Page 25 of The Office Games

“We don’t want to do the kiss thing, sorry,” I say.

“Oh come on, hun. With a man who looks like that, you’re telling me that you don’t kiss him all the time in public to keep the thirsty tramps away?”

“Well I’m not his, so?—”

“You should be.” He stamps his mouth over mine and grips my waist, pulling me flush against his chest.

He slides his tongue against mine, daring me to pull away from his kiss.

Too entranced, I submit to him as he slips his tongue even further, as he slides a hand down to my ass and squeezes it.

I shut my eyes as he owns my mouth for what feels like forever, forgetting wherever the hell we are.

His kiss feels far better than I imagined it in my fantasies, and his touch is so forceful and dominant that I never want to compare it to anyone else’s.

I’m nearly out of breath when he lets me go, when he whispers, “You didn’t want that?”

The waitress’s face is beet red and her jaw is hanging wide open.

“Well, um…” She clears her throat. “Follow me to your booth for your free meals, please.”

We eatour meal in complete silence, our gazes meeting in between bites, and James leaves a hundred-dollar tip on the table.

“There’s a gas station across the street,” he says. “We should fill up before hitting the highway.”

“Okay,” is all I can say as we get into the car.

A part of me is kicking myself for missing out on his mouth for all these years, and a smaller part is wondering why his kiss felt somewhat familiar.

“Is that how you used to kiss your girlfriend Sarah?” I can’t help but ask when we reach the station.

“What?” He looks at me.

“The girl you were dating when I first started working at Magnolia. Is that how the kisses always were?”

“No.” His lips curve into a smile. “I was dating Megan when you came to Magnolia. Sarah was shortly after, and no, our kisses weren’t like that either.”

“I’m just wondering.”

“I had no idea you kept track of my dating life.”

“Those are the only two I remember.”

“I haven’t dated anyone since. They both dumped me for the same reason.”

"Finding out you're utterly insufferable?"

"Finding out I couldn't stop talking aboutyou."

Silence.

“I’ll pump the gas this time,” I say, needing to get away from him.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Just let me,” I say. “I’ll be right back.”

ELEVEN

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