All of a sudden, her open mouth shoves forward onto my cock, pushing it as far back as it’ll go while one hand fondles her own breast and the other pats her clit over and over. Tears squeeze out of her eyes, as she chokes me back. Then, sliding back in the chair, she throws her head up and lets out the longest, achy, delicious groan I’ve ever heard. With her head tilted back, chin up and mouth open in ecstasy, she trembles with the residual waves of her orgasm.

Seeing her nipples harden and the wave of prickly pink wash over her light skin, I can’t hold on any longer and move head of my cock near her mouth. “Open, Alana. Show me what you would do for me.”

Her tongue sticks out, flat and beautiful, and right there, accepting this clear invitation, I empty my balls right into her mouth. Creamy ropes of cum squiggle onto her lips and tongue, and I stroke and stroke again until I’ve given it all to her and there’s nothing left of myself. Fuck! So fucking good. So wrong! And so weak.

I’ve never hated such an amazing moment so much. Kase Hardwin has always maintained control. Kase Hardwin has turned himself to stone over the years, so much that he can’t feel anymore, and that’s the way he likes it. Yet, I feel such peace, such communion with this woman that I bend down to kiss the mouth stained with my lust, and savor it as long as I can, because I can’t continue to let this happen. Even if I build a walled gate between her section of the house and mine, even if I have to strap a chastity belt to her body, or fuck—even to mine—I can’t do this again.

This is asking for trouble. Huge trouble. All it takes is one employee to file a complaint against me, but how can there be any grievances when this is so damn mutual?

I turn around and zip up, collecting myself as best as I can. Catching my breath, I have to think of what to say. Do that everyday, please? No, that won’t work. Never leave this house, Alana—you’re perfect? No, too desperate. But that’s how Alana makes me feel. Like I need her.

And that is the most dangerous feeling of all.

Because I don’t need anyone, least of all a woman.

“What does this mean now?” The question slips quietly across the room, and I know I’ll find her buttoning up and almost finished getting re-dressed.

I turn and see her standing, jeans back on, buttoning up the last button. Her hair is mussed, and her lips are raw red from kissing and sucking. She’s both beautiful and annoying as hell. How could I be so stereotypically male and succumb to pure sex that way without an ounce of restraint, especially after a self-given pep talk?

“This means we fucked up again, Alana,” I tell her. I know it’s not what she wants to hear, but that’s the fact. We did it again, allowing our bodies to control us. This can’t possibly be good for our professional relationship nor that with Liam. I don’t care how amazing that blowjob was. “Time for bed. Thank you for caring for Liam.”

“Your son,” she says, clearly irritated.

“What?”

“Your son. Why don’t you ever say ‘my son?’ You always say Liam.”

Her gaze is unflinching. Angry. Hurt. Not because of how I address Liam, but because this is all she can do to relay her true feelings. She’ll take the proud route and refuse to admit how much my words hurt her, but she’ll take it out on something else I’m doing.

“I say Liam because that’s his name.” I give her a cold glare to ensure she doesn’t bring it up again. Nobody knows—nobody except Evie—that Liam isn’t my son, and Evie’s gone. So unless Alana’s been talking to my dead best friend’s ghost or she’s psychic, there’s no way she could know the truth.

“I just find it odd,” she adds. “No worries, Mr. Hardwin. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

“You just did, though.”

Her lips now a thin line, I can see I’ve struck a nerve. I’ve fucked things up with her, but that’s the way it needs to be. “I wanted to make sure I wasn’t imagining…”

“Imagining what?”

“A connection. Between us. But clearly, you have none. Goodnight.” Breezing past me, taking the scent of sex and overindulgence with her, Alana leaves.

I close my eyes and breathe her in for the last time. Because I can’t let a woman control me like this. I’m my own man, and I don’t need anyone, especially not some fresh-out-of-college girlie making me feel bad for a decision I know is right. Closing the door to my office, I return to my desk, take what’s left of my whisky and Coke and slam the fucking thing back.