Page 27 of Fallen Roses

Some may say I have a death wish, I don’t. I just have one wish and that’s being inside the woman sitting opposite me as many times as possible tonight, tomorrow and every other night until the need wears off. So fuck the scary guy because if I’m about to go down, it may as well be on this woman as I slide her into hell with me.

CHAPTER 15

ANA

Iam slightly inebriated and a little unsteady because I haven’t eaten all day and two vodka martinis on an empty stomach was the worst idea I’ve ever had.

The trouble is, I required more information because when I excused myself earlier and ran to the restroom to call my brother, he told me to keep on digging and send him a list of names and job titles, with any gossip attached. I needed help and Eric is a mine of information that became a gold mine when he had a few cocktails.

The stuff he told me had my head spinning and I’m excited to return to the office tomorrow to follow up on it. Then I saw James and my mind was fucked because as soon as he walked into the bar, my entire body leaned his way like a flower toward the sun. It’s my intention to carry on where we left off because I’m guessing I couldlearn a lot from my dominant boss. After the boardroom incident I can think of nothing else and images of us naked in compromising positions have taken some pushing to the back of my mind while I focus on business.

I expect it’s because I’m inexperienced and haven’t had the opportunity to meet anyone like him. My brothers don’t count because I mean—eew. I’m guessing they are much the same as him with their poor unfortunate girlfriends and wives, but I have never had the chance to discover what the fuss is all about until I met James Warner.

We make our way to the bistro across the street and are soon settled at an intimate table in an alcove away from inquisitive eyes.

Once we order, Jame gazes at me with his dark enigmatic glare and I swear my entire body melts.

“This is a bad idea.” He says with a resigned sigh and I shrug, leaning forward so I am entering his personal space.

“I kind of like allowing a few bad ideas their moment. I mean, it gets a little boring being good all the time.”

He shakes his head. “If you knew exactly how bad it could get, you wouldn’t be here now.”

“Explain.”

I stare deep into his eyes and note the spark in his as he leans a little closer and whispers against my lips, “I’m not the hero, mysterious lady. I’m not even the villain. I am the monster.”

Fuck, why is that so hot?

I shiver in anticipation as our lips almost touch and he says huskily, “I told myself the boardroom was the last time.”

I push down my disappointment and smile instead.

“So, what changed your mind?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Not to me.”

He reaches out and slides his hand around the back of my head and pulls me closer and as his lips touch mine, it’s as if they ignite a flame.

His kiss burns, and sears my flesh as lights explode in my brain and my heart flutters. I have never kissed anyone like this before and as our tongues collide, I moan softly, desperate for more—desperate for him.

He pulls back and leans away from me, running his fingers through his hair, and groans.

“This is a bad idea.”

“Why?”

I attempt to disguise the panic in my voice because I can’t lose him, not now when things are just getting interesting.

“Because we work together. I’m your boss.”

“So what?” I shrug. “Lots of people get together at work. It’s hardly forbidden.”

“It kind of is.”

There is something guarded in his tone and he won’t look at me directly.

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