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He wraps an arm around the small of my back, tugging me to him. “I’d like to have Travis install some extra security measures in your building and apartment.”

I frown. “You’d probably have to ask my landlord about that.”

When Elias doesn’t answer right away, I glance up and find a guilty expression on his face.

“You already did, didn’t you?”

“Technically Travis did. And nothing’s been installed yet.”

Laying my head back against his chest, I decide not to fight him on that one. “Fine. I’m okay with that. Any other requests?”

“I’d like our relationship to continue as it has been.”

Frowning even more deeply, I’m about to open my mouth to ask him what he means by that, why he thinks it wouldn’t, when he swoops down and kisses me.

“What I mean,” he says when he pulls his lips from mine. “Is that I’d like our relationship to continue in a way that feels right for us both. Selfishly, I’d prefer if we still spent as much time together as possible, and hope you’ll see my home as being open to you whenever you’d like and for however long you’d like to stay.”

The words ease some of the lingering ache in my chest, settling it to a mellow warmth. I kiss him again, slow and unhurried at first, but with a spark that comes back to life immediately, reminding me all too well just where we’d been headed before Blair knocked on the door.

Elias, whose thoughts are apparently following the same path as my own, breaks the kiss and cradles my face in his hands.

I think he’ll pounce on me, kiss me again, fan those sparks into an open flame, but he takes a step back and looks me up and down slowly.

It’s always so unnerving to have his full attention on me like this, but in the very best way. The darkening blue of his eyes, the quirk of those full lips into a roguish smile, the sensual promise in every look and touch.

Knowing full well he’s already got me on his hook, Elias takes his jacket off and tosses it onto a chair, then slowly, deliberately, unbuttons his cuffs and rolls both sleeves up to the elbow. When he reaches up to unfasten his top button and loosen his tie, a warm anticipatory heat courses through me.

“Where were we?” he murmurs. “Before we were so rudely interrupted?”

“You might have to remind me.”

He hooks his fingers into the belt loops at the front of my jeans and tugs. “I think I was about to do something about these. And then I think I was going to toss you onto that desk and put it to an entirely inappropriate purpose.”

I glance around the office, confused. “You’re going to shift? In here? I thought you needed water to do that.”

Elias laughs. “I don’t. Well, not strictly speaking, it is a little uncomfortable to shift on dry land. Chafes against the tentacles.”

“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. We don’t have to—”

“Have I spoiled you on my kraken cock, little siren?” His voice is lower now, and taunting. “Do you not have any interest in the man separate from the monster?”

“Not a monster,” I whisper, excitement coiling low in my belly. “Or, if you are, then you’re my monster.”

To prove my point, I reach down to stroke the rapidly growing bulge under his pants. He thrusts into the touch and buries a hand in my hair, tugging my head back so I have to look up at him.

Elias takes one step forward, then two, keeping his hold on me as he backs me into the desk and only letting go so he can reach down and grab my ass to lift me up. Setting me down on the desktop, he plants his hands on either side of me, caging me in with his body.

I spread my legs to make room for him and tangle both my hands into his hair to take the kiss I’ve been aching for.

He responds with a low, rumbling groan, thrusting his tongue deep and grabbing my legs under the knees to wrap around his waist. He’s just as ravenous as I am. Plundering, demanding, nipping at my lips until I’m breathless for him.

When he breaks the kiss, we’re both breathing hard.

“Up,” he commands, unfastening my pants and giving my hips a squeeze.

I obey, and he deals with my jeans and underwear, tossing them aside before dropping to his knees in front of me. I barely have time to catch a breath before he hooks both hands around my hips and tugs me forward so I’m sitting right on the edge of the desk, and I don’t have any time at all before he’s there, diving between my legs, taking a slow lick up the very center of me.

My arms give out, and I slump back against the desk. I’m sure I’m making a mess of whatever papers and folders and other super-important CEO stuff he’s got laid out, but I’m way beyond caring right now.