“I appreciate you coming to speak with me,” I said, trying to give her the space to leave. “You can go. I think we’ve said what needed to be said.”

She stood up slowly, her movements slightly stiff. She was still flustered, and as she turned toward the door, I caught sight of the way her hips swayed slightly with each step. The heat in my chest flared again. My mind raced with thoughts of her pressed up against my desk, bending over for me. The image was vivid—too vivid. Her parting words, about me ordering her to bend over my desk seemed lodged in my brain in a way I couldn’t shake. Why had she said that?

I stood frozen, staring at her, but before I could collect myself, she turned back to face me. “Thank you for being understanding,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

I nodded, but the words that nearly escaped my lips were completely inappropriate. I bit down on them—that urge to ask her if she meant it—feeling the moment pass. “You’re welcome, Amelia.”

As she walked out, I sat back in my chair, trying to force the image of her bent over my desk from my mind. I scrubbed my hands over my face, but the arousal in my body was proof that I’d have a very difficult time following my own instructions. I didn’t want to put that night out of my thoughts; I wanted to see her again, experience her body in the throes of ecstasy again.

My phone rang, however, pulling me out of the gutter and back into my office. I reached into my desk drawer and pulled it out to see Laurence’s name on my caller ID, and just like that, the shame I felt over lusting after his daughter consumed me. Desire vanished and my swelling dick deflated like a flat tire.

“Hey, buddy, what’s up?” The forced pleasantry felt like deceit. If he knew I had sex with Amelia, I doubted he’d be so cordial with me.

“Xander, I just wanted to thank you again for inviting me to the party. And thank you for bringing Mimi home. She had a great time. She told me all about how you were a perfect gentleman and offered to walk her to her door…” His words trailed off, painting a picture of a happy daughter whose whole world was alight thanks to my chivalry. If he only knew the nasty things I wished I could do to that young woman he called his little girl.

Yes, cutting that off immediately was the best decision. I was already in too deep.