Page 29 of Rook

“I’d love to have you here all the time,” I said, sliding my fingers between hers and squeezing.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, that is something that must be run past me.”

“Of course,” Tessa said, unflappable even in the face of Nancy’s clear distaste. “But, no. I’m not living here. In the interest of full disclosure, though, I did fall asleep here one night. I was just so exhausted after we spent three hours, well,you know,” she went on, making Nancy’s cheeks go scarlet. “And I fell asleep. I left as soon as I woke up, though. Well, notas soon,” she added, giving me a saucy look.

The look of horror on Nancy’s face nearly had me throwing my head back and laughing.

“We do tend to lose track of time together,” I agreed, releasing her hand to let my hand slide almost indecently high on Tessa’s thigh. Nancy’s gaze followed the movement, and she actually twitched twice, making me need to fake a cough to cover a laugh.

“I mean, you know how it is,” Tessa said to Nancy. “When you just can’t keep your hands off of each other.”

“I… I… let’s get back on track here.”

“Of course. What did you need to ask me?” Tessa asked.

“I need to know a bit of your history. I did run a background check on you. I found no criminal history.”

“Not even a parking ticket,” Tessa said. There was something strange in her voice as she confessed that. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, though.

Nancy, blunt as ever, went on. “Do you do drugs?”

“No, absolutely not. My mother was an addict. I watched it destroy her life and my whole life. I would never touch the stuff.”

Nancy nodded at that, scribbling away. “What about alcohol?”

“I mean, I have nothing against a glass of wine here or there. But I’m not really much of a drinker. Coffee is my main vice. Oh, and buying office supplies. I might have an actual problem there. If you ever need a pen recommendation, I’m the girl for you.”

Something about what she said seemed to soften Nancy’s posture a bit. Maybe she was an office supply addict as well.

There were a few more invasive questions, but it ended up being a lot less intense than I’d been expecting.

Tessa had laid on the charm thick. And Nancy had eaten it up.

“I am going to look around here for a bit, but I would love to see your office when I’m done,” Nancy said, making my brows shoot up.

“Absolutely! I can give you one of those pens I was talking about. I know they might take an extra second to dry, but the smooth way it writes is worth it. I’ll, uh, leave you to it,” she said to Nancy. Then she turned to me, pressing her hands into my chest, then going up on her tiptoes to press a peck of a kiss to my lips.

A peck.

That’s all it was.

But I swear there was a sizzle.

And we weren’t even going to talk about the way my cock stirred to life.

“I’ll see you for dinner later?”

“Can’t wait,” I said, grabbing her chin and pulling her back up.

It was just a show for Nancy.

Or, at least, that was what I was telling myself.

My lips claimed hers, pressing harder, deeper.

Tessa’s hands curled into my tee, and a little shiver racked her system.

It was a quick kiss.

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