24. Cora
Chapter twenty-four
Cora
H is touch lingers, etched into my skin like a phantom. The dull ache in my thighs, the ghost of his breath on my neck—it’s all there, refusing to fade. A reminder of everything that happened last night, and everything it could mean.
I sit at my desk with sunlight streaming through the windows and a smile dancing on my lips. It’s strange, this feeling—this happiness. Almost like I’d forgotten how it felt.
Last night wasn’t just mind-blowing; it was deeper. James let me into his world, beyond the guarded mask he wears at work. Now our dynamic has shifted. But where do we go from here? We’ve crossed a line and I want more. But a relationship with James isn’t just complicated—it’s a risk I can’t afford to take.
Dread coils within me at the thought of anyone at work finding out. If they knew I was sleeping with the CEO, how would they look at me? Worse, how would they look at the changes I’ve been fighting for? All the progress I’ve made to improve the toxic culture would be overshadowed by whispers about how I got here. I’ve worked too hard to be reduced to a cliché—a woman sleeping her way to the top. And yet, here I am, falling deeper and I can’t seem to stop.
He’s absolutely irresistible, the way he looks at me like I’m the only woman in the room, the way he seems to trust me—both at work and in those quiet moments we’ve shared. I have a feeling not many people get to see this side of James, and now that I’ve glimpsed it, I don’t want to let it go.
But ever since our eyes met on my first day, when he stalked across that stage, I’ve been content to keep my head down, bury the past, and protect Leo from any potential fallout. It felt safer that way. I didn’t know the man, and I wasn’t about to invite a stranger into our lives. But now… everything’s different. I’ve held onto Leo’s secret, convinced it was the only way to protect him. With every moment James pulls me closer, that secret becomes heavier, more suffocating. It’s not just guilt weighing me down—it’s the fear of what will happen when I finally speak the truth. Will I lose control of the one thing I’ve kept safe?
Every time I think about telling him, a knot tightens inside me, a mix of fear and dread. What if he’s furious? What if he hates me for keeping Leo a secret?
Or… what if he wants to be a father, to be involved in Leo’s life? I’m unable to let go of the image of James, not just as a powerful businessman, but as someone who could reshape our entire world. His wealth, his influence—it’s light-years away from the life Leo and I have built together. And once James knows, there’s no going back. Everything would shift, and the possibility circles me like a rising tide. As if on cue, my computer pings. I glance at the screen, and a smile curls my lips when I see James’s message.
James Lunch with me?
I quickly type back.
Cora Be there in five.
Maybe this is the right moment to figure out where we stand. To talk about last night. About us.
I gather my things and head to James’s office. When I reach the door, I pause, smoothing my dress and taking a calming breath before walking in.
“Hey.”
James looks up, flashing a lazy, sexy grin that makes my stomach flip. “Thought we could have lunch together. I ordered Thai.” He gestures to the take-out boxes spread across his desk.
“Perfect.” I grab a couple of boxes and head toward the couch, but before I sit, his phone rings.
“Shit,” he mutters, frowning as he checks the caller ID. “Give me a second?”
I nod, settling on the couch with my food as he answers the call. At first, I focus on laying out our lunch, but the low timbre of his voice keeps drawing my attention. His brow furrows as the conversation drags on, and I can tell it’s going to be more than a second.
An idea sparks—a wicked one. Without overthinking it, I set the food aside and slide off the couch, lowering myself to the floor on all fours. The cool marble against my palms sends a shiver up my spine as I slowly crawl toward him, arching my back just enough to draw his attention.
His eyes flick down, and when they meet mine, desire flares in them. I stop between his legs, sitting back on my haunches, and his gaze drops to my cleavage spilling out of my dress. His hand tightens on the phone, but he doesn’t stop me when I reach for his belt, loosening it like I did last night. I tug down his pants just enough to free his hardening cock and eagerly wrap my hand around his length. James inhales sharply, adjusting his position in the chair as I slide my hand from the base to the head, squeezing the tip. His eyes meet mine, and he raises an eyebrow in question, a silent dare. Smirking, I lean forward, my lips brushing the tip of his cock before taking him in my mouth.
He jolts at the contact, his free hand gripping the edge of his desk. His eyes close briefly, and when they open again, they’re a shade darker. I continue lapping at his cock like a lollipop, and I’m doing it on purpose to drive him insane.
He hits the mute button. “Stop teasing,” he snaps. “Suck me like a good girl.”
I love it when he makes demands. My body responds instinctively, the desire coiling tight inside me. I know exactly what he wants, and the thrill of it—of giving in—makes my pulse race.
I coat his shaft in saliva, bobbing my head up and down in the rhythm that he loves. I know exactly how to please him, and the low groan that escapes his throat tells me I’m doing just that.
But then, in a move that surprises me, James puts the phone down on his desk, unmuting the call.
I pause, confused, but his hand on the back of my head urges me to keep going.
Really? He’s putting this guy on speaker while I’m sucking him off?
I glance up at him, eyes wide, and he brings a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. The challenge in his expression sends a burst of adrenaline through me, and I can’t help but smirk.
Game on.
The voice on the other end of the line drones on about budget reports or something equally boring, but I couldn’t care less. All I can focus on is the heaviness of James in my mouth, the taste of him, the way his breathing catches every time I take him deeper. I increase the pressure, swirling my tongue around his head before sliding down again. His fingers tangle in my hair, guiding me, controlling the rhythm.
“Fuuuck,” he whispers.
I glance up and his eyes lock on mine. His hand tightens in my hair as I suck harder. The wet sounds of my mouth on his cock fill the room, obscenely loud against the conversation happening on the speakerphone.
“I’ll need to speak to marketing…” the voice drones on, but I can tell James isn’t listening anymore. He’s close—very close.
With a faint audible groan, he manages to cut the call short. “Report back on Monday.” And with that, he hangs up, just in time. His climax crashes through him, and he comes hard in my mouth, his body tensing as he spills down my throat. I swallow everything, savoring the taste of him, and when I pull back, his eyes are glazed.
He drags me up onto his lap, kissing me hard, not caring about the salty taste of himself on my lips. “That was fucking hot,” he murmurs against my mouth.
I laugh, breathless. “Consider it my contribution to the workday.”
“You always this dangerous?” His grin is sinful.
“Only when I’m bored,” I tease, brushing my thumb over the corner of my lips.
He groans, tipping his head back. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
We spend the next hour eating lunch, stealing kisses between bites. I should ask him where we stand, to define this thing between us, but the words stick in my throat. I can’t bear to say it, not yet—not when the answer might be something I’m not ready to hear. Maybe I’m not ready to know if this is just lust for him. For now, I want to enjoy the moment. The calm before the storm.
Later, back at my desk, my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen, expecting it to be Dad sending me a cute picture of Leo, but the name “Hailee” flashes instead. I bite my bottom lip as I open the message.
Hailee
You’re on for Saturday. Le Jardin. x
I stare at the words, a sinking feeling creeping in. Setting the phone down, I run a hand through my hair, trying to steady my breathing.
Le Jardin.
A dull throb builds behind my eyes as the questions pile up, each one more suffocating than the last. I rub my temples, trying to fend off the headache that’s threatening to ruin the rest of my day.
I should tell James about Le Jardin. But now I’m second-guessing myself. Maybe it’s because I don’t even know if I have the right to feel guilty. As far as I know, this thing between us is casual. We haven’t defined it—we still haven’t put words to whatever this is.
So why do I feel like I’m betraying him? Why does the idea of working on Saturday make me feel like I’m doing something wrong? The logical part of me knows I need the money. Leo, Dad, the bills—they all demand more than I can give. Eden has been a blessing for me, and yet, the thought of stepping back into that world now, knowing James is tied to it… it feels different.
But why should I feel guilty for doing what I need to survive, when James is the one paying an exorbitant amount of money for a membership there? For all I know, he’s been back to Eden, picking someone else. I don’t even know if he’s seeing other women, or if he views the goddesses at Eden as a mere distraction. Maybe he still sees me that way.
The questions whirl inside me like a tornado. What if I show up on Saturday and he’s there, watching? Choosing someone else? The thought makes my fingers clench into fists. And the worst part is, I don’t know if I could handle it. The idea of him seeing me with another man, or of me watching him with another woman… makes me feel almost sick.
Whether I like it or not, James has a hold on me, and I’m not sure I know how to untangle myself from him.
I take a steady breath and expel it slowly, my thumb hovering over the buttons. The moment I hit Send, a cold wave of dread washes over me. There’s no going back now.
I could tell him everything—about working Saturday, about Leo—but once I open that door, there’s no closing it. Nothing will be the same. And I can’t afford to make the wrong move.
I’m teetering on the edge, just waiting to tip over. If I step forward, if I go to Eden on Saturday, something will break. Maybe it’s my heart. Maybe it’s his.
Or maybe, it’s us.