Page 11 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

"My instincts about you were correct. You're an absolute rock star. Our clients love you." I sipped the champagne again and picked up the bottle, gesturing for her to follow. I led her over to my lounge area, a dark leather sofa and matching chair. She sat in the chair and I sat on the sofa. My eyes dropped to her legs as she crossed one over the other. The skirt she wore rode up a little, and I found myself wishing it would ride up higher.

"I was quite nervous to come to a meeting like this. You and Allen are just so important here and I'm just an analyst, so?—"

"That's ridiculous. We're nothing without our team, and both of us know that." I reached out and touched her knee softly—a gesture of encouragement, but it made my fingers tingle. I wanted to touch her more, in other places.

"Sir, I …"

"You're probably the best thing that's happened to this company, Beth. You shouldn't doubt yourself. I am really honored that you work for us, and proud to be your boss." Without thinking, I reached for the bottle of champagne and topped off her glass and mine. She looked a little flustered and kept licking her lips.

"I think…" Beth stood abruptly and set her glass down. "I think I should leave." I caught her hand, and she hovered as I slowly stood and swallowed the feeling of need building for her.

"Did I say something wrong?" My heart was hammering. I knew what I had told her this morning, that we had to forget about that kiss and that it was unprofessional and we shouldn't do it again, but just being around her for the past few hours inthat meeting had changed my mind. My body felt magnetized to her. I was sucked into her gravitational pull and it was thrilling.

"No, I just feel confused and…" Her eyes dropped to my lips and she licked hers again.

"And you're thinking about that kiss we shared and what I said this morning?" I watched her eyes dart around my face and her face flushed darker again.

"It's just that…compliments coming from you mean something different to me." Her voice was so quiet it was like she was trying not to let anyone else hear her. But there was no one here but me and her. "I just…I can't get that kiss out of my head, and then this morning you said that. I know it's true. It's not a good idea, but how do I stop myself from thinking about you kissing me?"

I let go of her hand and cupped her cheek, brushing my thumb over her cheekbone. She didn't pull away, and the chemistry between us sizzled and popped in the air like a fire just waiting to ignite.

"I really affected you that much?" I gazed at her, searching her expression and she leaned into my touch.

"My sister would say I have daddy issues, but honestly yes." Her head dipped and I hooked my thumb under her chin and made her look up at me.

"And you want to kiss me again?" I asked softly. Beth nodded but her eyes turned away as if she were embarrassed.

"You're very handsome. You're very liberal with your compliments. You and I have things in common, and to be honest with you it doesn't hurt that you're powerful and wealthy—though I'd never shy away if you weren't." She worried her bottom lip between her teeth and I smiled.

"I'd never use any of my power, authority, or money to influence you to want me. And I would never want you to think that by kissing me or whatever else we may do together thatyou'd earn special treatment from me. I keep my business and personal lives separate." My God the attraction was so intense I was using every ounce of self-control not to just throw her on this couch and have my way with her.

"Of course…" she breathed, and her eyes dropped down to my lips again. "So do you want to kiss me again?" This time she was instigating, and I wasn't the type of man to let a woman down.

A brief flash of my angry daughter's face popped into my mind as I closed the gap between us for the second time and brushed my lips over hers. At anytime, Allen or a board member could walk back in asking about the deal. I was taking a huge risk, but all sense of propriety flew out the window when I was around her. It was a risk worth taking—at least my lustful desire thought so.

9

BETH

The air between me and Mr. Caldwell was so thick with chemistry I could cut it with a knife. I waited for him to answer my question, but words never formed on his lips. His hand cradled my cheek gently, thumb brushing over my bottom lip as if he was considering what I'd asked. This morning when he told me it was a bad idea and it couldn't happen again, I fully agreed, but my lack of self-control led me right back to this situation.

I stood there inches from him as my heart thudded against my ribs wondering if I wasn't digging a hole for myself. I definitely wasn't using this as an opportunity to get on his good side. I wanted this job so badly, but the temptation to lean into this attraction we had for each other was so overwhelming I couldn't resist. I knew what people would say—what they were already saying. I had just never experienced this strong of an attraction to anyone before.

He leaned down with his eyes open, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on my eyes as he kissed me softly. It was so gentle, almost so faint I could pretend it hadn't happened. But when my fingerstouched his side, they popped and sizzled like static electricity. I swallowed hard and waited for more, and it was torture.

"It's such a bad idea," he said quietly, and I almost whimpered in disappointment. I knew it was a bad idea, but I didn't want to stop. And it wasn't because I just wanted sex. It felt like he held part of my soul within him, that somehow by indulging, by being physically intimate with him, my soul would feel complete. Like part of me was missing and he held the fullness of who I was.

"You don't have to…but I really want you to." My soft whisper made his expression soften. His lip ticked up in the corners and his eyes scanned all over my face. I knew what he was thinking—sexual harassment suit, potential scandal, woman using sex to work her way to the top. I needed to put his mind at ease, and mine too. Rachel tried to tell me that he was going to pursue me for sex, but just his hesitation now told me that wasn't true.

He continued to scan my face, staying just far enough away from me that I wasn't touching him, but I could feel the heat of every breath on my skin. I whispered, "We could pretend you're not my boss…I'm just a woman you met somewhere…"

I swallowed the knot forming in my throat, waiting with bated breath for his response. I would feel rejected if he asked me to leave, but I'd understand. I knew it would make things awkward at work, but maybe he was right. Maybe it would be for the best after all. I was almost ready to close my eyes and pull away when he spoke, and it made my entire body ignite.

"What fun would that be?" His tongue flicked over his bottom lip and he smirked at me. "If I tell you to kiss me, would you take that as an order?"

I fought back a grin and tried to stay serious, but I could tell he was leaning into this. I'd never done role-playing, but Isuppose this wasn't role-playing at all. He really was my boss; I really did have to take orders from him.

"I'm sorry, sir. Please don't fire me. I'll do anything you want." My hand slid inside his suit jacket along the thin material of his shirt. I felt the corded muscles under the fabric and wished my fingers were tracing along his flesh.

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