Kiss A Ginger Day: A steamy workplace romantic comedy

Chapter 18

Alice’s hands roamed his back, her fingertips brushing along the curve of his spine. Studying him. Every time they came together, she noticed something new. Like how the freckles scattered across his shoulders deepened in color as his skin grew more flushed. How they formed a pattern like a constellation.

Theodore stilled. “Breathe.”

She sucked in air, her chest barely moving under the weight of him.

He growled, nipped along her jawline, and began to move again. He’d been doing that for over an hour—bringing her up to the precipice only to pause, telling her to breathe, telling her how beautiful she looked pricked with perspiration and panting. Her “glowing” had to be exertion from holding back a tsunami of an orgasm.

“Theodore, please.” She never took herself for someone who begged. But at that point, she didn’t care he pulled pleas out of her so easily. An overbearing urge to get him as deep as possible overrode any pride.

His hands twisted in her hair and pulled her head back to expose her neck. “Let’s take the day off.”

“Can’t.” The word was barely a puff of air.

“Drill sergeant. Or is that me?” His hips once more pitched into her, and he licked his lips as if he were about to take a bite of her.

She giggled. “That would be you drilling.” Why not give into the juvenile humor? They acted like horny teenagers anyway.

He pulled out, grasped under her knees, and yanked her farther down the bed until her calves hung down the side. His gaze roamed her body once more. The raw heat blazing in his blue eyes was like he was taking her in for the first time again. It was so fucking hot. The man wanted her. Like really wanted her.

He dropped to his knees and roughly parted her legs. She was so exposed; a sliver of embarrassment threatened to rise. But then he dove in and sucked hard on her clit.

“Oh, my God,” she cried out. There was no easing in of things with Theodore. The man gave her no time to react. Two of his thick fingers began thrusting in and out of her as he licked relentlessly.

Her back arched in a huge convulsion of sensation. She was sure he’d have to peel her off the ceiling.

He didn’t wait for her to come down. He crawled up her body and entered her as the last waves of her orgasm fluttered inside her. “So. Ffycing. Good,” he growled into her neck.

She stared up at him, amazed. And maybe a little in love. Or it was just the oxytocin flooding her system. Either way, she couldn’t deny the warm glow in her chest. But she needed to keep it in perspective. Real love complicated things.

Still, her mind spun. Would it always be like that between them? Their bodies vibrating against one another? So in sync?

His mouth was on hers again, kissing her deeply as he pulsed inside her, giving in himself. When he released his kiss, his hot breath brushed over her face and his blue eyes drank her in.

“Beautiful.” He brushed damp hair from her face. His words increased the happiness blooming behind her ribs.

She bit her tongue in case she said something unwise—like the L word. She couldn’t be in love with him. It was merely the oxytocin coursing through her body.

Cold air washed over her chest as he dropped beside her. He was panting as much as she was. They both stared at the ceiling for a long minute, neither caring they were over an hour late to Edison Tech.

He threw his arm over his eyes. “You’re going to have to shower alone,” he said to the room. “We’ll never get out of this apartment if I keep looking at you naked.”

“Good idea.” She might be tempted to lie in bed all day, otherwise. “You first, though.” She was desperate for water and then coffee.

She rose, clutching the damp sheet to her breasts. Her modesty was stupid. He’d seen everything at that point. Tasted everything.

While he showered alone, she picked out the day’s outfit, a plain black skirt and a crisp white shirt. Nothing that might give Theodore ideas once they got to the office. She had a boatload of work to do.

She made a bowl of yogurt and granola and a pot of coffee. She also texted Patty and Tricia and told them she’d be in a little late. “More than a little late,” she muttered. Neither texted back right away, so she headed to her bathroom to extricate Theodore. The man was a shower hog.

Just as she got near, he cracked open her bathroom door. A cloud of steam surrounded him as he stepped out.

“Were you reading War and Peace in there?” she teased.

“Taking care of business. All I could think about was you being out here naked and alone.”

“Tell me you didn’t.” How could he beat one out after their sexual gymnastics?

“It took a bit, but I managed.”

The man was a sexual neanderthal. How many orgasms could a man have in one day? “You have any skin left down ….” She dipped her chin down toward his crotch.

“Nope. Thanks to you.”

Gah. The nerve. “I’ll have you know, I’m lucky I have a vagina left.” She was sore. Damn, she should have gotten cranberry juice the last time she was at the store. Which was when, exactly? Her routines were so off since Theodore Gaston the Fourth had arrived.

“Anything I can do to help lubricate the tissues?”

“Don’t you dare.” They really had to get to Edison. “I’ll only be twenty minutes.” Fifteen, if she didn’t shave her whole leg.

True to her word, they finally were out the door twenty minutes later. Her hair, still wet, was twisted up in a messy bun, and she wore her black skirt and white shirt.

“Well, great,” Theodore muttered as he locked the door behind her. “Now I’m going to have sexy librarian fantasies all day.” He turned and let his gaze scan her from head to toe.

He moved to advance on her, but she slapped her palm on his chest. “We are so late.”

He grasped her hand, lifted it to his mouth, and kissed the back of it. “You sure you don’t want to take the day off?”

For half a second, she was tempted. But then, as if her conscience were trying to reach her, her phone pinged in her purse. “See? Someone needs something.”

“Got that all from the chime, did you?”

“Those are the only calls or texts I get.”

His brows furrowed a little. “I call.”

“Ah, but you’re work. Technically, anyway.”

He slapped his chest, dropping his chin. “Relegated to the work zone. I’m crushed.” He raised his lids, his baby blues twinkling toward her.

“Okay, you’re more than that.”

“More than.” He yanked her forward, so her captured hand was the only thing separating their bodies. “You are most definitely more than.”

His eyes bore down on her. She had to remind herself not to read anything into the little sparkles that danced there. But seeing how intently he gazed at her, the traitorous glow in her chest grew to the size of the sun. It nearly knocked her off her feet.

She swallowed. “I’ll see you at the office, though?”

“I’ll make a point of it.” His wicked grin ruined yet another pair of her panties. Her reaction to him was uncanny.

And that golden light inside her chest? It didn’t get any smaller—not when she got in her car. Not when she drove the fifteen minutes to Edison and found her favorite parking spot occupied with Roger’s car of all things. And not when she stepped off the elevator and into the usual cattle pen chaos.

In fact, she barely heard anyone as she made her way to her office, plunked herself down, and turned on her computer.

More than kept swimming in her mind. She’d never been more than to anyone before.

She glanced up every time the elevator door dinged across the large office space. Theodore stepped out on the fifth time the doors opened. His eyes searched the space quickly and found hers. Even from across the cattle pen, she could see the warmth in his smile. He was happy to see her.

But then he abruptly broke the eye lock and headed toward the conference room.

That was good. Yes, she reminded herself. It was good they were both at work and hadn’t tumbled back into bed. That they’d gone to their separate corners of the office.

Of course, the self-imposed celibacy only lasted until three in the afternoon. That was when he unwisely chose to slip into her office and ask how she was doing. Five minutes later, door locked and blinds drawn on the large glass window, he laid her across her desk. Her skirt was pushed up around her hips and her white blouse was opened so he could suck on her breasts through the lace fabric of her bra.

Like rabbits, he’d once told her. It was true. The little critters of the world would have been proud of them.