Page 35 of Kiren

Polly was already at her desk. She looked up over her cubicle wall and said, “Hi, Kiren.”

I blinked a couple of times, forcing myself to focus on where I was. And who I was. “Hi.”

“You look like you had a good time last night.”

My eyes opened wider. “What? What are you talking about?”

She frowned. “I was just kidding. Did I stumble on something accidentally?”

“What?” I was doing a hell of a job trying to hide my flustered tone. It was as if being with Max took away all my brain cells and left me functioning on autopilot.

“Never mind.”

I heard her humming as she sat back down at her desk.

Great. Now she would be asking all sorts of questions all day long. All I could think about was being with Max again. I didn't care about work or anything else. All I wanted was him. Damn. I had it bad.

I was falling in love. If not already there.

How could I ever have guessed I would have someone who knew how to handle the little, so desperate and needy, inside me? It was almost inconceivable.

I never saw Max come in to work. He entered through another set of doors down the hall from where I worked. But Icould feel his presence. My blood felt him. It sizzled knowing he was near.

I turned on my computer and barely saw the screen. Suddenly, my phone chirped with a text coming through. I looked and saw it was from Max.

Lunch?

I texted back.Yes.

Sandwiches again? On the roof?

Yes. It's my favorite place. Other than your house.

The morning went by as slow as watching the last of the ketchup dripping from the bottle. Finally, the lunch break came. I went down to the lobby and saw Max standing in line at the deli stand. I didn't have to wait behind him. He asked what I wanted and bought it for me. If anyone had been watching, they’d know then and there that there was something going on between us.

On the roof, Max asked, “What are you doing tonight?”

“Well,” I said. “I left all my stuff at my boyfriend's house.”

“Does that mean you're going back there?”

“If he wants me.”

“One look at you and I can pretty much guarantee you he does.”

We both laughed. My entire body was glowing from the inside out. I was a beacon of heat and desire, convinced I stood out to every satellite that passed by. I wanted everything with Max. Could he tell?

“You're so needy right now, aren't you, baby?”

My face flamed. “Yes, Daddy.”

“We're going to have to figure out how I can take care of you while we're at work so you feel completely whole and secure.”

“And,” I added. “At the same time make sure no one finds out.”

“Our world. Our secret.” Max crossed his fingers and put them to his lips.

That sounded entirely too titillating. Sneaking around with Max at the office... Why did that turn me on so much? I couldn't wait to find out what he had in the store.

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