Page 43 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I

I’ve been watchingher lips as she repeats everything Mason told me this morning. But she’s more thorough. If only I could kiss her. I picture myself spreading her across the sofa near the window. I would undress her slowly, taste her skin. She was so damn soft last night. I want to stop her from talking by shoving my tongue down her throat.

But I can’t. After the elevator, I don’t want to make her feel cheap. I’m not a pussy-hound. My reaction to her is novel. Even my cock being hard at this moment, in this sort of situation, is new to me.

I squirm to get comfortable in my pants. “What are you doing tomorrow morning?” I blurt.

She stops midsentence. “Huh?”

“Are you still a runner?”

“Yes.” She sounds strained.

“How about we go running and then have breakfast?”

She directs her unfocused gaze out the window. I wonder what I said to make her look that miserable. Maybe she doesn’t want to date.

She’s looking at me again. “I can’t tomorrow.”

“Sunday, then?” I quickly retort.Damn, did I sound desperate? I am desperate.

“Umm…” She looks tortured.

I should let her off the hook. But I’m not done yet. There’s still dinner tomorrow or Sunday night. If she says no to both, then I’ll just come out with “What about my bed tonight?”She’s gotta sleep.

“Okay,” she finally says.

I flinch, surprised. “Yeah?”

“Sure. I mean, it feels like forever since I’ve gone for a run.”

“You know, I went back to the track a few times, hoping you’d run into me again,” I say, grinning, knowing she’ll get my joke.

Her lips form a playful smile as her fingers fan across her delicate collarbone. “But you ran into me.”

“Hmm…” I sit back in my chair and readjust in my seat to make room in my pants for my engorged cock. “I recall that you weren't paying attention to where you were walking.”

“You mean on the sidewalk, which was a designated no-running zone.”

“I’ve never seen that sign.”

“Then you weren’t paying attention, Mr. Valentine.”

I’m gonna blow if I don’t calm down.“Well, I’m paying attention now.”Damn, she’s sexy when she parts her lips that way.

It takes every ounce off willpower I have to stay seated and not spread her across my desk. I want my mouth on her clit. I want to taste her and make her soft, wet, and hot before I slowly slide into her. I want to feel her quivering around my cock for more than five minutes.

But I’m her boss, and I’ve already crossed several lines. I clear my throat. “Sunday, then. Where do you live?” I try to sound at ease.

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