Page 10 of Arranged Addiction

Now it’s everywhere. All my muscles are tight. I try to roll my shoulders, but that doesn’t help. I catch him glancing at me, and I swear he licks his lips slightly when my chest is shoved out.

I feel my skin flush red, but he’s already staring out the window again.

This is so stupid. Why am I having these thoughts? This dinner was just a boss doing something nice for an employee who mortified herself. I bet he feels sorry for me and wanted to give me a little treat to keep me from quitting. There’s nothing inappropriate or personal going on here. This is all business.

Declan’s never been anything else but professional.

I’m being an idiot.

Nothing’s about to happen.

We’re going back to his place so he can shove a bundle of worn suits and sweaters in my arms.

And I bet he’ll remind me that I’m only to call himMr. Whelanfrom now on and that this whole first-name-basis thing was just for the night.

There’s just no way he’s bringing me back to his apartment for sex.

I spend the ten-minute car ride to his upscale residential building thinking about sleeping with him.

Which is really bad since it’s not happening. But the more I imagine his hands on my body, his mouth on mine, his soft masculine groans in my ears, the more I want it.

And I want itbad.

I’m also extremely aware that I haven’t been with anyone since I was a senior in high school. I lost my virginity to my boyfriend back then, but we broke up when we went to different colleges.

It’s hard to do long distance when you’re eighteen.

Ever since him, men have found me vaguely terrifying.

So it’s been a solid seven years since I’ve been touched by a man like that.

And honestly…

I’ve never been touched by a man likeDeclan.

He’s like twenty years older than me. My high school boyfriend meant well and did his best, but he was inexperienced.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Declan would know what he’s doing.

Could I really go through with it? If he wanted me to?

Could I seriously have sex with Boss Bastard?

We get out of the car together and enter the building. His apartment is near the top of the tower, and the elevator ride up is excruciating. He stares at the numbers as they tick past, his jaw tight, his expression like he’s wrestling with some difficult problem. Which actually just makes him so much hotter. Like he’s a little bit angry and stressed, and I have no idea why that turns me on more, but it does.

I have to control myself.

I’m just being silly.

After I stop at his place, I’ll go back home, say goodnight to Sheila, and tell Natalie all about this wild dinner and how dumb I was to think Boss Bastard might actually want to have sex with me.

We’ll get a good laugh out of it.

I follow Declan to his apartment door. He lingers in the hallway. There’s only one other residence on this floor and the next, but they’re on the opposite side of the building.

We’re completely alone as he turns and looks at me.

His eyes are hard, and he seems pissed off.