Page 71 of Forbidden You

Rachel laughs, her hand landing on my arm. “Right, but you have different talents.”

I frown at her fingers, and tentatively she pulls them back.

“You don’t have any issues with her age?” she asks.

Something stirs beneath my calm exterior as I register the condescending look washing over her face. A telltale clenching of my jaw betrays the irritation bubbling within me. It’s a mask of superiority, and her tone carries a little of something I might identify as envy.

I don’t like it.

“I don’t,” I reply, my voice steady but laced with protectiveness. “Do you?” I lock eyes with her, silently challenging. Her gaze slowly widens, a realization dawning as she recognizes her misstep.

“No, no, no. Not at all.” She attempts a tight smile, then straightens her shoulders, betraying a hint of discomfort. I take a deliberate sip of my drink, trying to wash away the bad taste in my mouth.

“I was just wondering because she doesn’t have a degree and she’s young and all. We’ve been questioning if she’s qualified. How did you find her, anyway?” Her words spill out, an attempt to regain control of the conversation.

I rear my head back, her stance having changed to something provoking.

“She’s the cousin of my best friend.”Not a lie.“And you’re right. She’s not qualified. But I promised to give her a shot, and I think she’s doing a great job so far.” I pause, keeping my eyes focused on her with a frown. “Unless you have any complaints about her?”

“Oh, no!” She chuckles, the sound more fabricated than I think she realizes. “She’s lovely.”

“Good.” I bring my glass to my lips and Kayla’s light blue eyes find me.

They act as a beacon, drawing me every single time they land on mine, and when she gives me a coy smile, my heart beat picks up with a joyful feeling.

I give her a wink, and her cheeks blush from across the room.

My dick twitches to life,again, and I grind my molars as I take another sip. I let the sting of the whiskey sit on my tongue for a few seconds to turn my focus anywhere else, but when it doesn’t help, I once again pour all the liquid down my throat before slamming the glass on the bar.

I need a fucking minute.

“If you will excuse me for a moment?” I give Rachel an apologetic look, even though I’m not regretting cutting off this conversation one bit, then take a few big strides toward the hallway. My body heats up, the fabric of my shirt feeling damp against my skin, and I loosen my tie while pushing out a frustrated breath.

I was hoping getting somewhat intoxicated would help, but so far, it only seems to make things worse. It only makes me want her more, to blur the boundaries that I should keep.

Finally, I reach the solitude of my office, away from the party noises, and I close the door behind me. I move forward to stand with my hands resting on the back of my neck, my eyes closed as I focus on my breathing.

It takes me a few deep breaths before finally, my body calms down a bit, until the sound of the door opening makes me turn around. The corner of my mouth lifts when I look into Kayla’s daring expression.

I’m fucked.

A mischievous smirk tugs at her lips as she locks the door, then lets her back fall against it. I bite my lip while my gaze traces every curve of her enticing body. The air thickens with anticipation. The fabric of her dress is begging me to be touched, and I’m going crazy just thinking of how her skin feels under my palm.

With a swift move, she reaches out, yanking me toward her. My dress shirt comes untucked from the sudden movement, and my hands land beside her head, doing my best to restrain myself from touching her.

“What are you doing, babe?” I huff, dipping my chin enough for our lips to almost touch.

I shouldn’t bring my mouth so close to hers. I should keep my eyes shut and close off my senses as much as I can. But instead, I peer down at her hooded eyes that are staring into mine with longing. A strand of her brown hair has dropped free from her braided hair, and the silky wisp is tempting me to touch it while the smell of her fresh fragrance makes it impossible for me to think.

“I’m seducing you,” she says, looking up at me through her lashes. “I have been seducing you for a while, but you have more restraint than I anticipated. You weren’t this difficult last time.” A charming smile takes over her pretty face.

I hate being difficult.

“Last time you were still a Stanford student,” I argue out of habit, even though my mouth seems to move closer to hers with every passing second.

“I can quit if you want me to...” Our noses brush together, and my insides are burning. Her fingers slide underneath my shirt, slowly,scorching,until they find my spine, and she trails them up and down my back. My mind wants to keep arguing, scolding me to do the right thing. But every fiber in my body is drawn to her, like a magnet, unable to ignore or resist the attraction we have.

“Stop.” The sound of my voice is desperate, but my body isn’t even listening anymore. It’s pulling on the last restraints of my brain, begging me to stop doing the right thing.

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