“It wasn’t the only time that kind of thing happened.It’s one of the reasons I choose to work alone rather than on a team.”
“The tech industry in insidious.”
“And extremely misogynistic.Alex Manning, my boss at Tri-O-Tech, is a good guy.But again, he’s male.”
“Is that why you were worried when you came to work at Fantasies, Inc.?”
“Not really.This is the first time I’ve been asked to work on a project of this scope directly on another company’s mainframe, including any required modifications to the entire software infrastructure.The Tri-O-Tech employment terms state specifically that anything developed while employed by the company is the company’s property.That includes patent rights.Usually, they take it and do whatever they want.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
“I’m generously compensated, way above industry guidelines, so it’s good.But developers don’t get named author credit on R&D.It’s a ‘we paid you for it, so we own it’ paradigm.”I shrugged.“Anyhow, when I was told I’d be working inhouse at Fantasies, Inc., I was reluctant, anxious, worried, call it whatever you choose, about working an office with people I didn’t know and meeting their expectations.”
“Your work has been outstanding.”
“I tried to hide it.”
“Can I put your worries to rest about anything you do for Fantasies, Inc.?You will be given full credit and compensation.”
“Thank you.”My lips twitched.He was doing everything possible to assure me that I would get appropriate credit for my work, something no one had done before.Warmth bloomed in my chest and spread through my body.I didn’t want Asher to feel sorry for me—no way—but I couldn’t deny it had been a long time since I’d felt my work was genuinely appreciated.
“I know it’s long past, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want to go kick those now grown idiots’ asses and show them how wrong they were to do that to you.Same for those individuals where you work who make you uncomfortable.”
Happiness enveloped me like a blanket on a cold day.“You’re sweet.”
Asher’s green eyes flashed, and I leaned into him.The instant I was in his arms, our lips melded.His lips were soft against mine, and I wanted more.I curved my hand around the back of his neck, holding him to me.
He got the message.His tongue felt light as a feather against my lips, and I opened to him.A shiver moved through me as our tongues tangled and dueled with each other.I never wanted this to stop.
Several minutes later, Asher raised his head, his eyes dark with desire.“Before we go any further, we need to make sure we’re on the same page.”
Kissing seemed like a good start and continuing it would let us take this wherever it was going.Hopefully, to his bed.Oh, yes, that’s what I wanted.To be in his bed.
“The bedroom?”
His chuckle tickled my ear.
He was giving me an out, but I didn’t want one.I wanted him.With my free hand, I took his and placed it on my breast.“I want this.I want you.”
In an instant, his lips covered mine once again, but this wasn’t the soft kiss of before.This was one of possession.Yes.I wanted this.I kissed him back with all the passion building up in me.I didn’t have to be passive with Asher.I could be myself.
Something inside me broke free, like a bird being freed from a cage.I let my hand drop from his neck to his hard chest.His heart was racing, and I smiled against his lips as I unbuttoned his shirt.
Asher hadn’t moved his hand where it rested my breast.I wanted so much more.“Touch me.”
He lifted his head and stared at me.“You touch me first.”
Power surged through me.He was letting me take the lead, do what I wanted.Heat rose with need.Opening his shirt, I placed my palms on his pecs.So hard, so strong.His chest hair tickled my skin, and I wondered how it would feel against my nipples.I trailed my fingers over his hard abdomen.
I was enjoying the feel of his body under my hands and how his abdomen contracted beneath my touch.Surprise and a sense of awe flowed through me that I could affect him like that.Finding his belt, I ran my fingers over the leather, before finding the metal buckle.With precise movements I undid it.Slipping one hand into his slacks, I began to lower the zipper slowly as his cock hardened.
His low moan echoed inside me.“Sweetheart…” His voice was husky.Lifting my head, I stared into his eyes filled with desire.I did this to him.Joy, euphoria, and the underlying thread of power filled me.“Maybe we should take this into the bedroom.”
“Not yet.”I framed his face with my hands.“I…want…this.”I punctuated each word with kisses all over his face.
How could I possibly convey what I was feeling?
No one had ever let me set the pace.
