24. Chloe
24
CHLOE
I knew he wouldn’t let go without something, but I didn’t want to let everything out in a momentary lapse of judgment.
“It reminded me of my past,” I blurted out, feeling weak.
“That’s all.”
“What did it remind you of?” he asked, sounding frustrated.
“I need more than just a generic statement, Chloe. I want an honest answer.”
I searched his face, wondering why the man who was so good at intimidating people was concerned about my past.
He was so close that he could put his arm around my waist. The elevator was still riding up, but it could stop at any moment now, and Lucas would see us.
I didn’t want Lucas to have one more thing to get angry with his dad about.
“It reminded me of my childhood,” I said, hoping it would pacify Sean and taking a step away.
“About my dad and my brother and?—”
Before I could complete that sentence, Sean pulled me to him.
I was crushed against his chest, and I realized he was just holding me, hand around my waist, mouth bending down near my ear.
“Did you lose someone, Chloe?”
“No,” I said, unable to think with his closeness.
“Not exactly.” I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut as the memories flooded back in.
I was sinking into his chest, his warm embrace weakening my defenses.
“I wasn’t responsible for a bit, and someone … suffered.”
He held me tighter, hugging me fiercely.
“It’s only fifteen minutes, Chloe. We lost sight of him for fifteen minutes, and he’s fine.” He leaned back and looked at me, scouring my face for signs of worry.
“I’m sorry, Chloe,” he said.
“I’m sorry you had to experience seeing someone suffer.”
I looked up at Sean as he ran his fingers up and down my cheek.
“Thank you,” I said.
He was holding me close, and neither of us felt the need to step away.
His arms tightened around my back.
I saw a flicker of a smile on his lips, and it was gone instantly.
“Don’t thank me yet. Pretty soon, you’ll see the grump that I am, darling.”
I leaned into him.
“I like him too, by the way.”
His expression gave away his surprise.
“Grumpy or not, both sides of you are just fine, Sean.”
He leaned in closer, and our foreheads were touching.
“Chloe, if you keep talking like that …” He broke off.
“I’m going to forget that I’m your boss. I’m going to do things that I have no business doing as your boss.”
When I looked up, I could see the raw need in his eyes and the restraint he was exercising to hold himself back.
I reached up and touched his face, his cheek rough against my palm.
“You’re far too good to forget yourself, Sean,” I said softly.
He leaned into my palm and closed his eyes before he let out a groan.
“You’re killing me, Chloe,” he muttered.
I wanted to kiss him so badly that I couldn’t think straight anymore.
No other man had claimed my thoughts every waking moment the way he had.
I was desperate to feel his lips on mine.
I reached out to touch the smooth lapels of his jacket, my heart thundering in my chest when I felt him pull me to him firmly.
His lips were on mine in an instant, his hands cupping my face as he tilted my chin up.
His lips moved with expert rhythm over mine, and I closed my eyes, sinking into the heady sensation that took over.
His tongue teased my lips, demanding to be let in.
I opened up to him as I pressed my body against his hard chest. Sean uttered a low moan at the back of his throat as though he was losing his restraint.
The kiss was every pent-up bit of suppressed feeling and passion, all rolled into one, and it quickly turned possessive.
He pushed me against the wall of the elevator, my back hitting the steel handrail.
His body was pressing up against me deliciously as he kissed me fiercely.
I whimpered as my hands snaked around his neck, tracing the outlines of his hard shoulders before I pulled him even closer.
My body sparked to life, my thighs clenching together as heat pooled between the?—
The jarring sound of the elevator doors opening hit me just then, followed by the rush of wind as I abruptly let go of Sean.
He froze.
In the distance, I saw a boy, unmistakably Lucas, next to a girl, Brianna.
I felt a rush of emotion when I realized we really hadn’t lost him.
They were here.
Sean’s eyes were on me, and when I looked back at him, he was scanning me, his face inches from mine.
The emotion in his eyes took my breath away.
Desire.
“They’re here,” I whispered, and he took a step back.
That gap robbed me of that feeling of security I’d just had with Sean’s arms wrapped around me, his warm voice in my ear, and the feeling of being crushed against him.
Sean turned around and took a step toward Lucas when I put a hand out, stopping him.
“Give Lucas a chance to finish his conversation with Brianna,” I said, noticing that Lucas was speaking fast. “And could you please not be tough on him about leaving the hall abruptly like he did? Especially not in front of Brianna.”
Sean seemed baffled, and then with a second glance at me, he gave in and simply nodded.
“Fine, just for today, I’ll keep it calm,” he muttered.
“Thank you,” I said as neither of us moved.
I stayed in place for a moment longer, filled with sadness when I realized Sean also wanted me.
An impossible situation—one I hadn’t given myself permission to dream of.
“He’s coming over,” Sean said, and we exchanged a look.
“Listen,” he said urgently, “I’m sorry about that?—”
“We got carried away,” I added, feeling ridiculous as I said it.
It hadn’t felt wrong.
It’d felt so right, but I couldn’t bring myself to admit it.
He gave me a long stare that I couldn’t quite comprehend.
Finally, he ended his inspection with a short nod.
“We need to set some boundaries. I’ll ensure this won’t happen again,” he said, sidestepping me.
Cool air engulfed me as I walked out behind Sean.
I turned around, my heart beating rapidly, feeling as though I’d just tripped and fallen into a giant sinkhole.
I plastered a smile on my face—a fake smile, which took on an expression of genuine relief when I saw Lucas.
Sean hugged Lucas very briefly, stepping back far too quickly and seeming uncomfortable with his emotions.
He cared deeply for Lucas, I realized, but didn’t have the ability to show it to him.
Lucas’s eyes were shining, and he seemed very happy about his sudden, impromptu disappearance, unaware of the chaos it had created for us.
“I’m glad we found you,” I said, giving Lucas a hug in relief.
“Brianna,” I said, focusing on her, “your dad must be searching for you. Let me take you back to him.”
She nodded excitedly.
“He’s going to be so thrilled that you’re here. We were both hoping to see you here.”
Over the heads of the two kids, I met Sean’s gaze.
With heavy-lidded eyes and his jaw clenched, he looked at me for a split second, his face dark before he turned away at the last moment.
“Go ahead,” Sean said, leading us back to the elevator.
“Lucas and I will wait for you by the piano in the lobby.” He barely met my eyes as he spoke, turning to focus on Lucas.
Boundaries . If this was the kind of boundary he was talking about, he sure was following through.