that people knew. They had to. It wasn’t like things stayed secret for very long. They were just smart enough not to talk about it, because Jareth was the boss.
Jareth said something to his associates and then made his way toward me. I straightened from the wall I was leaning against, my pulse instantly increasing the closer he came.
God, he looked good, with a three-piece suit on, his salt-and-pepper-colored short hair styled away from his face, and an arrogant, sophisticated expression.
He looked good, really damn good, and I was one lucky woman to be able to say he was mine. He stopped only a foot from me, a low growl leaving him as he raked his gaze up and down my body.
“Damn, Sofie, you’re looking good enough to eat.”
I knew what kind of “eating” he was referring to, and Lord, that sounded incredible.
I felt a shiver rake up and down my spine, felt my nipples start to harden when he kept his gaze trained on my breasts. The dress I was wearing was black and slinky, a silky material that was light and flowed over my body, but it was still form-fitting so you could see my curves. And although I didn’t have many of them, I did like to show them off, but only for Jareth and Ryker.
He placed a hand on the wall beside my head and leaned down a little, and even though this probably looked intimate as hell, everyone was too busy right now with their own conversations, getting liquored up, and probably thinking about tonight, to pay any attention to us.
But to be honest, I didn’t care what they thought.
I leaned back against the wall and tipped my head up so I could look into his face. “I thought about you when I picked it out to wear tonight,” I admitted.
He made another low, gruff sound, and then he was dipping his gaze lower, down my belly, and stopping at the most intimate part of me. “Panties?”
I shook my head slowly. “I’m not wearing any.”
He snapped his gaze up to me, and I could practically feel the possessiveness leaving him. “What a good girl, Sofie.”
