Page 3 of Punish Me

This handsome stranger was once a cute guy who broke my heart.

It’s a damn shame that I’m in no position to walk out and tell everyone to kiss my ass right now. I can’t keep running.

“Is that how you always show up for work?” he asks, his eyes again scrutinizing my outfit.

“Is something wrong with what I’m wearing,Mr. Charles?”

That cocky-ass smirk returns. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to get settled in my office,” I say, tugging my purse higher up my arm.

He walks from behind his desk, shoving his hands into his pockets. As he walks past me, his cologne tickles my nose, and I recall his unique natural body scent, how he snores softly when he’s tired, and how his voice sounds when he’s buried inside me.

Yes, I need to run like hell. I grab the doorknob, ready to pull it open, and his hand clasps over mine. His body emanates a dangerous heat that I can’t escape, and the low growl in his throat is subdued enough to be perceived as a warning but loud enough for my attentive ears.

“Baby, you can’t keep running.”

“I stopped being your baby ten years ago.”

I jerk the door open and slam it behind me. Running into my office, I close my door and lock myself behind it.

2 – AMBROSE

The charcoal grey pencil skirt Bryn’s wearing hugs her hips and ass in an affectionately intimate squeeze. The three-quarter sleeve pink blouse outlines her trim figure while her peek-a-boo cleavage peers at me from the open top button.

Damn! If I can see that much cleavage from one open button, how much is she holding back under there? She’s grown through the years in a very nice way. The thirty-five-year-old body is curvier than the twenty-two-year-old trim one she once had. It’s a damn good look on her.

“I have coffee, water, and tea here,” I say, waving my hand toward the serving table to our left. “Would you like anything?”

“No, thank you.”

Pinching my pants legs at the thigh, I sit down and cross one ankle over my knee. Bryn sits forward and crosses her legs at the ankles.

“We have a staff meeting in fifteen minutes. We’ll discuss the expectations of the new team, a few changes that I’ll be implementing, and, of course, introduce you to the team. I wanted to meet with you before the meeting to ensure we have a united front and answer any questions you may have.”

Her eyes narrow, and she sits back in her seat.

“In other words, you want to make sure that whatever changes you’re pushing their way, I’m on board to help you sell them to the team.”

I sigh and pull my hand over my face. Leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees, I ask, “Is working for me going to be a problem for you, Bryn?”

“Brynlee.”

“Bryn.”

“No, it won’t be a problem as long as you respect the boundaries and don’t become too familiar with me.”

“Too familiar?” I ask, eyeing her slowly and allowing my gaze to stop at her bottom lip. I remember so damn well what she would do with those lips. “We’re beyond familiar. You want to ignore the past, but that’s impossible, and we both know it.”

“It’s not impossible for me.”

“Then why are you so angry?”

“I’m not angry, Ambrose. I’m setting boundaries that you have difficulty recognizing.”

“We spent two years together, and you want me to ignore those as if they never happened.”

“I want you to be the professional I expect you to be. There’s no place for our past in the workplace. If I’d known that you were working here or would be my boss, I would never have accepted the job.”

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