Page 60 of Think Outside the Boss

Freddie’s caressing fingers makes me realize I’ve fallen silent. I cover her hand on my chest with my own, wrapping my fingers around hers. “Anyway. The women I meet at the Gilded Room don’t know who I am, at least the majority of them. When one speaks to me, I know they don’t want me for my money.”

Freddie twists in my grip, like she’s looking at my face. Perhaps she is, but it’s too dark for either of us to see anything. “But they only want you for your body,” she whispers. “Is that better?”

I walk my hand up her arm to cup her cheek in my palm. It’s wet, and I use my thumb to brush away the panicked tears that have fallen in the darkness. “It is,” I say. “Perhaps only marginally, but it’s better. How are you doing, sweetheart?”

“Holding it together.”

“Do you want us to breathe again for a bit?”

She nods, and we do another round of ten breaths. In and out, slowly and surely. I stroke my hand over her hair. “We’ll be fine, Freddie. I don’t think it’ll be long now.”

She doesn’t call me on it, shivering instead. “Cold?” I ask.

“It’s just the fear. God, I feel silly.”

Fuck. I really don’t want her to feel afraid, but there’s nothing I can do but keep her distracted. “You’re not silly,” I tell her.

“But I know that I am, because there isn’t any real danger. And now you’re seeing me like this.” Her breathing speeds up until it’s in pants, her hands on my chest tightening into gripping claws.

“Hey, we’re friends, aren’t we? I’m here, and I won’t go anywhere. Just focus on me.”

“I’m trying,” she whispers, but she’s still trembling in my arms. In the darkness, I can’t see her expression, but I can hear the increasing panic in her breathing.

So I tip her head back and stroke her full lips with my thumb, and do the only thing I can think of. I slant my mouth over hers.

Our lips meet in softness, fear meeting strength. I smooth my thumb over her cheek and try to convey comfort, stability. Try to tear her mind away from the panic.

She pulls me into it instead.

Her mouth opens on a gasp and slim fingers slide into my hair. They tug, sending shivers down my spine. Kissing her at the Gilded Room had been like drinking the sweetest wine. Here in the darkness she’s whiskey, and she burns.

Her lips open and I take what’s offered, sweeping my tongue over her lower lip. It’s gentle.

She responds by climbing into my lap.

My hands shift to her thighs, gripping her as she straddles me. In the darkness, there’s no telling where one of us ends and the other starts, and I kiss her like she’s the only light available.

She kisses me back like she trusts me. Like she needs me as desperately in this moment as I need her. My fingers dig into her hips, craving the contact of her smooth skin instead of the fabric of her coat.

My entire body tightens in need.

She locks her hands behind my neck, and it’s been so long since someone clung to me like this, like she needs me and only me in this moment. Her teeth scrape over my lower lip and I chuckle, my palms flattening against her back. So she wants to play rough?

Sudden light plays against my closed lids. I lift my head from Freddie’s, blinking against the brightness.

A clipped voice echoes from the panel. “We’re very sorry about this inconvenience. We should have the elevator moving again shortly.”

“Thank you,” I call out.

The line clicks off and I turn my attention to Freddie, still straddling my legs. Her eyes are red and wet, her lips puffy, and I know the latter is my doing. “How are you doing?”

“Good,” she says, but the harrowed look in her eyes doesn’t leave. I smooth my hands over hers and loosen the death grip on my coat.

“Let’s stand.”

She gives me a look that makes it clear she thinks I’m crazy for suggesting it, but I help her up, my arm around her waist. We sway as the elevator begins to move with a faint jerk.

She buries her face in my jacket, and I smooth a hand over her back. Over and over again until the elevator slides to a smooth halt at the top floor. It’s a tangle of arms and haste in making it out into the narrow corridor, and then Freddie’s hand finds mine and she’s pulling me to a door at the end. Her hands tremble as she pulls out her keys, so I take them from her and unlock the door.

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