Page 40 of Of Blood and Smoke

TWENTY-TWO

Della

“That’s a bit.... presumptuous of you,” I murmured, having to look away. The sheer intensity billowing from Josiah nearly immobilized me again and I tucked into myself. “You can’t force things like that. Wait—how have you been making me unable to move?”

I’d asked, but then realized how crazy it sounded. There was no way anyone could do that to another person. Quickly, I asked, “Is there any way we can get to know each other first?”

Was I really doing this? My head hurt, trying to navigate all the different feelings assaulting me. I was highly attracted to him. More than highly. I wanted to impale myself on his cock and ride him until the sun rose. I felt my cheeks heating again; this was crazy. I felt like a drunken moth flapping its wings as hard as it could, desperately flying into the bug zapper light without a care in the world.

Josiah said there were rules against dating and as the head of an entire company, I could understand that. I’d already been accused of being favorited. How this would all work was beyond me. He was unlike anyone I’d ever met but with the fiery chemistry between us, maybe it was worth exploring?

He stood there staring at me as if the thought of getting to know someone else was foreign to him but then he said, “Of course.”

Still trembling a little, I replied, “If I don’t like you, you’re going to stay away from me.” If I didn’t end up liking him, I would be screwed. It would mean my dad getting kicked out of care and me losing the apartment I’d just gotten. I wouldn’t be able to stay at Ipomoea.

Or would I? It would end up being the most uncomfortable situation I’d ever been in—but it kinda already was. Really, it couldn’t get any worse.

Was I really considering this? Maybe I was just really horny. That had to be it.

A long sigh dragged out of me.

Josiah took another step closer, and I put my weight on my hands, intending to back up on the mattress, when he moved his arm and pointed two fingers at me. I froze, and an icy sensation wound through me, competing with my desire to reach for his hand.

“You’ll give yourself to me freely, I won’t force you.”

His mysterious eyes glittered and swirled in the low light, and I couldn’t look away. “You say that like you think you could, though.” I countered, ignoring his contradiction. “And what about work?”

“Honestly, I could,” he admitted. “But that’s not what I want from you and there’s no need for it. Behave in the same manner at the office. Perhaps stop panicking whenever you are near me?” He grinned.

He brushed a fallen strand of hair back. “Your fear is a delicacy I savor; I may miss it,” he remarked, wistfully.

Another smile from the tyrant and I was beginning to think I was hallucinating. “Jesus, can you stop that?” I muttered.Josiah’s smiling would bring about the apocalypse if he kept it up.

The man’s oddities confused me, and I let out another deep sigh. I’d always heard billionaires were eccentric and my boss filled the two categories. The attention he’d just drawn to my fear of him bugged me and I determined I’d do my best to calm down when I was at work. I hadn’t realized it was so obvious.

When I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn’t so scared of him anymore, he was gone. He’d disappeared like a ghost, making me jump off the bed. “Josiah?” I called out.

He was nowhere to be seen. I walked out into the living room and ambled through the stacks of boxes. The drone of the air conditioner sounded, as well as muffled noises from the hall as I listened for any signs of life in my home.

Dumbfounded, I lowered myself onto the couch. What the hell was going on? Deciding I’d spaced out too much to hear him say goodbye, I groaned out loud and punched the garbage bag stuffed with curtains beside me in frustration.

A thrill ran through my heart thinking of Josiah. He was strong, powerful, mysterious, and apparently obsessed with me. There was no denying his effect on my body or my draw to him. I could only imagine what being a part of his world would be like.

I’d always fantasized about living a different life, one where doors opened easily, and I didn’t have to worry about money and my family was taken care of. I’d drooled over the glamourous photos on social media with hash tags like “elite” or “luxury” and I’d thought I’d gotten closer when I got hired at Ipomoea. Maybe I did—but Josiah was a part of that once seemingly unattainable world. Maybe I’d get a peek, see how the other half lived?

There was too much at stake, if this all fell apart and I somehow lost my job. I’d lose everything. But like a toddler climbing onto a countertop for a cookie, I was going to try andsee where it went with the man I couldn’t stay away from, even if I crashed and burned.

I ended up falling asleep on the couch.

A firm poundingsound woke me up and I went and opened the door. “What the hell, Della. You overslept,” Brett admonished me.

“Crap, I know. Sorry.”

“Whatever. Are you going to get dressed? You’re gonna be late.” He shook his head at me.

It was too early for this. “Give me a chance, I just woke up.” I stomped to the bathroom and did what I had to do, putting clothes on and getting prepared for the day.

“I made coffee,” Brett announced, sliding a cup toward me when I returned. He had two travel mugs, and I grabbed the one in front of me.

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