Chapter 31
NATHAN
“Good morning, Joseph.” I stride past his desk feeling better than I have in years.
Arianna and I spent all weekend together. She distracted me from work all of Saturday and Sunday and other than showering, she never let me leave her bed. I can’t deny I was also on a mission to give her as many orgasms as possible so I guess we both achieved what we set out to do.
I did manage to persuade her to stay at my apartment last night because I needed a change of clothes and if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to sleep alone at my place, which is the first time I’ve ever felt that way.
While I’m still getting used to waking up with someone wrapped around me, sorry, correction, waking up to Arianna’s lips wrapped around my cock, it feels like she’s always been in my life and I don’t want her to leave.
“Good morning, Mr. Hart.”
“Am I not Mr. Crankypants today?” I ask, feeling mischievous for a Monday.
His mouth drops open in shock, his cheeks filling with color. “I… Eh…” he stutters.
I like screwing with him. I know I’m not the easiest person to work for, and I know what he calls me and why; I’ve just never let on that I knew.
“Leave him alone or I will call the goat yoga guy and book another session for you.” Arianna appears as if from thin air.
Who knows what time she left my apartment this morning?
She was gone when I woke up and yet again my doubt about her skittishness swept in for a brief moment before I read the note she left for me on her pillow telling me she was going to her apartment because she forgot her work bag and that she would see me at the office.
She pushes a cup of coffee into my hand, looking beautiful from head to toe in a striking red dress and black heels. She looks fuckable. A vision of bending her over my desk later makes my cock twitch in my boxers. We are definitely doing that tonight once everyone has left.
“Morning, beautiful.” I lean down and kiss her on the lips and feel her hesitation because I’m kissing her in front of Joseph and whoever is watching.
“Nathan.” She bats her eyelashes at me, looking shy, which is most unlike her.
Arianna holds my gaze and mouths, What are you doing?
I don’t care. I want everyone to know she’s mine.
I wink and make my way into my office. “Arianna, please schedule lunch today for you and me at The Lime Leaf.”
“So bossy,” I hear her mutter behind me, which makes me smile. I pull my chair out, park my ass in it, then slide myself behind my desk.
Switching on my laptop, I pretend to focus on my computer screen as it boots up, but I listen in to the conversation between Joseph and Arianna as he hooks his arm into hers and leads her toward the kitchen, leaving a stream of really loud whispered questions from Joseph floating through the air.
When did this happen?
Are you going to marry him?
I want all the details.
I’m as excited about Arianna and me as he sounds, and he makes me chuckle to myself.
And even though there were many of the senior-level team who saw me kissing Arianna at the ball at the weekend, they would never say anything to anyone until I did.
That’s what I like about my senior team. They don’t gossip and gather around the watercooler fishing for the lowdown on who is doing what with whom.
They’re professional and they respect my privacy.
Are you going to have lots and lots of babies?
My ears prick up when Joseph asks Arianna, and something shifts within me again.
I may never have wanted kids before but now I can see myself having a family—with her.
I want to ask her to be my forever.
What the hell is she doing to me?