Page 46 of Hate Notes

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Foster?"

At that, he looked up, his heated gaze searing me in place. "About last night?—"

"You mean our business dinner where absolutely nothing inappropriate occurred?" My voice was a bit too high.

A ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. "That would be the one, yes."

"What about it?" I was aiming for breezy and landing somewhere around breathless. I hadn't expected how much the mere sight of him would make my lower belly glow with pleasant but awkward heat.

"I think we need to establish some... parameters," he said.

"Such as 'no more mauling your new hire in dark doorways?'" I raised an eyebrow. "Seems fairly intuitive."

"Ember—”

"No, you're right," I interrupted, plopping into the chair opposite his desk and primly crossing my legs. "Totally unprofessional. It won't happen again."

His eyes tracked the progress of my hemline up my thigh before snapping back to my face. I saw the lust and hunger flickering in his eyes. The sight of it made a reckless, sexy little devil on my shoulder start whispering naughty ideas in my ear.

He wants to fuck me.

The thought seemed so loud and clear in my mind that I could hardly think straight.

Orion cleared his throat. "Good. That's...good. We should focus on the Davenport account."

"Absolutely." I let my legs fall slightly apart as I leaned forward. I ignored the way the motion made my skirt ride up, or how I saw his eyes fall to what was almost certainly a clear view of my panties.

I bit my lip, ignoring the rush of warm arousal I felt at his attention. "I actually have a riveting update on Eleanor's ceramic duck squadron, if you're interested..."

"Miss Hartwell." This time my name was a low warning. It was almost a moan, and god, I wasn't sure how much more I could take of this flirtation.

"Yes, Mr. Foster?" I fluttered my lashes innocently as I pushed my thighs just a touch wider for him. Now he could certainly see my panties. With how turned on I was, I wondered if there would even be a dark patch of arousal for him to admire.

He just stared, realization dawning along with a slow, wicked smile that made me clench all over. "You're doing this on purpose."

I widened my eyes. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Rising from the chair, I tugged my skirt down with a playfullittle shimmy of my hips, then headed for the door. "If that's all, I should really get back to work. My boss is a bit of a hard ass." I bit back a smile at the play on words, wondering if he would connect the dots.

"We're not done here."

In a flash of movement and rustle of expensive clothes, Orion closed the distance between us and put a single palm on his door, preventing me from pulling it open. It also meant he had me caged in as I turned around to face him, brow arched.

“Oh?” I asked. “Do you need me to stay because you needed... a better look at me?"

Orion's eyes slid down my body inch by inch, making me feel completely naked before him. "It would be wise for both of us if I didn't..."

"No?" I asked sweetly. "What would happen? Maybe I would be more careful if I knew what was at risk..."

Orion swallowed, eyes blazing with heat as he stared up at me. "I don't get distracted by women, Ember. I don't—" He closed his mouth, took a deep breath. "I would rather not be tempted."

"Tempted to... what?" I prompted.

"Ember," he warned.

Now it was my turn to gulp as a bundle of nerves settled in my stomach. "I want to hear," I whispered. "I want to know what you want to do to me. Maybe we can't actually... do it. But I want to hear."

Orion touched his tie and seemed to drift closer until my space was completely consumed by him. With the way we werepositioned, the door would block anybody’s view of what was going on inside his office. Maybe it would be suspicious that we were standing in one of the few, cramped spaces out of view, but at least we were hidden.Otherwise…

Orion lifted one knuckle and very slowly, very teasingly brought it from the center of my chest down my body, eyes following its trail as it brushed my breasts and instantly made my nipples go hard as diamonds. He kept dragging that knuckle down my belly and only paused at the waistband of my skirt.

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