Damn it…that blush.

Like an innate, preprogrammed reaction, my body stirred at the sight of it and how it tinged her soft skin. I looked down at her and took it in like a drug, finding myself growing more and more intrigued by her silent response.

Something about that arousing tint drew me in, and I took the slightest step toward her.

“What then?” I posed for her again, voice lower and quieter as the silence in the office suddenly felt deafening all over again.

Still startled and unable to grasp a suitable response, Sky’s blush deepened, and she swallowed hard, all the while she looked up at me. “I…I don’t know…”

The size difference between us became even clearer at that moment, finally able to see her up so close without any interruptions…without either of us pulling away.

Sky was taller than the average woman, but even then, she looked so small and delicate beneath me. I couldn’t deny how that thought sent a thrill down my spine and only intrigued me more.

While my attraction to her wasn’t up for debate, Sky’s previous anger with me muddied the waters and made me question if she was even curious about me. But at that moment, catching how her gaze seemed to linger all over me, taking in my face and body all while sporting that endearing blush, I did not doubt that she felt just as affected as I was.

Something in the room shifted, and I wasn’t about to let that moment pass me by.

Slowly, I cut the space between us, putting my hands against the desk on either side of her until she leaned back on it, eyes never leaving mine. I dropped my face a touch closer to hers, not wanting to look away from her for even a moment.

She was too beautiful to ignore. Too addicting to resist.

Gently, I brought a hand up to trace the edge of her jaw with my fingertip, gaze locked on her to catch every reaction. Every faint hitch of her breath.

Those ocean eyes stayed on mine regardless of how much she was blushing. Almost like she was trying to seem brave or resistant to my touch. But I knew better than that. I had her all figured out.

“You make it sound like you hate the idea of someone watching over you,” I murmured, voice low and deliberate with every word. Once I reached her chin, I softly cupped her cheek and moved my body even closer to hers, able to feel the heat from her body as it seeped through her clothes. “Like you hate the thought of me being around…guarding you…protecting you.”

Sky’s breath hitched again at my touch, eyes fluttering shut as she swallowed hard.

I grinned faintly, aware that she was in the palm of my hand at last.

Leaning my face even closer, cheek just barely brushing against hers, I murmured into her ear, “You can pretend all you want…but I know you secretly enjoy it. You like me being around…following and watching at a distance.”

She shuddered at the gentle fan of my breath against her ear, and I couldn’t hold back a chuckle as I pulled back enough to look down at her face.

There was no hiding my amusement and satisfaction all the while I took in her almost awe-struck expression while my thumb moved to her chin and tipped her head up by a small fraction. Her breath caught again, and it went straight to my core.

“Admit it, Sky,” I said in a hushed tone, letting my thumb barely brush against her lower lip. “Admit that you like knowing I’m watching you.”

After a moment, Sky let go of a faltering breath, unable to fight against my touch. Any kind of resistance she might’ve had crumbled at once, and she swallowed hard again with that enticingly innocent look in her eyes.

“Fine…I like it,” she murmured back, surprisingly more direct about it than I anticipated. “I like it more than I want to admit…”

Her answer was exactly what I wanted to hear.

Tilting her chin up still, I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers, immediately struck by the softness of them. By how perfectly compliant they seemed.

When her breath caught in her throat, I hummed my approval and pressed deeper, not satisfied by that light touch as I held her face with one hand and her hip with the other.

Sky relaxed then and returned it with matching fervor, putting a hand against my chest that sent a shiver down my spine.

Nothing else could compare to the feeling of her lips…to the taste of her that I was quickly drowning in. That I couldn’t get enough of.

It didn’t matter how long we stood there, deepening the kiss and seemingly searching for the same thing within the other. I didn’t care how much time we were burning through…not while I just wanted more, more, more…

Even while I felt her burning body pressed up against mine, forcing me to react with startling ease, I couldn’t believe it was happening. That Sky was reciprocating, and I had her exactly where I wanted her.

Regardless, I wasn’t about to complain. Not even for a moment.