Page 28 of Grump and Grumpier

She manages to stay quiet, no doubt worried about being overheard in here, though her pleasure comes across loud and clear in the way her face and body respond. I know she’d be screaming my name if we were somewhere more private, and that’s how I want it the next time I make her come. This brief interlude will have to hold me over until I can enjoy her more fully.

When her eyes open again and she’s catching her breath, I slide my hand free of her skirt and roll my chair back a couple of inches. “You’re free to go now, Ana.”

Her eyes go wide, bewildered. She glances down at my lap, where of course, I’m hard as a rock, but now isn’t the time.

“We’ll have another meeting very soon,” I say, swiveling toward my desk.

She opens her mouth to protest, but then looks around, as if remembering where we are. When she stoops to retrieve her panties, I stretch out a hand. “I’ll take those.”

“What?” Her question comes out on a puff of air. She’s dazed, and I love it.

“I’m keeping those.”

Quickly, she gathers her composure, and sounds more steady when she says, “You’re going to keep my underwear?” When I stare back at her, she asks, “What am I going to do? This is the only pair I have here.”

“You can go bare. These are mine now.” I tuck the scrap of pale orange lace into my pants pocket.

“But … what …?”

“Go, before I decide to take your bra, too.”

She stares back at me defiantly, her hand going to her hip, which only makes me wish I took the time to get her bra off.

“Do you want it?” she asks, gesturing to her chest, taunting me. “I don’t mind, and I’m sure all the other men in the office would enjoy watching my breasts jiggle all day.”

My eyes narrow on her as my anger at the thought of anyone else looking at her shoots up like a rocket. All I can do is growl at her as she giggles and turns to leave.

CHAPTER 21

ANA

Marissa and I are having dinner that evening when a call comes in from Stella.

“Get ready for an argument,” my roommate says as she reaches for her phone.

“I know. Why isn’t it easier to give people gifts?”

Stella appears on the screen, and she looksalmostas unhappy as my bosses.

“Hi, friend,” I say brightly, as Marissa also says hello.

In return, Stella says, “I’m not a charity case.”

I keep a pleasant smile on my face. “Of course you’re not, and we’d never think of you that way.”

“Then why are you sending me money?”

“Technically, it’s not money. It’s meant for a specific gift, but we didn’t have a way to buy that gift ourselves,” I say.

Marissa leans in. “Ana got a fancy new job, so we’re giving Christmas presents early.”

Before Stella can respond, I ask, “Did the package arrive for Jessie?”

“It did, and I told Jessie we might not be keeping it, but of course, she instantly fell in love with it, and was about to cry when I told her it might be a mistake.”

“You need to keep it, and use the money to sign her up for the dance classes.”

“You shouldn’t have done this,” Stella says. “She’s my daughter, and I should be able to pay for what she needs.”

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