Page 19 of The Unplanned Wedding

Actually, it means a lot to me, but I’m not telling him that. No one has made me feel this cherished before. The fact that he wanted me enough to spank me and bring me to orgasm...makes me feel so wanted.Something I yearned for every time a foster family told me I wasn’t welcome at their place. I push the thoughts aside.

“Excellent,” my boss says in a relieved tone that makes my heart squeeze in my chest.

What was I expecting? A relationship? Ha.This strange—whatever it was—was some kind of sexual encounter. And I should treat it like that. I tamp down the part of me that wishes it to be more, then square my shoulders. “Right then, best I get on with my job.”

I grab my tablet and my phone, as well as my pen and notebook, and march out of the boardroom. I drop them off on my desk, then continue on down the corridor to the ladies’ room at the far end. It's empty. I turn myback on the row of sinks, then pull down my skirt, my stockings, and my panties. I glance over my shoulder at my reflection.

Jesus, my entire bottom has turned red, and I can see the imprint of his palm on my butt-cheeks. I place my much smaller palm over the fingerprints. Sparks. A shudder grips me. That’s hot. That’s twisted. That’s sexy. And I want more. I hear the sound of someone in the next stall flushing. I sit on the toilet, do my business, then straighten my clothes. I wash my hands and head out.

I spend the rest of my day getting through my to-do-list and replying to his emails, then taking notes while I sit in on his next meeting with the acquisitions team. This one passes without incident, though I flinch at the coldness in his voice and have to try hard not to show my disapproval at his instructions for the takeover of a company. He shrugs aside the fact that it can be a risk to the Davenport Group to do so, that they might be overstretching. He wants to take risks and isn’t going to shy away from it.

I’m no mathematical genius, but even I can tell, it's a foolhardy move to go after this company. Or perhaps, he knows something the rest of his team doesn’t.

Then, it’s on to compiling the sales figures from his team, and the next thing I knew, it’s five-thirty p.m. and the office has emptied out.

Mary comes by on her way out and nods at me. “Heard about what happened in the staff meeting, and if you ask me, that chump had it coming.”

“Umm, okay?” I venture. “I hope it doesn’t cause Mr. Davenport any problems. The guy was livid when he was being dragged out by the security guys.”

“Nothing Knox can’t handle.” She waves a hand.

Just then, a delivery guy walks over and proceeds to place cartons of food on my desk. “Um, I didn’t order that.”

“It says it’s for Kelly Assistant.”

I sigh.So, we’re back to that?

I accept the delivery, and he leaves. I stare at the cartons in bemusement. “Do you think he?—”

"Knox ordered it, all right.” She gives me a funny look. “Guess he must feel sorry.”

“Feel sorry?” I frown.

“For acting like a twat, which I assume he must have been over the last week.”

Or was he apologizing for saying there couldn’t be anything else between us and trying to smooth my hurt feelings?

My landline buzzes, and when I answer it, he growls, “Need the California team on the phone. Did the estimates for the new office in Birmingham come in? You need to brief the recruitment agency for a new Finance Director. And where’s the new advertising campaign?”

I look up to see Mary wave and leave, then turn my attention back to the phone.

“The California team will call you in five minutes. The Birmingham estimates are in your inbox. The recruitment agency will send you a shortlist of candidates by nine p.m. tonight and the new advertising campaign will be in your inbox tomorrow by nine a.m.”

There’s silence then, “You already spoke to the recruitment agency?”

“First thing I did when I got back to my desk after the staff meeting.”

“And the advertising campaign?—”

“The agency needed a few more hours. It’s not going to impact the media deadlines.”

“But—”

“And I know you don’t want any half-baked ideas. A few more hours won’t break the bank, and it’ll give the creatives a chance to flesh out their concepts so there's a better chance of you receiving a campaign that's effective.”

I’m sure he’s going to protest, but to my surprise, he drawls, “Good call.”

I blink. Then sit back in my chair and close my eyes. A smile curves my lips. I bask in his approval, enjoying the fact that I surprised him and pleased him, at the same time. All the demanding work this afternoon was worth it. A bloom of pleasure surges in my chest. “Thank you. And also, for the dinner.”

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