Page 82 of For the Plot

“Don’t,” I warn.

“I’m just trying to clarify. You mean the part where I walked in? Or the part where I made you come so hard you forgot your own name?” My hands clench the arms of my chair. Her tone doesn’t change.

“Skye.”

She sighs, then finally softens. “I’m not trying to get you in trouble. I know what this is. I’m not parading around the office in lingerie. I’m not whispering dirty things to you during conference calls. I’m your assistant. I show up. I do my job. And if sometimes I suck your cock after hours in your office… well.” She smiles. “That’s between us.”

I lean forward, bracing my elbows on the desk. “It’s inappropriate.”

“So fire me.”

The words land like a brick in my gut, the thought of not seeing her every day suddenly a knot in my stomach. She says them lightly, teasingly. But there’s a flicker of challenge behind her eyes. She’s daring me. Daring me to pretend I could go a day without seeing her face. Without the sound of her voice in my ear, the scent of her on my jacket, or the echo of her laugh from the hallway.

She leans in, palms resting on the edge of the desk. Her voice drops.

“I’m not going to push you, Reece. You already know what you want. I’m just the one letting you have it.”

The silence stretches. Then, finally, I say the only thing that makes sense. “This thing between us… it doesn’t have to stop. But it has to stay out of the office.”

Her lashes flutter once, surprised. “Is that an order?”

I nod. “That’s a boundary.”

She nods, absorbing it. Then she straightens, collects the top folder from the stack, and smooths a hand down her hip.

“No problem,” she says, stepping back toward the door. “I respect your boundaries.”

I blink. “You do?”

She looks over her shoulder. “Of course. It’s not like I don’t have other ways to get what I want.”

I pause. “Like what?”

She tilts her head, lips curling. “Why don’t you stop by sometime and find out?”

I raise a brow. “Stop by?”

“My place. After work. Or after a drink. Or when you’re tired of pretending I’m not all you think about.”

“Are you inviting me over?” I ask, trying to sound unaffected.

She grins. “No, Mr. Blackwood. I’mdaringyou.”

Then she walks out. And I’m left staring at the empty doorway, my pulse hammering behind my ribs, knowing damn well I’ll take her up on it.

Chapter 17

Skye

Idon’t know what’s worse, being ignored by Reece Blackwood or being watched by him.

And right now? I’m getting both.

He’s been quiet all morning. Cold coffee in front of him. No smile. No teasing. No after-hours “sit on my desk so I can fuck you with my eyes” looks.

But every time I glance up from my laptop across the glass conference room table, his eyes are already on me. I shift in my seat and cross my legs. His gaze dips for half a second before he catches himself and looks back at the presentation.

God, he’s annoying. And hot. And still the only man who’s ever made me come.