Page 58 of Forbidden You

“The point is, you can’t say things likeyou’re gorgeouswhen I’m not allowed to flirt.” I purse my lips to fake annoyance, because really, I want him to keep going until finally there is no way back for him like there is for me. I want him to break. To give in. Even if it’s just for one night.

“You flirt with me all the time,” he counters.

“I’m trying not to,” I lie.

He lets out a huff. “You’re not trying shit.”

Nope, not even a little bit.

“All I’m saying,” I explain, trying to keep a straight face, “if you are going to flirt with me...” I pause. “Well, you’re giving me free rein. There is no stopping me now, Mr. McKay.” His name comes out as something between a purr, a plea, and a promise, and instantly the features in his expression change.

Darkness and desire swirl in his eyes, and I can see the conflict going on in his head. He’s having such a hard time being the responsible one, to keep resisting my clear intentions.

“Do you know you drive me crazy?” he finally discloses, turmoil actually etched on his beautiful features.

“You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

“It is!” he cries, followed by a chortle. “You’re my employee, babe.”

Babe. There it is again.

“Well, you started it by telling me I’m gorgeous.” He unleashed something inside of me by that small line. I want to hear it again.

“Regretting it already.”

“Well, too bad. You can’t take it back.” I smile.

He grabs the remote control and turns on the TV. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

“So,” I start, dropping my attention to my book, “that’s settled, then. We can flirt when we’re not at the office?”

He drops his gaze from the TV, rearing his head back to me. “What? I didn’t say that?”

“Just stop, McKay,” I tell him without looking up. “You know it’s futile.”

“You’re the worst.” In the corner of my eye, he moves his chin back up and I suppress the grin that’s dying to slide into place.

“I know. But thank you.”

“For what?”

“Calling me gorgeous.” I briefly glance back up, and when our eyes tangle together, another single butterfly seems to fly through my stomach before I quickly put my focus back on the letters in front of me.

He stays quiet until I can’t feel his eyes burning through me any longer, but his hand takes residence on my ankle, the heat burning me in comfort.

“You’re welcome.”

When I let my eyes catch a final glimpse, his attention is on the TV, but a smile sits on the corner of his mouth. A smile I know has nothing to do with whatever he’s watching, and his hand doesn’t move until the end of the movie.

15

The elevator dings and I smile when I see a glimpse of Kayla’s brown hair peeking out above her screen. I know she knows I’m here, but she keeps her attention on her computer. I actually expect her to rip a flirty comment from her throat and when she doesn’t, I round it, sitting down on the corner of her desk.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” she drags out carefully, giving me a side glance.

“What are you doing?”

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