Page 96 of My Forbidden Boss

His flavor — exotic, familiar, desperate — explodes in my mouth. His tongue slides against mine, teasing that subconscious part of me that purrs with surrender. I’m helpless to respond to every caress, every wet slide, every dip and taste he gives me. I’m panting when he pulls back. A melted, needy mess that only he has the power to make.

He traces my cheek with his finger. I shiver, delighted goosebumps breaking out across my skin. I flinch, slung back into frigid reality from the floaty warmth of his kiss. He holds me still, not letting me move an inch, and I’m trapped against the unwelcome temptation of his body.

“Are you listening? Do I need to kiss you again?” he says. His eyes darken, holding me hostage.

If I let him do that, I’m at risk of combusting right here in his office. Blackened footprints on the carpet would be the only evidence of my existence.

My being hums with the need for him to kiss me, but I can’t lose my head like that again. I move a combative shake of my head, fighting instincts I don’t understand. He’s played me and I’m on the losing side, side-benched through irretrievable losses, never to come back and compete again.

“I’m glad you’re here,” David says.

I fight my shaking legs, leaning against David to keep me upright, hating myself because I’m too weak to stand on my own two feet. Desolation has turned my muscles into water. I clench my fists, bracing myself against the last words he’ll ever say to me.

“Because this way there can be no confusion when I tell Samantha to get the fuck out of my life,” he says.

I suck in air, dizzy because I realize I’ve been holding my breath.

“What did you say?” Samantha asks the same question that explodes through me. I hear her approach, her steps soft on the plush carpet underfoot.

David cradles me against his side as he turns to Samantha. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”

A flush rises on her beautiful face. Her bottom lip quivers. The only sign David’s words affected her. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You know exactly what I mean because you’re the person responsible for supplying incorrect bloodwork for the paternity test. It’s only because my doctor thought to compare results from previous tests that he found the discrepancy,” David says.

Samantha blusters. “I did no such thing. If this is your way of getting out of paying for your child…”

“I would always want my child, no matter who they’re conceived with.” David’s voice is permafrost that stops Samantha in her tracks. She flinches, a whole-body recoil. “So I double checked. I have proof of you paying off the pathology lab to switch my blood with that of the real father. The paternity test is correct. The blood of the male matches, but that blood is not mine.”

Samantha’s cheeks burn and I watch her crumple beneath David’s steel-gaze. “It’s not true…you’re the father.”

“Get out before I press charges,” David says.

“David…” Samantha whispers.

David’s fingers contract around my waist. “Before you go, you will apologize to Adeline for your treatment of her.”

Her gaze flies to me, burning. Her eyes harden as she takes me in. She rakes her gaze up and down my body and I taste the fury pouring off her. “I will do no such thing.”

“You will do it now, and then you will leave. If you ever belittle the woman I love again, you will have me to answer to.” David says. He doesn’t raise his voice, but the words are infused with his power.

And he…he’s told her I’m the woman he loves. My eyes burn as I look up at him, but he trains his attention on Samantha. The muscle at his temple pulses, the only sign of his anger.

“I…” she says.

“Do it and leave,” David says.

Her mouth falls open and shut. Her gaze lands on me. I see her teeth clench between her shiny red lips. Her bravado has been stripped away, leaving a husk of a woman who has no lies left to stand behind. Her gaze flicks at David. She flinches with whatever she sees on his face. Her fingers curl around her purse in a white-knuckled grip.

She steps towards the door. David moves, stopping her. He won’t allow her to go until she does what he’s demanded. “Say it.”

She clears her throat. “My apologies.” She secures the strap of her purse on her shoulder and looks anywhere but at me.

I don’t care. I don’t need her apology because my focus is back where David told Samantha I’m the woman he loves.

“If you need financial help with the baby, speak to Andrea to organize an arrangement. I’ll not see a pregnant woman in need, but I won’t have you abusing me or my trust ever again. Do I make myself clear?” David’s voice is low with a tone of not-to-be-fucked-with.

She nods and scurries from the office. I watch her race towards the elevators between the offices and when I look back up at David, it’s to find his eyes trained on me. He turns me in his arms until there’s no available space between us and secures the lean planes of his body against mine, anchoring me against him.

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