“Just FI?”Her voice was soft.
“More than FI.”I was being honest with her.I wanted…neededEmma in my life.“Now let’s get something to eat and drink.We’ve got a project to finish up.”
“Yes, boss.”She slipped from my embrace and gave me a cheeky salute.For the moment, everything was right in our world.
Chapter Forty-Four
Emma
I sat back in my chair with a sigh.The last three weeks had been busy ones.The new mainframe had been installed and configured without a hitch, and go-live was flawless.We finally got all the apps up and running, and on version ten, at my insistence.The international bridge still needed some minor tweaks, but we anticipated those would be completed in the next couple of weeks.
“We did it,” Asher said.
“I can’t believe it.”
“I’m so glad we extended your contract.We can finish up the final clean-up in the next couple of weeks.”
“Yes.”I was glad we had extended it as well.Nick had let us know the FBI was pressing charges, and they were grateful for everything we sent.Plus Tri-O-Tech higher ups were cooperating and had been cleared of any wrongdoing.None of that made any difference to me.I’d made some decisions about my future and wasn’t about to change my mind.
I was honestly surprised at how fast the feds jumped on this until Nick mentioned John had an old friend at the Seattle FBI office, and the government took ransomwareveryseriously.
“I think we need to celebrate tonight.”
I laughed.“You like to celebrate everything.”
He grinned at me.“Since it’s Friday, we can all meet up at Whistle Stop.”
“As if we don’t do that already.”I was game.I really enjoyed our Friday night get-togethers.
I hadn’t mentioned to Asher, yet, that I wasn’t going back to Tri-O-Tech.The prospect of looking for a new job wasn’t ideal either.John approached me about a job at FI, and I was still mulling that over.I enjoyed working with Asher and his team.They were great.
But how could I continue a relationship with Asher and still work with him?These past few weeks, we’d spent time at each other’s homes.That was all fine because I knew my contract was coming to an end, but long term?I wondered how Cassie and Marcus handled it.
Was I ready to give Asher up?Hell, no.While I wasn’t totally anti-social, certain situations still made me uncomfortable, and Asher understood.He grounded me in ways no one else had ever done.At times, it scared me, and at other times, it was pure comfort.
But I couldn’t help wondering when the other shoe was going to drop, because it always did.I pushed the thought away.Asher and I were solid.
At four, we left the office and headed for the Whistle Stop.We grabbed a table for twelve as Asher asked Ben, Tim, and Will to join us.By six, everyone had arrived, and we were joking, laughing, and eating.
It made me happy to be a part of this family.Was I going to give this up?No.Decision made.Now all I had to do was execute it.
“I can hear you thinking,” Asher whispered.
I smiled.“It’s all good things.”Tilting my head, I placed a kiss on his cheek.
“What until I get you home.”
“And what do you plan to do to me?”Teasing him had become fun for me and something I enjoyed doing.Sometimes I could wind him up, and at other times, he’d just give me a look to let me know it wasn’t the time.Tonight, his eyes darkened with desire.
“Just wait.”
I squirmed in my seat.After we bid everyone good night, the drive to his house was silent, but I couldn’t sit still.I was teeming with anticipation at what Asher had planned.
The second I stepped inside, he swept me into his arms, carried me to his bedroom.The anticipation was part of the foreplay, and once I was on my feet, he stripped my clothes off.
“You take my breath away.”He dropped a kiss on my lips, and he took his clothes off.
“I could say the same of you.”I ran my finger over his chest to his hard cock.
