Page 12 of Curvy Girl for the Boss

I capture her mouth in a searing kiss once more, swallowing her cries of ecstasy as I drive into her with abandon. My own release coils tight at the base of my spine, white-hot tendrils of pleasure spiraling through my veins. With a hoarse shout, I empty myself deep inside her welcoming heat, her name a reverent chant on my lips.

We cling to each other as the aftershocks slowly fade, hearts pounding in sync. I trail tender kisses over Chrissy's face, brushing damp strands of hair from her flushed cheeks. In this perfect moment, everything else fades away. All that remains is the undeniable rightness of her body entwined with mine.

"Stay with me tonight," Chrissy murmurs, her eyes soft and vulnerable in the muted light. "I don't want to let you go just yet."

I gather her close, savoring the feel of her curves molding to my harder planes. "Wild horses couldn't drag me away," I promise, sealing my vow with a slow, deep kiss.

The gray light of dawn filters through the curtains as I slowly blink awake, momentarily disoriented. The events of last night come rushing back—Zander's unexpected arrival, our explosive argument that morphed into something else entirely. The ache between my thighs and the warm, solid presence at my back serve as undeniable proof that it wasn't just a vivid dream.

Panic claws at my throat as the reality of the situation sinks in. I slept with Zander. Again.

My career, my reputation...everything I've worked so hard for could be ruined if this gets out. The thoughts sour the blissful afterglow.

I try to slip out of bed without waking Zander, desperate for some space to clear my head and figure out how to handle this mess. But the moment I sit up, his arm snakes around my waist, tugging me back against his chest.

"Where do you think you're going?" he murmurs, nuzzling into the crook of my neck. His voice is still rough from sleep, sending shivers down my spine.

"I...we...," I stammer, trying to ignore the way my body instinctively melts into his. "If anyone at work finds out-"

"Stop." Zander's fingers press gently against my lips, halting my anxious spiral. He shifts so he can look me in the eye, his gaze intense but tender. "I know you care about proving your worth at work, and your work ethic is one of the many things I admire about you, but stop worrying, beautiful. I don't care what anyone thinks, Chrissy. I want this. I want you."

My heart stutters in my chest at his words, equal parts thrilled and terrified. "But our careers," I whisper. "The gossip, the accusations of favoritism..."

"We'll handle it," he says firmly. "Together. I'm not going to let narrow-minded busybodies stand in the way of something this real." His thumb strokes along my cheekbone, his touch grounding me. "I'm all in, Chrissy. Professionally, personally...in every way. If you'll have me."

Tears prick at the backs of my eyes as a tentative hope unfurls in my chest. Could we really make this work? The logical part of my brain throws up a dozen red flags, but my heart is already leaping ahead, daring to imagine a future where I don't have to choose between love and ambition.

I hesitate, my heart torn between the undeniable pull toward Zander and the fear of jeopardizing everything I've worked so hard for. The morning light filtering through the curtains casts a soft glow on his chiseled features, making him look almost ethereal. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the words I know I have to say.

"Zander, I..." My voice catches, and I clear my throat. "I think we need to keep things strictly professional at work. At least for now."

His brow furrows, a flicker of hurt crossing his face before he smooths it away. "I understand your concerns, Chrissy. But I don't want to hide this—hide us."

I reach out, taking his hand in mine, marveling at how perfectly they fit together even though his is so much bigger than mine. "I don't want to hide either. But the thought of people gossiping, the backlash it could cause... I've worked too hard to let anything tarnish my reputation."

Zander searches my eyes. “Why are you so worried about this?”

I try to look away, but Zander won’t allow it. He grabs my chin and forces me to meet his gaze. He knows there’s more to it than I’ve been letting on.

I exhale and finally confess, “My mom slept with her boss, and people always gave her shit about it. Hell, they gave me shit about it too. I don’t want to be like that.”

Zander's thumb traces soothing circles on the back of my hand, his touch both comforting and electrifying as his eyes soften with understanding. “Why didn’t you just tell me that from the start?”

I shrug. “It’s not exactly the sort of thing I’m proud of.” Zander is silent for a long moment before he concedes, "We'll be discreet. Keep our personal life separate from work. But I don'twant to pretend that this never happened, that it doesn't mean anything."

I bite my lip, torn between the desire to throw caution to the wind and the deeply ingrained need to protect myself. "It means everything to me, Zander. You mean everything to me."

He pulls me into his arms, my head fitting perfectly into the crook of his neck. I breathe in his scent, a heady mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him. "We'll take it slow. Figure it out together. But I'm not going anywhere, Chrissy. I'm in this for the long haul. You’re mine, baby."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I blink them back, overwhelmed by the depth of emotion in his words. "Okay," I whisper, my decision made. "We'll keep it professional at work. But when we're alone..."

Zander's lips curve into a wicked grin, his eyes darkening with promise. "When we're alone, all bets are off."

He captures my mouth in a searing kiss, and I melt into him, my doubts and fears dissolving as he shows me once again just what we’re going to do every time we’re alone.

seven

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