23. Zoe
TWENTY-THREE
zoe
“And this is my office.”
I stepped aside and let Nate in front of me. It was a bright, cheery space I was proud of, not because of the office itself but what it represented. I’d struggled those first few years in college trying to decide what I wanted to do, until I befriended the manager of a resort in Maine where we’d taken a family vacation. It had taken some buckling down to graduate on time, but finding a career I enjoyed and was good at was something I had despaired wouldn’t happen. Then moving up to manager fairly quickly—
“You’re proud of it, aren’t you?”
“I am,” I said, shutting the door behind me. “What do you think?”
I’d taken the day off, and somehow Nate and I had managed to make our way out of the bedroom for a tour of the town. I wanted to talk to my assistant manager anyway and figured it would be fun to show Nate the resort.
“I love it. Very you.”
He looked down at my desk. Then back at me.
I knew exactly what Nate was thinking and immediately dismissed the idea. “It’s one thing to text that, another to actually do it.”
His smile could make me do very irresponsible things.
“I see.”
Nate proceeded to walk around to one of the two big plush chairs in front of my desk. Legs extended, he took out his phone. Realizing what he was doing, I wasn’t at all surprised when my own vibrated in my purse. When I took it out, not surprisingly, there was a message from Nate.
Hey, Zoe girl. What’s the vibe in Kitchi Falls?
He was too much.
I was about to immediately text back but then waited to see what he would do. If that were me, after five seconds, I’d have turned around with a “what the hell?” look on my face. Mr. Discipline, however, did not.
He’d wait for me indefinitely.
Pretty boring day.
Oh yeah?
Belatedly, I realized I’d just played right into his hands. Sure enough, he didn’t wait for a response.
Maybe I can help you spice it up a bit.
Oh boy.
How so?
Well. . .
I looked up from my phone. Unlike the previous times, Nate was actually here. In my office. I could see the back of his head, his broad shoulders, his legs crossed in front of him. Here. In the flesh. I was already getting wet at the very thought of what was coming next.
I distinctly remember once telling you that if I caught you at your desk, I’d crawl under there and make you come so hard they’d hear your screams all the way in the lobby.
Jesus Lord.
That was before you knew how far the lobby was from my office.
Irregardless
I swallowed. Weighed the risks and rewards. Very few people had a key to my office, let alone used it. Except the cleaning crew, who never came in during the day.
Never say never.
Go sit at your desk, Zoe.
Ohmygod.
I went to the door. Locked it.
And did as he said.
Without looking at him as I walked by, I sat. Went back to my phone and texted him.
I think in the original scenario I had a dress on.
Zoe. Sweetheart. If you think a pair of jeans is gonna stop me, you haven’t learned anything.
I did look up then. Nate was just putting his phone on the edge of my desk. His expression was downright predatory. I began to squirm in my seat.
And didn’t the man literally crawl under my desk, which was, thank the Lord, concealed if someone were to walk in. Sure enough, he didn’t seem at all bothered by my jeans as Nate—with plenty of room to navigate thanks to the size of the massive desk that was already in this office when I took it over—unbuttoned, unzipped, and pulled down my jeans without a hitch.
Once they were at my ankles, he didn’t waste any time. Nate’s tongue did exactly as he’d promised in the original text. Plunging. Swirling. Licking. His thumb joined next, and just like he had predicted, I grasped the edge of the desk, my knuckles almost white.
Staring at the door, the thought of someone walking in right now, coupled with the magic that was Nate’s tongue. . .
“Nate.” I began to clench.
Until a knock at the door interrupted us. At least, it should have interrupted us. Nate never stopped, the bold man going to town on me just as promised.
Another knock.
“Nate.”
He stopped. “Come for me, Zoe girl.” And then he resumed.
What if they had a key? I couldn’t hang on. I couldn’t call out. Biting my lip to almost bloody, I exploded into his mouth, my legs shaking. My heart pounded. Every nerve ending in my body screamed with release. I didn’t even notice Nate had moved out from under my desk until he was right above me, chuckling.
“You think this is funny?” I asked, unsteadily pulling up my jeans.
“I think it’s hilarious.”
I was going to kill him. But first I needed to see who was at that door. I told Nate to get back into his seat.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, still smiling.
Buttoned back up, I went to the door. Opened it to see Zach walking back down the hall.
“Zach, did you need something?”
He turned to me. “Oh, sor. . . I mean, I was going to talk to you. Someone said you were in the office even though I thought you were off today. And you have that open-door policy. . .”
Yes, when my door was actually open.
What do you need?” I asked instead, walking toward him rather than have Zach see Nate in my office.
Two questions and ten minutes later, I returned to the scene of the crime.
Nate swiveled in his seat toward me, still grinning.
“Proud of yourself, aren’t you?” I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Very.”
“Well, two can play at this game.”
“Do your worst, Zoe girl.”
It might not be today. Or tomorrow. But I’d figure out a way to pay him back.
“I intend to.”