Page 10 of Billionaire's Black Assistant

“I deserved that,” said Dean, his expression calm as he viewed her stormy gaze. “But things will seem a whole lot better if we talk it through. Why don’t we go up?”

“Why, so you can pick up where we left off?” She shook her head at him. “I think I know better. You might be my boss, but we’ve crossed the line enough already. You should leave.”

She fumbled blindly for the door handle, and this time when he stopped her, it was with a gentle hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off but didn’t leave immediately. Instead she whispered, “I’ll hand in my resignation first thing tomorrow.”

“Fuck! What?” Dean swore underneath his breath but kept his cool. “Let’s not make any hasty decisions. Whatever mistakes you feel we’ve made, we can get past it. Hardly any reason for either of us to give up on the perfect arrangement. I’m not about to lose my best assistant.”

“Well, you should have thought of that before!” Sheri let out heatedly in accusation, but then cut short to sigh. “I don’t want to lose my job, either. So I’m willing to put…this behind us, if you can. But only on the grounds that it’s not to ever happen again. If you can’t promise that, then I might as well not show up to work tomorrow.”

Dean rubbed on his lip thoughtfully. He could swear he could still catch her honeyed essences on his fingertips. Stifling a groan of sexual frustration, he heard himself say, “So I guess that means we’re back to being just boss and assistant.”

“Yes,” she said firmly. Her cheeks looked more flushed than ever as she added, “No flirting, no dates and definitely…no sex. Absolutely off-limits.”

He arched a brow, seeing her bristle at his teasing look. “Was hoping for some wiggle room on those clauses, but if that’s what you want.” He shrugged.

“It isn’t about what either of us wants,” she told him with teeth-clinching patience. “I’m serious, Dean. I really just want to go back to doing my job, nothing more. You’ll simply have to seek other means of diversion. Knowing you, that’s never been a problem.”

She was speaking factually, with no spite intended in her words. Yet why did Dean feel his conscience getting pricked? True, most women in his past had been mere diversions. He had also liked to think that for them, too, he was merely a fleeting pastime. Except of course, those overly determined types hoping to be the one to tie him down for keeps.

“Alright, Sheri. Point taken. I’m a big guy and can handle rejection, so don’t you worry about my feelings,” he said drily, catching her look of relief that he’d agreed to her terms.

He realized she was right. This was a bad idea. He liked and admired her too much to risk ruining things with sex. If he had to choose, he’d say he’d rather keep Sheri as part of his life in her assistant role, rather than losing her after letting sex complicate and ruin things. The choice was pretty simple, really.

But since when did life ever remain as cut-and-dried as you wanted it?

Chapter 3

Sheri tried not to think she was a bad person. That made her a good person who’d done a very bad thing. And, she knew she had only herself to blame. She’d worked for Dean for months and knew how his mind worked. She was furious with herself for letting things reach the point they had. Even if he’d been the one to initiate it, she should have armed herself after all the warning signs.

The compliments on her dress. Inviting her out to the exhibition with him. His strange looks, almost as if he was peeling off her clothes. She was just so sure he’d never be interested in a woman like her, that she’d been blindsided.

This was a man she’d seen run through supermodels and starlets like laundry. He might be charming and fun to work for, but he was far from harmless. He’d proved that much when he’d made her do things that night she’d never dreamed of.

They’d almost had sex in the freaking car! She’d touched him, very intimately – and he’d done the same with her. She groaned in embarrassment recalling the sounds her hidden walls had made, squelching around his skillful fingers. If that intrusion from the passing car hadn’t happened, who knew how far things would have gone!

She was definitely glad that the respite had come, bringing her to her senses. Sheri may never forget how it had felt to hold his thick, long and hard member in her hands, and even though she ached inside and out thinking how deliciously he’d stretch her with his super-sized tool, it was simply an indulgence she’d have to pass up.

Filled with remorse as she was at her total lack of self-control, Sheri decided she did not trust herself around Dean. She’d be a fool to think things could ever get back to normal – certainly not completely. Or indefinitely.

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