“Yes, yes, just leave the messages on my desk,” he replied hurriedly.
She dropped the yellow slips of paper on his desk and looked at him curiously.
“Is there anything the matter Mister Misaka?”
“No, no, I’m fine.”
“You missed a conference call while you were out. Shall I reschedule?”
“Yes, please. Oh and Daisy? Tomorrow morning there will be someone joining our team up here for a while. She’ll be working from my conference table in here.”
“Sir? Someone else? What do you mean?”
“I need help with a specific project, so I’ve pulled in additional help so as not to overburden you. Sherrie will be joining us.”
“Oh? The manager from the pool?”
“Yes, that’s her.”
“Oh she is a wise choice, Sir, very good at her job.”
He smiled at her. “Excellent. Thank you.”
Daisy bustled out the door, slightly confused by the need for additional help but grateful that her full plate was not going to overflow.
The next morning, Sherrie showed up at fifteen minutes before eight, in a grey suit with a cream blouse. She looked every inch the professional and every bit scared. She clutched her notebook tightly to her chest and smiled weakly at Daisy. Daisy did her best to reassure the young woman but it did not seem to help.
Joseph arrived promptly at eight o’clock and ushered Sherrie into his office with a brief ‘thanks’ to Daisy.
“You’ll be working out of here, with me.”
He tried not to stare at the shape of her calves as they rose out of her black pumps, and prayed that she was unaware of his thickening cock. Sherrie was too nervous to notice anything but the enormous office, the beautiful wood furniture, and the entire wall of glass behind his desk.
“It’s beautiful in here,” she breathed.
“Thank you, I do love the view from here,” he grinned down at her.
“Sir?” Sherrie seemed startled that he was staring at her instead of out the window.
“Nothing,” he deflected before returning to the work at hand. “I’ve ordered you a laptop to work on while you’re here. In the interest of confidentiality, I didn’t want our project to be on your regular computer.”
“Oh, I understand. Thank you.”
He removed his suit jacket and hung it up in the small closet hidden behind a panel on the wall.
“Can I hang yours up as well?”
Her cheeks flushed brightly, and she stood up to remove her own jacket. Joseph bit back a groan as she removed it. Her breasts pressed outwards as she removed it, and when she wriggled out of the sleeves, they shimmied underneath her cream silk top. The blouse clung to her curves perfectly and he was almost overcome with the desire to feel the firm heft of the rounded globes.
He cleared his throat loudly and she looked at him startled.
“Mister Misaka? Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” he mumbled as he took her jacket.
Once it was deposited in the closet, they set down to work. He brought his own laptop over to the conference table and took the chair immediately next to her. She smelled of vanilla and chocolate and Joseph found himself desperately wanting to taste her skin.
By lunchtime, they had reviewed the specifics of the project in question. The unseen and unspoken issues at the table were the fact that Sherrie was damp between her thighs and Joseph was completely erect. She did not have much experience with men, but something about this compactly muscled man with his penetrating dark gaze and his commanding presence made her breathless and eager to please. Joseph on the other hand was completely taken in by the luscious curves of her body and the soft eagerness in her voice.
He rang Daisy to order lunch and then let Sherrie know that they would be working through lunch together. He was in no mood to let her out of his sight and he was in a position to make her stay.
Every time his fingers brushed against hers as they shuffled papers back and forth, she found herself biting back a whimper when the electricity shot from her fingertips to her pussy.
This was going to be a difficult project indeed. For both of them.
Chapter Three
One of the company’s catering staff delivered a silver tray of food and silently shut the office door behind her. Joseph whisked the cover off with a flourish and the scent of lasagna and garlic bread wafted over both of them.
“Why don’t we take a break while we eat?” he smiled. “I’d like to just chat.”
He had to find out why he was so taken with this woman.
“Certainly, Mister Misaka.”
They dug in and relished the Italian feast. The casserole was full of spinach and zucchini, cloaked in tangy marinara and gooey mozzarella. The bread was just toasted enough to soak up all of the flavors without being soggy.
“I could get used to eating like this,” Sherrie mumbled with a smile.
Joseph laughed. “That can be arranged. So, what do you do when you’re not working for me?”
“I, um, I spend time with my family.”
His eyes flashed down and her left ring finger was bare.
“Oh? You have children?”
“No, Sir, my parents. They are both, um, ill, and they live with me.”
He felt a warmth flood over his body at the sweetness of her. He was completely hooked on her now. Very few Americans truly understood his cultural need of honor and family, but it seems she grasped it perfectly.
“That’s very admirable.”
“Thank you, but it’s just what you’re supposed to do. They took care of me, so now I take care of them.”
“Is it difficult?”
“A little, yes. And expensive,” she sighed sadly.
“I hope you understand that this project will come with a significant bonus,” he offered suddenly.
“Oh, Sir, you don’t have to do that. I’m happy to help.”
“Oh I’m happy to compensate you for your efforts, it’s not an issue at all.”
“Thank you,” she smiled softly, her tawny eyes lighting up in gratitude.
Without thinking, he lightly rested his palm on her thigh.
“I’m happy to help.”
“Sir?”
Sherrie’s eyes darted from his face to his hand on her leg, and back again. Instead of withdrawing, he squeezed her leg lightly.
“Mister Misaka?”
“Yes, Sherrie?”
“What are you doing?”
“Sherrie, I’d like to help you any way I can. I have the means to do almost anything.”
“Sir, I-I-I’d like to get back to work.”
He withdrew his hand slowly, letting his fingers linger on her knee before they finally slid free. Her breath trickled out of her full lips and she prayed he did not realize she really wanted him to slide his hand the other direction. Joseph’s palm burned from just the touch of her suit skirt but he bit back the urge to taste her lips.
They continued their discussion about the project awkwardly but professionally until Daisy stuck her head in to wish them a good evening. She did think they were sitting awfully close together but she pushed the thoughts out of her mind as she left for the day.
“Sherrie?” Joseph began.
“Yes, Sir?”
The way the word ‘sir’ rolled off her tongue made his abs quiver and his cock twitch. He was starting to think this was not going to work, at least not in the professional sense. But he also knew he could not return her to her former position without a solid explanation, so he focused on his self-control.
When she stood to leave for the evening, he could not stop his slight groan as her breasts came level with his eyes and he stood to walk her out. Sherrie’s eyes darted down and even though she had minimal experience, she very well knew an erection when she saw one, even through clothing.
“Mister Misaka?” she asked softly.
“Sherrie, I’m sorry. I can’t… I have no excuse, and I’m
sorry. Being around you, I can’t seem to stop it,” he grinned wolfishly.
Sherrie blushed furiously and tried to move away from her company’s owner. His hand flashed out and gripped her elbow firmly.
“Please, don’t be embarrassed. I know you’re not doing anything to entice it. It’s just you.”
“I-I-I think I need to go now, Sir.”
He groaned again, this time unmistakably.
“Mister Misaka? What is it?”
“I’m afraid I can’t explain it at this time,” he dodged the question effortlessly. He was not ready to explain just how much the word ‘sir’ could mean in certain situations.
As she made her way to the closet to retrieve her jacket, his eyes never left the swish of her ass under the snug pencil skirt. She tried to get to the door without walking too close to him, but he refused to budge. As she squeezed between him and the doorframe, his hand drifted up and barely grazed the fullness of her hip. She twitched slightly but said nothing. She turned her copper eyes to his dark gaze, and he was startled to see a slight flicker of heat pass through them.
She disappeared into the elevator, leaving him standing in the doorway of his own office with more questions than answers.
Chapter Four
The next day, Joseph almost laughed out loud when he spotted Sherrie waiting for him. She was dressed in a loose-fitting shift dress that came up to her collarbone and down to her knees.
He escorted her into his office and closed the door behind them.
“That wasn’t necessary,” he chuckled.
“What?”
“The sudden change in attire.”
Sherrie blushed hard. She had been hoping he just would not notice, but what were the chances of that when he could barely keep his hands to himself. The worst of her thoughts danced through her head — that she did not necessarily want him to either. She was horrified by her own thoughts. He had made his interest perfectly clear, but she was in no position to do anything either way. She could not afford to lose this job and was willing to commit almost everything to getting it done. Almost.
He gestured to the conference table, confused by the emotions that just ran across her face. He thought he recognized at least one of them, but he could not be certain.
As they continued to dig through the personnel software options he was trying to decide between, his hands continued to brush against hers and she gave a little gasp each time. At one point his knee pressed into hers, and Sherrie could have sworn she was going to slide off her chair and just melt into the floor.
Joseph was completely distracted by the tiny inhalations she made with every touch and found himself wanting to hear her other noises. He started making excuses to touch her more frequently, just to hear the air hurry into her lips. The feel of her leg pressed up against his was enough to make his twitching cock stiffen fully. He was starting to worry that should they ever take it any further, he would have no self-control at all.
Even in her shapeless shift dress, he could make out the swell of her breasts and the curve of her ass and it was enough to distract the self-made billionaire from his business. And that was quite an accomplishment.
The same caterer delivered lunch again, but was simply sandwiches and chips this time. Joseph scowled slightly but made no motion to decline the meal. They ate in silence, the tension filling the room instead of conversation.
“Mister Misaka?” Sherrie finally spoke up.
“Yes, Sherrie?”
“I-I-I’m not sure… I don’t…”
“What is it?” he said a little more sternly.
Sherrie sighed and stared at her own hands as she twisted them together in her lap.
“Out with it,” he stated forcefully.
“I-I-I’m not sure I can continue with this project,” she blurted out in a rush.
“Why’s that? Have I upset you?”
“It’s not that, it’s just…it seems tense, I guess.”
He smirked at her choice of words. She was trying to be so polite and all that effort did was make him want to force her the other direction. He wanted to hear her beg and moan and whimper and scream.
“I see,” he said noncommittally.
Without warning, Joseph leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, feeling her chest rise with surprise. As her breasts pressed against his chest, he slipped one hand to the nape of her neck and held her mouth to his. She did not make an effort to pull away but instead parted her lips to his tickling tongue. They broke apart as suddenly as he had kissed her, and both of them panted at the intensity of one kiss. She was madly attracted to the firmness of his chest and the cut muscles of his arms but was not quite ready to surrender everything in the name of a paycheck.
His fingers drifted from her neck to her shoulder and down her arm. He took her hand and firmly placed it over the fly of his slacks so that she could feel his fully hard cock.
“Do you see what you do to me?” he asked in a raspy whisper.
“Mister Misaka,” she whimpered, trying unsuccessfully to retrieve her hand.
He squeezed her hand which in turn squeezed his cock underneath and they both moaned. He was confused by the combination of her visible shock and lack of outright anger.
He finally released her hand and sat back in his chair.
“Tense does seem to describe it well,” he observed, “Any suggestions to relieve the tension?”
She shifted in her seat and for the first time it occurred to Joseph that she might be as turned on as he was. He grinned at her, the mental images flowing through his head like honey.
“I can’t help it,” he admitted proudly, “I want you. And I usually get what I want.”
Sherrie sighed and stared at her sensible loafers. “I’m sure you do.”
“What would you suggest as a reasonable solution to our situation?”
“Find another assistant?” she offered sadly.
He laughed. “No, actually, I find you to be very intelligent and intuitive about this project. And since it relates to your department, I don’t think there would be a more appropriate person. However, that does not address the issue at hand.”
“Thank you, Sir,” she smiled shyly.
He groaned. “You may have to stop saying that.”
“Saying what?”
“Calling me ‘sir’ so much.”
“Why’s that, Mister Misaka?”
“I’m afraid I see it in a different light,” he admitted.
“Ohhh,” she breathed softly, letting the full weight of his statement take effect.
She started to tidy up the conference table to avoid eye contact, but he placed both of his hands over hers.
“Sherrie, please, calm down. I mean you no disrespect, I promise. I have no rational explanation for wanting you as badly as I do. And I can’t avoid it and I did not want to just ignore it. I strongly suspect the feelings are mutual.”
“Sir, I can’t. I can’t afford to lose this job and I don’t want to jeopardize anything by doing something regrettable. I think you should find another assistant for this project. I don’t think this is going to work.”
Within moments, she had her purse in her hand and was fleeing out the door. Joseph sat at the conference table, slack jawed, and stared after his caramel-colored queen.
Chapter Five
Sherrie ducked back into her own office and shut the door firmly, her knees barely able to hold her up. She was overcome with confusion at the entire situation and was not sure how to navigate these uncharted waters. She found herself crazily attracted to her employer but was in no position to risk her job. On the other hand, for turning him down so abruptly, he could easily have her fired. He seemed too nice for such a move, but there was no predicting how a man reacted when his dick was denied.
It was after three o’clock so she packed up her work computer and headed home early. Most of her department knew about her special project with Mister Misaka, so she was not overly concerned about leaving ahead o
f schedule. Everyone could just assume it was related to the project.
As she drove to her house, she tried to breathe deeply and steadily. She could not arrive home anxious or distressed because her patients were waiting for her to care for them. She stopped at a small coffee shop to sit quietly for a few minutes with a cup of hot tea. The daytime caretaker was still with her parents so she had a few hours to spare.
She nearly skidded out of her wooden chair when her cell phone jangled loudly.
“Hello?” she answered hesitantly, the number not appearing familiar.
“Sherrie?”
His voice resonated through the phone and into her lower belly.
“Mister Misaka?”
“Yes, I’m sorry to be bothering you but I went to your office to find you and they told me you left for the day. I hope everything is okay with your parents.”
“Y-Y-Yes, they’re fine, thank you for asking.” She tried to remain distant and professional.
“I would like to discuss things with you further. You are a needed asset on this project and I wouldn’t want to jeopardize your involvement with my own stupidity.”
His apology was not openly apologetic, but it was implied. Perhaps she could live with that. She could use the bonus he mentioned and it could lead to better opportunities in the future with the company.
“I understand, Sir,” she replied softly. She thought she could hear a slight groan on the other end of the line.
“Please. Do come back to my office tomorrow and we can continue our work.”
“Very well, I will see you at eight tomorrow morning.” She clicked off before he could respond. She also set it on silent, because sometimes the ringing startled and irritated her parents.
I just hung up on the owner of my company. What the hell is going on with me?
She finished her tea and headed home. She had an entirely different job waiting for her, and it was not going to wait for her to get her head on straight. Her heart pounded slightly in her chest and she could not tell if it was from the sound of his voice or the idea of seeing him again, or both.
Her mom and dad seemed to both be having a good day, according to the caretaker and that meant an easier night for Sherrie. She needed rest before she faced Mister Misaka again and as the young attendant left for the day, she started dinner in the kitchen. She loved to cook. It settled her rattled nerves and soothed her confused mind.
Taken By The Forbidden Highlander (Scottish Highlander Romance) Page 20
