"Nate," I corrected, and she smiled.
"And I think when something is that amazing, you have to have it more than once…" Ember looked up at me through her thick eyelashes and bit her lower lip. "So I came."
Relief and guilt warred in my chest, tangled together until I couldn't tell which was winning.
She'd thought about quitting.
Of course she had.
I'd crossed every line, violated every rule of professional conduct.
And now she was staying—not because she loved the job, but because she wanted more of what we'd done yesterday.
It was one of the most exquisitely painful feelings in my life.
But it revealed just how crappy of a boss I really was.
"You wanted to quit?" I said slowly.
"I thought about it." She tilted her head, studying my face. "Your schedule is impossible, Nate. You work nonstop, and you expect everyone around you to keep up. I've been running myself into the ground for four days trying to meet your standards." Still, even as she was speaking, she curled one hand around my tie and the other rested on my stomach.
"But you're staying."
"For now." A faint smile touched her lips. "The benefits are better than I expected."
God, the way she said it was so sexy, I felt myself harden to a rock-like state and knew precum was probably dampening my boxers.
I couldn't help myself.
I had to kiss her again.
She made a small sound against my mouth and pulled me closer the instant my mouth touched hers.
I felt her arch into me, fitting against my body in a way that made coherent thought impossible.
My hips started grinding against her thigh of their own accord.
I slid my hand up her side, feeling the curve of her waist under her robe, and she bit my lower lip in response.
Heat flooded through me, my body responding to her with embarrassing enthusiasm.
"Dr. Bradley!"
The voice cut through the haze, and I jerked back from Ember as though I'd been burned.
The festival director was calling my name from somewhere near the stage, her voice carrying across the square.
I looked down at Ember, who was breathing hard, her lips swollen from the kiss. "Wait a few minutes before you follow," I said quietly.
And though I could tell she didn't want me to walk away either, I saw her nod in acknowledgement.
I adjusted my robe, willing my body to calm down, and stepped out from between the booths.
The director spotted me immediately and waved me over.
I forced myself to walk normally, to appear composed and in control, even though every nerve in my body was screaming for me to turn around and finish what I'd started.
"There you are!" The director clapped me on the shoulder, oblivious to my discomfort. "Beautiful ceremony. The crowd loved it."
