She lifted her head, her eyes hooded and her mouth red and swollen from my kisses. I’d avoided this that night, freaked out by the intimacy it had triggered for someone I’d hardly known and unsure what the hell to do about it.
Now, instead of running from it, I fucking craved it, desperate for every piece I could get of her, even if fitting into each other’s lives had become even more complicated.
“I want to watch you. That’s it. You’re so close, aren’t you?”
She nodded, her chest heaving against mine as she dug her nails into my jacket.
“You’re a fucking dream,” I grunted out, pumping harder as she shook around my fingers. I pressed my hand against the wallbehind her as my cock strained against my zipper, the need to sink myself inside her potent enough to make my head spin.
“Oh, there you go. Such a good fucking girl. Scream my name, baby. Tell everyone on the goddamn block how good I make you feel.”
She let out a yelp before she sank her teeth into my chest, rocking her hips against my hand until she melted into me, a gorgeous puddle in my arms.
I kissed the top of her head as I eased back, my stomach sinking as she draped her hand over her eyes.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go too?—”
“Stop. Did you hear me complaining? I just…” She trailed off, pressing her palm to her forehead. “Come with me to the couch, easier to talk there.”
She slid her palm against mine and dragged me to her couch. I didn’t know what she was about to say, but I had a feeling I’d hate it, and I’d only have myself to blame.
I didn’t know how to want something and not push for it. This was the first time what I wanted had nothing to do with baseball and everything to do with the woman sitting next to me, her eyes looking everywhere but into mine.
“There is an agency clause in all our contracts that if we fraternize with a client, it’s automatic termination.” She finally looked my way, her eyes, crazy with lust only minutes ago, now full of sad regret.
“I’m not really your client, though. Kent and the other executives?—”
She gave me a slow shake of her head.
“Gayle reiterated that tonight, in fact. One of our assistants was getting too chummy with your catcher, and she gave her a warning.” She raked a hand through her hair as she dropped her chin to her chest.
“I need this job. The books, like I told you, are a hobby that some months out of the year can be lucrative. But to give my sister the life she deserves? Not even close.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen. And that’s a fucked-up rule.”
“I agree,” she said, bobbing her head. “Someone had an affair with a married CEO, earned the company a lot of bad press, and management was pissed and embarrassed enough to make it a hard rule. I shouldn’t have let it go this far. I wish I could peel all your clothes off and bring you into my bedroom, but I can’t.” She fell back against the couch. “And it fucking sucks.”
I’d known being with Rachel would make things a little weird for her at work, but I’d never thought it would get her fired. There had to be a way around this. Or to make her want this enough to fight for a chance.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I reached out and squeezed her knee, running my thumb back and forth over her silky skin until she lifted her head. I was supposed to stop touching her and back away, but I couldn’t help myself.
“About tonight, yes. I was just rattled from before, and that creep made it worse. But I’d kicked him in the shin before you slammed him into the wall.” Her shoulders jerked with a chuckle. “That’s why he was so pissed off.”
“That’s my Slugger,” I said, squeezing her knee one more time before I dropped my hand. “I’d stay longer, but I’m going to go,” I said, cupping her chin. “Because I really want you to peel my clothes off and take me to bed, and I’m afraid the temptation is too big for both of us.”
“That’s because it is.” She turned her head and pressed a kiss to my palm. “Thank you for tonight. For being the alpha hero you are, for listening, and for—” she flicked her eyes to the wall “—another nice memory.”
I stood, bristling at her words that sounded a lot like a goodbye. I wouldn’t accept it. I just had to think.
And I couldn’t do that around Rachel tonight.
“Do you need to follow me to lock up?” I asked.
“No, it locks on its own from the inside, and I’ll double-lock my door up here.”
We both trudged to the door, her sadness more resolute than frustrated.
I’d find a way to fix that.
