Page 36 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

“Whoops.” Although, that time, I did hear Eric. I just hadn’t wanted to stop. First of all, I had to go to the bathroom. And second of all, since kissing Nate, I wasn’t sure I wanted Eric to target me at all. If Eric wanted to increase his efforts to get my attention, he’d fail. Now that I knew how heavenly and sinful it was to be kissed by Nate, it almost felt like… cheating. I didn’t want another man’s attention. I wantedhis. My boss. My… mentor?

Confusion had hit me hard all day. First, I wanted to understandwhat, exactly, Nate and I were doing kissing like that when he was firm about never getting involved with another woman again. And second, why would he go so far to “teach” me by using himself as an example?

“It seems to me that you weren’t sure how to react to his interest.”

I furrowed my brow, gazing up at him as he stepped closer. I didn’t back up, but arching to make room for him had me stumbling, anyway.

“What?”

“It had me wondering if you wanted some pointers.” He lowered his voice, stalking closer. His gaze dropped, raking over me like a tangible caress.

“Pointers… about what?” I asked. My mouth was dry. My throat seemed tight. I wasn’t afraid, but I was so quickly aroused.

“Pointers on how to react when a man is interested in you.”

“Oh.” I looked at him and bit my lip. “Is this…?” I drew in a quick breath, unable to breathe fast enough with this rush of adrenaline and desire claiming me as he stepped into my space. My butt hit the desk, and I grew more aroused just knowing he was keeping me right where he wanted me—with him, and with no means to evade him.

“Is this another lesson?” I guessed, playing coy. The second I bit my lip again, he growled and reached up to free it with his thumb.

“Yeah. Call it a lesson.” He couldn’t remove his gaze from my mouth.

“This is 101 on…” I shivered under his caress. He stroked his hand up and over, cupping my jaw.

“On how to react when a man shows interest in a woman.”

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My God, he was frying my brain. I set my hand on his chest, feeling how fast his heart was beating beneath his suit jacket and shirt. The green tie dotted with tiny Santa hats eased to the side of my hand placed there. I wasn’t pushing him away, but I wasn’t brave enough to grab this festive tie and haul him closer. Touching—in any way I could—was a baby step, a first step.

“Are you pretending to be interested in me?” I asked. I licked my lips and strained to swallow.

“Pretending?” He gave me a wicked smile as he wedged his leg between mine. The slight friction of his thigh on my core was nowhere near enough. “Do you think I’m faking anything with you, Rach?”

I shook my head, too mesmerized by his warm brown eyes to look away. “I’m hoping you’re not,” I whispered back. “That’s why I didn’t react to Eric.”

He seemed to hold his breath as he set his free hand on my hip. His fingers dug in ever so slightly as he waited for me to continue.

“Eric isn’t really the sort of guy I’d be interested in,” I admitted. It came out as a breathy whisper. When his fingers clutched my side harder, I gasped a little at the shock of how forcefully he wanted to hold me.

I wished he would. And without these layers of clothes. Wearing the mark of his fingers, his mouth, would suit me just fine.

“He isn’t?” Ever so slowly, he closed the distance between us. His head lowered toward me. That heated stare didn’t fade as he brought his mouth near mine.

With his fingers curved around the back of my head, holding me in place, I felt so secure, so wanted and needed like this. If he wanted to show me how a man would act when he was interested, he was a master of the class.

I closed my eyes, tipping my head up ever so slightly. Holding my breath, I willed my heart to slow. The last thing I needed at this moment was to pass out. Yet, I readied for his lips to find mine again, and the instant they did, I’d be in for a world of seduction. Of pleasure. Of?—

Nothing.

The door opened.

Light streaked into the room just as Nate was about to kiss me. Blinded by the brightness and the fact that someone was walking in on us, I squeaked in alarm and backed up.

I banged my knee on the desk in my haste. Nate retreated so quickly that he sent the chair rolling over the floor. And worst, my foot landed on the single sheet of paper I’d been holding, that list. Slipping, I let out another sound of surprise, but Julie was close enough to catch my elbow as she stood by the door she’d opened on us.

“And what do we have here?” she quipped.

“Nothing,” I blurted. “I was just…” I darted down to grab the list. “Checking something.”

“Yeah.” Nate sounded too breathless to be believable. “Just looking at that email.”

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