Clara returns my smile. “What did you do?”
“My sister and I went shopping, had lunch and saw a movie. I also went to a club with old friends.”
Clara beams. “Sounds like you had a pleasant time.”
I nod. “I sure did.”
There’s no need to tell her I spent the last two nights wondering about Christian’s relationship with Katherine and what they were doing while I lay awake on my bed. I told myself that I wouldn’t bother with whatever was going on between them. That’s easier said than done, though. I can’t help wondering if Christian will soon announce that he’s about to marry Katherine. Is he even the marrying type?
No. I shake my head. I will not do this. This is a new day, a new week. I can’t continue torturing myself by thinking about Christian and his women.
“So, how was your weekend?” I ask Clara just to get my mind off my handsome and sexy boss.
Clara is still telling me about her husband’s relatives who came to visit when Christian strolls into the office. Decked in a tailored pinstripe suit that makes him look every inch the successful business tycoon he is, he takes my breath away.
I greet him, but I avoid looking at him. I’m happy he has a lot of meetings today, so I won’t get to see him much and drool over him as usual. However, it might not stop me from thinking about him.
As predicted, two men enter the office and Clara informs Christian of their presence. He summons them into his office. I let out a sigh of relief.
All day, Christian holds meetings with members of his staff and visitors. He goes on a business meeting with some people who flew in from New York. I keep busy, sorting out his mail and schedule and taking his calls.
A few minutes to the close of work, Christian strides back to the office. I can see strains of fatigue on his face as he walks by. I wish I could offer him comfort, but with thoughts of Katherine ringing in my mind, I stifle the urge.
My intercom buzzes a few minutes later. A sizzle goes through my body when I hear Christian’s voice.
“Hope, please come to my office.”
“Right away, sir,” I reply and rise from my desk.
I smooth down my black wrap-around dress, grateful I splurged on it and other dresses. I take my pad, sure that rapid-fire dictation is what I’ll get. I’ve come to understand that Christian is someone who’s always up and doing, and thinks quickly on his feet.
My heels are soundless on the carpeted floor as I cross the short distance to Christian’s office. My drop-dead gorgeous boss is seated at his desk. I notice he has removed his suit jacket and his tie. My lips part as I take in his curly chest hair from a glance at his unbuttoned collar and few buttons. He flips through a file.
Girl, control yourself.
I hastily change the direction of my gaze. But I can’t help looking back at him as he raises his head. He rakes his hand through his blond hair and my eyes fuse to his perfect angular face. No argument here, he’s the most handsome and enigmatic man I’ve ever come across.
I stand before his desk, trying to control my twirling emotions. Everything in me wants me to turn tail and run out of the office, but I stand my ground. I’m happy that I can maintain the cool facade I present to him, even though my feelings are running riot.
The air thrums with sexual tension as he continues to stare at me as if stripping me of my clothes. Or, maybe it’s just my mind and what I want him to do.
My nerves stretched taut by the silence, I swallow thickly and say, “You summoned me.”
A boyish grin crosses his handsome face. “I did.”
Pushing back his chair, he rises swiftly and walks around his desk to perch on the edge. He folds his arms across his chest as he gives me a once over. Heat runs through my body at the bold stare. It takes everything in me not to beg him to take me right there on his desk. My heart throbs against my chest and I’m afraid that it might just jump out. Even though the office is cool, beads of sweat form on my forehead. This amount of tension is not good for me.
“Come here,” Christian coolly says.
My lips part as I can’t believe what I just heard.
“Excuse me?”
His grin widens. “You heard right. You’re too far from me.”
I blink rapidly as I wonder if I’ve somewhat dozed off at my desk and was now having this wild dream.
“You’ve been treating me as if I’m going to give you frostbite all day.” He drops his hands and sighs. “Heck, you’ve been treating me like that since you started working here. And I swear it’s driving me crazy.”
What? I want to accuse him of treating me like nothing but his PA, but I keep my mouth shut. How do I treat him as anything other than my boss when he hasn’t so much as looked at me the way he did at the mall?
Eyeing him and wondering what he’s up to, I take a few steps forward.
“You are a hard man to figure out.”
“Yes, I am. I’m hard in every way. Would you like to feel how hard, Hope?”
Christian’s brow arches and he gives me a slow seductive grin.
I remain speechless. I can feel the heat suffusing my cheeks.
Suddenly he chuckles as humor enters his eyes. “Are you being shy with me, or do you like to play games, Hope?”
I shake my head. “I don’t play games.”
“Then come to me. I want to hold you in my arms. I want to feel your luscious body against mine.”
Please don’t do this to me. If you continue saying things like that, you’ll have me underneath you, begging you to make wild love to me.
Even though my body is aflame at his words, I try to maintain a level of control over my aroused body. I hope he doesn’t notice how hard my nipples have become and how they are pushing against my dress.
“Why are you doing this?” I say for want of something better to tell him.
“Because I want you,” he bluntly tells me.
"What?”
His eyes trail my body with a heat that leaves me squirming on my toes.
“Hope, before you came to work here, we both knew I wanted you. I didn’t hide that fact. However, I don’t mix business with pleasure. So, I’ve had to keep my intentions at bay these weeks. But the thing is, I can’t hold it back any longer. You keep me awake most nights. It’s one of my principles not to date my employee but to hell with that rule when it’s affecting my work.”
It definitely isn’t a love proposal, but at this moment, I will take anything. A thrill runs through my body, and it’s all I can do not to throw my arms around his gorgeous body.
“We must be very discreet, of course, but there’s no reason we can’t explore this chemistry between us. I know you feel it, too, so don’t deny it.”
I wouldn’t be able to deny it even if I were threatened. Aroused, I nibble on my bottom lip; nervous, I tug at my earlobe. I want to tell him I, too, want to tear his clothes off and have my wicked way with him. But, I keep mute. I want to see how things go first. After Terrance, I know I have to be very careful with men, especially one as suave as Christian.
“Now, will you come here instead of standing there looking at me as if I’m some sort of monster who steals candies from babies?”
A small laugh bubbles from my throat.
When I still don’t move, he grins and says, “I don’t eat gorgeous women with banging bodies for breakfast.”
I take one more step toward him just for him to know I’m indecisive but still want to meet him halfway. He chuckles and leans forward to drag me into his arms. I fit perfectly in between his hard and muscular legs. His hands move from my arms down my body to my waist. His eyes widen a little and I lower my head, knowing he felt the tremor that ran through my body. I don’t know why I’m acting like a shy schoolgirl. This is the first time I’m completely not in control of my emotions.
“Look at me, beautiful,” Christian urges softly.
I reluctantly raise my eyes and my mouth runs dry at the intense desire I see in the gray depths.
“
You’re gorgeous.”
I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Christian’s head descends and his lips capture mine in a kiss that leaves me reeling. He draws me closer into his embrace and deepens the kiss. His mouth moves expertly against mine and sensations run through my body, leaving me breathless. I struggle to get a hold of my wavering emotions, knowing that if I don’t, I might just allow him— no, beg him to bang me right there on the thick carpet.
When his tongue entwines with mine, I give up the fight and lean deeper into him with a sensual moan escaping from my lips. That gesture somewhat drives Christian crazy as he holds me tighter in his arms and his mouth becomes even more insistent against mine. His thick arousal presses against my stomach, and it’s all I can do not to go down on him. The kiss goes on and on as if we’re trying to devour each other.
When Christian’s large hand reaches up to grasp my breast, I can feel my panties getting wet. I want more of him, so I lift my hands and clasp them around his neck. My fingers dive into his hair and caress his scalp. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I first saw him rake his fingers through the thick and silky mass.
The buzzing sound in the background finally penetrates my consciousness. I realize it’s Christian’s cellphone on the desk ringing. Aghast at what I was doing with my boss, I quickly take a step back out of his hold. I watch as Christian’s chest heaves just like mine. His smoky gaze sears me just like his explosive kiss did.
Christian reaches for me again before I can move away.
“That was amazing,” he whispers against my lips.
Trembling with desire I’m struggling to get under control, I hold my breath. His warm spicy scent assails my nostrils. I squelch the urge to lean into him, to sniff profoundly at his intoxicating fragrance. Shards of electricity shoot through me as Christian whispers into my ear.
“Only sheer control is keeping me from spreading you across my table right now and giving both of us the release we so desperately want.”
I bite my tongue hard to keep from telling him to go ahead. I can’t have hot passionate sex with my boss on his desk. It’s just too sleazy for me, even though my heated body is begging for it.
Christian pulls away a little and straightens. “We have to take things slowly, though.”
I try to say something to concur or reject the idea, but Christian’s kiss has turned my brain into mush.
He threads his fingers through my hair as he pulls me closer. “I still can’t believe I’m doing this, but I can’t help myself. I have tried to put you off my mind, but it has been an exercise in futility. You have occupied my thoughts and my dreams.”
My lips part at his admission. I’m thrilled that I’m not the only one who has been having sleepless nights. It feels good to be wanted again after Terrance’s betrayal.
Why in the world am I thinking of that loser?
Christian lowers his head again, and I wait in anticipation of another passionate kiss that will leave me melting in his arms. I’m not disappointed as our second kiss is as explosive as the first one. I’m left gasping for breath when Christian finally elevates his head.
“Do you have plans for the weekend?”
Brain, please start functioning again.
My mouth opens and closes without me saying anything. Two fiery kisses have turned me dumb?
“Is that a yes?”
I shake my head.
His brows shoot up, and amusement reflects in his gorgeous eyes. “Could you please say something? You’re kind of confusing me with mixed signals.”
Clearing my throat, I force my brain to come back to normal. In a husky voice, I reply, “I don’t have any plans for the weekend.”
Christian’s smile warms my heart. “That’s perfect. We’ll go out and see the city and have dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I reply, trying to hide how excited I am.
“Great,” he remarks with a grin. He kisses me one more time before releasing me and turning to answer his phone that has been ringing.
I stand there twitching my hands like a kid caught being naughty. It takes me a few seconds to realize that Christian has dismissed me. I stare at him talking into his phone with his rich baritone voice, his back turned to me. Flushed, I turn away and walk on wobbly legs out of the office. I’m grateful it’s the close of work. Anyone who sees me at the moment will know what I have been doing with the boss. I get to my office, drop on my chair and put my hands on my flushed face.
What in the world has just happened?
One minute I’m thinking about getting a new job so I can stop thinking about my boss, and the next, I’m smooching with him in the office. I sit there dazed for a moment, stifling the flurry of feelings twirling in the pit of my stomach.
What is this? What’s going on? What about Katherine?
Afraid that I might give in to the temptation of going back to Christian’s office to demand some explanation about seeing him with Katherine at the restaurant and at the club, I quickly stand up. I rush to the restroom to put my dress, my hair and makeup in order before dashing out of the office to the elevator.
No way am I going to act like a jealous girlfriend over a kiss. That will make me look crazy. I need to go home to think about what to do. Away from Christian’s intimidating and intoxicating presence, I can think properly.
Is it wise to date my boss even though I want him?
I have a lot of thinking to do.
Chapter Thirteen
Christian
A smile curls the corners of my lips as I tread out of my office. Still smiling with thoughts of Hope filling my mind, I stride toward the elevators. The reception area is empty with the exception of the night security as it’s the close of work and most of my employees have gone home. I should have exited the building earlier. But after Hope left my office, I just sat there, recalling the beautiful moment I had with her.
My body hardens instantly as I recall how her body fit perfectly with mine. I let out a low whistle at the memory of my hand caressing her generous breast and my mouth devouring her full lips. Quickly, I place my briefcase in front of my midriff, thankful that no one is about. It would be mighty embarrassing for someone to see me with a hard on. Not that I care about what people think about me. But then, as this is my workplace and I don’t joke with my business, I see it as highly inappropriate.
But it’s not inappropriate to smooch with your PA in your office?
A grin covers my face at my inner voice. As long as we’re discreet in having an affair, I don’t see the problem. It is going to be inconvenient sneaking around with Hope, but the thought of it thrills me. I’m going to have to work very hard to hide the fact that every time I set my eyes on her, I want to tear her clothes off her and make passionate love to her. I successfully hid it these past weeks, but Hope left me weak in the knees this morning when I saw her in that wrap around dress that accentuated her figure.
All day, I struggle to focus on my meetings because all I have are thoughts about peeling her dress off her body and discovering the luscious flesh hidden underneath it.
“Sir, is there anything wrong?” A security guard asks as he makes his rounds.
“No, everything is fine,” I reply, and he walks away.
I blink, belatedly realizing that the elevator doors were open and I stood there gawking at it, motionless. The doors close, but thoughts of Hope still fill me.
How in the world do I hope to carry out a successful affair with my PA with no one finding out? It isn’t something I have done before, so I see it as a bit of challenge I’m looking forward to it. I have to think about Hope and how it will affect her, too. No one will dare say it to my face that I’m dating my PA. However, it might not be the same for Hope. I hate office gossip with a passion and want to shield her from it.
Maybe I should fire her.
The thought crosses my mind for a moment as I walk out of the elevator. The lobby is empty as I cross it to exit the building. The hu
ge, colorfully decorated Christmas tree stands like an imposing giant in a corner of the place.
A slight shiver runs through me as I step outside. Even with my coat, I can feel the cold swirling all around me because of the falling snow. I pause for a second to appreciate the beauty the snow brings, covering everything in white. Briskly, I climb down the steps and reach my limousine parked in front of the building. My driver swiftly opens the door. I slide into the warmed interior, letting out a sigh.
Should I fire Hope?
It will appear cold-blooded of me if I do that. Besides, I have to take into consideration that things might not work out between us in the long run.
What then?
I run my fingers through my hair, hating the thought of Hope not being in my life for long. Quickly, I push away the unpleasant thought. It’s too soon to be thinking of a breakup when we haven’t even started anything. A wolfish smile crosses my face at the recollection that Hope and I started something heated in my office a short while ago.
Leaning forward, I pour myself a stiff drink and recline against the cool leather seat. The seductive image of the petite and curvaceous Hope standing in front of my desk, looking so unsure of herself, fills my mind. I recall with a smile her glorious black hair tied in a bun at her nape against her beautiful and smooth skin. Her generous breasts were made prominent by the dipping V neck of her dress. I stiffen as I remember putting my hands on her small waist, her full hips perfected with nicely rounded buttocks. All I could think of while she stood there was to slowly peel off the dress from her body, which was stretched taut because of her generous breasts, and play with the twin mounds with my hands and mouth until she wriggled with unbidden ecstasy.
That fast, I become hard and move uncomfortably on the seat. My iron-clad control over my libido has turned into mush because of Hope. I release a ragged sigh as a hot wave of testosterone shoots up my body. What is it about Hope that wants to make me throw caution to the wind? I have never fantasized about a woman like this, not even in my teenage years. She’s not only stunning with a banging body, she’s also hardworking and intelligent. Is that enough for me to throw away my principles and have an affair with my PA?
Christian Clause: A BWWM Holiday Romance Page 7
