Page 84 of Manhattan State of Mind

I realize I’ve backed her against the glass when she hits it with a soft thud.

Her baby blues pierce me, equal parts fear and desire. Her eyes, oh those fucking eyes. For a few precious moments, they let my soul breathe.

I clench my jaw, trying to ignore the near-painful arousal that’s building in me. She’s close enough that I can see the pulse fluttering in her neck, sense the heat rolling off her body. And Christ, she smells as delicious as I remember.

“Your door is always open? Even at 3 a.m.?” She barely breathes out the words.

My intentions weren’t to come on strong to her, but shit, with the way she’s looking at me now, my desire to touch her is almost unbearable.

Lowering my head so our mouths are almost touching, I brush away a lock of hair from her face before dropping my voice to a husky whisper. “Especially at 3 a.m.”

Her breath catches in her throat as she stares up at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath.

Her tongue darts out, wetting her lower lip, and my willpower frays further.

I can’t help myself. I have to feel her. My fingertips trace her jawline, finding the spot just beneath her earlobe where her pulse flutters wildly.

She gives a tiny gasp as I lean in closer, allowing my breath to tickle her temple.

“Do you honestly think you can hide your attraction to me?” I say, my voice low. “I’ve noticed the way you look at me, the little smiles, the blushing when our eyes meet.”

“Pretty confident, aren’t you?” she breathes, trying to sound indifferent but failing.

“Confidence grounded in hard evidence.”

Her eyes smolder, desire at war with reason.“Look, you’re an attractive man, anybody with eyes can see that. But you also happen to be my boss, the same guy who signs off on my paycheck. It’s… complicated.”

I hold her gaze steady. “Let’s shed the titles, the hierarchies for a moment. Right here, right now, it’s just you and me. We’re adults, capable of making our own decisions.”

“Easy for you to say, Mr. Top-of-the-hierarchy, pick-and-choose-your-own-title guy.” She rolls her eyes, her voice tinged with both humor and annoyance. “But those titles carry weight for me.”

I give her a nod. “Fair enough.You’re right, and I don’t want to abuse that power. But know this—I’ve always protected those around me. And you, sweetheart, are far from an exception.”

My fingertips slide under the shoulder straps of her tank top, tracing the curves of her collarbone.

She shivers, a flush blooming on her cheeks. “What are you doing?” she whispers, wide-eyed.

Arousal courses through me as I watch her nipples harden from just a light brush of my finger. “If you’re uncomfortable, tell me to stop.”

My hand strays beneath her top, and I’m met with the curves of her breasts, but she still doesn’t pull away.

“Do you use this hands-on approach with all your staff?” she quips with false bravado.

I nip at her neck, enjoying her shivers. “Only the special ones who need to be reminded of their place.”

Her breaths come fast and shallow. “And where… is my place?”

“Right here,” I murmur against her skin, “with me.”

I grab her around the waist and pull her close, my hardened arousal against her softness.

The contact has her gasping.

Good. I need her to feel how hard I am for her.

Her body melts into mine. She’s begging me to take her right here, right now against this wall, and I need nothing more than to quench my thirst for her.

“You drive me wild,” I growl out between gritted teeth, pulling her even closer to me. “You know that?”