Page 27 of Grace

The door shuts behind me, making me flinch, and the blinds close in the next second. I rub over my throbbing hip as I take a slow breath.

“I’m so sorry I was late. I’m so sorry that I… I’m sorry,” I rush out, unable to look at him as he moves around me.

He pauses in front of me, the warmth of his body seeping into mine, and gently, his fingers hook under my chin, tilting my head as he forces me to meet his gaze.

“I was so worried about you.” His gaze drops to my hand, lingering on my bruised hip. “Are you hurt?”

“It’s fine! It’s nothi—”

He closes in, his hand dropping to my back as he crouches slightly. In one move, his arm is under my ass and he picks me up and sets me on his desk.

“Show me,” he says, and my breath hitches.

His eyes burn through mine as he inches closer. His fingers carefully move up my thighs and to the hem of my dress.

Why is he worried about this? He should be furious. I shake my head slowly, and he pauses. “I know I’m in trouble,” I whisper.

“You’re not in trouble,” he disagrees. “You’re… It was an off the books meeting, and I didn’t remind you on Friday. Now, show me what’s hurting you. You’re still holding your hip. It has to hurt, darling. Let me take care of it.”

My whole body warms, and a soft whimper leaves my throat as Daniel edges closer, his palms spreading over my thighs. His fingers graze over the sides of my ass, and he takes a slow breath.

“How hurt are you?” he asks.

“It’s okay, really. It’s… It’s just a bruise,” I insist.

He lifts one hand from my hip to my face, gently cupping my cheek. “How fast did you rush to get here?”

“Very fast. I ran,” I mumble.

He shakes his head but softens his hand on my face. He presses his forehead to my face. “You terrified me. I’d feel better if I… see.”

“That… that…” All I can see is where that would go, how it would lead to so much more. I’d be all on display. “I’m wearing a dress. It’s not appropriate. We’re in your office, and…”

“And you don’t want this?” he asks softly. “If that’s what you need to say, go ahead and get it out. I’ll let you go.”

“You’re my boss,” I breathe, trying to remember all my reasons. “My ex’s—”

“I’m very aware of how wonderful your memory is, darling.”

“But I forgot about the meeting. I’m so ashamed. I can’t believe I slept through my alarm and—”

“And it’s a Sunday, which isn’t a normal work day, and it’s not what’s important right now,” he says. “What happened Friday in the meeting, that’smuchmore important.”

I shiver under that reminder. How is it possible to think about the office behind us when Daniel is staring into my soul like he wants me all to himself, like he knows this is bad and is willing to shoulder anything that could happen just for one kiss?

My breasts strain against my bra and dress, and I can’t breathe. Everything is too tight and overwhelming. How can I…? I lick over my bottom lip, and he groans.

“Tell me you don’t want me. Tell me that seeing my tabs open and knowing I’m thinking of you doesn’t drive you insane. Tell me you were going to push me away before we were interrupted on Friday.”

And that’s the thing… I can’t. If I could, maybe this would be easier. If flirting with Ben last night had felt just like this moment, I could be done, but all I want is Daniel.

My words all get stuck in my throat, and none of them can get free. I don’t know what I’d say, anyway. I can’t lie and tell him I would have stopped him. I can’t tell him that I’ve watched porn since seeing his. I can’t tell him that I want him.

“Tell mesomething, Grace. I don’t want to be wrong where you’re concerned,” he insists.

I move a bit and put my hand on my side again. Daniel’s eyes sharpen, and then he grabs my dress and drags it over my hip. I look down with him, and a sharp groan escapes him as we both look at my panties, fully revealed. Then he hisses as he grazes his thumb over the bruise. One that seems a lot worse than I thought earlier.

“It’s fine. I just… I, um, bruise easily.”

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