Page 67 of My Not So Wicked Boss (My Not So Wicked 3)

“Aspen.” His lips brushed my ear, making me shiver. Next, he pressed a gentle kiss to my neck. There he lingered, breathing me in, driving me mad until my hands ran through his thick hair. That ignited something in him. He pulled my legs across his lap, drawing me closer to him. His hand ran down my silky hair. “You are beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me for telling the truth,” he spoke against my lips. There he teased my own, so close but never touching. The anticipation brewed to the point of bubbling over. It was torture waiting and breathing in his sweet breath. Just like I had imagined it would be in my dreams. But now that it was happening in real life, I didn’t want to wake up before I tasted him. I didn’t want to miss out anymore.

My lips captured his. His twitched against mine, surprised. Believe me, no one was more surprised than me. It was the first time in my life I felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable. That’s what Isabella and I really wanted. A man who protected our vulnerability, who never used it to his own advantage.

Miles’s tongue slid across my lips, slow and wonderful as if he wanted to taste every part. His soft, sensual lips tasted like the wine, zesty with a hint of lime. His steady hands inched down my back, beckoning me closer, making me feel wanted. As did the way his tongue danced around my mouth. He wasn’t racing to the finish line or coaxing me to do more. He was content with me. Just me, in the moment. I basked in each minute, and there were many.

But then, Miles abruptly ceased. He leaned away with a terrified look in his eyes.

I bit my lip, worried. “Was it awful?” I knew I was out of practice, but we seemed so in sync. Had I read it all wrong?

“You were perfect. Too perfect.” He pushed my legs off him and stood up. He paced in front of me, running his hand through his hair. The fire cast a foreboding shadow of him. “Bloody hell,” he repeated to himself over and over again.

“Are you all right?” More like was I all right? I wasn’t sure I would ever be the same after that kiss. And his agitation and the way he pushed me away only added to the perplexity of it all.

He stopped and stared at me. “I won’t hurt you.”

“What does that mean?” I responded, confused.

He paused and paused some more until finally he said, “I’m going back to write.” He rushed toward the stairs.

“Miles?”

“Thanks for the research,” he called as he took the stairs two at a time.

I sat back against the couch and let out a heavy breath. That’s right. Research. It was only research for him. But was it? I touched my lips where he had left a lasting imprint. It felt real. Whether it was or not, that bit of research led to discovery, as research often does. My findings were anything but simple. Miles was the key to unlocking my heart.

~*~

Shelby waved her hand in front of my face. “You’re a million miles away today, darlin’.”

I shook myself out of my Miles stupor. I needed to be present in this moment for Chloe, who was trying on the tenth dress in Shelby’s boutique for the daddy-daughter dance in five days. She was so excited she could finally get the exact dress she wanted, brought to her by my new paycheck. The one I was putting in jeopardy because of the feelings I had for my boss. My boss, who was acting like that kiss never happened. It was business as usual for him. He happily took Henry today for some man time while I shopped with Chloe. He even offered to make dinner tonight. A proper English dinner, he’d called it. Meanwhile, I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. The kiss to end all kisses. No one had or ever would compare.

“Sorry,” I answered Shelby. “I have a lot on my mind.”

She rubbed my back. “Anything you want to talk about?”

I looked at the dressing room door my daughter was behind and thought it best to keep all that had transpired Friday night to myself. It was probably best to keep it from my friends too. No need for everyone to know what an idiot I was. I honestly thought when Miles told me he found me captivating he was talking to me, but he was talking about Isabella. I’d gotten lost in the moment. Lost in him.

“How are you feeling?” I redirected the conversation.

Shelby was no fool. Her pressed lips said she knew exactly what I was doing, but she was a good enough friend not to call me on it. “I’m feeling fabulous. Our little bun in the oven has been an angel to his momma.”

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