Page 50 of Tasty Cherry

She grasps the back of a cushioned office chair. “Are we, though? I don’t feel like I’m handling anything. Bertie said we have to stop looking at each other the way we are or everyone is going to figure it out.”

“Bertie knows?”

Her gaze skitters away. “Not details. But he knows something happened.”

“I showed a lot of interest in you before I realized you were an intern. Bertie’s observant.”

She grips the back of the chair like it’s the only thing holding her up. “I like it here. I don’t want to get fired.”

My footsteps are quick as I move closer. “You won’t. I won’t let that happen. Aisha talks about everyone. She thinks everyone’s hooking up. Nobody takes her gossip seriously.”

“Okay.”

“I know how I’m looking at you,” I tell her. “I’ll try to do better. It’s just hard.”

That gets her attention. Her dark eyes meet mine. “Is it?”

“Completely. I’m ridiculously attracted to you. I want it all. My job for me. Your internship for you. And you. For me.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t get men like you.”

That takes me aback. “What do you mean? What’s there to get?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I don’t get to have you. I’m never the choice.”

She said this before, in the hotel. “Why wouldn’t you be?”

She lets go of the chair to stand directly in front of me, arms crossed. “You think I held onto my V-card on purpose?”

“Lots of people have reasons to wait.”

“Nobody wanted it!”

Something about her saying this makes me feel feral, like a wolf protecting a den. “I did.”

I draw her to me, my mouth covering hers. I know I shouldn’t. I absolutely should not. But I want her to know that she shouldn’t feel that way. Not in the least. That she’s perfect. Everything I want to get to know.

Everything I want in my bed. Again.

She melts into me, and I pull her body tightly against mine. She’s so luscious in my arms. I want to touch everything. Do everything.

My fingers tangle in her hair. A hotel full of rooms. We could be in any of them. I want to break in each and every one.

I linger on her mouth, making up for all the times I’ve had to hold myself away from her. I want to kiss her for hours, for days.

She breaks away, gasping.

I hold her shoulders so she will look at me. “Don’t let anyone make you think you’re not beautiful, sexy, and perfect. You are all those things. Plus smart. And talented. Look where you landed, all on your own.”

Her face is pained. “But if I do this with you, if we’re together, then they will think I’m just a chick who sleeps with the boss to win.”

Fuck.

I release her.

“Okay.” I run my hand through my hair. “You’re right. We can’t do this if that matters to you.”

“I need to think about it,” she says. “You’re a lot. You’re more than I bargained for.”

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