Page 38 of Anyone But the Boss

As I stare uncomprehending, Thomas shifts his body closer, his fingers sliding around my side, something grazing over a rib. Something that also feels like metal. The cool touch stalling my lust-addled brain.

Unable to process the implications of our newly acquired matching accessories, I return to study Thomas, my eyes moving up his chest, the strong column of throat to his face, usually devoid of all facial hair, shadowed by dark pinpoints of whiskers. Stubble should make him look older, and yet the stoic tyrant appears young and boyish as he sleeps. He’s adorable. Even with the mottled, swollen dildo-shaped bruise deforming his left eye.

With a shaky hand, weighed down by tacky jewelry, I raise the sheets. The first thing I notice is my lack of proper bikini line maintenance. Because of course.

The second thing is a very hard and very hot cock poking against my thigh. My brain stutters at the realization that that was inside me.

Once more it’s hard to swallow. I touch my thumb to my new ring to help focus my thoughts without getting sidetracked by my new-found and surprisingly strong libido.

Very studiously not looking at the length of my boss lying next to me, I stare at the third and final thing of note happening under the covers. Thomas’s left hand resting along the curve of my ribcage and the band of gold – a masculine match to mine – residing on it.

Knock. Knock.

‘Alice, you up?’ Liz, my suite mate for the trip, calls from the other side of my closed bedroom door.

Thomas stirs and I slap my hand over his mouth. ‘Yes!’

He groans and I realize I missed most of his mouth, my palm colliding with his cheek – the one below his black eye.

‘Shoot,’ I whisper, grimacing at his death stare. ‘Sorry.’

‘Do you need help?’ Liz’s voice is layered with concern.

‘No, no.’ Though he hasn’t spoken, I slide my hand off his cheek and over his mouth. ‘I’m good.’

There’s a beat of silence that I can’t appreciate due to the sound of my heart trying to explode from my chest.

‘You sure?’ It must be the adrenaline rushing through my system, but I swear Liz sounds amused.

‘Yes, yes.’ I shake my head as if she can see me, which my dehydrated, pounding skull does not appreciate. ‘All hunky-dory here.’ Hunky-dory?

I hold my breath.

‘Well, if you’re sure you’re okay.’

‘Yes.’ My lungs deflate in a rush. ‘One hundred percent. Totally okay.’

‘Then I’m going to head down and charge my brother’s room for brunch before picking up my bridesmaid dress from the concierge.’

‘Sounds good.’

‘You want me to wait for you?’

‘Uh, no, that’s okay.’ Though I’m suddenly starving and would very much like to retreat from this situation, there’s no way I can leave. Especially without Liz seeing Thomas. ‘I, uh, think I’ll just sleep in a bit more.’

I think she laughs, but I can’t be sure. But it wouldn’t be surprising as I am acting like a nutjob.

‘If that’s the case, I’ll grab your dress when I grab mine so you can sleep in.’

‘Great, thanks. Awesome.’

‘No prob.’ She’s definitely laughing now. ‘I’ll see you later.’

My hand stays flat against Thomas’s mouth until I hear the door to the suite open and close.

As soon as I lift it, Thomas slides his body up under the sheets.

‘Sorry, I, uh, panicked.’

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