Chapter One
Maya
I didn’t plan for this to happen. I guess that’s what everyone says right before they do something they shouldn’t be doing.
Does everyone else mean it though, because I mean it.I really didn’t plan for this to happen.
I know Holden is off limits for a multitude of reasons. First, he’s my boss. Second, he’s like twenty years older than me. Lastly, and most importantly, he’s the man my brother hates more than any other human being on Earth.
Every single one of those reasons should be enough to stop me from making the decisions I keep making, but here I am, backed against the exposed brick wall of the office space, Holden’s rough hands all over me.
“Look what you’re doing to me, sweet girl,” his raspy voice says as he moves my hand to rest on his big, hard cock.
I’ve been here a few times over the last few months, his massive frame pinning me against the wall, his big, rough hand palming against my soaking panties, my hand resting on his denim, tracing the outline of his thickness. I have to say, I quite like it in this place. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t keep coming back for more. Trust me, I’ve tried to stay away. In fact, I’ve spent nights agonizing over whether I should even keep my job knowing what temptation waits for me. I’ve spent nights talking myself in andout of every feeling I have for him, but at the end of the day, he’s too hard to quit. My body won’t allow it.
I’m drunk on him.
Possessed.
Consumed.
Overtaken.
He leans in, his beard tickling as he scrapes his teeth against the top of my shoulder, spreading wet heat everywhere his mouth touches. “I can’t play around like this much longer. It’s killing me.”
“So, let’s stop playing then,” I pant as I bend my neck back, making room for his lips as they trace their way onto my chest. “We can make this work. We just have to be quiet about it until after Wyatt finishes this job in the city. You know how close to the edge he’s been lately. I can’t spring this on him right now.”
Holden groans low under his breath and collapses a little against my chest before pulling away. “That’s the thing, sweetheart. I can’t keep hiding this. It’s always something. We were going to tell him last month, and the cottage property got in the way. The month before that, it was the rodeo build. I’m getting the feeling you don’t ever want him to know.”
I roll my eyes and slide away from his touch. “Why are you overcomplicating this? We’re having fun. That’s what you want too, right? Fun.”
He looks away and back again, scrubbing his hand down over his beard. Holden is a good ‘ole boy. The kind that was raised with morals and table manners. The kind that says yes, ma’am, and no, sir. The kind that believes in an honest day’s work and offers a sense of family to everyone he meets.
I’m well aware that I’ve lured him to the dark side.
“Darling, we have to tell your brother what’s up. This sneaking around thing is killing me. Plus,” he hooks his arm around my waist and pulls me close, “I want you at my place.I want to wake up next to you, kiss you on the street, and hold your hand in public. I want to be a real couple.”
I drag in a heavy breath and let it out slowly. My tone is playfully sarcastic as I say, “Right, and telling Wyatt will totally make all that a reality. I mean, it’s not like he’s holding a major grudge against you for pushing his ex away or anything.”
“I didn’t push her away. She asked me a question. I answered it.” He shrugs and rubs my back slowly. “She’s my sister, and he was gambling their entire savings away. What was I supposed to do?”
I drag in a deep breath, letting the scent of cedar on his chest soothe me. “I know you did the right thing, and someday I think he’ll see that too, but… I think it’s going to be a while before he does. How is Alice doing, anyway? Any better?”
He tilts his head to the side as he brushes his free hand through my hair. I love these quiet mornings in the office together before anyone else arrives. They’re our private sanctuary.
Hell, they’re our only sanctuary.
“She’s okay.” He kisses my forehead gently. “Still trying to get her head on straight, but I think she likes San Francisco, and last I heard, she’s dating again.”
“Good! That’s good!” I say, losing my hand in his.God, I love the way his calloused palm feels against my skin.“The same thing will happen for Wyatt, and when it does, we’ll tell him about us, and everything will go back to normal. You’ll see.” I tip up onto my toes and lean into his lips, holding them there for a long, warm, lingering kiss. “Until then,” my lips curve into a smile, “we’ll have fun with our little secret.”
I know this isn’t ideal for Holden. I hear him when he says he’d rather this all be out in the open. Believe me, there’s a part of me that wants all that too. Sneaking around is fun, but I’d love to know what it’s like to make his coffee in the morningafter a night together, or be seen as a couple at the diner without causing a stir, but that’s not in the cards for us right now, so we should make do with what we have…secrets.
Fun, kinky, little secrets.
With his hand under my chin, he tilts my vision up to meet his. “You’re a naughty girl. You know that?”
I grin. “Yeah? And what happens to naughty girls? Do they get punished, Holden, ‘cause I’m ready to be punished.”
