Page 91 of Not In The Contract

Mostly because I wanted to explore more than whatever lay between us. I wanted to exploreher. I wanted to learn as much about her as she knew about me. I wanted to find out her favorite color, I wanted to ask why it was special. I wanted her to tell me about her dreams, even the crazy vivid ones that people usually don’t talk about.

I wanted to explore her body, too.

It hadn’t escaped my notice that the clothes she wore to the office were a little more provocative than they ought to have been. I’d convinced myself I was imagining it until I caught her gaze in the mirror before we left home, when she’d been adjusting her skirt.

The look she’d given me sent shockwaves of desire through me. Through some unknown well of power within me, I’d managed to keep my hands to myself outside the privacy of my home.

Devon, however, didn’t make it easy.

A knock on my door shook me from my daze and I looked up to find Devon smirking at me from the door. She wore yet another short skirt, and her top revealed enough of her cleavage that I couldn’t help but admire it.

“I’m heading across town to buy coffee,” she said, walking toward my desk with a slow purpose. “I know you’re busy, so I thought I’d come and ask if you wanted me to pick anything up for you while I was out.”

She stopped beside my desk, less than a foot away from my chair, a dare glinting on those cherry gloss lips. I glanced at the door, into the reception area where Katya spoke animatedly on the phone. I looked back at Devon, at her lip caught between her teeth while she waited for me to do something.

I rolled my chair closer and slipped a hand between her thighs, my fingers ghosting over the skin of her inner thigh. Her breath caught and I smirked as a brand new flush crawled up her chest and settled in her cheeks.

“I’ll have wherever you’re having,” I said simply, as if my fingersweren’tan inch away from the lace of her underwear.

Without another word, I pulled away and turned back to my computer, my heartbeat raging against my ribcage. A shuddery breath was all she left behind as she marched out, no doubt as flustered as I was just then. It didn’t help me concentrate, but knowing she was just as affected as I was brought a cat-like smile to my face.

Katya walked in a few moments later, interrupting a vivid daydream involving Devon in that tiny skirt.

“Hey, boss lady,” she said, setting down a fresh glass of water with a pitcher on my desk. “You seem pretty chipper these days.”

My stomach clenched in discomfort. “Is that so?” I asked, taking a sip of water to stall. “I hadn’t noticed.”

“Jean and I were just talking about it.” She giggled, taking Devon’s seat.

“Really?”

She nodded emphatically, her dark red lips pulled into a wide grin.

“Now I’m curious,” I said, abandoning any hope of getting my work done on time. “What makes you think I’m chipper?”

“Well, first off,” she said, pointing at the pitcher of water. “You drink more coffee than most humans can stand so the fact that you’re even looking at water means you’re not as stressed as you usually are.”

“Less stresswouldmake me chipper,” I agreed, thankful that she hadn’t brought Devon into the conversation.

“And every time Devon leaves your office, you’re smiling.”

God damn it.

“How do you know that?” I hedged. “Do you stare at me all day?”

Katya lifted a shoulder. “It’s my job to stare at you, Alex,” she explained. “How else would I know when you’re done with your coffee or need a fresh pitcher of water?”

I stared pointedly at the small button labeled ‘Katya’ on my office phone.

“If you have to call me for stuff like that, I’m not doing everything I can toassistyou now, am I?”

I frowned at her, but before I could respond Jean blew in, a stack of documents in her hands.

“The final drafts have just come in!” she announced.

“Oh, Jean, perfect timing!” Katya said gleefully.

Jean’s eyes, made twice as large behind her prescription glasses, bounced from me to Katya and back. “What’s going on?” she asked hesitantly.