Page 10 of Flawless Foundations

Marshal. She was with another man tonight.

To be clear, I'm not jealous of that jackass, but seeing her tonight on the arm of another man, it is messing with me. One of the elevator doors slide open, and she hurries on, I'm close behind. As the doors close, I slowly reach out and push the fourteenth-floor button.

"Were you really feeling sick or just trying to get away from your boyfriend?" I ask, giving her a sideways glance.

She shakes her head. "And what do you care, King?"

"Actually, I don't, not really. I just find it interesting, that's all." I chuckle.

"So, tell me, do you bang all your assistants?" She flings the insult at me fair and square as she turns toward me. She cocks her eyebrow, challenging me.

I let out a low growl. "I do not bang anyone who works for me."

"Right." She draws out the word. I take a step toward her.

"Why do you care, Bex?" She huffs and rolls her eyes.

"I don't, I just find it interesting that you've gone through so many wide-eyed and willing assistants." She juts out a hip, and her sass is almost too much to bear. I want to grab her and pull her to me and kiss her stupid.

"Was Little Miss Eager Beaver tonight hoping to score with future Mr. CEO?" she spouts, and I give a husky moan. She bites that damn lip again, and I pounce. I close the small space between us.

With both hands cupping her face, I pull her into my kiss. I'm not gentle when I nip at the lip that's been taunting me all night. She lets out a silky gasp as I continue to devour her lips. Her hands slide up the front of my shirt, not stopping until they are wrapped around my neck, fingers twisting in my hair. She pulls me closer as I feel her tongue tangle with mine.

As the elevator comes to a stop and the door slides open, we pull a part. The space is full of heavy pants and beating hearts. She shakes her head once, as her hand reaches up, touches the lips that taste fucking phenomenal. Then she turns tail and disappears down the hall.

Stunned into silence, I stare after her. Did she just run away from what just happened?

But then I think about what just happened, and I can't help but grin.

Yeah, she can run, but she can't hide, no way is that kiss a one-time thing.

Chapter 7

Becca

Ibrush my fingers across my lips for the umpteenth time as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. With a huff, I rip my pillow from under my head and cuddle into it as I turn on my side. Frustration builds inside of me every minute that I can't get that damn kiss out of my mind. In my head, I've dubbed it Levi's Kiss. Because, it was a kiss like none other, and it was the kiss I always imagined sharing with Levi King. But then it was his kiss, right? He kissed me, I'm not imagining it, am I? No, I know I didn't attack his face. It was his doing.

I contributed, but I didn't make the first move. I swore off making the first move on Levi years ago. One failed attempt was enough for me, thank you very much.

His kiss was so powerful and commanding. It felt like years coming, though I still believe this crush, this... infatuation has only been one-sided. It just makes little sense to me. Does he regret the kiss this morning? Do I?

No, I don't, I'm glad it happened. Yet, I wonder where we go from here. He's not going anywhere, neither am I. How he acts the next time I see him will determine if it's business as usual in the "ignore Levi King" department. He can get the cold shoulder and all the snark I save just for him. I'm no coward though, I'll talk to him first. I'll admit I want to experience that kiss again.

Ugh. Which is why I'm so frustrated. For years I longed for that kiss. Last night, I finally got it, but I wasn't ready for it. There were a few minutes in the car that I felt the heat from his eyes bore into mine. But we were arguing. He was pushing buttons to drive me mad. Maybe he didn't mean for the kiss to happen. Maybe us arguing turned him on just enough to forget it was me. If I'm being honest, I was turned on too.

I hear movement in the living room. I peer at the clock on the bedside table, and it's eight. Emmy should be out by now. I dig my way out of my plush, comfy covers and out of bed. I'm not expecting Emmy to be standing at the kitchen sink when I open my bedroom door.

"Hey, why are you still here?" I make my way slowly to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

"I have a meeting off-site at nine, so it didn't make sense for me to be in the office for thirty minutes, then have to leave."

"Makes sense. So, I've got to tell you…" I almost launch into what happened last night, then I snap my jaw shut when I remember that I've never talked to Emmy about my crush on her brother. I don't know how she would take this news, that I can't just spill the beans over a cup of coffee in my pajamas a few minutes before she leaves for work.

"Tell me what?" She cocks her head, looking at me inquisitively, as she leans against the counter. I pull my freshly brewed mug of coffee away from the Keurig and mimic her position, standing next to her.

"Tell you that I'm ending my arrangement with Marshal." She cringes at my word choice.

"Ugh, it's not an arrangement. You're dating." She crosses her arms.

---