Page 67 of Worth the Fall

I feel Mia tense slightly beside me, but then she relaxes. "We'd like that," she says, and the pride I feel in this moment nearly overwhelms me.

"I'll have my assistant confirm with you once everything is transferred to a different firm," Celine adds, professional mask slipping back into place, but softer now. "And I'll... I'll see you both at the recital?"

"We'll be there," I promise.

After she leaves, the silence in the room feels lighter. Mia turns in my arms, pressing her face against my chest, and I hold her close, breathing in the familiar scent of her.

"That was..." she starts.

"Yeah," I agree, understanding perfectly. I let out a long breath, my head falling back against the chair. “It’s funny,” I say, half-laughing. “I have this feeling that you and Celine are going to get along better than I ever did with her.”

The room is quiet for a beat, and then I hear Mia’s soft footsteps. I glance up and freeze. She’s standing against the door, one hand resting casually on the lock, a devious grin tugging at her lips.

“What does that look mean?” I ask warily, my eyes narrowing.

She doesn’t answer. Instead, she starts walking toward me slowly, her hips swaying ever so slightly, her gaze locked onto mine.

When she stops in front of me, the grin widens, and she reaches down, inching her skirt up just enough to hike one knee onto the chair.

My hands move instinctively, settling on her hips as I blink up at her. “Oh,” I say, my voice dropping as understanding dawns. “That’s what that look means.”

Her fingers trail along the edge of my tie, tugging it just enough to pull me closer. “You’ve been very impressive today, Mr. Ramirez,” she says, her voice low and teasing.

My grip tightens on her hips as I lean forward, my lips curving into a smirk. “Have I now?”

She leans in, her mouth hovering just above mine, her breath warm against my skin. “Very,” she whispers.

And just like that, the tension in the room shifts, all the frustration and worry of the past few days melting away as I pull her closer, ready to lose myself in the moment with her.

Her lips brush against mine, featherlight, teasing, and it’s enough to undo me completely. My hands slide up from her hips to her waist, anchoring her closer.

“Mia,” I murmur against her mouth, her name a plea, a warning, a promise.

She smiles, her fingers now playing with the knot of my tie, loosening it further as her knee presses just slightly into my thigh. “What, Miguel?” she whispers, her voice innocent but her eyes anything but.

“You’re killing me,” I say, my hands tightening around her waist as she moves closer, effectively caging me in.

“Good,” she replies with a sly grin. She leans in again, her lips capturing mine this time with an intensity that sends heat coursing through me.

The chair creaks slightly as I shift, pulling her fully onto my lap. Her hands slide into my hair, tugging just enough to send a jolt of electricity through me. I groan, my fingers digging into her hips as she tilts her head, deepening the kiss.

She tastes sweet—coffee and the faint hint of the donuts she’d been eating earlier—and it’s intoxicating. Every thought, every worry about Celine, the firm, everything melts away as I lose myself in her.

“You know,” I say, breaking the kiss just enough to look up at her, “locking the door was a bold move.”

Mia grins, her cheeks flushed. “I figured you’d appreciate the initiative.”

“Oh, I do,” I reply, my voice low as I trail kisses along her jaw, down to the soft curve of her neck.

She sighs, her hands gripping my shoulders as her body melts against mine. “Miguel,” she whispers, her tone now laced with something softer, something more vulnerable.

I pull back slightly, brushing her hair away from her face to meet her eyes. “Yeah?”

Her expression shifts, the teasing grin replaced by something more serious. “Thank you. For today. For standing up for me. For… everything.”

I rest my forehead against hers, my hands still holding her firmly in place. “Always,” I say, my voice quiet but firm. “You don’t have to face any of this alone, Mia. We’re in this together. You and me.”

Her eyes glisten, and she nods, her fingers brushing lightly against my jaw. “You make me feel safe,” she admits softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

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