Page 13 of Own Me

I cannot dare tell him I tore up his phone number and threw it in the trash. I glance down at my feet and back up into his sexy stare. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, but who was that woman?”

Sterling stares over my shoulder before quickly ushering me in and closing the door behind him. His large hands clasp myshoulders. I breathe in his intoxicating scent. My clit throbs as my panties become saturated. I never thought I would see this man again.

“She’s nobody. It's so good to see you again. I've regretted so many times that I didn't get your contact information. But fate has smiled on me.” He gives me a rakish grin. “How did you find me?” His arm encircles my waist.

My hands automatically plant themselves against his chest. I gave him a slight push to put space between us.

“I'm here for the executive assistant position. I didn't know you were the CEO of NexGen West and my new boss.”This is surreal!

His eyes flare with heat as he stares into mine. His cologne gets more intoxicating by the minute. “No, we can't have that.” Sterling's voice is low and reserved as his hand slowly travels up my back.

My blood slowly boils with desire. My tongue becomes thick in my mouth. “Can't have what?”

Sterling's eyebrows raise at my questioning tone. He's so damn sexy that he makes my knees weak, but I must remain professional at all costs. There’s no way I can be with him again since he is my boss.

“You can't work for me because I want to see you again. I want to date you.”

My mouth drops open at his bluntness. Although I want to throw caution to the wind and jump his bones, I can’t live off hot sex with a lusty tech CEO. “I can't date you because I need this job.”

“We can find you another job. I have friends who owe me favors.”

I gasp and remove myself from his grip. “I'm sure we can remain professional and keep our hands to ourselves. Aren’t you?”

I take in the man before me. He’s in a navy-blue suit, a starched white shirt, and a red tie. He looks like sin, but a sin that I won't commit. His fiery blue eyes track down my body and land on my cleavage. A tremble travel through me.

Sterling doesn't reply right away. Instead, he turns suddenly, strolls to his desk, and sits on his cushiony leather chair. “Have a seat, Ayana.” His brow creases as I make my way to take a seat in front of his large mahogany desk. “I assume you already signed all the paperwork in HR, am I correct?”

“Yes,” I nod.

“Well, you realize the company has a no fraternization policy.”

“Yes, sir.” I bite my bottom lip as it dawns on me where he's going with his questions.

“The rules stand for everyone, including me.”

“That makes sense,” I reply slowly, with a feeling of dread running through me.

“I want to make sure you understand that our relationship must remain above reproach. Besides that, I'm not an easy man to work for. Do you have what it takes to be my assistant?” His voice is curt, with a hint of steel that causes my hands to become clammy.

I cross my legs and straighten my back, meeting his gaze. “Yes, sir, I do.”

His eyes narrow when I call him sir. He crosses those steely arms of his across his masculine chest. “I won't make it easy on you just because we fucked.”

My eyes widen. I blink to control my shock, but he hit a nerve. I didn't expect my boss to be crass. “Look, just because we had a one-night stand?—”

He holds up one hand to halt my words. His eyes narrow at me with an intense stare.

Shit,I think.I want my boss. He's sexy as hell, even when he’s surly.

“Since I can't talk you out of this job, you can start first thing in the morning. But beware, I won't go easy on you, as I stated before. You're dismissed. Consider it your first day tomorrow.”

I stand to my feet and nod. I turn around to step toward the office door. I jump when I feel the grip of Sterling's arm on mine. I didn't even hear him catch up to me.

“I want to give you something to think about. Maybe you will change your mind about the job.”

A shiver goes through my body at the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes.

My boss wraps his arms around my waist and kisses the side of my neck. “Do you remember how good it was between us, Ayana?”

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