by Paige Cooper
The bathroom looked stunning, and I was half-tempted to take a shower under his rainfall showerhead. It had a ledge to sit on that would make shower shaving a dream and three different showerheads to pour water all over you. He had a double sink on one end of the bathroom, but only one sink had his stuff on it.
I wandered down the hallway and into his bedroom. I couldn’t even stop myself. I was too far gone, and I wanted to know all about Mark.
His room was large and had a brightness I didn’t expect from the grumpy boss I’d come to know. The same floor-to-ceiling glass walls covered one side of the room, as they did in the living room, leaving a sweeping view of the stars and the city at night.
A king-sized bed stood in the middle of the room, and I imagined Mark laying in it, waiting for me. I wanted to know what it felt like to wake up next to his naked body and how he smelled after sex.
He had a separate room for his closet, but a dresser stood on a wall adjacent to the bed. I took a sniff of the perfume: cinnamon and musk. The man really loved his cinnamon. I couldn’t lie; it made him smell delicious.
I replaced the cologne on the dresser and slowly backed out of his room, pushing thoughts of his naked body under the white sheets of his bed out of my mind. I needed to make my getaway before I got lost in the fantasy of Mark Allen.
I wished there was a way for me to cut off my attraction to someone. I wasn’t sure why I wanted Mark so badly—I wasn’t even sure if I really liked him as a person. Yet here I was, in his apartment and dreaming of him naked.
Get a grip, girl.
I made my exit, typing in the code to lock his apartment and set up the alarms again. The ride down the elevator was short, leaving me no time to dwell on the sordid things I’d thought about that all involved Mark.
Chapter 14: Mark
T he office was quiet except for the hum of fluorescent lights and my foot tapping impatiently on the floor.
I couldn’t believe I was stupid enough to leave the documents for discovery requisition at home.
If I didn’t get them tonight, the other side would drag their feet, and I’d risk losing my edge on this case. Then, there were all the depositions that had to go out, as well.
I normally never fucked up this badly. And now, even worse, I had to call Nicole in to help me out. I wanted to look at myself in the mirror and slap my face. I looked even more incompetent in front of her, and I had to trust her with access to my apartment.
I felt the stress burning at the base of my neck, and I leaned back in my chair, taking a moment to stroke the tense nerve out.
Everyone else in the office had left hours ago, and I was the only one left. This was the way I liked it, though—when no one else was around to interrupt my workflow, and the phone didn’t ring off the hook. I knew Nicole did her best to answer those calls, but sometimes they really got on my nerves.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips, and I stood up to pace the room. I’d done everything I needed to do. Now all I needed were those documents so I could fax them off to their relevant destinations.
I checked myself out in the mirror, taking a moment to compose my mind and body. I needed a good workout in the gym. It had been a minute since I’d lifted weights or done some cardio.
It felt like after my big win on the Daniels case, the workload had increased tenfold. So I’d successfully proved myself to my older brothers. Now they thought I could handle more work, and I didn’t want to fail them.
A stray hair fell over my forehead, and I pushed it back into the rest. At the end of the day, my normally perfectly tamed hair was a mess of waves and curls that did whatever they wanted. I’d unbuttoned my shirt and taken off my suit jacket because it felt far more relaxed to work that way. Nobody was around, anyway.
The clicking of heels against the tiled floor pulled my attention from my reflection and toward my door. I hadn’t closed it since no one else was in the office this late at night.
“I’m sorry, I came here as fast as I could,” Nicole’s voice reached my ears, but I didn’t really hear what she said.
She walked into my office, her hair falling in soft curls around her shoulders. She seemed breathless, as if she’d run the last few meters to my office.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Had she been on a date?
A jealous twinge twisted in my stomach as I took in her appearance.
Nicole wore a red dress that draped over one shoulder and left the other bare. It hugged the inside of her waistline and tightly covered the curve of her hips. Arousal flooded to my groin when I spied her cleavage, calling me in to put my face between her full and beautiful breasts.
The dress flowed down to her ankle on her left side but stayed up higher and open on her right. It was a salsa dress.
I imagined her dancing with a stranger, her chest against his and their eyes locked, and I wanted to punch the wall. It didn’t seem fair that another man got to hold that body close against his own.
My eyes roamed from her cleavage and down along her body before settling on her eyes once more. She held out the files for me to take, but I was mesmerized by her appearance. I stood in the middle of my office like a bumbling idiot.
Nicole was stunning on any given day, but the way she looked now with her hair cascading down her shoulders, her soft lips glistening in the dim light of the office, and the figure-hugging red dress took her to an entirely new level. I didn’t even know it was possible for a woman to look as beautiful as she did right now.
I’d never seen her cleavage so amply highlighted or the toned skin of her bare thigh so high up.
My breath hitched when I tried to speak, and I needed a moment to clear my throat.
“Earth to boss man, I have your files here?” her voice cut through my thoughts, and for the first time, I noticed her waving the file in my face.
“Um, thank you,” I said a beat later, slowly reaching to grab the files and inspect them.
Everything was there. I was shocked about that for a moment too. I had expected her to mess up in some way or leave a document behind, but everything I needed was in the folder.
I leaned forward and pulled her close in a hug, gently lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.
“Oh, god, you’ve saved this entire case!”
I was so elated at the fact that I had everything I needed, and that she’d proved dependable, I didn’t even think about how close our bodies were. At least, not at first.
When I brought us to a stop, I expected her to pull away. Instead, we lingered in the hug for a few more seconds.
Nicole’s body was warm against mine, and the smell of gardenia made me feel lightheaded and almost tipsy. I wanted to breathe her scent in deeper.
I looked down at her and thought about kissing her. Her lips were plump and drawing me in.
Before I could think twice, I leaned down, pulling her closer against my body. Nicole pulled away, putting space between the two of us and abruptly ending our hug.
The cold air replaced the warmth of her body, and I adjusted my pants as discreetly as I could to hide the growing bulge. It was hard to mask my disappointment until I noticed her flushed cheeks and that her chest rose and fell a little harder than when she’d first walked in.
Was it possible that Nicole was as attracted to me as I was to her? No. She made it very clear to me on a daily basis that she wasn’t interested in me. She’d even rejected me the first day I met her.
“Did you have a hot date?” I asked impulsively, suddenly needing to know where she was when I called.
I had to admit, I felt satisfied that my call would pull her away from whoever she was seeing.
“I was at my salsa class when you interrupted it,” she said simply, standing back from me a bit.
Relief flooded my body to know it wasn’t a date but rather a dance class. It was instantly replaced by a fresh dose of arousal as I imagined Nicole moving her hips in time to the salsa music.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware
you were busy when I called,” I said softly, taking a small step forward and trying to bridge the gap between us. There was something going on, even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself.
“Well, of course, I was busy. I don’t live for work. You know, I do have a life outside this building,” she snapped back with a hint of irritation.
I felt taken aback at first, but perhaps it was a tactic to put distance between us. I wanted to find out. I wanted to know more. Most importantly, I wanted to spend any extra time looking at her in that dress. She was ravishing.
“I really need to get these documents sent out as soon as I can. But will you wait for a moment? Just in case something goes wrong and I need your help, of course,” I added in, hoping she didn’t read too much into my request.
This was my opportunity to know Nicole better, and I wasn’t about to miss out on it. Maybe I’d finally find out if this chemistry that existed between us was felt by her, too.
“You love doing things yourself because you do it right the first time. In your own words,” she looked up at me, her eyebrows knitting together as a puzzled expression took over her face.
“Please. One last favor. Please wait?” I called back to her and ran toward the copy room.
I needed to get these documents out faster than I could press all the buttons on the stupid fax machine, but I also needed to get back to Nicole. She’d probably be gone by the time I reached the office, and the thought left a small hole in my chest.
This woman drove me mad with excitement and concern. I’d never thought about another person this way before, yet here I was at 7:30 on a work night, hoping she would stay long enough for me to get another look at her.
With all the papers I’d already worked on and the documents Nicole brought, I had everything I needed.
Everything except Nicole and her respect.
I pushed the thought out of my mind and focused on the task at hand. For ten minutes, I needed to not think about Nicole. That turned out to be a harder task than I first imagined.
I didn’t want to analyze why finding out she wasn’t on a date had made me feel happy. I didn’t want to think about the shot of jealousy I’d felt at the thought of another man touching or dancing with Nicole.
I felt this possessiveness over her that I didn’t understand. I wanted Nicole to be mine in every sense of the word, but I hardly knew her. And I didn’t want a relationship. I’d never really wanted one.
Flashbacks of my date with Saskia entered my mind, and I found myself replacing Saskia with Nicole in my mind.
Instead of Saskia giggling away at me, it was Nicole. Instead of Saskia reaching out for my hand, it was Nicole.
I pressed the buttons on the fax and sent out the relevant documents. If Nicole waited around for me, I was going to make sure that she knew how I felt about her.
Well, maybe not the irrational thoughts I had about dating her. But certainly that I was attracted to her, that I wanted her.
My nerves buzzed under my skin as I itched to send off the last of the documents. The sooner I made it back to Nicole, the sooner I could put these thoughts and feelings to rest. Maybe all we needed was one night together, and I’d be my normal self again.
Even as I thought it, a small part of my brain chimed in. I felt like my world had changed forever the minute I met Nicole, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for this.
Chapter 15: Nicole
I wandered out beyond Mark’s office door with every intention of walking down the corridor and toward the elevator. There was no need for me to stay any longer. He and I both knew that he could use the digital fax machine better than I ever could.
Well, that was what I would let him think, since he seemed gung ho on doing things himself at times—like sending faxes that I could easily scan and send through for him.
I looked out along the dimly lit corridor and then back toward the scanning and photocopy room. I could make out the outline of his broad shoulders and back. Half of my body was telling me to leave, and the other half of me was intrigued about what he wanted.
I leaned against the doorway to his office, watching his movements. It felt like I was invading his privacy, staring at him like this, but I couldn’t help myself.
In all the time I’d worked for Mark Allen, he’d never graced me with a smile, nevermind a hug. Tonight, he’d done both. The smell of cinnamon still flirted with my nostrils.
I’d wondered more times than I could count what it would feel like to be pressed up against his chest. Tonight, I had found out, and it was headier than anything I could ever imagine.
My body buzzed with nervous energy. His chest was broad and strong, and I could hear his heart beat against his chest as he twirled me around. I liked that side of Mark. He looked happy, almost carefree.
I knew it had nothing to do with me. He was happy about his documents making it in on time, nothing else. I didn’t have any delusions about that, but I kept picturing his lips coming down on mine in a kiss.
It was inappropriate, and the very thing that John and David had hired me not to do. Yet, here I was, insanely attracted to the man despite my best intentions. Despite the fact that I hated everything about his rude personality and off-hand manner.
He infuriated me on a daily basis, even tonight. He’d expected me to drop whatever was going on in my life to fulfill his needs and attend to him.
And still, I wanted to know what Mark looked like out of his shirt. God, I was pathetic.
“You’re still here,” Mark said with a note of surprise in his voice. He seemed happy that I’d stayed, evident by the smile that curled his lips up.
This was the first time I’d seen him with a genuine smile on his lips. It brought out the hints of gold that hid in the stormy gray of his eyes.
Yes, I was still here. I didn’t know exactly why I had stayed. I didn’t owe him anything, and if I’d left five minutes ago, I probably could have still enjoyed the last two hours of salsa night.
Something pulled me to stay. Something deeper than wanting to know if Mark could handle sending off the faxes. I was rooted to the spot as he walked toward me, the smile never leaving his mouth. Who was this man in front of me? Because he certainly wasn’t the same hard-headed boss I’d come to blows with on almost a daily basis.
My eyes were drawn back to his lips as he walked past me, and I couldn’t help but imagine a kiss between us once again.
Mark lightly grabbed my hand, pulling me into his office. My breath hitched in my throat, and I struggled to breathe at his touch. Electricity buzzed from the light grasp of his fingers down my arm and through my body. He had to feel it, too, but I didn’t dare look up past his lips to find out.
I was walking into dangerous territory and alarm bells rang in my head, but I ignored every single one of them.
Mark let go of my hand suddenly as if he’d never meant to touch me at all, and he crossed over to his computer.
Great! So, he asked me to stay so I can watch him work some more?
“What are you doing?” I finally asked after he’d played around on his computer for a minute.
“Have a little faith,” he replied with a chirp. His smile had turned playful, and I felt my heart pump harder in my chest.
This man could lead me straight to hell, and I’d follow him. My better judgments were all thrown out the window—because screw it. Who said no to a man who looked as good as Mark and made me feel the way Mark did?
I was weak between my knees, and every time he looked at me, I felt them wobble a bit. This was new to me. The men I’d dated in the past had barely worked my pulse up to a steady bit, and here was my boss who made me forget how to breathe when he looked at me a certain way.
Mark pressed a button on his laptop and the distinct beat of salsa music filtered into the space between us.
“What is this?” I giggled. I couldn’t help myself. I’d never expected Mark to have salsa music on his computer, nevermind to play it out like this in the middle of th
e office after hours.
“I can’t be the one responsible for you missing your salsa class.” His voice was low and husky as he spoke and he moved from behind his desk, rolling the sleeves on his shirt up along his forearms.
The zesty tones of the clave from the salsa enticed me into playing along for now. Mark came closer and held his hands out to me. The rational part of me wanted to turn away and make my way down the elevator right this very second.
Except I wasn’t thinking with the rational side of me. I was thinking with the part of me that wanted Mark Allen.
Every fiber of my being pulled me toward him, and I was tired of fighting it. It was more exhausting hating Mark than it was to give in to these feelings.
I took his outstretched hand, and almost instantly, he pulled my body against his and wrapped his other hand around my lower back.
I leaned forward into him, and before I knew it, we were off, entranced by the music and our bodies against one another. Mark took me by surprise, leading the dance and guiding our bodies together.
I moved forward, my left leg between his as our lower bodies gelled together in dance. Mark guided me backward, dipping me low. Our chests pressed together, and my heart raced as fast as his did.
The music led our bodies together in a dance, and for a moment, everything was perfect. I was in the arms of a handsome man who held me tightly against his body. Neither one of us said anything as we danced.
I didn’t expect Mark to know salsa, but he was an excellent dancer, and he led me swiftly, making minute corrections in my form every now and then as we moved.
“Your arm is too limp here; straighten it out and it’ll give you the pull you need when I dip you into this move,” Mark’s voice came through over my shoulder as he pulled my arm tighter and showed me how the form should be.
“Put your leg between mine here, a little deeper in. It makes it more sensual. Salsa is an intimate dance even if it is upbeat,” he whispered against my ear this time as he pulled my body tight against his.
