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“Is that the real reason why you decided to be rude to my guests?”
“I was just standing up for myself.” Because who else will if not me? I wondered to myself. There was no one here for me. And even if I called my brother to come visit me, I knew that he wouldn’t because Florida was Matthew’s territory, and after the scandal that they had, it wasn’t wise for him to set foot here. That was probably why Matthew hadn’t visited California in years either.
“Still doesn’t go along with our hotel’s principles.”
“I’m not going to compromise my own principles, Matthew.”
Matthew hummed his response as he rounded the bench and took the vacant space beside me. He smelled good, like crisp citrus and shave lotion. I almost wanted to lean my head against his shoulder, which was crowding my little frame on the seat.
“I don’t want more staff and guests complaining about your behavior. Because then I’ll have to let you go.”
My stomach turned, and I knew it wasn’t because I still hadn’t had dinner. Matthew letting me go wasn’t on my list of things I could deal with right now, especially because I needed money. But I had a feeling that to him, letting me go meant something completely different.
Suddenly, the banquet hall was too hot for my cardigan sweater, and the tension in the air was palpable. I just wished Matthew felt it like I did, too, because the next thing that I felt like saying would be embarrassing if he didn’t.
“Are you going to punish me if I behave like that again?” I played with some of the keys as I said it, and I felt Matthew go stiff beside me. I dared to glance at him under my long lashes and saw him looking down at me, his eyes dark and filled with lust.
“I have no idea if I’m going to punish you for being the most horrible employee I have ever had or for the fact that you’re Ryan St. James’s sister.” It should probably have stung, his words. But I couldn’t find it in me to be offended because I was distracted by his beauty and his presence as he sat beside me, his fingers pressing some keys he leaned way back.
“Maybe you should punish me because I’ve been a bad girl,” I whispered under my breath, but it spoke volumes about how much I wanted Matthew right now.
My core tightened, and my heart skipped a beat as he brought his hand to my chin and pulled my face so that I could meet his eyes.
“Is that what you want?” he asked. “Because if it is, you have to tell me. To fool around with an employee would go against my principles.”
“My shift ended almost thirty minutes ago. Which technically means I’m not your employee anymore. At least for the night.”
God, did I need to spell it out for him? I had never made the first move before in my entire life. Boys usually were the ones who threw themselves at me. Matthew was different, and it gave me a surge of empowerment to have the upper hand because I was the employee, and he didn’t want to take advantage of me.
“Use your words, Reagan,” he said, his tone low and seductive, and my pussy clenched at the sound of it. “Tell me what you want.”
I gulped, thankful that I still hadn’t eaten yet because otherwise, I would’ve thrown up.
“You,” I said. And it was the only word Matthew needed to hear before he brought his lips to mine, which tasted like mint, thank God. He cupped my face with both his hands, and I grabbed his biceps. And let me tell you, those things were huge. I literally couldn’t wrap my hand halfway around them. “What if someone sees us?”
The wildfire of desire that ignited when our lips touched consumed us. It was like I was longing for this kiss for so long, and I didn’t even know it. I was yearning for a connection. In this moment, time stood still as we devoured each other.
“The ninth floor is empty after seven,” he pointed out in between kisses. He sucked my mouth deliciously before tucking away a strand of hair from my face.
Then, all of a sudden, Matthew pulled away. “Tell no one about this. Otherwise, you’re out the door.”
“You’re really threatening me right now?” I complained. “Is that how you treat a woman you just kissed?”
“You’re my employee, Reagan. I don’t want people misinterpreting this. You especially.”
“How should I interpret it?”
“That this is purely physical. You can’t deny that you and I already had an initial attraction to each other that first morning in the elevator.”
“How do you know that the attraction isn’t just hatred?”
“Same thing, really.” Matthew licked his bottom lip, and it took a lot of control for me not to combust. “So tell me right now if you want something more because I’ll walk away if you aren’t honest with me. If you want something purely sexual, then that can be arranged.”
“Matthew Parker,” I started, smirking at him, my eyes turning dark at the promise I was about to make, “there’s nothing I like about you, so you don’t need to flatter yourself. So rest assured that you and I dating was never going to happen.”
“Good,” he nodded, and to my surprise, he signaled for me to remove my fingers from the keys as he closed the fallboard. Then, he patted the top of the piano. “Come here,” he instructed, and I obeyed, standing on the chair with my shoes so I could sit on the top of the piano. I felt a momentary surge of guilt for treating such a nice instrument in this way, but the feeling evaporated when I looked at my boss.
His eyes were glued to mine as he moved to the middle of the bench, my bare legs in front of him. “You can say no, Reagan, you know that, right?”
