Chapter 13
Is it possible to die from sexual frustration?
If it is, Nash and I are both at risk.
We’ve been going over case strategy all morning, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep my thoughts on topic. Especially when he keeps finding ways to brush his leg against mine under the table.
I catch him looking at me with that grin, the one that promises to do things to me that I shouldn’t be thinking about right now.
“What?” I say, my voice a mix of annoyance and amusement.
“Nothing,” he replies, his eyes flicking down to the pile of documents in front of us. “Just wondering if we’ll ever get through all this.”
“Not if you keep distracting me,” I say, trying to sound exasperated but knowing it’s a lost cause.
“Distracting you?” he teases. “Having you spread out for me on this conference table would be a distraction. For the whole office, I’d bet.”
I roll my eyes and lean back in my chair, catching sight of James through the glass, watching me. Every time I’ve looked over to his office this morning, he’s been looking at me. My stomach flips at the intensity of his stare, and I quickly turn back to Nash.
“Focus, Nash,” I say, trying to ignore the heat rising to my cheeks and the flutter in my chest.
“I’m trying,” he says, leaning back and stretching his arms above his head. His shirt lifts just enough to reveal a sliver of skin, and I catch myself staring. “But you’re not making it easy,” he adds, his voice teasing.
I shake my head, trying to fight the grin that tugs at my lips. “We’re supposed to be working,” I remind him, even as my resolve weakens.
Nash leans in, lowering his voice. “Then let’s work on you coming over tonight.”
The suggestion sends a thrill through me, but I hesitate, glancing toward James’s office again.
He’s still watching. I can feel his gaze heavy on me, like he can read my mind. I look back at Nash, his eyes bright with anticipation.
“Tonight,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel.
His grin widens, and he reaches across the table, his fingers briefly brushing mine.
I pull away, fighting to maintain a semblance of professionalism.
“We have to finish this first,” I insist, though I can’t keep the smile from my voice.
The door swings open, and Vanessa stands there, her gaze cold and assessing.
“Attorney Sterling needs the conference room,” she says, putting an abrupt end to our moment. “He has a meeting.”
Both Nash and I look at her, then at each other, confusion crossing our faces.
“What meeting?” I ask.
Vanessa shrugs, already turning to leave. “Ask him,” she says, the words clipped.
She exits, and we gather the case files we had strewn across the conference table.
“Weird,” I say quietly to Nash. “James always takes his meetings in his office.”
Nash shrugs, but I can see the curiosity in his eyes.
He follows me out of the conference room, and I catch one last glimpse at James. He’s standing at his desk, watching us with an intensity that makes my heart race.
We get to my office, and Nash drops the files on my desk, the heavy thud echoing between us. I look at him, feeling a rush of heat rise in my cheeks, and I know Nash notices.
He leans against my desk, a lazy, confident ease in the way he stands there, like he’s already thinking about tonight.
“See you at six?”
“Six,” I confirm with a nod, and Nash’s grin is enough to send a flutter through me.
He turns to leave, and I let out a breath, moving to sit in my chair.
I look at the files stacked on my desk, trying to refocus my attention, but my thoughts drift to tonight. To Nash. To the way he makes me feel when I’m with him.
My phone buzzes, and I reach for it, hoping it’s a text from him.
But it’s not.
James
I have an important matter to discuss with you. I’m in meetings all day. Be in my office at 5PM.
He cannot be fucking serious.
If it’s another case that’s already set for trial, I might throw a file at his head.
If he didn’t like my attitude the other night, that cockblock has another thing coming for this next meeting.
I’m tempted to tell him I’m too busy. That I have plans because I actually have a life outside of work, or at least I’m trying to.
No thanks to him.
But I can’t. The guilt I’d feel would distract me from all the things I want to do with Nash tonight. So I’ll go to his office at five like he asked, wearing my fakest smile.
I type out a quick text to Nash.
5PM meeting. Might have to raincheck tonight. I’ll let you know.
I watch him read the text, his shoulders slumping before he leans back in his chair, sighing a deep breath. He starts typing, and I wait for his text to come in.
Trouble
I’ll wait up all night if I have to.
I smile at his words, a cascade of warm feelings rushing through me, and then look over to where he sits, already finding him looking at me. His gaze is soft and certain, and as soon as our eyes meet, he winks, sending another flutter through my chest before turning back to his work.
I throw myself into my work, the hours slipping by as I try to meet the demands of every case I’ve been assigned.
The day passes in a blur of distraction and anticipation, and before I know it, it’s five o’clock. The office is eerily quiet as everyone else has already gone home. I gather my things and make my way to James’s office, determined to keep this meeting short.