Page 48 of Forbidden You

She leans back into her chair, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Look, I know this might sound stupid to you, but I didn’t like it there.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I just didn’t feel like I belonged. I know homesick is a big word, but I didn’t feel at home. I guess I’m not a California girl.”

“So, you dropped out and decided working at Walmart would be good enough?”

She’s not telling me everything.

“No, no. You had your question. My turn.” A playful smirk replaces her gloomy stance quicker than I want it to. “Why won’t you just give in to this? Tous?” She moves her hand back and forth.

“Easy.” I mimic her stance. “One, I’m your boss, and two, you’re ten years younger than I am.”

Her eyes hit the ceiling with a grunt.

“You didn’t care about my age last summer,” she challenges.

“Last summer, you weren’t working for me.”

“Oh, please, Bodi. I’m staying with you. We flirt every chance we get. We can easily have sex when we’re not in the office, but you’d rather walk around the house with a sexual tension that’s suffocating both of us than just give in to it.”

“You really blurt out whatever you want, don’t you?” Her boldness keeps amazing me. I would’ve expected a nineteen-year-old to be more wait-and-see, a little more shy, a little more apprehensive. But then again, it shouldn’t surprise me, since the only reason we hooked up last summer is because she made it no secret that she was into me. And the fact that she’s gorgeous as sin didn’t make me hesitate for a second.

“No sense beating around the bush, right? I like you, Bodi. And I know you like me too.” There is more sitting on her tongue. I can see it by the look on her face, but she presses her lips together.

“I’m not looking to date anyone, Kayla.” I won’t deny I want her in my bed. But I also know we can’t be more than just that. An innocent office flirt.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Here comes the ‘I-don’t-date-and-you’re-to-young-speech, right’?”

I stay quiet, holding her fearless gaze while licking my lips. I’d expect her to be disappointed, maybe even mad, but instead she just gives me a dull look like I’m boring her.

“It’s weird because you are ten years older than I am, yet I’m the one who doesn’t want to beat around the bush. I’ll tell you what. You can fuck me.”

My eyes widen at her cavalier delivery of those crude words, almost choking on my own breath.

“But you also have to date me.” I want to kiss away the smug look on her face, but I’m very aware I’d be playing in her hands if I do that.

“You’re too young,” I tell her.

“I knew it!” she yelps in victory of her being right, before she adds unfazed, “But that’s a bullshit excuse, and you know it.”

“It’s not. We want different things in life due to the simple fact that you are a teenager and I’m a grown ass man.”

“Like what?” she dares, leaning forward.

“I’m not looking for a relationship.”

“Neither am I. I just got out of one, and I’ve had my fill for a long time.”

I reply with a frown. “You’re telling me you want to date.”

“Casually.Just to loosen you up and show you we can keep this professional at the office and have fun outside of it,” she mocks, “I’m not expecting to move in permanently or get a ring on my finger by Christmas. What else you got?”

My gaze still flicks to her empty finger before I suck in a deep breath to gather my thoughts.

“You want to party.”

“I’ve partied enough over the last year to last a lifetime.”

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