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I stood my ground and didn’t let his icy glare intimidate me. “I’m here as Vanessa’s assistant today. I do whatever she asks me to do, right, boss?” I gave her a wink and a smile, and she returned the smile, addressing Lyle herself.
“It’s not going to be a problem, is it, Lyle? I can get so much more done if Zorak is here attending to the little details.”
“No, I guess it’s fine,” he grumbled. “Let me know if you need anything, Van.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” I called after him, my voice unusually loud and brash, even for my own ears. “I’ll be sure to get it for her before you do!”
He scowled at my persistence but didn’t protest: he knew that Vanessa’s work spoke for itself. It was clear she did not need any help from him when it came to getting things done.
I stayed close throughout the day, bringing her coffee or food whenever she needed it and offering a listening ear when she wanted someone to talk to about an issue she was having with a case or client. That’s just what partners do, and I was determined to prove to her that we were meant to be together, no matter how long it took.
Chapter 20
Vanessa
I blinked bleary eyes at the screen, the words of the legal brief I was drafting blurring together. Glancing at the clock, I stifled a groan. It was nearly midnight, and I was still at the office.
This deadline was important, but working late night after night was taking its toll. I knew I was pushing myself too hard, but I felt compelled to prove I could handle this promotion, even if it meant sacrificing sleep and a social life.
Zorak held up a take-out bag invitingly. “I brought sustenance.”
I smiled ruefully, gesturing for him to come back inside. “You know me too well. I’m sorry, I know I said I’d finish up soon. I just lost track of time...”
Zorak waved away my apology as he began unpacking savory-smelling containers onto my desk. “No need to explain. Here, eat up before it gets cold.”
Instead of the lecture on overwork I expected, his calm caring melted my lingering tension. Over the meal, we chatted lightly about our days. Zorak’s presence reminded me there was more to life than just work.
After we finished eating, Zorak packed up the leftovers and held out a hand. “Come on, let’s get you home to rest.”
Too tired to argue, I let him escort me out of the darkened office and bundle me into an autotaxi. His solid warmth beside me was soothing, and I leaned gratefully against his shoulder during the ride to my apartment.
Zorak insisted on accompanying me to the door, ever the gentleman. As we paused outside, I found myself reluctant to part ways. These stolen moments together had been a bright spot in an otherwise endless week.
Almost unconsciously, I reached out to caress his cheek. Zorak’s brows rose in surprise, but he leaned into my touch, eyes darkening with desire.
I almost gasped. I could feel how much he wanted me through the bond. How much he’d been holding back.
How thin his control had finally grown.
“Would you like to come in for a bit?” I heard myself ask. I held my breath, uncertain how he would respond. Part of me still stung from his rejection back on the resort, even though I understood it better now. Part of me was afraid of being rejected again.
But Zorak was teaching me, little by little, to stop letting fear rule my life.
Zorak studied me intently, seeming to gauge my sincerity. Then his expression softened. If I could feel his desire, my own must have been an open book for him. “I’d like that, but only if you’re sure.”
Pulse heavy and thick, I nodded, leading him inside. After weeks of taking things slow, I was ready to show him how I felt.
As soon as the door closed behind us, I pulled Zorak into a passionate kiss, pouring all my longing and affection into it. His response was heated and immediate. He pulled me against him, letting me feel his hard length against my thigh.
“I’ve wanted you so much,” he said, voice almost a growl. “You have no idea.”
I shook my head. Of course I knew. I wanted him just as much. As we kissed in my hallway, I struggled to remember why the hell I hadn’t wanted to do this as soon as he’d walked into my office.
We stumbled to the bedroom blindly, shedding clothing between fevered caresses. I surrendered completely to the exquisite sensations Zorak’s skillful hands and mouth awoke in me.
The way his muscles flexed beneath my fingertips, the taste of his skin on my tongue, the sound of his breath catching in his throat - it all made me ache with desire.
Zorak’s hands roamed over my naked body, igniting every nerve ending they touched. I moaned as he trailed his lips down my neck, his teeth nipping at my sensitive flesh.
