Page 69 of Boss with Benefits

"What if he hates me?" she asked softly.

"He won't hate you," I murmured, stroking her back. "You're incredible, Rachel. If he's half as smart as you, he'll see that."

She looked up at me, her face an inch from mine. "I don't know."

"I know," I said. My hand reached up and cupped her face, my thumb stroking her jawline.

“Thank you,” she said, her eyelids fluttering shut. Her head tilted foreward and her lips brushed mine, asking for more.

I stiffened, afraid to do this again because I knew she was just asking for a moment. And I didn’t want a moment. I wanted every second or every damn day with this woman.

33

RACHEL

Against my better judgment—but who was I kidding, I had no judgment!—I kissed Derrick. His mouth was hesitant at first, but then he kissed me back, and all the tension, all the anxiety, melted away.

This was why I'd kissed him, why I wanted more than this kiss. It took me away to a place that soothed me, like I was on the best fucking vacation of my life. Relaxed, exhilarated, like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

Derrick pulled back, his breath ragged. "Rachel, we can't."

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean? It's allowed. Prathi said."

"That's not what I mean." He tilted his head sideways away from my lips and ran a hand roughly through his hair. "I'm not a casual relationship kind of guy."

"But you're cured. You can do whatever you want now."

He groaned, a sound filled with frustration. "That's not what I'm talking about."

"I don't want to talk. Do you?" I leaned in, my fingers digging into his shoulders, pulling him toward me. I sighed when his lips pressed against mine again, hard and soft all at once. I ran my hands down the hard muscles of his back and slid my right hand down, scooping around his firm ass.

"No, Rachel," he said, his voice strained, grabbing my wrists and pulling them away from his backside.

"I need this," I protested. I pushed off him, frustrated. I knew he wanted me. And I needed to get this maddening, frenetic energy out of me.

"This isn't the way, Rachel. It's an avoidance technique."

"Maybe. But it's a fun one." I groaned. "Why does everything have to be so serious?" Then an idea struck me. "What if you just watch me?"

His eyes darkened with desire and raked down my body. "Like... masturbate?"

I nodded, a thrill of excitement dancing through me. "Yeah."

Derrick's breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought he'd say no. But then he nodded slowly, like he was shocked that he'd agreed.

"Okay," he said.

I settled onto his leather couch, and he sat on the edge of the overstuffed chair across from me, his heated gaze drilling into mine. I tossed my sweatshirt aside and ran my hand over my body-hugging tank top. Over the mounds of my breasts and across my belly, continuing the journey until my right hand tucked between my legs, over my shorts. I pressed my fingers against the fabric and massaged.

His brow was furrowed in concentration, watching me, and a heated current rushed over my skin. But it wasn't enough. My body was catching fire, and I wanted more. I unzipped my shorts and shimmied them down my legs, throwing them at Derrick's feet, but his eyes stayed glued to my hands and what they were doing.

My left fingers hooked into the crotch of my black cotton underwear, and I moved it aside, letting him look at me bare. He leaned forward, his gaze intent. I waited another moment as he drank me in, then I slid my right fingers inside.

I gasped, a shot of desire rushing through me, and it was wonderful and wicked watching him as he watched me.

My gaze locked onto his hands, which were mindlessly massaging his thighs, his cock a hard line under his tight joggers. It was intimate and raw, and I couldn't tear my gaze away as I continued to rub, bringing my wetness out and touching my clit. The sensations overwhelmed me, and my eyes rolled back as I mewled, sinking into the sensations.

Derrick made a low, guttural sound, and I fluttered my eyes open. His jaw was clenched, and the intensity with which he studied me made every nerve ending spark. I ached to go to him, to touch him and ask him to touch me. But I stayed where I was and continued the pleasure assault on my body.

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