Page 34 of Innocent

Chapter Eight

The next morning, I don’t oversleep, but during my morning shower I lose track of time when I end up jerking off to thoughts of Leo Cruz.

Mmm.

I can’t help it. My dreams were filled with all sorts of dark and dirty scenarios. I’ve always had a healthy libido, but it’s been kicked into overdrive by the man. I awoke not just with a morning woody, but with a screaming erection I knew would only fully go away if I rubbed one out. I didn’t want to spend the morning struggling not to embarrass myself.

Except when I open my room door for Leo at 7:55, I’m still running around and trying to get ready, all while cursing myself for looking like an immature and incompetent idiot. I’m certain my face is red for the man standingrightthere now.

Leo graciously takes pity on me, and something about the playful smirk he’s wearing as he waits leads me to think maybe he suspects exactly what I was doing in the shower only a few minutes earlier.

How I pictured myself on my knees in front of him and—

Shit. I really need to get my head in the game and stop this bullshit. I can fuck around at night when I’m back here, but I need to keep this professional and focus on my work.

Over the whirlwind of the next two weeks, the more time I spend with Leo and the better I get to know him…

I realize I have a problem.

Aseriousfucking problem.

I’ve never been in love before. Maybe this is nothing more than stupid infatuation on my part, but damned if I don’t feel like I could fall hard for Leo and gladly shred my V-card without a second thought. I don’t even care about the age difference—that’s irrelevant to me.

It feels like we’ve been dancing around this issue, too.

This issue ofus.

He isn’t shutting me down, and I know I’m not clueless enough to misinterpret what’s going on between us as flirting. Especially on his part.

It’s exactly two weeks since I’ve arrived in DC, and that Thursday night, Leo and I are having a late dinner and drinks at the bar in my hotel. It’s been a long damn day, but I savor this opportunity to be alone with him.

Part of me gets the distinct feeling there’s something going on between him and Elliot Woodley. They have these secret head nods they give each other. Very subtle, but I notice, especially after I realized it and started paying attention. But then we’ll be working together, and I’ll catch Leo watching me in a way that makes my own cock hard, and I’m convinced Leo’s really into me.

I also suspect there’s something going on between President-elect Samuels, her husband, and Kevin Markos. If forced to guess, I’d be willing to bet they’re involved with each other. Except they’re all adults, and that’s none of my business.

Meanwhile, here I am with a head full of fantasies—including some really kinky shit that might be a total turn-off to Leo—and for the first time in my life, I’m feeling pretty damned eager to start checking them off my sexual bucket list.

Maybe it’s the martini giving me extra courage, but I find myself taking a chance before I second-guess myself and chicken out. “So, is there some sort of big boss fight I have to win to level up personally with Leo Cruz?”

He glances around before dropping his voice. “It’s complicated. Not impossibly so. That complication is mostly on my end.”

I’m…stunned.Yay, he hasn’t shot me down!

“You need permission?” Yes, I’m a smartass, but I’m also nervous as fricking hell.

“Ihavepermission. I also need to be cautious.” He props his elbow on the table. It looks like he’s bracing his chin on his hand. But the way his fingers cover his mouth, combined with the way he’s looking around and how he drops his voice to a whisper, I realize he’s being overly cautious about making sure no one can tell what he’s saying from a distance. “I could take you upstairs right now and fuck your brains out and not be violating any trusts, if I thought that’d be a good idea tonight.”

Fuuuuuck.

“Oh.” I am so out of my league it’s not even funny.

Doesn’t mean I’m going to turn away from this.

“But we need to have private discussions about that first. May I cook you dinner tomorrow night?” I eagerly nod and a sexy, evil smile curls those handsome lips. “I’m not looking for a quick fuck. Tomorrow night isjustdinner, so we can talk. You might not be so eager to level up with me once you get to know me better.”

I take a sip of my martini to buy me a moment as I struggle to keep my hand from trembling. “I find that hard to believe.”

“Here’s something for you to chew on. Hypothetically, what if you can never talk to anyone about a goodly chunk of your personal life?”