Chapter 59
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, soft and golden, casting a glow across the room. I felt warm, cocooned in the covers, mustles relaxed, head buned in the pillow. A soft brush of lips grazed my shoulder. Then again, higher this time. Another kiss, slow and warm against my check
I groaned. “What’s going on.
“Time to wake up” Karl’s voice murmured close to my ear. His lips lingered just a second too long
I cracked one eye open, glaring playfully. “Already?”
He chuckled. “Yes. Time to go to work.”
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I let out a louder groan and rolled over, burying my face into the pillow. “I just got comfortable.”
if we showered together?” he offered, his tone low and suggestive
My eyes snapped open. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
He grinned and rugged the blankets off. I didn’t even hesitate. I was on my feet instantly, and we made our way to the bathroom.
The hot water poured down over us, fogging the glass. He stood behind me, hands on my hips, pressing slow kisses to the back of my neck. I turned and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. Our lips met, and the steam wrapped around us like a second skin.
I didn’t want to leave that shower.
Eventually, we pulled ourselves together, both of us dressing in silence. The tension never really left the room. He buttoned his shirt slowly, his eyes flicking to me every few seconds. I caught him more than once watching me as I fixed my hair, tied the laces on my shoes, or put on my necklace.
“Ready?” he asked as he reached for his watch.
“As III ever be,” I muntered
The drive to the office was quiet, but his hand stayed resting on my thigh the whole time. Every time we stopped at a light, he turned to look at me, and when I looked back, his eyes never left mine.
Work started like normal. I was back at my desk, organizing reports, sending emails, trying to focus on anything that wasn’t Karl’s ridiculously hot profile behind the glass wall of his office. But he wasn’t making it easy.
Every time I glanced up, his eyes were already on me. Not casually. Focused. Intense
I shifted in my chair more than once, trying to pretend I didn’t notice.
He was in a meeting with three of his department heads. The others seemed to be talking normally pointing at graphs, gesturing to presentations. But he wasn’t even looking at the screen. He was looking at me.
I looked down again, cheeks burning
Eventually, the meeting wrapped. I saw the executives filing out one by one. Karl stood at the edge of his desk, arms crossed, watching them leave. The door clicked softly behind the last one.
I went back to my laptop, typing up a memo.
The door to his office opened.
Before I could react, he was walking across the Door. Then he was standing in front of my desk. Before I could even greet him, he leaned over and yanked me gently to my feet.
He kissed me hard, hand at the base of my neck, pulling me into him.
My eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer. His hand slid to my waist, lifting me slightly. My legs instinctively wrapped around his hips as he backed me against the desk, lips claiming mine again.
Chapter 39
His mouth moved to my jaw, trailing down to the curve of my neck,
“Karl
I whispered urgently, “we’re in
“we’re in the office”
“I don’t care,” he murmured, his breath hot against my skin.
“Well, I do.” I gasped as his fingers skimmed the edge of my skin. “Save it for later.”
“Later is too far away.”
“We can’t”
His eyes flicked to mine, then down to my lips, then lower. He pressed his forehead to mine. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“Good”
His grip on my waist tightened. “I want to bend you over this desk.”
My breath caught.
A knock echoed against his door.
We both froze.
He growled under his breath. “You’re lucky whoever that is just saved your dignity.”
“I doubt that I slid off his lap, trying to straighten my blouse
He adjusted his cuffs and stepped toward the door. “We’re not done.”
I gave him a look as he opened the door.
I already knew he meant it.
So, we got home. The door had barely closed behind us when Karl pulled me in, his arm sliding around my waist like he’d been waiting for that exact moment all day. His mouth found mine fast, deep and hungry, like he couldn’t get enough. I kissed him back, fingers gripping his shirt as my back hit the wall.
“There’s nothing stopping me now,” he said against my lips, voice low and breathless.
I let myself sink into it, even let myself believe it for a second.
Then I pulled away.
He blinked, still holding me. “What’s wrong“”
I hesitated. My heart was thudding, not just from the kiss but from what I knew I had to say,
“I just… I have a question,” I said, stepping back enough to put space between us.
He straightened slightly. “Okay. What is it?”
I looked at him, unsure where to begin. “I don’t know. I feel uncomfortable with how we’ve been defining whatever this is. I mean, clearly, something is happening between us, right?”
His face didn’t give anything away.
I kept going. “I want to give it a name. This thing between us, it means something to me. It’s not just casual. I don’t want to keep pretending it is.”
His jaw shifted slightly, brows pulling together.
“What are you trying to drive at?” he asked.
I met his gaze. “I want to cancel the contract. And actually be in a real relationship with you.”
He didn’t answer. Just stared at me.
Seconds passed. I held my breath, waiting.
10:44 AM B
Chapter 39
Then his eyes darkened, and a frown tugged at his
“I can’t do that”
E
