Chapter 9
Chapter nine
Tristan
Soft flesh met my fingertips, and I tightened my hold on her thighs. I groaned. Back and forth, back and forth, she took me deeper with every slow, sensual slide of her hips. Fuck me, this was good. Too good. I’d never experienced something as euphoric as the feeling of her moving over me.
“You drive me crazy,” I muttered half out of breath. “Riding me like you fucking own me.”
“Mmm,” she moaned.
Her pace increased. I wanted to throw my head back and just feel, but I needed to see her more. To see if she was as lost to this addictive passion as I was. Slowly, my gaze traveled from my hands on her thighs up over her middle.
I moved higher still. My mouth salivated at the sight of her perfect breasts bouncing in time with her rolling hips. The need to taste was so urgent, I couldn’t stop myself from surging forward and latching on to her nipple.
“Ohhh.”
Her hand swept into my hair, fingers digging into my scalp, almost like she was afraid I’d stop. She had no need for concern. This was my own personal slice of heaven, and I was never leaving.
“More,” she cried, her movements faster and more frantic now. “I need more.”
I did too.
Needed it deeper and harder. But most of all I needed to lose myself in her eyes when she came around me. Letting her breast fall from my mouth, I lifted my gaze to hers.
And almost choked when Kate looked back at me.
“Fuck...”
I jolted awake.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
My hands shot to my head. Curling my fists into my hair, I yanked at the ends until a sharp stinging pain registered against my scalp.
What in the name of all things holy was going on inside my brain?
I’d had sex dreams before, quite a few actually, but none of them had felt so real. And not a single one had ever been about Kate.
Why?
Why, after all this damn time, was she stuck inside my head. Why couldn’t I shake her?
Maybe it’s because you don’t want to shake her. Or maybe it was simply because she intrigued me.
I hadn’t seen this side of her before. She was relaxed and witty, so damn witty. And not at all affected by me. She’d been right when she’d told me I’d been laying it on thick. Because I had.
I’d burned with a fierce need to see if she was like every woman I’d been with. If she’d give in when I lowered my voice and gave her the look. The one that had most women throwing their panties at my feet.
She hadn’t done that. Oh no, she’d slammed the door in my face instead.
And I’d simply stood there, grinning at the piece of wood separating us like a damn fool.
A groan worked its way up my throat as I glared at my raging hard-on. No fucking way I was taking care of it after the dream I’d had. It’d be weird and...wrong, wouldn’t it?
I was her boss. And hopefully, after the previous night, her pretend boyfriend.
Pretend being the operative word.
Another curse rolled off my tongue. Then another and another. Pity all the swearing didn’t do shit to ease the ache between my legs. So, I opted for a long, cold shower.
Which had done wonders for my hard situation but hadn’t done a damn thing about the thoughts and images inside my head.
By the time I strode into the office later that morning, I’d needed a reprieve and ten cold showers.
I wouldn’t get either.
Kate was already at her desk, fingers flying over the keyboard. Her hair was straight and pulled into a ponytail again.
“Have you ever considered wearing your hair down more often?”
Instead of a hello or good morning, those were the damn words that tumbled out of my mouth.
Her head snapped up, those hazel eyes almost knocking me on my ass. “What?”
“Nothing.” I jerked my head toward my door. “Can I see you for a minute?”
I didn’t wait for her response, simply headed inside knowing she wouldn’t be far behind. Shrugging out of my jacket, I hung it behind the door. Like a few days ago, she didn’t sit.
She stood next to my desk, smoothing her palms down the front of her dress. This one was dark blue with short sleeves and buttons going all the way to the hem at her knees.
It was a plain dress, one she’d probably worn to the office a million times before, and yet, my deprived mind provided me with a vivid image of my fingers sliding over those buttons, popping them free one by one until I could unwrap her like a present.
Shit. That was the last thing I needed to think about. Especially after that damn dream.
With a quick intake of breath, I demanded my hormones to settle the fuck down. I couldn’t convince her to play pretend with me while I stood in front of her with an erection.
“So?” I drawled, slowly approaching her. “Last night went well?”
I wasn’t prepared for the smile she gave me. Not even a little. My heart jackhammered inside my chest, tapping against the bones with a ferociousness I’d never experienced before. If I hadn’t known any better, I would’ve sworn I was having a freaking heart attack.
Splaying my fingers over the spot, I forced my attention to her moving mouth.
“...better than expected. Millie really likes you. I’m sure the plushie helped, but I think it’s his name that sealed the deal for me.”
I quirked a brow. “His name?”
“Yeah. After you left, she noticed a tag at the bottom of the toy.” That heart stopping smile grew wider. “His name is Mochi.”
“I’m not following.”
“Well...”
Her palms skimmed along the side of her hips, and I was back in dreamland. My hands replaced hers, fingers digging into her skin while she moved over me.
Fuck.
This was bad.
Shifting from one foot to the other, I balled my hands into tight fists at my side.
“You okay?”
Her voice slid over my skin, tender and sweet. The complete opposite of the thoughts tumbling around inside my head.
I cleared my throat. “All good. What were you saying?”
“Mochi.” A frown creased her forehead. “It’s the name of the plushie you got Millie and coincidentally the nickname of her favorite artist.”
It was my turn to smile. “I’m glad she likes it. Does that mean we’re doing this?”
There was a long pause. Too long. I didn’t know what I was going to do if she told me no. Somehow the thought of playing pretend with anyone but Kate didn’t sit well with me.
“Guess so,” she finally whispered.
I stared at her mouth for a few beats too long. She noticed. There was a soft intake of breath before she rolled her lips together. But instead of scolding me, she stared right back.
“But, I have...rules.”
Intrigued, I quirked a brow. “Just remember, rules are meant to be broken, Kitty Kat.”
“Tristan.”
“Yes, Kate.”
The glare she pinned me with was so mighty I thought for sure my balls would shrivel up and disappear.
“All right.” I held up my hands in surrender. “Tell me all about these rules of yours.”
Her palms skimmed down her thighs once more. Was that a nervous habit? I couldn’t remember seeing her do it before, but then again, I hadn’t always been paying as close attention as I was now.
“One,” she started, index finger pointing toward the ceiling. “No touching.”
My lips parted with a witty comeback, but she kept going.
“No kissing, and definitely no sex.”
She’d put so much emphasis on the last part, it was fucking hard not to be offended.
“Kate—”
“I’m not done.” She lifted her chin. “I know keeping it in your pants for longer than a week is probably near impossible for you, so all I ask is that you be discreet. I’m not planning on telling anyone this is fake. Please, don’t make me look like a fool.”
Her words stung. She could’ve marched up to me and slapped me across the face, and it would’ve hurt less. I didn’t want her to see me like that. For her to think I was some spoiled manwhore who didn’t give two shits about someone else’s feelings.
Even if it’s exactly who I was.
And since I couldn’t or wouldn’t drop my guard in front of her, I lashed out instead. “Same goes for you.”
The words left a bitter taste on my tongue. Made even worse when her stunned expression pierced through my ribs and sliced into my heart.
There was too much space between us. Moving fast, I eradicated the distance between us. Toe to toe, almost chest to chest, I whispered next to her ear, “On second thought, no. I don’t care if it’s just pretend. When you’re mine, Kate, no one else gets to have you.”
I hadn’t meant to sound so...territorial. But fuck, the thought of some asshole’s hands on her made my blood boil with a newfound rage.
Her breath hitched. My nostrils flared, sending her sweet, delicate scent straight to my lungs.
“Trist—”
Of course, my damn office door would fly open at that exact moment. I’d wanted to curse and yell at whoever had barged in until Mr. Livingston filled the doorway.
His assessing gaze flicked between me and Kate before finally resting on me. Even from where I stood, I saw the gears turning inside his head as the puzzle pieces fell into place.
“I should go,” Kate whispered, soft enough only for me to hear. She didn’t wait for me to say anything, simply stepped away from me and headed for the door.
“Good morning, Mr. Livingston,” she said as she passed the man.
He tipped his head. “Always good to see you, Miss Rivera.”
She was gone a minute later, closing the door behind her.
“Well.” Mr. Livingston tucked his hands in his pockets and approached me. “I certainly hope that wasn’t what I thought it was.”
The fuck? There wasn’t a policy that prohibited employees from dating each other.
Widening my stance, I crossed my arms over my chest. “And if it was?”
Mr. Livingston gave me a long, hard stare. “Then I hope Miss. Rivera is the one who accompanies you to dinner tomorrow night.”