114
Amanda slipped into the office, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Instantly, the noise of the office floor outside faded phones, conversations, the faint buzz of printers all sealed away. In here, it was quieter, cooler, as if the very air obeyed Ericka.
Ericka stood near the tall windows, her posture straight, commanding. She was perfectly put together in a fitted navy suit, her hair sleek, her presence impossible to ignore. One hand rested casually in her pocket, while the other hovered near the new panel mounted against the wall.
With a faint click, she pressed it. The motorized privacy shades began to glide downward, whispering into place until the glass walls turned opaque. The city skyline beyond blurred, dimmed, and then vanished completely, leaving them in a cocoon of muted light and shadow.
Ericka turned, her eyes locking onto Amanda. That one look was enough to send a rush through Amanda's chest.
"Well?" Ericka asked, her voice low, deliberate, each syllable smooth. "What do you think?"
Amanda's heels clicked as she crossed the room, slow, steady steps that matched the deliberate curve of her smirk. She stopped just short of Ericka, tilting her head, her eyes trailing briefly over her before settling on her face.
"I think," Amanda murmured, "these shades are dangerous."
Ericka's mouth tugged into the faintest hint of a smile. "Dangerous..." She stepped closer, her hand brushing lightly against Amanda's hip as if it was instinct. "...or necessary?"
Amanda leaned in just slightly, her voice brushing close to Ericka's ear, warm and teasing. "Both."
For a long moment, silence stretched. Amanda reached out, her fingers skimming down the line of Ericka's sleeve, pausing at her wrist, then sliding lower until her hand caught Ericka's and guided it to her waist. Ericka didn't resist; she let Amanda place her hand there, holding her like she belonged.
Amanda's lips curved as she whispered, "You know what this means, right? You're going to get distracted more often."
Ericka inhaled, steady but slow, the smallest hitch in her breath betraying her. "Only if you plan on testing my discipline."
Amanda smiled against her skin, then kissed her cheek softly just enough to tease before sliding her lips to her mouth. The kiss was tender, lingering, not rushed. Ericka melted into it almost immediately, her other hand lifting to Amanda's back, pressing her just slightly closer.
Amanda pulled back only an inch, resting her forehead against Ericka's. "Testing your discipline might be my new favorite project."
Ericka's smirk deepened, her thumb stroking against Amanda's waist in a slow circle. "Careful," she murmured, her voice husky now, "you have no idea what you've just started."
Amanda brushed her lips against hers again, softer this time but lingering longer, savoring the closeness. "Oh, I have an idea," she whispered, her tone both playful and daring.
Ericka kissed her again, firmer now, her hand tightening just slightly at her waist. The air between them grew warmer, charged. For a moment, the rules they had set blurred, bending under the pull between them.
And then Amanda broke the kiss with a small, deliberate laugh, her fingers still resting lightly at Ericka's jaw. "See? Shades already doing their job."
Ericka exhaled slowly, her lips brushing Amanda's once more before she let go. "God help us both if anyone ever finds out."
Amanda smirked knowingly, stepping back just enough to smooth her skirt and reclaim her composure. "They won't. Your office, your rules."
Amanda leaned against the desk, deliberately casual, her smirk daring. "So? Happy with your new toy?"
Ericka crossed the space slowly, her presence filling every inch between them. "Depends," she said, her voice low. "Are we going to use them the way you intended?"
Amanda arched a brow, letting her fingers trail lazily along the polished edge of Ericka's desk. "Depends," she echoed, her tone dripping with tease. "Can you handle it?"
That was all it took. Ericka stepped in, her hands finding Amanda's waist as she pressed her firmly against the desk. Their mouths met in a kiss that started controlled but unraveled almost immediately hungry, desperate, edged with the tension they'd both been carrying.
Amanda's hands slid up Ericka's chest, clutching the lapels of her blazer before tugging her closer. She kissed her harder, tilting her head to deepen it, tasting her like she couldn't get enough.
Ericka gasped softly against her lips as Amanda's fingers slipped beneath the edge of her blazer, tracing the line of her waist through the silk of her blouse. Ericka's grip tightened in response, her hands sliding lower, cupping Amanda's hips, pulling her flush against her.
"Dangerous," Amanda whispered between kisses, her lips brushing Ericka's jaw, her breath hot against her skin. "Told you these shades were dangerous."
"Then why do you look like you want me to lose control?" Ericka murmured, her mouth grazing Amanda's ear before kissing down the curve of her neck.
Amanda let out a quiet breath, her hand threading into Ericka's hair. "Because I do."
That pushed Ericka further. She kissed along Amanda's throat, her lips trailing heat across her skin, leaving Amanda clutching the back of her neck, her breaths uneven.
Ericka's hand slid higher, tracing the side of her ribcage beneath her blazer, pausing just under the curve of her arm as if testing how far Amanda would let her go.
Amanda's nails grazed lightly across the back of Ericka's neck, urging her closer. "You're slipping," she teased breathlessly.
Ericka laughed against her skin, the sound low and strained. "I know." She kissed her again, deep and consuming, her hand sliding back to Amanda's waist, fingers pressing hard like she needed the anchor.
Amanda shifted, tugging Ericka closer until she was pressed fully between her legs at the edge of the desk. Their kiss grew hotter, messier lips parting, breaths tangled, each one pulling the other deeper in.
"Ericka..." Amanda whispered, her lips brushing across hers, "if we don't stop..."
"I don't want to stop," Ericka cut in, her voice rough, almost breaking.
Amanda kissed her again, hard, before pulling back just enough to whisper against her mouth. "Then at least admit it privacy shades passed the test."
Ericka smirked faintly, though her breathing was ragged. "Passed... with flying colors."
Another kiss, slower this time, but no less intense. Amanda's hand cupped her jaw, Ericka's fingers dug into her waist, neither willing to let go.
And then
A sharp knock rattled the door.
They both froze, lips still touching, breaths mingling in the heated silence. Amanda's eyes flicked to Ericka's, wide but glittering with mischief.
Ericka's forehead pressed to hers, her voice low, breathless. "You're lucky. If that knock hadn't saved us..."
Amanda smirked, whispering, "Then finish this later."
Ericka straightened, tugging her blazer back into place, her CEO mask sliding firmly over the fire in her eyes. With one last glance at Amanda, she called, steady and smooth, "Come in."
The door opened, and one of the junior staff poked their head inside nervously, a clipboard clutched to their chest. "Ms. Mathews? Your meeting is about to start. Everything's set up in the conference room."
Ericka gave a curt nod. "Thank you. I'll be there shortly."