Page 28 of Boss with Benefits

We stared at each other, neither one of us ready to let our guard down.

"Do you mind?" I asked, looking at the door he was blocking.

A little muscle ticked in his jaw. "Why did you quit?" he asked.

"They need me here," I lied. In reality, Gianna had been frustrated with me, sensing my lack of enthusiasm. "Please move."

"Are you mad at me?" he asked.

"No," I lied again.

"Bullshit." Derrick's gaze hardened. "I'm the one who should be furious."

"I was going to apologize sooner, but then you snubbed me in front of that woman, so I figured you wouldn't miss me. Now get out of my way, Mr. Jackass." I yanked his arm, but he was like Iron Man, unmovable.

"You can't blame me for being pissed," he said, raking his hand down his short beard. "And you didn't finish your job."

"I finished it!" Heat shot up my neck. "I organized your office into an inch of its life."

My chest rose and fell rapidly, and I glared at him. He glared back, and something shifted in the air, something electric ricocheting between us. A strange look crossed his face, and as he stepped toward me, I swore there was lust in his eyes.

"Derrick?" I tentatively rested my hand on his forearm. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" he asked, but didn't move.

I gripped his arm, digging my fingers around his thick muscle. "Did you only come to ask me back?"

"I don't know." His voice was low, like he was fighting against something.

This weird energy circled us, and I took a step closer, my toes hitting his shoes. My thumb traced a circle over his wrist, and he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"No." He yanked his arm out of my grip. "This isn't…I shouldn't have?—"

And that's when I saw it. The unmistakable bulge in his pants.

"Are you turned on right now?" My jaw dropped in surprise, and little sparks of lust hopped around my belly at the sight of his arousal.Fuck me, that's a big bulge.

I was expecting him to cover it with his hands or turn away, but he stood perfectly still, the only movement a tick in his jaw that I could barely see through his trimmed beard.

His gaze was clamped on mine, and I was unsure what was happening. He was obviously turned on, but he wasn't making any moves on me.

"I thought you couldn’t…" I trailed off, not wanting to upset him again.

"It was one incident a long time ago." He sucked in a deep breath and turned away from me. "This isn't why I came. I'm sorry. Just give me a second."

I heard him taking long, deep breaths, his head bent, regaining control. When he turned around again, his “swelling problem” was gone.

"I'm sorry," he said again. "That was inappropriate. I'm gonna have a lot to talk to my therapist about next time."

"Is that a joke?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes." The corner of his mouth ticked, like he was holding back a smile.

"Do you see a therapist?" I asked.

"Actually, we're on a break."

A laugh popped out of my mouth.

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