Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
I came to work this morning, fully prepared to keep this shit bottled for another day. That little slip of paper changed things. I saw the panic in her gaze when she realized I had it. I saw the way her cheeks turned pink when she lied about why my name was on it.
She wants me.
As far as I'm concerned, that changes things.
Hell, it changes everything.
"Make it happen," I tell Hector. "I'll let her know that she'll be reporting to you from now on."
"Good luck," he says, grinning at me. "But if she kills you before we win that fucking title, it'll be your ass."
"Just do it," I growl, stomping toward the door.
Seraphina is at her desk when I stride back into our office suite, her face scrunched up as she types out a text to someone, muttering under her breath.
She jumps when she sees me, dropping her phone. Something about me makes her nervous as hell. Always has. With everyone else, she's grace personified. With me, she's a stuttering, stumbling, walking disaster. I never thought I'd see the day when I found clumsiness so goddamn endearing—or so sexy—but here we are. Every time she stumbles, I want to scoop her up and fuck her raw. Every time she stutters, I imagine her beneath me, stuttering and moaning through an orgasm.
"We need to talk," I say. "Come to my office."
"Um, okay." She grabs the phone, shoving it into her desk drawer, and then stands, following me into my office like she's preparing for her funeral.
I leave the door open a crack, striding to my desk.
"Do you need something?" she asks after a long, silent moment.
"Yes." I lift my gaze, meeting hers. "You're going to be working under Hector Guiterrez from now on."
I think I should have found a gentler way to break the news, because she jerks like I just slapped her, her entire body going rigid. "What?"
"Hector will be your direct supervisor from now on."
"Are you kidding me right now?" she growls, her face flushing. "You're firing me?"
"What?"
"You found that stupid game, and now, you're firing me!" she cries. "You are unbelievable, Stone."
"That's not what I'm—"
"You know what?" She stomps toward me, too wound up to hear me. Christ, she's sexy as hell right now, all quivering rage and pink cheeks. "Fire me. I don't care. I'd rather work for Hector than spend every damn day fantasizing about strangling you with the cord from your whistle anyway!"
"Seraphina, you'll still be working with me."
This time, she hears me. "What?"
"You'll still be working with me."
She draws up short, just a few paces from my desk. "Um…"
"Hector will be your direct supervisor, but you'll still be my assistant."
"Oh," she whispers almost sheepishly. "I…" She huffs adorably. "My bad?"
My lips twitch. She's so fucking cute when she's out of sorts. It does things to me that it shouldn't. "Do you really fantasize about strangling me with my own whistle cord?"
"I…"
"Don't lie to me now, angel."
"Yes," she says, lifting her chin. "You're infuriating, Stone."
That's fair. Can't say I blame her. I know I've been a fucking beast since she started working for me. What'd Hector say she called me? A Thanos-level villain?
I wonder if she'd still feel the same way about me if she knew she spent every day one tiny breath away from me fucking her senseless on top of my desk. I've been a millimeter from snapping since she walked into my office, and the only thing that's saved her has been her job. Would knowing that change her opinion at all?
I decide to find out.
"You know what I fantasize about?"
She swallows so hard her whole body moves with the motion. "W-what?"
"Bending you over this desk and making you scream my name."
"That…that's not very professional."
"I'm aware." I close the distance between us, crooking a finger beneath her chin. "That's precisely why Hector will be your supervisor from now on, Seraphina."
"I'm so confused right now," she whispers, staring at me with those impossibly wide eyes.
"You aren't marrying Ashton," I murmur, leaning down to brush my lips across her cheek. It's a tiny taste, just enough to drive me wild, but it's all I'm allowed to take for now. At least until she's officially under Hector's supervision. And then?
Well, then, all bets are off.
Chapter Three
Seraphina
"Who?" I mumble, my legs trembling and my whole body one second from causing an actual forest fire. I thought he called me in here to fire me. I was prepared to give him hell about it. I am not prepared for whatever sorcery this is.
"The little prick on your MASH board," Stone growls against my ear, nuzzling my throat before he pulls back with a groan. "He isn't your future, angel. I am."
"I…I am so confused."
I think I said that already, but it bears repeating.
"I know you are," he murmurs, his tone softer than I've ever heard it. His eyes are soft, too. And so damn warm. He's looking at me like he wants to spread me out and feast. "You want me, don't you?"