Chapter 3 #2
Just breathe.
She peeked through her lashes, looking around the room. She tried to see how many people were in attendance. Sirens had given her a ballpark number, but seeing that number in person had a different effect on her. Luckily or unluckily—she wasn’t sure which—she couldn’t see much of anything.
“Are we getting shy, Ms. Wayne?” Amelia could hear the teasing tone in Jordan’s voice. “Who would have thought?” His lips twitched. She felt like he was mocking her somehow. It settled on her skin like ice.
“Is this how you spend your time, Mr. Monroe?” she grumbled, snatching her elbow from his grip. Her voice of reason picking now to come to the forefront.
Tonight was supposed to be about reclaiming parts of herself she lost or never got to explore because she’d been stuck in a relationship she should have cut off long before they ever started.
His being here was ruining that. He was supposed to be a stranger, and she didn’t care how objectively attractive he was, he was still her boss.
Who made me late for this scene.
“Is this why you’re always unavailable and leave me with your headaches and company to run?” She was being pissy. Her claws were outstretched and aimed for his throat.
This was familiar territory for them. A reminder that no matter how much her body was responding to him, they needed to be back on even ground so she could walk away.
You’re not leaving.
The traitorous little thought was accompanied by the tightening of her stomach.
Jordan chuckled, his eyes sparking with delight. “And there she is,” he whispered, taking a step closer. She took a step back, knowing if he was in her orbit again, she’d be pulled under the spell of Sirens pleasure club and him.
“I was wondering if I would be blessed with that sharp tongue of yours.” He moved again, and this time she didn’t step back. She took a steadying breath and breathed in his citrus scent.
“Is there hope I can persuade you to put that tongue to better use tonight?” His eyes darkened as they fell to her lips.
Amelia’s hand shot up to curl into his button-down shirt.
She barely had time to stop herself from clinging to him and pulling him closer to her.
She needed to step back—to walk out of here and never look back.
Instead, she smiled up at him and whispered, “Only if you play your cards right, Mr. Monroe.”
“Well, if this chemistry is anything to go by, tonight is going to be fun.”
Amelia turned toward the newcomer and knew immediately she was looking at Monica.
She’d been told ahead of time Monica would be a part of this as their coordinator and to help in any way they saw fit.
Amelia’s eyes traveled down the length of Monica’s body, pulling her lip between her teeth.
She could feel the uptick in Jordan’s heart under her palms.
“You’re really pretty.” Amelia liked the way the front of her dress played peek-a-boo with her chest. Every breath, every slight sway gave Amelia a glimpse of her full breasts.
Monica laughed, extending her hand. Amelia shook it, keeping one hand wrapped in Jordan’s shirt.
She noticed Monica had closed in on them, her other hand placed against his bicep.
They were all connected one way or another.
There was a slight pause in Amelia’s breathing—it felt like she’d just dropped from a rollercoaster.
Monica brought their joined hands to her lips. “You’re pretty too, sweet girl.” She murmured against Amelia’s skin. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a pleasure working with you.” Her gaze slide to Jordan’s. “Both of you.”
“Yes,” Amelia squeaked out. Jordan wrapped his large hand around her wrist, tugging her closer to the hard plains of his body. Her eyelids fluttered closed and her lips parted, hoping to get much-needed air in her lungs.
“Breathe, Ms. Wayne.” Jordan’s breath fanned across her face.
“I am breathing,” she grumbled, but it felt like the room was spinning.
His dark chuckle was the only response she got before she felt his other hand pressed into her chest. “Slowly, I can practically hear your heart beating out of your chest.”
Amelia tried to focus on what he said. She tried to get her lungs to cooperate, but the dual sensations of his body and scent slipped into her system, plus the gentle touch of Monica’s fingers against her wrist sent her body into a freefall.
The first dip on a rollercoaster always made it hard for her to catch her breath; her stomach would drop as she screamed at the top of her lungs with her arms stretched out as if she were flying.
This was giving her the same sensation, and if they kept touching her like this, she was liable to experience a first tonight.
“Ms. Wayne,” Jordan murmured, his grip tightening on her hip. Her lower back tingled, and her grip on his shirt tightened to the point she was sure she was digging into his skin, going by his sharp hiss.
She didn’t care.
Not when she felt the slow build of a climax wrapping around her and threatening to pull her under.
Amelia always had trouble finding her release.
Six years stuck in a relationship that had less to do with what she enjoyed and more to do with what got him off in the quickest way possible left her feeling like something was wrong with her.
In her newly single life, she found that she wasn’t broken, and sex with herself and others was fun and easy.
It came with pleasure and a knowledge of her body, which she knew was only going to continue to build.
She would need something extra to help push her over the edge.
“Ms. Wayne.” She felt Jordan’s hand slide up her chest and wrap around the side of her neck. “Open your eyes, pretty girl,” he murmured, and she reluctantly complied.
“There’s my girl.” His lips twitched. She felt Monica move behind her and she tensed. “Easy. It’s just us.”
Amelia’s lips twisted to the side. They weren’t exactly alone.
They were in the middle—well, they hadn’t even made it to the middle of the room yet, but they were in a room full of people watching them.
She could feel their eyes on her body, feel the stillness in the room as if they were all holding their breaths right along with her.
“Okay, fine. It’s not just us.” Jordan pulled her closer. His heat and hardness settled over her like a heavy blanket. “You always were a stickler for the details.” He winked.
Amelia let out a short laugh. “With you as my boss, I have to be. Details are important.”
“That they are, Ms. Wayne. I’ll be sure to show you just how detail-oriented I am later.
But….” He leaned his head against hers. Their breaths mingled together, and she had the horrifying feeling he was going to kiss her.
She didn’t like how her body jumped at the idea or the way she craved it in the same way she craved the release that was still building inside of her.
“If you want to continue, Ms. Wayne, we need to hear your consent.” Jordan pulled back just as she felt Monica’s hand on her other hip. They were caging her in, surrounding her in a little cocoon she was ready to nest in.
“Amelia,” her first name off Jordan’s lips made her lungs spasm.
He rarely, if ever, called her by her first name.
The sound rolled off out of his mouth like honey, slow and sticky, slipping down her chest, ready to be consumed off her skin.
She wanted him to keep saying it, wanted to hear how it sounded when he groaned in pleasure and frustration.
“Yes?” she barely contained her whimper.
Her hips tried to jerk forward, chasing a phantom touch her body desperately needed.
Both Monica’s and Jordan’s hands tightened on her, trying to keep her still.
She was soaked. She clenched her legs together, trying to ease her ache.
“Please,” she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and closed her eyes again.
“I’ll give you anything you want, Amelia.” Jordan placed his thumb under her chin. “But we need your words. Tell us you want this to continue. Tell us you’re okay with what’s to come.”
A hush fell over Amelia. She fluttered her eyes open to see Jordan looking at her with an intensity she’d only ever seen when he was passionate about a deal. She’d been part of so many meetings that she knew when he was serious about something—how he set the room on fire even while seeming unfazed.
He’s your boss.
It was on the tip of her tongue to say yes, but that little thought popped in her head. They had Monday morning to face—maybe Tuesday because he never came into the office on Mondays. But reality would settle in for both of them. Did that change things?
“As much as I usually love the way your mind works,” Jordan spoke, “don’t borrow trouble.”
“But what about—” Her words died on her tongue when she saw him shake his head. How could he not be worried about facing the work week after what could possibly happen here?
“We can be just two strangers for the night.” He let out a deep chuckle that made her toes curl. “As we were supposed to be. You can be whoever you want, and I’ll be exactly who I am when I’m not glued to a phone, wondering what a certain someone is doing to mess up my calendar.”
Amelia let out a snort. “I did not mess up—” She sucked in a sharp breath when she felt Jordan’s hands tighten around her neck.
“Don’t get side-tracked, Ms. Wayne.” The command in his voice made her wobbly. She would have dropped to her knees if not for the secure hold both him and Monica had on her.
“I think she likes when you use that tone of voice,” Monica murmured, her lips dangerously close to Amelia’s overheated skin.
“She does.” Amelia could hear the amusement in Jordan’s tone. “She’ll deny it, even though I can feel it with every beat her pulse makes.”
Jordan’s smug satisfaction was setting her on fire in a different way.
She wanted to shove her pointy heel into his foot—twice, just to watch him squirm, because he was right.
The gruffness in his voice always sent a lick of electricity into her stomach.
She would never admit how his deep timbre could make her body ache even when what he was telling her was pissing her off.
“Look at all that fire dancing in your eyes.” There was something close to awe in his voice.
“If looks could kill, I’d gladly go to my death like this.
But I’d much rather we let your fire loose and set this place ablaze.
” He slowly released his hold and took a step back.
She felt Monica do the same and hated the cold chill in the air around her.
“Tell me, Ms. Wayne,” he started, adjusting the collar of his shirt. “How are we continuing this night? We all walk away and forget about it, or…” he dipped his head forward, “I find out just how well you can take orders.”
She opened her mouth, and he cut her off with the shake of his head. “Before you ask, come Monday, no matter what happens tonight, we return to our positions.”
Amelia’s lips twisted, a little annoyed that he’d answered the question without her having to ask it. He seemed to know exactly where her mind was going, and it made her wonder how well he really paid attention when they were in the office.
Jordan held out his hand for her, and she brought her hand up to her chest, hesitating. She knew deep down she could walk away now with no issues. But it would turn into a what if memory.
And wasn’t she tired of what ifs?
This whole night was about living out her desires. Shit, the last six months had been filled with exploring all the ways she enjoyed sex and the little pleasures she could find. She wasted enough time in her life second-guessing things or keeping the status quo because it was easy.
She was here for a reason, and that reason ended with her thoroughly sated.
Amelia placed her hand in Jordan’s, enjoying the way it dwarfed her in size. “Hi, I’m Ms. Wayne. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She winked. “And if that wasn’t clear, I consent to continue.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before Jordan was pulling her flush against his body and sealing his lips against her own. It was a consumption of need and desire, and she never felt more at home in her body.