Chapter 6
WYLDER
Neo stretches, arching back. I pretend not to notice how his tight shirt rides up with the movement—the one with that ridiculous slogan. A sliver of taut skin appears just below the cotton, and I snap my eyes forward. My fingers tighten on my pen. He’s doing this to taunt me. I know he is.
Having Neo here has been great for the scholarship committee. Terrible for my actual productivity. Over the past two hours, I’ve gotten some things done—tasks for The Firm have been assigned—but despite that, his constant wiggling, sighing, and proximity have distracted me more than not.
He’s leaning closer to me now, his foot pressed against mine, his elbow hanging off the arm of my chair. He seems not to realize how close he is, or if he does, he doesn’t care.
He hasn’t looked my way since he finished his coffee.
I, however, can’t help but glance over as often as I can. A distraction I can’t have. That I don’t want.
Is that true?
“God, my eyeballs are bleeding,” Neo says, his jaw cracking on a yawn. “I’m almost done with these emails. I think I deserve a raise.”
I say nothing, just continue to swirl the mouse around my screen in an attempt to look like I’m doing something. I don’t think it’s working, because he looks over at me and his lips twitch.
“We actually haven’t discussed payment. I’ll have you know that I’m very expensive.”
I don’t doubt that. Pursing my lips, I let my hand fall into my lap. There’s no point even pretending to work when Neo’s watching me this closely.
Neo smirks mischievously. “Do you have, like, an HR person or something? I feel like I should file a complaint. This can’t be legal.”
“I will pay you what I pay Chloe.”
“And what is that? Probably beans. Actually…” He turns back to the laptop, clacking away, and I’m captivated by the concentration on his face as he does it. His brow furrows, his shoulders hunch. He chews on his bottom lip as he works, making it wet and swollen.
I can’t look away.
His scoff brings me back to reality. “I demand twice what she makes, and when she returns, I demand you pay her that too. Along with back pay plus bonuses for putting up with your grumpy, tiny-dick ass. God, Wylder, seriously? A dude as rich as you, and you pay this much?”
Once again, I’m confused by the source of his ire. I did a lot of research before hiring Chloe and know full well that I offer above-market rates. “It’s more than what other assistants are paid. It’s competitive.”
He glowers at me. “Well, it’s shit. I mean, have you seen St. Dimas? The rent prices are outrageous, and you don’t go to the store, but groceries cost more than this.”
He chews on his lip again, and I feel something stir in me. Something I can’t really put a name to.
“Anyway, that’s what I want. Deal?” Those hazel eyes are almost glowing as they meet mine. Before I can respond, he adds, “Oh, and I want a food allowance.”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “You are presumptuous.”
“I’m that good.”
I wet my lips, and his gaze falls to the movement, his pupils dilating.
“And, once a day, I want you to tell me something really inappropriate…something you’ve kept hidden from everyone else. Some deep, dark secret.”
My monster rears its head, and my heart thumps wildly in my chest.
Tell him what you dreamed of last night.
I keep my face level. “I never think anything inappropriate.”
Neo snorts so loudly he chokes. “Yeah, you’re a fucking liar who lies.
I bet you have all sorts of filthy, dirty thoughts in that head of yours.
” He moves closer, his breath hitting my cheek.
I don’t lean away, just sit there, feeling him against me.
“Tell me. Tell me a secret right now, and I’ll continue answering these emails.
Finish them up, get your inbox all nice and tidy. ”
I swallow, the click loud in the silent room. The monster rattles the cage, but I hold firm.
But Neo’s not done with me yet. His hand slides to my thigh, a finger tracing the seam of my slacks. I really should stop pressing them. One less line for him to memorize.
“Come on. Tell me, Wylder. What is a thought you’ve had today that you’d never tell anyone?”
He leans back slightly, and our eyes catch.
Tell him. Tell him.
“No.”
Neo blinks, disappointment filtering across his face. The light in his eyes dims, and he pushes his chair back. “All right, then. Deal’s off.”
He stands abruptly and sets the laptop on the desk. The absence of him near me makes something inside of me crack slightly. “Where are you going?”
“To do something else. I don’t work for fucking free.”
I don’t understand. “I’ll pay you.”
“Not enough.”
He flips me off and walks to the door of my office, his hand hitting the knob. He doesn’t even hesitate.
My hands are fists in my lap, my nostrils flaring.
I can’t let him leave. My office will be too quiet. I’ll be…alone again.
Neo might drive me crazy, but somehow, him being here is better than the alternative.
“I—” I begin, and Neo stills. “I overthink.”
He cranes his head over his shoulder. “You overthink?”
“Yes.”
“That’s your deep, dark secret?”
I nod once. “Yes. No one knows this.”
“Fuck off,” he chuckles. “You’re messing with me. Everyone knows you overthink.”
I exhale slowly. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“Yeah, apparently. I was hoping for something like, ‘I listen to K-pop’ or like, ‘I envision you sucking my cock’ or something.”
My face heats. If I believed in psychics, which I don’t, I’d question whether Neo was some kind of clairvoyant. Why else would he pick that exact deed? Does he know how often I’ve pictured shutting him up by feeding him my cock? “I have a girlfriend.”
“So you keep saying.”
“It’s true.”
There’s a knowing smirk on Neo’s lips as he draws closer. “You know what? Since I don’t have a job, I might as well call Kyle. He’s an asshole, but he’s always honest.”
My fingers crack slightly.
Mine. Mine.
Neo goes to leave again and the words fall from my lips before I can stop them. “I had a dream about you last night.”
There’s a small gasp. He smothers it fast, but I hear it. I don’t let myself react to it. Don’t let myself wonder what else I could do to extract that noise from him.
At least, I try.
When Neo finds his voice again, it’s to ask questions. “What about? Was it just us? Was I naked? Oh, please say I was naked. Or you were. So long as there were some dicks out I’ll be happy.”
He’ll be very happy if you tell him the whole dream.
There’s no way I’m telling him. Instead, I tilt my head in the direction of his chair. “Come sit down and finish your work.”
He folds his arms over his chest defiantly. “No. I want more. I want details.”
I stand up, and his eyes rove over my entire frame. I shiver slightly from the sight. “I gave you enough.”
He groans, his head falling back. The long lines of his neck are revealed, and I can’t help but remember how lovely it looked with my hand wrapped around it. “Enough? That was, like, a crumb. Barely a crumb. Hansel and Gretel would get lost with that shit.”
I huff a laugh, and his lips turn up.
“Just one detail, and I’ll let it be.” When I say nothing, he adds, “Promise.”
I shouldn’t.
You should. Tell him. In detail.
Once more, it’s like I’ve lost control of my own mouth. Maybe I have. It’s the only thing that explains why I keep giving Neo exactly what he’s asking for. “You were gagged.”
His eyes widen, and his hand drifts down to skim the top of his jeans. I follow it, my gaze fixing on the bulge beneath the denim. It almost hurts to drag my eyes away from it, but I do.
“Gagged?” Neo’s voice is faint, but I have no trouble hearing every word. “Why? Oh my god.”
“Come sit down and get back to work. I don’t pay you to listen to me talk about my dreams.”
“I mean, I’d pay you to let me listen to them. They sound fucking fun. More than your boring self.”
I point to the chair that is almost on top of my own, and he moves toward it, adjusting himself as he goes.
My fingers tap the edge of the desk. “They are not fun, I assure you.”
“So, were you, like, torturing me or something, or was it sexy?” He plops down and leans toward me, his head in his hand.
I shift my gaze away. “I’ve said enough.”
He sighs. “Come on, Wylder. Gimme something to get off on.”
“You have Kyle to get off on.” If he calls Kyle after that dick ran away from Neo the other night, I might actually murder him. Kyle, that is, not Neo.
I have other ways I can punish Neo. Kyle has already been dealt with by Samson as per the request to the Firm.
I didn’t trust myself to go easy on Kyle. And, by easy, I mean not slit his throat for leaving Neo in danger.
From the corner of my eye, I see his smirk. “But you’d rather it be you, amiright?”
I continue staring at the computer screen, my eyes aching from not blinking.
I feel his finger drag across my bicep, and it flexes under his touch.
“All right, I’ll pretend I was naked, you above me, your mouth…”
I stand up quickly and step away from him, my breathing ragged. “Enough.”
When I look at him, his eyes are twinkling. “Fine. I’ll stop, but tomorrow you give me something else.”
I clench my teeth. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
I hesitate, wondering what I’ve gotten myself into before moving toward the door. “I’m going to get something to drink.”
“Make mine a double.”
I don’t correct him that I didn’t mean alcohol. Maybe I do need a drink.
The drink didn’t help. I spent the remainder of the day hyperaware of him. Saying things I knew I shouldn’t. Letting him slip under my skin like he belongs there.
He does.
He doesn’t. No one does. I can barely cope with existing there myself. I don’t expect anyone else to be able to tolerate it.
Nothing helps over the next couple of weeks, either. I find myself spending every day with Neo. All day. I should be at meetings. Attending fundraisers. Shaking important people’s hands and generally being important myself. I should be taking on my share of requests from The Firm.
I do none of this.