43. Chloe
43
CHLOE
O n my way to the subway station, I got a call from Tess.
“I saw the news. What happened?” she asked, sounding worried.
I filled her in and found it hard to keep Sean out of the story.
“He asked you out?” she squealed.
I couldn’t help but blush.
“Yes. He might be someone I’m seeing. But I don’t know … it’s complicated,” I admitted.
“Isn’t it too soon?” I asked.
“After things ended with Bruce?” My voice was half ashamed.
Tess scoffed at that.
“Please. It’s been months since that jerk left. You definitely need to get over that man. Besides, you’re telling me that your boss stayed by your side the entire time yesterday? He sounds more than just any guy, Chloe. He’s starting to sound really good to me.”
I agreed with that.
Apart from being with me yesterday through the whole ordeal, he’d seen me cry, held me, and comforted me.
He’d made sure I heard from the dean.
No matter how much he denied it, I was sure he’d had a hand in it somehow.
I couldn’t believe how comforted that had made me feel, how less alone I’d felt for the first time since taking responsibility for Henry.
I crossed the street at the intersection and hurried across the footpath to the subway entrance down the block.
“He’s my boss, Tess.”
Tess hummed, as though she’d considered this already.
“That does make things tough. When you told me about him last time, I initially thought he’d be a good distraction for you … to help you get over Bruce.”
I heard her breathe deeply.
“But you told me he’d gotten your favorite food for dinner and how he followed you back home to make sure you both got home okay. I’m starting to think he might be more than just a distraction.”
I shook my head.
“A good distraction,” I corrected.
That was what Sean and I had decided upon last night.
“Well, if that makes you feel better, sure. But the man saw you and Henry on your bad day, Chloe, and he stayed with you instead of walking away. That’s more than what Bruce ever did.”
It was more than what Dad had ever done for us , my mind added.
“Thanks, Tess,” I said as I hurried down the subway steps.
“You’re amazing.”
She laughed.
“Don’t I know it?” she joked before hanging up.
Twenty minutes later, I was walking into the Tassater building and taking the elevator to my desk.
It was Sean’s first day back after his conference, and he had a steady stream of meetings scheduled to make up for his absence in the past few days.
Sean gave me a small smile and I met his brief gaze with my intense one as he walked past me.
His stride was confident and never once faltered as he disappeared into his office.
I had set out his morning reports by his table, everything but his coffee and breakfast—he had started having breakfast with Lucas at home every day, and what made me happiest was that this had been Sean’s idea to spend more time with his son.
My breath left me as I sat outside alone, wondering how it was possible to convey how much his actions from the day before had meant to me and if he’d even understand.
Maybe it was better if he didn’t know how I felt right now.
It was like I was swept up in a tornado of feelings, and instead of losing steam, they seemed to be building on each other, getting stronger and stronger, until I felt like I was the one who would break.
At ten a.m., when I knew Legal had a morning lull, I pulled out the small strawberry cake from my drawer that I’d picked up on my way to work and the card that I’d bought a few days ago and walked over to the Legal Department on the fifteenth floor.
Luna Moore, the contract administrator, looked up when I approached her with the cake and the card.
“Whatever is—” She broke off when a couple of other women next to her began clapping.
“Congratulations!” I said, placing the cake on her table while others looked up, smiling.
I’d made the rounds a few days ago, asking all of them to sign the card, so they knew what was coming next.
“For your promotion to contract manager!” I added.
Luna blushed and then accepted the cake with an embarrassed smile as her colleagues whooped and cheered with applause.
“Your family and friends must be so proud of you,” I said as I pulled out a plastic knife and fork for her to take her bite.
Luna had two young kids and also financially supported her mother, so I couldn’t have been prouder of her achievements.
“It was tough, but completing the Contract Management Standard Certification really helped me snag that promotion,” Luna said, sharing pieces of the cake with her colleagues, who took small pieces back to their desk while Luna took a bite.
“Oh my goodness, this is delicious, Chloe,” she said, standing up.
“Thank you, Chloe. I’m flattered you remembered,” she said, walking back with me to the elevator.
“Now, I’m a few minutes early to a meeting with your boss. Do you think he’ll see me if I show up at 11:58 instead of noon?”
I laughed as I pressed the button for the thirty-fifth floor, where I worked.
“I think you’ll find he’s being very forgiving these days.”
Luna shook her head.
“I’ll believe it when I see it. Last time, he made my colleague go back out of his office and wait because the minute hand on his clock hadn’t reached noon.”
The elevator doors opened, and I saw Sean standing by my desk.
He turned and acknowledged us with a small nod.
When I saw him, my cheeks flamed with the memory of last night.
“Are you here to discuss the meeting with our COO’s international contract person?” he asked Luna, and she nodded.
“If it’s not too much of a bother,” she stammered.
“I mean, I know I’m two minutes early?—”
He waved her concerns aside and gestured for her to follow him in.
“Not a problem at all, Ms. Moore,” he said.
Luna turned and gave me a look of utter surprise over her shoulder as she followed him in, and I grinned as I took my seat.
Ten minutes later, when she walked out, she came up to me.
“I can’t wait to get back and have more of the cake—if my coworkers left some for me. I’m a bit busy today, but tomorrow, let’s go out and grab coffee together.” She made to go and then hesitated.
She leaned in conspiratorially.
“If you need anything from Mr. Tassater today, this is a good time to ask,” she said, her voice cheery.
“I’ve never seen him agree to so many of Legal’s demands in one go.”
I held back a smile and nodded, watching her leave as I felt the tension rise in my belly.
It couldn’t be what I was thinking, and yet the most obvious answer was that Sean was looking forward to this date just as much as I was.
I walked into his office, closing the door behind me.
He was holding a pen over a document, and I remembered how those fingers traced my cheek last night before running over the length of my arm.
How those butterfly touches had sent tingles running down my palm and hands.
More than that, I remembered the concern in his eyes while he’d waited with me for news about Henry.
No one could fake that.
When he looked up, I noticed a different smile on his face.
Not the business smile I’d seen so often before.
This one was a teasing smile, just for me.
I needed to enjoy this while it lasted.
The special looks that were just between us, the ones that sent my cheeks flaming red.
“I’ve wanted to see you all morning,” he said, his voice husky as he got up and walked around the desk to me.
I switched my folder from one hand to another as he approached.
Thank goodness Henry would be home late today.
Because when Sean looked at me like that, I lost all capacity for rational thoughts.
I wanted to run and jump into his arms and kiss him right there.
I also thought ridiculous things, like, I wish this would never end .
“Me too,” I breathed as he came to a stop inches from me.
He dipped his head and, as though he could read my incendiary thoughts, began to kiss me languidly.
Like it was the most normal way to greet his assistant.
I, being the fool I was, kissed him right back.
He pulled my lower lip into his mouth, one arm sneaking across my back and bringing my body flush against his.
He tasted so good that I shivered and tilted my head to take him in deeply.
Yes, very good assistant behavior, my brain chided.
His lips devoured mine in a slow, heated kiss.
He tasted of mint and longing, and my heart started its drumbeat, warning me I shouldn’t get used to this.
I ignored it. I was allowed some vices after all.
I slipped my tongue into Sean’s mouth, and a low growl sounded from the back of his throat.
I held on to his arms as the kiss intensified, and my soft sighs were replaced with a breathless need for him.
He cupped my face, kissing me hungrily, and I was incapable of thinking of anything else, of wanting anything else but him.
When we finally came up for air, I sighed with perfect happiness.
“Please greet me like this every day,” I said absently before my eyes shot wide open.
Sean very well would, and I was afraid he would do it irrespective of who else was in the room.
“No, I take that back,” I said immediately, but he chuckled, one finger tracing the outline of my cheek as his deep brown eyes looked back at me.
“I told Henry that I’d be out tonight, but I’m also very nervous. I don’t know how he’s feeling about my absences.”
Or perhaps, the truth was, I didn’t know how I felt about being away from Henry multiple times this week.
Sean frowned. “He’ll be fine. Why wouldn’t he?”
I’d never left Henry alone for an entire night in a long time.
Sean didn’t know the full extent of my anxiety at leaving Henry alone.
I didn’t correct him.
We were just a fling, and he needn’t ever know.
“Besides, the last time you and I were together was … hot. And thinking about where tonight might lead to has gotten me all worked up. So much so in fact that I’ve messed up quite a few things at work today,” I said.
He chuckled and leaned forward.
“Given the circumstances, Chloe,” he said, his lips hovering above mine for a moment before he closed the gap and kissed me again, “I’d say you are quite forgiven.”
When we broke apart, I rested my head on his chest, closing my eyes and enjoying this moment.
“Has Henry gotten over the shock of being trapped in that building and that horrible article?” he asked.
I nodded. “He’s recovered. He was laughing and cheerful when I left for work.”
He paused.
“How about you? How do you feel?”
I exhaled.
“I was stressed out for a bit, you know. But being back at work has given me time to feel stable again. For once, my anxiety isn’t racing through the roof, replaying the same situation in my mind.”
He nodded.
“That’s good. Do you want to hear something interesting? Last night, Lucas and I were at JFK, meeting my half-sister, Erin, for the very first time.”
I was really surprised, and Sean grinned.
“Is it that astonishing when I do something nice, Chloe?” he asked, his eyes full of heat as he tipped my chin up.
“For someone you haven’t met? A little,” I admitted with a breathy laugh.
“How do you feel about her?” I asked.
Sean looked thoughtful.
“I liked her. She was quirky and fun. Lucas took to her instantly. She was thrilled to be in New York and also happy that she got to meet Lucas.”
He rubbed his hand on his chin, looking a bit worried.
“Lucas has another reason to be elated lately, and it doesn’t involve Brianna,” he said.
I frowned and put my hand on his chest.
“What is it?” I asked.
Sean sighed and leaned against the edge of his table, crossing his hands and looking out the window.
“Lucas is happy because his mother is coming back.”
Ah.
“And you’re not happy about having to part with him?” I asked, feeling a flicker of hope for the man he was becoming.
Someone who was now attached to his son, who cared for the boy and was not ashamed to show it.
Sean appeared troubled.
He straightened up and looked around.
“For the past day, we packed up his things so that he could move back in with her—he wants to move out the very night she lands. If that doesn’t show you how excited he is to leave me … well, I don’t know what will. Have I not made any progress with my son in the past month at all, Chloe?”
I reached up to put my hands on either side of his face.
“Sean, I promise you, you’ve made amazing progress with Lucas this month. When I spoke to Lucas on the phone one night, I could hear the pride in his voice while he talked about you. You know, he bragged to me that you helped him make a balloon-powered rocket with a straw and a string.”
I stepped back, a small smile curving my lips.
“And I know for a fact that you’ve helped Lucas with his homework on the days that you’ve been in town.”
Sean was nuzzling my neck, his breath hot and ragged.
I took his hand in mine.
“You’re a wonderful dad, Sean,” I said as my body came alive under his touch.
He leaned in closer, and I pressed my fingers into his hard, muscular back.
“But for a kid waiting for his mom to come back—especially after he’s not seen her for two months? It’s something no one can compete with. And parenting is not a competition, Sean. Lucas loves you both.”
I broke off as his hands tugged at my hair, pulling my head back and exposing my throat.
“Thank you, Chloe,” he said.
He bent his mouth to my neck, grazing it roughly with his lips and giving me a sudden nip.
I was already breathing fast, and I yelped in surprise at that bite, but his only response was to widen his lips in a grin.
He brought his fingers to my collarbone, teasing me by stroking the heated skin just above the dip of my cleavage.
He took my mouth in a kiss, biting my lower lip gently.
The kiss intensified, deeper and deeper, his tongue playing effortlessly with mine until I was breathless.
His hands wrapped around my back and pulled me snug to him, and I felt my pulse racing wildly, my heart throbbing against my ribs.
The door to his office was closed, but not locked, and I ought to protest when Sean moved his hands down from the back of my head to my front, his fingers slipping expertly to cup one of my breasts through my blouse.
“Oh, Sean,” I muttered, feeling both relaxed and intoxicated by the act.
He walked me back to the wall, not breaking the kiss, and I felt like I was living someone else’s life.
One where I was no longer invisible, but extremely desirable and wanted—by a powerful man like Sean Tassater, no less.
“What is it, baby?” he asked as his fingers moved to undo my blouse’s top three buttons.
The top of my blouse gave way, revealing my push-up bra, and he wasted no time in pulling it down.
When he moved his mouth to suck my breast, my eyes fluttered shut.
“I’ve … wanted you … so … badly since you left for the conference,” I said, my words coming out in gasps as he sucked my hard nipple with his mouth while I ran my hand through his brown hair.
“Me … too.” The words were fuzzy as he picked up intensity, sucking and pulling as I gasped, my hands tangled in his hair as the intense pleasure built up.
When his free hand moved from fondling my other breast down my stomach to under my skirt, I knew I was a goner.
“Sean,” I gasped, wanting him to stop, but also not really wanting this to stop.
I’d never felt so relaxed, and I’d also never felt like I was in extremely capable hands.
If anyone could handle giving me an orgasm and making me feel like I was on top of the world, it was Sean.
My nipple was already aching when Sean switched to my other breast. His lips were hot against my skin, and using his other hand, he moved my thighs apart as much as possible, given the pencil skirt I was wearing.
Finally, he found my clit.
I moaned out loud when he began stroking it gently, back and forth, until I was aching there too.
I heard voices and froze.
Someone had stopped by my desk outside Sean’s office, and I heard muttering.
The way Sean’s hand paused told me he’d heard them too.
“Chloe?” I heard someone call, and I recognized Luna’s voice.
Sean gripped my hips tight, pinning me against the wall to make sure I understood I wasn’t going anywhere until he was done with me.
“Mr. Tassater?” Footsteps came closer to the door.
Shit.
I stared at Sean, eyes wide as he locked his dark gaze with mine.
He shook his head slightly, showing that I need not to worry, and pressed a finger to my lips.
I could taste my own arousal as someone rapped on Sean’s office door.
His intense eyes held my gaze as I slowly licked his fingers, one after another, and I felt so turned on.
My heart pounded against my rib cage, feeling excitement and anxiety as he got down on his knees.
He pushed the hem of my skirt higher up my hip and swiped my panties aside.
I was wet, and I whimpered when Sean reached in and swiped his tongue over my wet core.
Fuck.
Here I was, pressed up against the wall in Sean’s office, with my blouse open, my breasts exposed, and Sean ravaging my body like a beast.
The metal door handle turned, and I was about to push Sean away when it stilled.
The handle didn’t budge; the door didn’t open.
Were they outside, listening in?
Sean continued to swipe at my pussy, his tongue doing things that made me feel like I was going to explode.
My muscles clenched as Sean tasted me in gentle flicks of his tongue, and I held my breath, wondering what was happening outside while slowly losing control of my body.
“They’re out there,” I whispered, hoping against hope that no one would call my phone.
Had I brought it in here with me?
My fingers dug into his shoulders as I trembled under his expert moves.
My nipples were hard, and I rocked against his mouth, tilting my head back in abandon.
This was wild. We could get caught, but the only thing that thought did for me was heighten my arousal.
What the fuck has happened to me?
This wasn’t what nice girls did.
But I’d long since grown tired of being nice.
Nice girls got an impersonal minimum wage paycheck, vacuous performance reviews, and time alone at home.
It fucking sucked. I was going to be naughty, and I was going to be darn good at it.
I licked my lips while my hands tugged at his hair, adjusting the position of his tongue on my pussy as he worked me.
When he bit down gently, my fingers dug into his shoulders, my body shaking with built-up passion, and I moaned my appreciation.
He was so, so good, and I was starting to feel delirious.
I heard the footsteps recede, and soon, my phone began to ring.
On Sean’s desk.
My heart jumped into my mouth, but I was not capable of words anymore as Sean kept going.
I was torn between my impending release and wanting to silence the damn thing.
He was watching me, eyes alight with mischief, and damn if I didn’t love that look on him.
He added a thumb to the mix, pressing it over my clit, and I felt so dizzy with pleasure that I grasped the wall behind me helplessly.
Under Sean’s expert touch and the fear of our passion being discovered by strangers, I was going to come apart at any moment now.
“They’re still in the meeting,” I heard the voice mutter outside the door as my phone fell silent.
“If so, I wouldn’t piss off Mr. Tassater. He doesn’t like being interrupted.”
I felt Sean’s lips curve into a grin for a second, pausing cruelly just when I wanted him to pick up the pace.
Frustrated, I narrowed my legs around his head, craving his confident touch while a heavy ache built between my legs.
He took this order from me—thank goodness.
I was trembling with need while his mouth licked and swirled across my swollen clit.
I was arching into him, pressing into his mouth, letting him have all of me, and wishing I could have his bare skin on me when the dam burst. Sweet waves of pleasure cascaded down my body just as I gasped out his name.
My climax tore me apart, as shocking to me as it had been the last time with him.
I felt sweet, soothing relief after a tidal wave of emotions, and when I came back down, I continued to feel like I was floating on a cloud while my clit kept throbbing in the aftermath.
There was complete silence outside our door.
No one was out there anymore, and I could moan as loudly as I wanted to.
I moaned all right.
“Damn, that was amazing.”
“How do you feel?” he grunted, his voice husky as he stood up and scooped me into his arms.
I felt like mush as he held me while I looked up at him.
I was almost panting with relief and nodded.
“Like I’m on top of the world,” I said, my tone feeble as I pushed my hair back.
I hadn’t skirted a dangerous workplace liaison before, but it certainly had its appeal.
Besides, this wasn’t just any man.
It was with someone who, in the past few days, had proven just how much he cared for me.
I wanted Sean. I craved him enough to go through something risky like this and know that he’d have control over the situation, no matter what.
He’d take care of me.
He smiled and made sure I was stable before he released his hands from my waist. “I thought you needed it,” he said, leaning in and kissing me deeply.
When he stepped back, he buttoned my shirt and smoothed my hair.
“Especially after the stress of yesterday. But tonight, it’s going to be my cock in you.”
“I’ve never looked forward to anything more,” I whispered back.
Even after this mind-numbing orgasm, I still wanted more.
I wanted him in me.
He stopped, focusing on a red mark on my shoulder, noticing it for the first time.
He ran his thumb over it, and I winced and pulled away.
Frowning, he asked, “Was I rough with you?” He gently touched the swollen bump.
I angled my head to look at my shoulder and then laughed.
Details of the real world were flooding back to my mind after that amazing orgasm.
“Oh, this one happened earlier this morning.”
“ This one ?” he asked, repeating my blasé tone, flummoxed.
“What did you do to get it, Chloe?”
I felt my face turn red.
“Just a little accident when I got out of bed,” I said.
“I slid out in a hurry, and my shoulder hit my side table.”
He considered that.
“Is sliding out of your bed a particularly dangerous activity?”
“It is, if you’re holding one leg of the bed up with wood glue,” I said, finishing buttoning up.
“I need to get to the store. I think a metal bracket might work better.”
He met my gaze evenly.
“I think you’re right,” he said.
“I’ll get you that bracket,” he added, holding my fingers in his.
“You don’t need to go to the store.”
I looked at him incredulously.
“Do you know which store sells metal brackets?”
“You underestimate me, princess.”
I grinned.
“Yes, handsome.”
He bent down for a quick kiss, and when I turned to go, he caught hold of my wrist on my non-bruised arm.
“I just remembered,” he said, turning me back from the door.
“The last time I spoke with Henry, he mentioned something about you wanting to do a PMP certification course.”
“Oh, that?” I laughed.
“Henry’s being ridiculous. That was a stretch goal for five years down the line.”
“Uh-huh. And that notepad on your table has the words New Year’s Resolutions on it. Why did I see something about completing a PMP certification on it?”
I gave him a guilty smile.
“Well, to be honest, I don’t have the time to complete it,” I said.
“Make it.”
I shook my head and stepped away.
“I looked up a PMP certification course nearby that runs once a week—the minimum time I could spare to be away from home at nights. And even that class falls on the one night—Sunday—that Henry has a free evening. With no homework or other obligations. I don’t want to leave him alone.”
Sean considered that before walking back over to me and wrapping his hands around my waist. “All right then, how about this? You go for the classes, and on those nights, I’ll be at home with Henry.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Really?”
Sean nodded.
“My knowledge of soccer is abysmally low.” He gave me a cheeky grin.
“But there’s one other topic that both Henry and I might know a lot about.”
I shook my head.
“Don’t say it,” I said with a groan.
“You,” he finished, and leaning in, he placed his lips back on mine.