Page 35 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

But then she looks at me, and everything changes. There’s heat in her eyes, something simmering just below the surface, and before I can think, I’m kissing her.

It’s not a soft kiss. It’s desperate. Hungry. The kind of kiss that’s been building for days.

She tastes like soda and something sweet, and it’s driving me wild. My hands move to her waist, pulling her closer, and I feel her breath hitch. Her fingers dig into my chest, and the heat between us is unbearable and overwhelming.

My hands are in her hair, her fingers gripping the front of my shirt, pulling me closer. The space between us feels too small, and all I want is more.

I move my hand to her thigh, squeezing, and she gasps against my lips, her body arching toward mine. There’s a fire between us, one that’s been there since the beginning. And now it’s blazing out of control.

Her hands slide down my chest, fumbling with the buttons of my shirt, and I know I should stop this. We’re in the car, for God’s sake. But I can’t think straight. Not with her in my hands like this.

Her lips leave mine, trailing along my jaw, and I can’t stop the groan that slips out.

“We can’t,” she whispers against my skin, but her hands are still clutching at me, her body arching into mine.

“We can,” I growl, my voice rough, dragging her mouth back to mine.

We almost rip each other’s clothes off right there, and I’m not even sure how we stop ourselves. Maybe it’s how she pulls back,breathless and flushed, looking at me like she’s torn between wanting this and knowing she shouldn’t.

I reach for the hem of her shirt, pulling it up, needing to feel her skin. But then she pulls back, her breathing ragged. “We can’t,” she says, her voice shaky. “This . . . this wasn’t part of the deal.”

I’m breathing hard, too, my head spinning. “I know. But—”

“But it can’t happen again,” she says, cutting me off. “We agreed. This is supposed to be just business.”

I nod, trying to get my breathing under control. “You’re right. No relationships. Just the deal.”

She adjusts her shirt, her face flushed, and her breathing ragged. The hardness between my legs is almost hurting. But I try to focus on anything but that.

“Can I drop you off at home?” I ask, my voice hoarse.

“No, it’s fine,” she says quickly. “I’m meeting a friend at a bar.”

I frown, surprised by the sudden rush of jealousy. “The same friend who gave you the jersey?”

She nods. “Yeah. Penny. She’s my roommate.”

She.The relief that floods me surprises me.

“Thanks for today. I had fun.” She opens the car door, steps off, and gives me a smile before she leaves. Next thing I know, I’m watching her flag a taxi. I gaze at it from a distance as it gets further and further, disappearing into the sea of vehicles.

I wait in the car till my hardness goes away. As I meet my eyes in the rear mirror, the eye bags under my eyes surprise me. As I head inside Arconia, one thought keeps circling in my mind:

This was supposed to be simple. It was supposed to be easy.

So why the hell do I care so much?

Chapter thirteen

Leah

One would think akiss that good would come with a warning label. Something like:May cause overthinking, heart palpitations, and reckless daydreaming while working as a glorified assistant.But here I am, three days later, still replaying every second of that kiss in Silas's car.

It’s 10:00 p.m., and I’m in bed after having soggy leftover pasta for dinner.

Work was hell. Every time I stepped into Silas’s office, I could only think of kissing him, which was crazy because I honestly didn’twanthim to.

I don’t.

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