Page 103 of Undeniably Corrupt
“Are you just getting back in bed?” Because I have a feeling he left me after I fell asleep and went down to his office to work on… whatever it is he works on.
“Yes.”
I blink open my eyes to find we’re facing each other,both of us on our sides on our respective pillows. His stubble-lined jaw has another layer, and his eyes are a shade darker than they usually are. Yes, Vander’s mind isn’t settled.
“Go back to sleep.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead.
“I’m awake now.” And I don’t want to go back to sleep. Not yet. I want to keep this night going as long as possible.
“You know this wasn’t in your job description when I hired you or convinced you to move in,” he says, locked on my face. “I believe I promised you a lot of things. More promises that I’ve broken.”
“Should I file a report with HR?”
“I’m technically the head of HR. Maybe I’ll give you a raise instead.”
I snort a half-laugh. “A raise for screwing my boss? How very nineties corporate scandal of you. I can just see theDatelineepisode now.”
“That’s only if you report my transgressions, which I don’t think you will. And the raise is because Champagne is retiring on Friday, and I think you’ll end up deserving it since you have to deal with me. I’m not a very good boss.”
That’s a lie. He’s a great boss. He doesn’t see it, and he doesn’t realize it because he’s gruff and brilliant and demanding, but he’s patient and listens and respects his employees and their thoughts and opinions. He also randomly gives us time off, like he did Friday afternoon.
“True. You’re a horrible boss. The kind who spreads his assistant across his desk and makes her come.”
He smiles, and it’s like when he was a seventeen-year-old kid again. That smile used to make me weak in the knees. He was my older brother’s best friend, and I noticed him long before he noticed me. That smile stole my heart and easily still owns it.
His fingers splay across my stomach under my shirt, but he’snot copping a feel up or down, which he easily could. It’s as if he’s content with our cute pillow talk. “I should probably recuse myself from your performance evaluations.”
“You better not.” I feign indignation. “I’m fabulous in bed. Far better at that than I am at being an assistant. I feel like those will be my highest marks.”
“You’re learning, and you’re doing great. You are.”
I preen a little at the assurance in his green eyes. I wish he weren’t so beautiful with his full lips and dimpled chin, rough, stubbled jaw, forest green eyes, and messy blond hair.
“Will this be weird for you? Things have changed this weekend, and I don’t want to lose it. Not ever.”
My heart gives a powerful thump at that, but I bring us back to light territory. “I mean, probably. Not even two months ago, I was a sexy stripper, and you were just the boy who broke my adolescent heart. Now you’re my boss and the landlord I don’t pay rent to.” I gasp and slap a hand over my mouth. “Ah! I’m sleeping with you. I’ve officially upped my way to whore.”
He rolls his eyes. “If you’re a whore, you’re my whore, and I mean that in a hot, filthy way and no other. I could call you my lover if that’s more palatable.”
“Um, no.” I scrunch my nose. “Sounds very adult. And cringe.”
“Boyfriend sounds ridiculous and juvenile.”
“I never said you were my boyfriend.”
“I never called you my whore,” he counters sharply.
“Ugh. Whatever happened to roommates with benefits?”
“They don’t typically get anal.”
I crack up, unable to stop. “God, we’re complicated.”
“Always have been, Angel.” His expression softens. “But I like having you here. Both of you. Temporary… or not,” he adds, and there’s meaning behind it.
“Hazel likes it here as well,” I tell him instead of addressing that.
“She looks just like you.”
