Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
“Well, you looked at peace. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.” Rafe’s mouth tilts at one corner.
“There she is.” I quirk my head to the side in question. “The woman who dishes back whatever I give her.”
“You mean I tolerate you?” He props himself against the couch, arms hanging loosely on the back, legs spread in that seductively manly way.
“Pretty sure your eyes tell me a completely different story.” I’m not used to the man in front of me, giving in so freely, and I know better than to think this is his usual demeanor, but for now, I’ll take what I can get.
“Is there a reason you slept here all night?” I change the subject abruptly, this softer and tender side has me wanting to do things. Things like climbing in his lap, sliding my hands into his hair, and having his mouth do dirty things to mine.
“Looked over the report. Found more discrepancies. Then checked the year before, and the year before that. Seems the company I’m looking to acquire decided to fudge their revenue. Eyes started blurring, thought I’d rest for a minute. Apparently fell asleep.” He scrubs a hand over his face, blinks the tiredness away. His gaze slowly follows the length of my body, the loose blouse, the bright-red slacks, the sky-high heels.
“Do you need my help before the meeting this morning?” I ask. The room suddenly feels a smidge too small.
“Help, definitely need that.” His eyes linger before he sits up a little straighter, confidence exuding from him even when it shouldn’t after he spent the night on a couch. “I need someone to check the numbers before I walk into that room. Right now, everything looks like it was built on bad fucking decisions.” Rafe let’s out a faint exhale, something similar to a laugh, but not really.
“You’re functioning on zero sleep and what looks like old coffee.” I glance at the empty cups on the coffee table. “I’ll make you a fresh cup, look over the reports while you clean up.” My spine tingles thinking about him using the shower, and as much as I want to do anything to relieve this ache, now is not the time. Rafe is being different, nice almost.
“Thanks, I appreciate it. You sure you’re good with looking over the reports?” I have experience, more than I’ve let on, mostly because this job is demanding enough, and if I let on that I have an eye for numbers, well, there’s no telling what they will have me do next.
“You’re welcome. I’ll... uh, just go get that coffee now.” Rafe starts unbuttoning his shirt, each inch showing more of his firm chest and delicious line of his abdomen.
“Don’t need to leave on my account.” I meet his gaze. He holds mine. His shirt comes all the way off, dropping to a puddle on the ground, and that’s when he starts going for his belt.
“Is that an invitation?” I clear my throat, failing at keeping my eyes on his. They instead travel the length of his body.
“Maybe it is.” His eyes darken, he sends me a devastating smile, and when he moves in such a way that we’re so close I can catch his scent, I nearly whimper with need. As tempting as it is to stay and watch him, I’m not sure how much more I can take without asking for more. “Most people would run from me, Seraphina,” he says quietly.
“Most people probably haven’t seen you like this.” How I’m able to mutter the words without sounding like a needy mess is beyond me.
“Looking like what?” The clink of his belt is the only noise in the room, minus our heavy breathing.
“Like a bad decision, one I want to make.” His expression flickers with surprise and heat. Rafe takes another step forward, then his hand settles on the outside of my arm, his warm fingers on my skin causing my flesh to pebble.
“All you have to do is tell me to stop.” His eyes drop to my mouth, and the room goes unbearably still.
“I don’t want to.” His other hand cups my jaw, thumb brushing over my lower lip. His touch is electric, a stark contrast to his otherwise grumpy, commanding demeanor. I tilt my chin up, eyes fluttering closed, and that’s the only permission Rafe needs. He lets out a low growl and closes the remaining distance between us.
The kiss isn’t gentle and he isn’t hesitant. There’s an urgency, as if the past couple of weeks slowly unravel. His lips press against mine with a possessiveness that steals the air from my lungs. My hands settle on his chest, feeling his skin beneath my touch, then I slide them upwards until I’m holding on to his shoulders, afraid to let go and lose this feeling. My gasp gains him entrance, and his tongue slips inside, tangling with mine, and just like the dominance he possesses in the office, he clearly has it behind closed doors. I melt into the kiss while the rest of the world fades away.