Page 9 of One Forbidden Night with Her Orc Boss

Oh. Gods. Her ass. What was I thinking? Now I have to follow this gorgeous peach all the way to the top?

Now who’s the asshole?

It’s breezy at the top without the protection of the forest. Beckett shivers, just a little, and her skin erupts in goose pricks. There’s a brief half-second of war within me—that I should warm her up. When I see her nipples through her thick work polo, I know I’m a goner. Turning away from her, I make myself focus on the ocean. And the way it sparkles a deep cerulean blue as it stretches out in every direction.

“If you squint, you can see the mainland there,” I say, pointing. Doing everything I can to distract myself from the very unprofessional position I’ve now put us both in. It’s as if I’ve let all logic leave my brain and body where Beckett is concerned. Dangerous.

When she looks the direction I’m pointing, she sucks in a breath through her teeth. It’s a sound that goes straight to my cock. “Surprisingly, this is better than the view from the cliff.” She turns to me, her face redder than our demon sheriff’s, her eyes wide.

“That’s not what your—” I cut myself off as my lips form the ‘p’ ofpussy. What am I doing?

My fingers twitch, wanting to touch hers that rest on the railing, but knowing that I’m already walking on thin, brittle ice.

Beckett walks in a circle around the perimeter of the tower, occasionally peeking out over the edge. “So when do you use this fire tower?”

For fucking you,I don’t say.

“Mostly as a regrouping spot if we know we’re going to be up here for longer than one night. The off crew will stage supplies and rest up to switch out as long as no one is on the north side.”

“And if the rescue is on the north side?”

“Then we pack everything in and out. The north side is wild and exposed. It isn’t a playground.”

She’s finished her circle, landing in front of me again, hand back on the rail. This time, her hand touches mine. It isn’t a shock or a jolt or a spark. It’s a gods-damned flood barreling me over like a tsunami.

“I don’t want to put my job in jeopardy,” she says, her voice a tremulous whisper.

“No,” I huff out. “I would never put your job at risk. We play with life and death all the time. I need a solid team that knows how to trust and work together.” Even as the words come out of my mouth, my other hand makes contact with that same luscious hip I drooled over earlier, resting tentatively against her.

“Good. I’m glad you understand me. I knew you would when I met you.” Her words are a vice around my heart, because no one has ever wanted to trust me with their heart before. I suppose that trust is a two-way street; I’ve never trusted anyone with my heart, either. But I would rip it out and hand it to her if she asked. Her other hand comes to rest on my chest, in the place where my granite heart resides. She looks up at me with those big brown eyes and I’m gone. Completely smitten in a way I’ve never been before.

Her hand imprints itself on my soul. I swore to myself that I would let her take the lead if and when she felt it. Or when she no longer worked for me. My fingers on her hip twitch, but I don’t move them across her body like I long to. I can’t.

Time slows as she rises up, on tiptoes, and kisses the cleft in my chin. The only thing she can reach. It’s all the nudge I need. I remove my hands from her, only to reach around and pick her up, one hand on her ass, the other cupping her cheek, and kiss her. Deep, hard, passionate. Letting all my feelings of need, longing, want, and desire pour into her.

Her legs grip me, arms steadying her around my neck, her fingers digging into my back. She kisses me back with everything I give her. Tastes like honey and peaches, and it takes all my willpower not to chase her lips when she pulls back from mine and takes a deep breath. She clears her throat.

“We should move on if we’re going to finish before I have to pick up Lucy.”

Grunting, I set her down and we descend the ladder and retrace our steps to my bike.

There’s the bomb. The slap in the face I need. Because Beckett can’t be a one-night thing. She isn’t someone whose emotions I should even touch, let alone play with. Because not only is she my employee, she’s a mom, and I don’t want to fuck with that at all.

Never mind that Lucy’s little giggle is present in my dreams, too.

---