Ice clanged in one glass then the other. Then he filled both and returned to hand me a drink.
I wasn’t a bourbon drinker. I preferred vodka, but when in Rome and all that.
He rested his butt against the front edge of his desk and sighed, undressing me with his gaze.
I stiffened as I stood in the middle of the room between a lounging area on one side and bookcases on the other, holding the glass—afraid if I drank, I might strip for him.
He set his glass on the desk and ambled by me to close the office door.
The sound of it snicking shut made me flinch. “What are you doing?”
“It’s time we have a quiet chat.”
I downed the whiskey, not caring that my throat was on fire or that an inferno was spreading through my chest. I almost choked as my eyes watered from the burn. “Just so you know,” I said, sounding as if I’d lost my voice, “I prefer vodka.”
He took the glass from me, unhooked my purse from my shoulder, and dumped both on his desk.
“What’s next? My clothes?” I teased, my muscles loosening after that drink.
“Do you want that?”
I lifted my chin. “What do you want, Duke?”
He dragged a hand along his five o’clock shadow that added mystery and sexiness to him. “Are we being open and honest?”
“Of course.” My stomach was doing somersaults.
Without warning, his lips were on mine. He kissed me like a man possessed—harder, firmer, hungrier than the last two times.
The delicious shudder made my body quake inch by slow inch until my clit was throbbing. I wanted him so badly, but I promised I wouldn’t give in to my desires. I couldn’t.
“Let go, Joy,” the formidable criminal pleaded.
Oh, how I would love to hear my real name on his lips.
“I need you,” he whispered. “You’re like a drug I never had and want more of.”
“We’re wrong for each other, Duke. So wrong.” My weakness was bad boys like him. Maybe not in the criminal sense but men who were confident, brave, dominant, and assertive. The problem with that type was they shattered hearts. Matt had even confirmed that very thing about Duke.
“Why do you think that?” he asked, pain in his voice.
“Your two-fuck rule. I’m afraid I would want more of you.” I wasn’t lying about that. I had to keep our relationship as employee and boss. Easier said than done when my body was steering the ship and telling my brain to take a hike.
“One night, Joy. That’s all I’m asking, and anyone close to me knows I don’t beg for anything.”
His pleading tone was pulling at my heartstrings as my conscience battled with my desperate need to feel him on top of me, me on top of him, and him in me.
He captured my bottom lip between his teeth, tugging me against his massive erection.
As if that was my cue, I breathed out, “One night.”
I had no doubt that my decision would ruin us both.
19
DUKE
My pulse raced like a thoroughbred in the lead at the Kentucky Derby as I ushered Joy into my room. My body screamed to be inside her, but I couldn’t rush into sex. She deserved to be handled delicately, like a priceless work of art that needed to be admired and appreciated before I attempted to fuck her.
