Nova
Nova
N ova cleaned herself up and washed her hands, staring herself down in the mirror. How could she have been so stupid? When she walked into his office and found Alex masturbating, she should have turned around and left—but she couldn’t stop looking at him. He was so beautiful; his head thrown back, eyes closed, and lips parted, as he stroked his cock with both hands. Hearing that he was thinking about her in her cocktail dress from the night before as he touched himself was what had her staying. No man had wanted her like that in a damn long time, and she found it to be a complete turn-on, even if she shouldn’t have.
“You’re an idiot,” she whispered to herself in the mirror. “You better hope that he keeps his word and doesn’t fire you.” Her reflection didn’t seem to give a crap about her scolding. In fact, she just stared back at her looking quite pleased with herself. Her cheeks were flush and still rosy from being thoroughly fucked. It had been a long time since Nova looked like that and an even longer time since she had felt that way. Alex made her feel things she hadn’t for so long, she was beginning to wonder if she’d ever feel that way again. When he rubbed his thumb over her clit, she nearly came on his hand. It didn’t take long for her to find her release and Nova was sure that her vibrator wouldn’t cut it for her anymore after being with Alex.
Right now, she needed to concentrate on straightening herself up and getting back out to her desk. She had a meeting with HR in an hour and she’d have to now somehow get through it without blurting out that she slept with her new boss in her first ten minutes on the job. Yeah, she was going to have to learn to keep her legs and her mouth shut, but she was a fast learner. The one thing she was very sure of was that what just happened between her, and Alex could never happen again. He asked her if it was a one-time thing, and now she had her answer, it would have to be, no matter how much she wanted him. Alex was going to be hands-off to her, no matter how much that killed her.
He was waiting for her outside the bathroom door and when he looked her over, her entire body felt like it was on fire again. How did he do that to her? How could just one look have her feel like she was spinning out of control again so quickly?
“Don’t look at me that way,” she insisted.
“What way am I looking at you, Nova?” he asked.
“Like you want me again,” she said.
“Makes sense,” he said, nodding his head, “because I do. I don’t think that I’ll ever be able to look at you any differently, honey, because that’s not going to change for me.”
“Well, find a way to change it,” she insisted. “Because what just happened can’t happen again, Alex. I won’t let it.”
He threw back his head and laughed, making her instantly wet. He looked just like that when she caught him masturbating in his chair. Nova closed her eyes, trying to block out the images of his hands running over his massive cock, and when she opened them again, he was standing so close that she could feel his warm breath on her lips. God, she wanted to taste him again—but then, she’d be breaking her promise to herself.
“Go to dinner with me again tonight,” he whispered.
“Dinner?” she breathed. She felt as though she was walking through a fog, and she wasn’t sure which way to go next. All she could do was nod her agreement and Alex’s warm mouth was covering hers again.
Nova pushed at his chest, trying to break the kiss, but it was like trying to move a brick wall. When he finally let her up for air, she slapped at his chest. “I can’t go to dinner with you,” she said. “I need to try to find a new apartment and I’ve scheduled bookings for tonight to see a few places.”
“Perfect,” he said. “I’ll go with you and that way; I’ll know exactly how to describe your new place to the judge when I petition the court to reopen your custody hearing.”
“What?” she asked. “No, I’ll take a few pictures of the place that I pick, but you don’t have to go with me to check them out,” she insisted. “I’m sure that you don’t do that for your other clients,” she said.
“You’re right,” he agreed. “But I also haven’t had sex with my other clients.”
“Alex,” she warned. “We can’t talk about that anymore. It’s not going to happen again. It was a one-time thing—and now, it’s over and done with. Let’s move on.”
“Can’t,” Alex breathed. “Because I do believe that it will happen again. I’ll make you a deal—you stop saying that it was a one-time thing, and I’ll stop talking about it. Deal?” he asked, holding out his hand for her to shake.
She looked it over as if it offended her in some way. She was at least going to have to meet him halfway and not having him running around the office telling everyone about them having sex was a major win in her column. “Fine,” she grumbled, shaking his hand. “But for the record, it’s not happening again.” He sighed and pulled her against his body, sealing his mouth over hers again. This time, she didn’t fight him—she didn’t want to.
He broke the kiss, leaving her breathless, and smiled down at her. “You sure about that, Nova?” he asked.
“Just because you’re good-looking and rich, doesn’t mean that you always get your way, Alex,” she insisted. Nova pulled herself free from his arms and walked to his door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with HR to get ready for.” She turned back to see if what she had just said flustered Alex in any way and was almost disappointed that it didn’t.
“I know that you’re trying to get a reaction out of me, honey, but you forget that I’m the one who planned your schedule for the day. What time should I pick you up for our date tonight?” he asked.
“We aren’t going on a date tonight,” she countered. He was persistent, she’d give him that much.
“Okay, what time should I pick you up to go apartment hunting?” he asked.
“I’ve already told you that isn’t necessary, Alex,” she reminded.
“Right, but humor me,” he said. “I want to go with you, Nova.”
“Fine,” she mumbled. “Suit yourself. I just thought you might have something better to do than help me find a new place to live.”
“Nope,” he insisted. “I have the night free and I’m all yours,” he said, holding his arms wide as if proving his point.
“I’ll need to run home before my first appointment. I’d like to change into something more casual. I can meet you back here at six,” she offered.
“No need to come back across town,” he said. “My driver already knows your address from our dinner date last night. I’ll have him pick you up,” he offered.
“First—it wasn’t a date, Alex. Second, I don’t need you to send a driver to pick me up. I am capable of driving myself.” She wasn’t about to admit to him that she loved being spoiled a bit last night when he had his driver pick her up for dinner. It reminded her of all the times that Simon would hire a car service to take them to their fancy dinners and parties that they had to attend as a couple. She loved getting all dressed up for those events, but Nova knew that those days were now over. Alex gave her a little taste of her former life and she suddenly felt as though she was missing out on something. That was crazy because she’d never want to go back to her life with her ex—all she wanted was her son back, and with any luck, this new job would help her attain that goal.
“I told you yesterday that accepting this job, you’d have to accept some of the perks that come with it, Nova. Let me have my car pick you up tonight,” he pleaded.
“Do you offer this service to all of your employees, Alex? I mean, do the people in your accounting department get picked up to go to the grocery store by your driver?” she challenged.
“No,” he grumbled.
“All right then,” she said. “I’ll meet you back here at six.”
Alex sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, and she had to admit—she was completely turned on by his stance. “Nova,” he started. She wasn’t going to give him the chance to argue his point further.
Nova patted his arm and turned to leave, “Got to go, Alex,” she said. “I have a meeting, remember?” She was out of his office and sitting back at her desk before he could stop her and a part of her felt like she had won a small victory. She was sure that wouldn’t always be the case when arguing with Alex. In fact, she was sure that she’d lose quite a few of their “discussions,” but today, she’d take the victory.
Nova spent the rest of the day running around the building, acquainting herself with the firm and the people she’d be working directly with. Every time she met someone new, she worried that they’d somehow be able to see right through her and guess that she had sex with their boss, but no one brought it up, even if they were thinking it.
She left work at five, on the dot, hoping to get a quick shower and be able to change into jeans and a t-shirt for the evening. Her feet were killing her from wearing heels all day for the first time in a damn long time. All she wanted were her simple comforts and jeans and a t-shirt were just that for her.
Nova had just enough time to get back to meet Alex at the office at six when she grabbed her purse and keys, tugged on her shoes, and opened her door, running into a wall of delicious-smelling man.
“Alex,” she shouted as his arms banded around her body to help steady her. “What the hell are you doing at my apartment?”
“Picking you up for our date,” he said.
She sighed and removed herself from his arms. “It’s not a date,” she reminded. “And I told you that I would meet you at the office.”
“I know,” he said. “But I want to have time with you and well, having a driver affords me that luxury.” She looked him over and realized that he had also changed and God, the man looked good in jeans and a T-shirt. It was black and hugged his muscles, making her hot and needy all over again.
“You have tattoos,” she said, reaching for his arm and tugging it closer to study them. “I like them.”
“Thanks,” he said. She wondered where else she’d find tattoos and suddenly, Nova felt very overheated. “Each one has special meanings. Do you have any?” he asked.
“Um, just one,” she admitted. “It’s a butterfly for my grandmother. I have it on my hip.”
“Ah—I think I saw it earlier today when we—” She held up her hand, stopping him.
“I know what we did this morning, Alex,” she said. “I don’t need you to remind me.”
He smiled at her, and she felt her girl parts overheat again. “How about we go look at these places that you want to move to, honey? I’m starving and want to get to dinner.”
“I never agreed to dinner, Alex,” she said.
“I know, but I figured that looking at apartments would make both of us hungry,” he said.
“I can eat here when you drop me back off,” she insisted. “This is why I wanted to drive myself.”
“How about we agree to decide on dinner after we’re done looking at places for you? I won’t force you to have dinner with me if you’re not hungry. But if you are, how about you let me take you to dinner?” he asked. She didn’t believe for one minute that he wouldn’t try to force her into having dinner with him, but she needed to get to her first appointment. Plus, she liked the idea of having a second, professional opinion about which place would be best for her and possibly her son. Alex would be able to give her an inside scoop as to which place would look most appealing to whichever judge might be assigned to her custody case.
“Fine,” she agreed. “If I’m hungry when we are done looking at apartments, I’ll let you take me to dinner. But if not, you agree to drop me back off here.”
“Deal,” he agreed. She stepped out of her tiny apartment and locked the door. “You don’t have a deadbolt?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “I never thought that I really needed one.”
“This doesn’t seem like the safest neighborhood,” he said.
“It’s not,” she agreed, “but I feel pretty safe here. My neighbors are great—we all look out for each other. I hate that I have to move, but there is no way that I can fight for custody of Jack while living in this rat hole. It’s only a one-room apartment, so I really don’t have a place for him when he comes over.”
“So, you’re looking for a two-bedroom?” he asked.
“Yeah—or something that I can make work for the two of us to each have our own space.” She knew that he probably lived somewhere fabulous, but there was no way that she’d be able to afford his lifestyle. He had already admitted that he was well off due to an inheritance from his grandfather. She didn’t have any money saved in the bank yet. In fact, she didn’t have the money to put down on a place, even if she found something tonight. Nova was going to have to wait for her first paycheck to get that money together. Then, she’d cross her fingers and hope that at least one of the apartments she liked would still be available.
Alex held the back door open for her and she slid into the backseat of his SUV. She smiled at the driver who had picked her up last night for their dinner together. “Good to see you again, Miss Ray,” he said.
“You too, Derrick,” she said. She didn’t miss the look that Alex shot his driver before climbing into the back to sit next to her.
“Where to first?” Derrick asked. Nova handed him a piece of paper and he thanked her. “We’ll be there in no time.”
“Thank you, Derrick,” she said. Alex raised the privacy partition. “Why did you do that?” she asked.
“Because I want you all to myself,” he whispered into her ear.
She pressed his hands into his chest, “Not a date,” she reminded. Alex ran his hands up her jean-clad thighs and she wanted to give in to his request and crawl up onto his lap. Nova wondered how many more times she’d have to say those words to him to make herself believe them. She knew that she’d never be able to convince Alex that they weren’t on a date. Hell, that man thought that her coming to work constituted a date of some sort.
He chuckled and pulled her into his side. “Whatever you say, honey. Which place are we looking at first?” he asked.
“The one on the East side of town. It’s a little bit of a drive to the office but closer to where my ex lives. If I get partial custody of Jack, it will be nice to be closer.”
“When you get custody of Jack,” Alex reminded. “I don’t plan on losing this case, honey,” he insisted. She nodded and settled in against his body, loving the way that he seemed to want to touch and hold her. Sure, she kept insisting that this thing happening between them was a one-time deal, but the more time she spent with him, the more she knew that she was a complete liar.
Alex ran his hand up and down her arm and kissed her forehead. “See,” he said. “This whole dating thing isn’t so bad,” he teased.
Nova sighed and shook her head, “Not a date,” she mumbled.