Chapter 11
Emily
I’m mesmerizedby his familiar lips. His strong body pins me against the wall in a secluded hallway, with his hands roaming my curves. His mouth is on my neck, my cheeks, and my lips.
I’ve been craving him since the last time. Since we left one another on the curb at the airport. He walked into the conference room at the office and sat in front of me.
The alcohol is clouding my judgment, because I know I should put a stop to this. But the siren in me is begging for more.
My hands reach between our bodies for his belt, but he steps back and stops me.
“Not here,” he shakes his head.
“Why not?” I ask with frustration.
“We’re in a bar, in public. I won’t have anyone else seeing what is mine.”
“What’s yours? Gav, I’d hardly call myself a kept woman. It’s here, or not at all?”
“Seriously? You want me to fuck you in this bar and not-.”
“Here,” I tell him. “I don’t want to go anywhere, start thinking again, and let my judgment get the best of me.”
“And I want to take my time with you,” he growls. “Not here. You deserve better than some empty hallway with a security camera recording our every move.”
I look up and see the cameras he mentioned, which sobers me up quickly.
I lean into him, his body cloaking mine, and kiss him hard before pulling away. “You’re right. I deserve better than a hallway fuck.” Then dip my head low and move around him, back out into the bar, where our friends are still dancing. I hear him groan and feel him behind me as we resume dancing together on the dancefloor as if we never left the area.
Our bodies move together as if we haven’t had a night apart. I’ve missed his touch. And I will admit that I’ve missed his touch. Being so close at work and forcing a distance between us at work has been torture. I should put a distance between us right now, but I’m so fucking tired of fighting the need to be near him.
My hands find his at my hips, and I slowly turn in his embrace. My hands round his shoulder and I press myself against him. His hands move around him and I hold him to me. My head rests on his cheek and the song that was originally fast becomes slow to me.
“Let’s get out of here,” I say to him before my mind can stop me.
He doesn’t hesitate. He grabs me by the hand and pulls me with him, winding around couples and tables until we are outside. He looks both ways down the sidewalk before pulling me to a car parked across the street. He opens the side door and before I can slide into the passenger seat, his hand cups my cheek. He leans in and gently kisses me, leans back with a smile as I slide into the seat and he closes the door behind me.
I should make him take me home. I should put a stop to whatever this lapse in judgment is. There are a million different things that I should do. But I need to get my fix.
Memoriesfrom two nights ago replay in my mind while I sit in front of Michelle’s desk. She’s asking for updates on the project that I’m working on with Gavin and his team and getting an all around feel for his progress. I feel like I’m in here without him knowing, and I feel guilty, even though there’s no reason to be.
“You think you guys will complete the project within a month?” she asks.
“We have a few late nights this week. I think that will get us in the home stretch.”
“And how do you like him as a person?” she asks.
Does she know something? Is that attraction between us that obvious?
“I think he’s good. He seems to get along with everyone and knows what he’s talking about.”
“Good. Good.”
“Any reason?” I ask.
“No, I just wanted to assure you that the new guy is settling in.”
“I want to meet with both of you at the end of the week. Just for an update.” She tells me.
“Sounds good.”
“Oh, and Emily?” Michelle starts, while I stand. “I’m going to want a positive update. I have people breathing down my neck, too.”
I nod and make my way straight to Gavin’s office. His head is down and he’s writing something on a notepad. When he notices me, he smiles, sets his pen down, and moves to stand.
I motion for him to stop. “Stay sitting. I don’t want to incur any attention.”
I turn to close his door.
“Closing the door will have people whispering.” He says after I’ve already done so and sits in the chair at his massive desk.
“We need to make a lot of progress this week. Where are we for your end of everything?” I ask.
“I have mock-ups being created over the next two days. We’ve gathered the information needed to test audiences by the end of the week.”
“Can we cut the time in half and make sure that we can start the testing sooner by the end of the week?”
“Why? What’s the pressure?”
“We need to meet with Michelle by Friday to give an update, and she wants results, not that we’re waiting on results.”
“Okay. I’ll push.”
“Late night tonight, can your team accommodate?” I ask.
“I’ll let them know. I’ll have Melinda send over details to order dinner before the close of business. We can run tests tonight and see what kind of magic we can get together.”
“Sounds good.”
“Great,” he says.
“Great,” I respond.
I offer him a smile. I’m lingering.
“Got anything else?” he asks.
I blink. Huh?
“Oh, no. I should alert some of my staff. Sorry, didn’t mean to hang back.”
“I don’t mind. Not at all. But I know we need to remain professional at work. And besides, I just got informed that I need to work late.”
“And when not at work?” I ask, dumbly.
“Well, that’s up to you.” He winks.