Page 9 of Of Mercury and Mist

This was going to be fun; I could work with this. Too bad it wouldn’t be forever.

Ashley silently followed me out of the apartment and back into my office, keeping her head down.

“Stand beside me. No, stand here,” I rumbled at her, taking her by the shoulders and directing her when she faltered. Her eyes kept flicking toward the door, plotting an escape that would never come.

Settling behind my desk, I checked my notifications and as I expected, a request for a replacement key for Karissa came through. I replied with instructions to send the woman here, to my office.

Next, I picked up my phone. “Ashley won’t be reporting for work anymore.” I heard her suck in a breath, and I shot her a warning glance that instantly slammed her lips together.

Brandon, her floor manager, was the one who’d answered the phone. “That’s a shame,” he replied. “Sucks for us. She was fantastic.”

“Yes, for you. She is now in service to me personally. Thank you.”

Hanging up, I swiveled my chair to face my new pet. It was adorable, the look of loathing she graced me, with her quivering lip. All while fidgeting with a silver band around her thumb. Snatching her hand, I tugged the ring free and slipped it into my pocket. Her focus would be on me and what I wanted her to do. No crutches.

“Get under my desk,” I snapped at her.

Disbelief filled her eyes. “What?”

“I believe I was clear with my order.” I smoothed my tie and adjusted the clip. “Now.”

Like the bastard I was, I didn’t move. She brushed her ass against my thighs and as much as I wanted to grab a handful, I didn’t. That wasn’t what this was about.

Ashley faltered, not wanting to touch me anymore than she had to, likely not trusting her physical response to my proximity. I could see her trying to figure out how she’d climb down and tuck herself inside the small space. She bent, holding the back of her skirt and climbed below. It was stunning that she didn’t fight my request very hard. I had to wonder what she was up to.

Much to my amusement there was no comfortable or decent way for her to sit. My desk was large, but the leg area was too small for an adult to spend any time under there. She had to arrange herself with her lower limbs spread and bent at the knees. My Italian leather shoes rested right by her crotch and her head was securely between my thighs. She was precisely where she should be.

I was adjusting myself and lazily playing with my belt buckle when Karissa arrived. She walked in, wearing a green blouse faintly Victorian in style and a knee-length black skirt. She looked like a seductive librarian with her excessively long, wavy hair and coy outfit. The tresses were a hazard. If I wasn’t about to let her go, I’d force her to chop them off. We couldn’t have her hair contaminating any of our products.

My mood was poor enough I still might have made her, regardless.

“Sir?” she prompted, not lifting her gaze.

“I’d thank you for following protocol, but you know you haven’t.” I sensed Ashley tensing, her jaw grinding against my knee and her hands squeezing my thighs. Karissa twitched and rocked back slightly on her heels.

“Sir?” she inquired again. “I don’t know how my card went missing, I’m sorry.”

“You do know what happens now, don’t you?” I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the desk surface. Ashley’s hands let go and she slapped at my legs, trying to get my attention.

Karissa started, “Please, I like working here, you guys have been great?—”

I interrupted, “You’ve read and signed the contracts. We’ve even hired employees based on your recommendations.” Ashley was one of them. I slid a foot forward until it pressed against the woman contorted against me. “You were fully informed of the rules, and the agreement is legally binding.”

“But—” Karissa tried to speak again.

“You understand what termination entails, correct?” Ashley’s little fists had begun pounding against my thighs, beating the muscles as hard as she could. It wasn’t much, as there was no room for the leverage she would need to even begin to bother me. She might as well have been a chipmunk under there for all the damage she could do.

As if she knew she was getting nowhere, she started banging on her enclosure. I squeezed my legs together. The disturbance quickly ended. Karissa’s eyes had dipped to the front end of the desk. “Karissa. Eyes on me.” I kept my voice low.

I picked up my phone. “Send them in,” I said, setting the receiver back on its base firmer than necessary for emphasis. The woman standing before me jumped slightly, and the one below ceased all movement. The tension in the air was a mouthwatering buffet I couldn’t help but savor.

Ashley’s head hit the wood slightly when she suddenly leaned forward. Intrigued, I didn’t stop her.

Until I felt her seize my cock with a vise grip and then twist. Her tiny hands were strong.

Reaching under the desk, I squeezed her wrist and kicked at her, a thump resounding against the wood the same time I roared at Karissa, “Get out!”

The poor girl squeaked and dashed for the door, wrenching it open. With perfect timing, our security was right there waiting to escort her from the building.

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