Page 12 of Masked Love

“I don’t know. He’s hot. And you were so nice and patient with him. Why? He’s kind of a jerk.”

“He is, but it would get back to my grandfather if I were nasty, and it’s bad for business. I don’t want to burn bridges if I don’t have to.”

“But I’m a match.”

My smile was broad. “That you are. You definitely lit a fire under my ass.”

He smirked and rolled his eyes. “No, I mean, being your PA, I could burn your bridges, anyway.”

“Let’s come to that road when it happens. Does this mean you’re interested in more kisses from your boss?”

“Yes, please.”

I pulled him into a kiss again, loving the way he smelled fresh, like a forest, tasted of sugary rum, and how tightly he held on to me. His full lips were as soft as clouds, and his mouth was hungry for mine.

“Would you still like to dance?” I asked when I separated us.

“Yes.”

I grabbed Greyson’s hand as he stood and pulled him toward the dance floor, which was playing some slower, vaguely familiarpop song I couldn’t name. We stood in the middle of the dance floor as I gathered him in my arms. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me back and resting his head on my shoulder as we swayed to the slower tempo.

Greyson felt right in my arms. I’d always found him attractive, but getting to know the younger man had been eye-opening. And that he was attracted to me, of all people, because I was a risk, had my heart beating a little faster. That he was willing to try whatever this was between us, which contained a weighty price, but we’d deal with that when the time came. For now, I just wanted to enjoy this young man in my arms.

“I like this,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s my boss I’m holding, though.”

“Does it bother you?”

He lifted his head, and dark brown eyes sparkled from the lights above us as he bit his bottom lip. I tugged it out of his mouth and waited for him to answer me. “No, but it probably should.”

“You shouldn’t because I don’t.”

Greyson’s eyes dropped, and glanced at my lips. I leaned down and kissed him again. It was short and sweet but no less impactful. “I like this, too… a lot.”

He squeezed me in response, putting his head back on my shoulder as I rested my head on top of his until the song finished.

I wanted to pinchmyself, worried that I’d had too much to drink for this to be real. One minute, Xander walked off with Mr. Stud Muffin, only to come back and smother me in the single hottest kiss I’d ever had. At that moment, he owned all of me, ready to give him the world just to have him, even for a short while, until reality came crashing down. Instead, he gave me another kiss, and now we were dancing, swaying against each other. God, he smelled good.

Best Halloween ever. Sorry, friends.

“Let’s go check out the costume contest,” he suggested.

“Oh, that sounds fun. And why didn’t you enter us,Mr. Hayes?” I teased.

“As amazing as we look together, I helped sponsor this and didn’t feel it appropriate to participate.”

Honestly, I was surprised he even considered it. But the more I got to know Xander, the more I saw how down-to-earth he was. How had I not noticed before? Although he was quite different at work than in his relaxed state.

Taking my hand again—and I loved that he always held my hand tonight—we walked toward the ‘Big Room,’ as they called it. “They’re supposed to have some hot DJ tonight, although I have no idea who they are. They’ll come on after the costume party.”

He led us to the old wooden bar, which was bigger here than in the other two rooms. “What would you like?”

“No more rum. Just a glass of cabernet and some water, too.” I’d eaten a lot earlier, so I felt okay, but I didn’t want to overdo it. Getting drunk with my boss having to take care of me was a mortifying thought.

After getting our drinks, we leaned against the bar and watched the amazing costume contest. Some were really phenomenal. They had the scariest award, best male costume, best female costume, and best couple. Damn, I really wishedwe were up there. We looked fantastic, although other couples would’ve beat us out, like King Louise and Marie Antoinette we’d met earlier, but it appeared they weren’t part of the contest.

Across the way, I saw Matthew talking to some guy. I wish he’d go home, but I had to remember that Xander chose me. Not him.

I gave him the stink eye and a mental middle finger, but he wasn’t paying attention to me at all.

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