8. Chapter Eight #2
The sun is going down, the sky turning all the pretty colors. The breeze is getting a little stronger, but it’s still warm.
We reach a look-off area that’s built out into the water with benches. Both of us turn onto it like it was our plan all along, walking to the very end and resting our arms on the wooden railing to look out at the vast, seemingly never-ending ocean.
“You believe in aliens?” he asks.
I laugh. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Elaborate.”
I shake my head. He’s so demanding. “I think there is life out there, beyond us, but I don’t think they’re little green men who like to probe humans anally.”
Now he laughs. “It is strange that’s the hole they’d go for.”
“Right?”
It falls quiet again as we stare out at the water, watching the waves come in. Lower and lower the sun gets, painting the sky in even beautiful colors, that slowly start to disappear as darkness takes over.
“I bet the sunsets in California are gorgeous,” I say.
“They are.”
“You’ve seen them?”
“Of course.”
Of course.
“I could take you,” he adds.
My head turns toward him, and I find him watching me with a serious expression.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m your employee and it was only one night.”
“But it could be more.”
“What more? I need this job, and you…”
He steps closer, brushing hair from my forehead and back where it belongs. I bite back a whimper and the urge to lean into his hand.
The wind blows again, causing my hair to fly all over again, and this time he doesn’t try to tame it. He just cups my cheek and stares into my eyes.
“I what?” he asks.
“You’re… you.”
“What does that mean? I thought you enjoyed the night we had together.”
“I did.”
“Then why can’t we do it again?”
“Because it’s weird.”
“Says who?”
“Everyone,” I say, stepping back from him and missing his touch immediately, even though I’ll never admit that out loud. “We work together. I’m your assistant. I don’t need people thinking I got where I am because I know how to suck your dick the right way.”
“You didn’t even put my dick in your mouth.”
This man!
“That’s not the point,” I say seriously.
“Then what is?” he says, still so calm.
I search his face, trying to figure out what the hell is going on here.
“Why?” I finally say.
“Why what?”
“Why are you pushing this? You could have anyone you want. Why am I the chosen conquest?”
He looks offended at that question.
“No, Tage, it’s not like that.”
“Then what’s it like?”
Sighing, he looks away for a moment before bringing his attention back to me.
“I’ve always had money. I’ve always been able to buy and get whatever I want with a snap of my fingers. It gets boring.”
“So, I’m a challenge.”
“Let me finish,” he chastises, stepping closer to me again. “Yes, and no. It’s not about the challenge. It’s not about winning. It’s about the way you make me feel. I’m intrigued. Impressed. You make me want to figure you out. You make me want more.”
“And once you do, you’ll throw me aside for a newer, better, upgraded model.”
“I’m not like that.”
“You’re all like that,” I say sharply.
He frowns, and I know I fucked up. I didn’t mean to say that.
“I just mean—”
“It doesn’t matter,” he says softly. “No matter what I say, you won’t believe me. This isn’t a declaration of love; it’s just a declaration of interest.”
“You’re interested in me?”
“Is this not what we’re talking about?”
“I thought we were just talking about sex…”
“I told you: I’m not like that.”
“But work—”
He gives me a sad smile, the back of his hand brushing over my cheek.
“The only thing that would make my life better is having someone to share everything with. Maybe someone specifically who doesn’t want it.”
“So, now this is a marriage proposal?”
He huffs a disbelieving laugh.
“Why does everything have to be so grand with you? Why can’t it be just this? Just two people who enjoy being with each other? You can’t say you don’t enjoy my company. You had fun today.”
I did have fun today. More than I expected.
Shaking my head slowly, I search for the right words to express what I want to say. He’s good at listening to my words, so I need to choose them wisely.
“My whole life, I’ve had things handed to me. I’ve been told what to do and when. I’ve been given everything I need, but—”
“But it didn’t matter because you want the reward of doing it yourself.”
“Yes.”
My heart beats a little harder. How did he know that?
“I didn’t hire you because you were good in bed, Tage. I’m not stupid. I hired you because I could see you were capable and that you wanted the job.”
“How? You barely know me.”
“Just a feeling, I guess. But I wasn’t wrong.
” He sighs. “I don’t know your story, and it’s clear you don’t want to talk about it.
That’s fine. But look at where you are in life.
You said it’s more than you expected. You did that yourself.
I don’t do handouts. My company would crumble if all I cared about was having pretty people to look at in my office. ”
I can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “You think I’m pretty?”
“I think you’re beautiful.”
My chest warms, and something in my brain clicks. Something that has me making a really stupid decision.
I lean in to kiss him, but he’s closer than I expected because he’s kissing me too. It’s firm and soft all at the same time. Simple but passionate. Sweet, almost.
His lips are warm; his tongue is soft. It’s exactly how I remember his mouth feeling, only… it’s a little better now. And that’s the scary part. That I’m giving in so easily, all because he called me beautiful? What the hell is wrong with me?