Chapter Eight
Stone
She's falling for me.
Jesus.
Jesus.
I stomp across the office toward her, my damn heart in my throat. My hands twitch with the urge to yank her out of her seat and into my arms, but I promised to be on my best behavior. I promised to play by her rules.
And right now…those rules are more important than ever.
"My office," I snarl, trying like hell to hold it together long enough to get a door closed behind us. "Now, Seraphina."
She jolts from her seat so fast it skitters across the floor.
Her hands shake, her heels clicking on the tile as she steps around me, so close her body brushes mine.
It takes every ounce of self-control I have left not to haul her up against my body right then and there, but by some miracle, I manage to keep my hands to myself.
I manage to follow her into my office, too. I even manage to close the goddamn door like a gentleman.
And then all bets are off.
As soon as it clicks closed, I'm on her, gently shoving her up against the wall with my hands on her waist. My lips come down on hers in a scorching kiss, everything I feel for her—everything I've felt for six months—erupting in a kiss so fierce it's like I'm trying to taste her soul.
"Stone," she whimpers, clawing at my shoulders. Her tits press against my chest, her body trembling.
"You're falling for me," I rasp.
"Yes. I…I…I think I've always been falling for you."
Jesus.
Jesus.
I tip her head back, meeting her wild gaze. "I'm so fucking wild for you, I can't stand it, Seraphina," I murmur, the words gritty. "Every minute of the day, I fall harder."
Her lips part into a shocked little "O", and I can't help but kiss her again, just to taste the awe on her lips.
I want to wrap her legs around my waist and drive into her until she's screaming my name so loud the whole goddamn campus hears her. But…I can't. Not right now.
I break the kiss with a groan, resting my forehead against hers. "I promised to behave. I know I just broke that rule, but I couldn't help it. I had to kiss you."
"I'm not complaining."
"You might. I just got off the phone with Hector, angel."
Her gaze darts across my face, desire cooling to worry as she reads my expression. "Something's wrong, isn't it?"
I don't want to tell her. I want to live in this little bubble where she's falling for me and not a fucking other thing exists in the world. Except…it does.
"The Chancellor refused to reclassify your position if you're still going to work for me," I murmur softly.
"What…" She trails off, licking her lips. "What does that mean?"
"It means that so long as you're my executive assistant, I'm your direct supervisor, baby," I mutter regretfully. It's the worst goddamn thing I've ever had to say, because I'm very well aware that it could mean this ends here and now. She could decide, right this second, to walk away forever.
"Oh," she whispers, her face paling. "W-what does that mean, Stone?" Tears well in her eyes. "I don't want to let you go. I don't want to lose my job."
"You aren't going to lose your job," I growl. There isn't a world where that happens. "I'll turn in my retirement paperwork, let them know that this is my last season. They'll find someone to replace me."
"What?" She gapes at me like I'm speaking a foreign language.
"I'm not going to ask you to choose between me and your job, angel," I murmur softly. "Women have been forced to make that decision far too often. If one of us has to choose, it'll be me."
"Stone," she whispers, her expression softening. "You can't quit for me. They need you."
"Not as much as I need you."
"What if…what if I'm not your executive assistant any longer?"
"You aren't quitting for me," I growl. "That isn't an option, Seraphina.
I won't be the asshole who makes you choose between the job you love and our relationship.
" Especially not after she told me how much this job means to her.
She's spent too long on her own. I won't take the family she's found here.
"If one of us has to leave, it will be me. "
"Maybe neither of us has to leave," she whispers.
"Explain." I cock my head to the side.
"There are other coaches," she murmurs, her eyes locked on my face. "If they won't reclassify my position so long as I'm your executive assistant, maybe I can switch positions with one of the other assistants. Then, you aren't my boss, we still get to be together, and neither of us loses our jobs."
"You love this team, angel," I remind her.
"I do." Her hand curves around my jaw. "But I can love them from another position in this building, Stone. It doesn't matter if I work for you, or Jake, or Jim, or Lydia, or even Hector. I'll still be here, and so will you."
"Jesus." I kiss her hard again, devouring her lips until neither of us can breathe. Once she's whimpering, trying to climb my body, I pull away. "Let's go find Hector."
"Yeah?" Hope sparks in her hazel eyes. "You're willing to try?"
"You aren't getting it yet, angel," I murmur, brushing my thumb across her bottom lip.
"I've waited six months, convinced that you'd never be mine.
Now, you're here. You're in my arms, willing to give me your heart.
I'll do anything—fight any battle, slay any dragon, wage any war—if it means you stay. "
"Stone," she breathes, her bottom lip quivering.
"I love you, Seraphina. I'll fight for that, whoever and however I have to fight for it."
She chokes on a whimper, flinging her arms around me in the sweetest fucking hug anyone has ever given me.
She practically quivers beside me as we stroll down the hall to Hector's office. Neither of us says anything, but there isn't much to say, at least not until we talk to him.
He doesn't seem surprised to see us when Ms. Wanda, his receptionist, tells him that we're here. He just tells her to let us in.
"Seraphina," he says, smiling at her before he looks at me. "Stone."
"Hi, Hector," she says sweetly.
"Hector," I growl. None of this is his fault, but I'm still irritated with him. He has our future in his hands. That's not a comfortable spot to be in, not for a motherfucker like me.
"Close the door," he mutters to me.
I shove it closed before ushering Seraphina to a seat. Hector watches us like he's trying to get a bead on the situation, picking out the differences in how we act and how we gravitate toward one another now that we're together.
I don't try to hide the way I place my hand on her back or help her into the chair.
I don't hide the way I hover in her space either, ready to swoop in and defend or comfort if necessary.
She's mine now—mine to care for, mine to worry about, mine to love.
I'll behave and keep my hands to myself because it's what she asked, but I won't hide.
I did that for long enough, and while doing it, I made us both miserable. We're done with that shit now.
"What can I do for the two of you?" Hector finally asks.
"I'd like to switch positions," Seraphina says, her voice serene, her hands folded together in her lap. "I believe you're the one who can make that happen."
"Ah…" Hector's gaze shifts to me. "Like I explained to Stone—"
"That's not what she's asking," I growl. "She's asking for you to assign her to another member of the coaching staff so she no longer works for me at all."
"I see." Hector pauses, glancing at her again. "This is what you want?"
"No," she mutters, "but it's better than letting him quit just so we aren't breaking the stupid rules."
"What?" His eyes widen with surprise.
"You heard her," I say, my voice soft. "If she isn't reassigned, I'm prepared to resign, effective at the end of the season."
"Jesus Christ," he mutters, as if he genuinely never even considered that it might come to that. But if anyone should know me well enough to know I'm not fucking around, it's him. "You'd quit for her?"
I meet his gaze, holding it so he knows I'm not fucking around here or making empty threats. "Without hesitation," I say.
He stares at me for a long moment and then sighs. "I believe Jake's assistant might be willing to make the switch," he says. "They have…issues."
"What kind of issues?" I demand. If Jake Alseppi, the hockey coach, is a problem, he won't be Seraphina's problem.
"Ah, I'm not at liberty to discuss."
"She isn't working for him if he's a dick to his assistant."
"Stone." Seraphina places her hand on my arm. "It's fine. I like Jake. He and Miriam just don't get along very well."
"Why the fuck not?"
I do not like the way both Seraphina and Hector hesitate.
"Tell me," I growl.
"Miriam has opinions," Hector finally says. "And no problem voicing them."
Seraphina grins up at me. "She's probably going to want to strangle you with your whistle a lot."
"Jesus Christ," I sigh. If the woman kills me, it'll probably be the least I deserve, but fuck it. If it means Seraphina still has a job, I'll suffer through with a goddamn smile on my face. "Ask her to switch."
"You're sure?" Hector arches a brow. "I can ask the other assistants."
"The odds of anyone else in this building being willing to put up with me are slim to none, and you know it," I mutter. "If Miriam is willing, make the switch. If she kills me, so be it."
"It's your funeral," Hector says, shaking his head. "I'll let you know as soon as I talk to her and Jake."
"Thank you."
I offer Seraphina a hand, pulling her up from her seat. We're halfway to the door when Hector says my name.
I pause, glancing back at him.
"I expect a wedding invitation," he says, grinning at me.
"You'll get one."
Seraphina makes this little sound that's half squeak, half gasp, all shock, her body going rigid. Her big hazel eyes meet mine.
"W-what?" she whispers.
"Where'd you think this was going, angel?"
"I…"
There's nothing more beautiful than this woman when she's speechless with stars in her eyes. Nothing.