His cologne swirls around me and something in his eyes warns me he isn't kidding, but I refuse to roll my chair back. I won't give in to him now physically. I may have lost the battle, but I'll win the war.My tongue itches to lie. To think of something outlandish, but those eyes of his say no. They hold something deep in their depths, a promise."Yes," I say, not giving him an inch. "I have horrible seasonal allergies and only five days of pills left before I turn into a snotty disgusting mess." Let him picture me sitting out here hacking and coughing germs on everything. Blowing my nose every five minutes and leaving little rags all over his workspace.Vincent shakes his head and rears back a fraction as if he's confused. "You promise that's why?"What is it with him and promising?"Yes, what is your problem?" I'm sure he thought I meant it for that moment, but I mean it for so much more. Everything. Why is he so cagey when he answers my questions? Why does he always run of
The exposed brick walls are painted white and soft music plays over the speakers, but the voices of the people sharing a meal make the restaurant loud."I enjoy it when you take my suggestions," Vincent says, leaning in close once our waitress walks away.He cologne swirls around me and I smile, not telling him the real reason behind my choice. "I figure you have good taste.""That I do." His hand lowers, resting on my knee and disturbing the tablecloth. "How is your dad?"I'm conflicted. Do I push his hand away or thank god for letting him touch me again?"Good. When are you going to meet my parents?" I don't mean that the way it sounds. It's purely so they can thank him for the help he did for my father, but I worry it comes off as if I want it for other reasons.His hand travels up my thigh and then stops halfway. "I'm not a man you bring home to Daddy."His fingers move again and catch in the tablecloth. I look around and then fix it making sure he's covered.I swal
He tugs on the top, lowering my underwear, and I step out expecting them to fall to the ground. But Vincent snatches them, bringing the material to his nose and sniffing quickly before stuffing them in his pocket.I blush and lower my head so he won't notice. A shy girl isn't who I want Vincent to see when he looks at me. I'm supposed to be a strong independent woman who's sure of herself. The man tucks away my underwear like it's nothing weird. Happens all the time."I love when I surprise you," he says, fixing my skirt."What? You didn't surprise me." It's a lie and we both know it."You will be."The elevator stops at the office level and I wait for the numbers to continue higher, but they don't. "Why are we stopping here?"The doors open and Vincent walks me into his office. "I need to check an email.""Now?" He's right, in one way I'm surprised. Although, not in another. Vincent always says work comes first. He gave me his attention earlier, but I guess it's silly to
IT'S SO hot where I lie. I try to roll over but get stuck between the covers and a heavy bar that hangs against the side of my body. My fingers reach out expecting cool metal, but I'm met with the warm soft skin of a body. Realization hits me and I open my eyes to a dark morning lying in a bed on top of the city. The sun has not risen enough to light the sky, and the clouds hang low forming a light shade of gray.Vincent moans behind me and his arm tightens, pulling me close. His sheets smell of laundry detergent, flowers, cologne, and sex. I pause for a moment trying to remember this scene exactly—the feeling of completeness I experience being held tightly in his arms. It's a memory I want to hold on to forever.His chest is a solid wall of rock behind me, a silent protector in the middle of the night. I want to lie with him forever and never let the outside world intrude upon the moments we've shared. I breathe deeply, snuggling myself back in Vincent's arms and allow him to cage
"I couldn't decide on an outfit in Chicago right away so I picked up a few options. Davis ended up bringing them home with you in the car.""You bought all of these?" It wasn't a full wardrobe by any means, but if the five-hundred-dollar blouse he bought me in Chicago was any indication, these few items cost more than my entire wardrobe in my apartment.Vincent chuckles as I reach out and touch one of the silky fabrics. "I figured it'd be worth my time to have appropriate clothing on hand." I don't miss the way he emphasizes appropriate as if that is his motivation.A week or so ago I may have believed it, but I'm smarter now and starting to figure out he likes my clothing a little more than he'd admit, but maybe he also likes to see me in something he picked out. My hand floats over the fabrics noticing a black pencil skirt with a hint of lace on the bottom. He bought these in Chicago? We'd only kissed once by then. Granted it was the hottest kiss of my life, but things hadn't e
His half joke steers my attention away and I let the water soak my hair. Vincent globs shampoo in his palm and spreads it over the strands, rubbing it into my scalp. It's luxurious. My own personal spa. The shower is wide enough to fit four more people and out of the light grey stone walls two sprouts of water coat us both. Steam rises around the floor relaxing my muscles. This is heaven compared to the white fiberglass shower at my apartment."I would make new friends, but I work alone so it's not so easy to do and..." My sentence trails off with realization I planned to say I don't know how much longer I'll be working at Valiant Industries.It doesn't feel right anymore. So much has changed since I took the job. At first I saw the marketing position as a way to get my foot in the door. I planned on a few years of working to get experience and then I'd move on and find a better position in a warm climate.I didn't plan on becoming Vincent's assistant, and I wasn't looking forwar
"Your shower is amazing." The water beats against my back in a morning massage, plus having him in there with me doesn't hurt either.Vincent chuckles once. "I'll make sure you see it often in the future, but right now we have no time to waste. My assistant gets pissy if I let my coffee get cold.""She sounds like an old hag," I say referencing our joke earlier this morning.He looks down, staring at me before giving me a quick kiss on the lips, the water running over his face and into my mouth. "No, she's the most gorgeous woman I've ever met."Once again I get lost in the attention Vincent gives. His gaze trails over my body as he lingers at my breasts. His fingers caress the skin of my belly and then go lower headed for my leg until I remember what I'm sporting down there and rear back."No, I haven't shaved yet." It's only two days of growth but my legs get hairy. I grow stubble overnight.He rolls his eyes and steps back, opening the shower door and reaching for someth
VOLUME TWO: HER SIEGEI shove my head deeper into the couch pillow, hating the fact Vincent purchased it and yet relishing in the softness. The pillow is so malleable I could shove my face in farther and use it to suffocate my memories away."Mackenzie, it was a misunderstanding," Ashley says, sitting at the end of the couch and pulling my feet into her lap. She has her blonde hair pulled back into a high bun and she's wearing a pair of gray sweats.I cover my ears, not wanting to hear her logic about the situation. This is definitely no misunderstanding. When I came home from a devastating day and broke down telling Ashley the details of the illicit affair I've had with my billionaire boss, I expected her to be on my side. To trash him with me and talk about how horrible men are. I didn't think she'd try to calm me with logic.Best friends jump on the wagon and drive the tractor to man-hater island. Vincent hired me to fill in as his assistant while his real one was on materni