Page 50 of One Hotlanta Night
Okay,nowI am blown away. I didn’t realize Michael was shirking his duties to talk to me. “He just seems so responsible.”
“Oh, he is. He’s the most driven supervisor I’ve ever had. But when he spent so much time locked up in his office and then started walking around with a big ole grin on his face… well, we knew something was up.” He smirks again, but it’s obvious he means it in fun. “And apparently that something, or someone, is you.” Janice smiles up at him, clear adoration on her face.
“And you? How long have you two been together?” I ask, attempting to draw the attention away from me.
“Two years,” she replies, her hand on his chest. “We’ve moved from project to project. I like the adventure of new places.”
“And how long have you known Michael?”
“About a year,” a new voice cuts in. I turn to my right and look into frosty cold eyes. The girl’s hair is a ravishing auburn, and her grey eyes would make her a stunning looker if it weren’t for all the ice she’s sending my way.
“Okay…” I say, not sure what to make of this sudden insertion into the conversation.
“Michael and I gowayback to when he started here,” she informs me, the possessiveness clear in her tone. I stiffen and begin to calculate in my head. One: who is she? Two: who is she to Michael? And three: I don’t know who this chick thinks she is but she’s about to get more than just a Bless-Your-Heart if she doesn’t back down.
“Sorry, didn’t catch your name?” I ask with just as much acid as she gave me.
“Abigail,” she responds haughtily, looking down her nose.
“Well, Abigail, I’m Vivian.”
“Iknowwho you are,” she shoots back.
“Funny, but I’ve heard Michael mention a lot of coworkers' names, and I don’t remember him saying anything about an Abigail.”
“That’s because we aren’tjustcoworkers,” she starts, stepping closer to me.
My nostrils flare and my fists tense at my side. Clearly there’s a history here, but I’m the one who woke up in his bed. I’m the one he came here with tonight and if she thinks she can intimidate me…
“There you are, my lady,” a low voice breaks the tension surrounding us as Michael appears to my left. Running a hand up to cup the back of my neck, he crashes his lips to mine, kissing me full on in front of everyone. His other hand grabs my waist, pulling our bodies flush against each other. His mouth is hot and heavy, and I’m shocked when he slips his tongue inside, deepening the kiss. Every part of me electrifies at his touch, my eyes falling shut at the heat of his presence, and I can almost forget that there are other people around us. “I missed you,” he says after breaking away with ragged breaths and cupping my jaw as he searches my eyes. I see concern and warmth in his, and I give him a small smile.
With one more quick peck to my forehead, he turns to the small audience that’s accumulated in front of us. “Ah, I see you’ve all met my girlfriend, Vivian,” he announces, scanning the group, stopping briefly to level a hard look at Abigail.
The girl’s face pinches up, and she turns in a huff to retrieve a bowling ball from the chute. More people come up to introduce themselves, holding out their hands to shake, but I can’t focus ontheir names. Can’t focus on anything but that kiss—and the girl who seemed to provoke it. As soon as there’s space to breathe, I ask Michael quietly, “So… ex-girlfriend, huh?”
He turns to look straight into my eyes. “Nope.”
When I arch my brow in an are-you-kidding-me scowl, he laughs, finds a seat, and drags me onto his lap. “Never a girlfriend. We had a few dates, and that was it. She wanted more, and I didn’t. When you know, you know.” He plants a soft and intentional kiss to my lips.
Sweet kisses shouldn’t have the power to thrill me to my core, but his do.
“I learned a long time ago that if the person you’re dating isn’t someone you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with, then you’re just playing around. I don’t like wasting time, and I won’t waste anyone else’s time either. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us.” My whole body tenses and the shock on my face must register with him because he wraps his arms tighter around me. Stroking my hair, he presses his forehead to mine. “I know what I want, Vivian, and it’s right here. Do you feel it too?” His eyes bore into mine. They’re full of passion, need, and… something stronger than the words he spoke to me the other night.
I tremble at the intensity, and he runs his thumb over my bottom lip.
“So perfect,” he murmurs, and I kiss his thumb lightly. His lips capture mine again, a sweet, soft, closed-mouth kiss, but no less passionate. It grounds me as much as it makes my heart float, and when I pull back, his smile gives me the security I’m seeking. I can’t make sense of these wildly fluctuating emotions right now, so I curl back against him. He makes me feel safe, and he’s not pressuring me for a response. Just lets the words speak for themselves, and confirms with his body that I’m protected… and that he’s unequivocallymine.
“Damn, man, I thought you came to bowl, not cuddle,” Adam interrupts our connection with a laugh. “Don’t get soft on me now. I won’t know how to handle it.” He smirks good-naturedly as he hands two of the company t-shirts to us.
Michael grins back at Adam and says, “Oh, you asked for it now, sucker.” He helps me off his lap and grabs a shirt. “C’mon baby, you’re part of the team now.” He tugs it over my head. It’s grossly oversized and falls to my knees, but I guess that’s better than something squishing my boobs. He takes an appraising look at me and blows out a low whistle. Smoothing the fabric over my waist and tugging it down over my shorts, he rumbles against my ear, “Got any room in there for me?” His breath is hot against my skin as he drags his mouth across my neck, leaving goosebumps in his wake.
“Dude, we’re at your work!” I laugh as I teasingly shove him away.
He grabs my hands in one of his and pins them to his chest. “One, I’m not your dude, I’m your man. And two, I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks,” he says roughly as he pulls me toward him. This time it’s a searing kiss that he brands on me, possessive and hungry and filling me with fire. It’s all-consuming and blatantly claiming, as if he’s starved for my mouth. I’m both shocked that he’s doing this right here where everyone can see us, and also completely turned on that he’s doing this in public. I whimper, unable to reach up and touch his face because my hands are still captive in his.
“All right, you two, if it gets any smoochier in here I’m gonna spontaneously ovulate,” Janice cuts in as we come back to the present and hear whistles and whoops around us.
With a groan, Michael breaks off from my mouth and exhales heavily against my forehead. At least I’m not the only one breathless. “An hour?” I whisper, my eyes hazy and my mouth feeling slightly bruised.
