His eyes flick to the screen.
He knows who I’m talking to, and he doesn’t like it.
“They don’t like the boldness?” I ask, my eyes glued to Phoenix as he drops into the chair opposite me, his legs spread, elbows resting wide, fingers digging into the armrests.
“I’m not actually sure,” James continues. “They asked if we could soften it a bit. I figured we could work on it together. They’ll be less likely to push back if I take the lead.”
Phoenix’s jaw ticks, and I watch his chest rise on a slow inhale, clearly pissed because there’s no world where he’ll stand back and let another man take the lead on anything concerning me.
Not my work.
Not my time.
Not my body.
Not me.
Not unless it’s him.
I glance between the computer and Phoenix when James speaks again. “I hope I haven’t offended you. You look a little surprised.”
“No, not at all,” I reply, trying to force some kind of professionalism into my voice even though my brain has officially left the chat. “I understand you have people to keep happy, and we can definitely work to get it right.”
Phoenix’s head tilts slowly to the side, and I can feel how much he doesn’t love that answer, but for once, I’m not even trying to provoke him. This is just business.
Except the look on his face says it’s not just fucking business.
“Are you in the city soon?”I ask.
“I can be later this week, but I don’t want to make this a whole thing. I’d rather keep it casual. Something… more relaxed and intimate.”
Phoenix’s head tips back, his jaw going so tight I can see the muscle jump.
Suddenly, he’s moving.
He’s off the chair and sinking to his knees in front of me with zero warning.
“Phoenix—” I hiss under my breath, but he’s already dropped under the desk, shoving my skirt up, his hands rough and possessive as they grip my thighs. He hauls me to the edge of the chair, spreading my legs wide, and I have to grab the armrests to keep from sliding off completely.
I’m blinking hard at the screen because James is still talking.
Still. Fucking. Talking.
Meanwhile, there’s a kneeling god between my legs.
“You don’t do relaxed and intimate with anyone but me, but go ahead, baby. Keep lying to him while I make you come on my tongue,” he whispers, kissing a path up my thigh. “Now be a good girl and smile for the camera while I show you what intimacy actually feels like.”
“I use the penthouse at Lawson’s sometimes,” James says casually through the speakers. “The one in the city. I have an office space too, if you wanted to come to me?—”
Phoenix slips my underwear to the side and thrusts his tongue inside me, and the way my breath catches isn’t even something I can play off.
“—or not?”
“No. It’s?—”
What is it?
I don’t even know what I’m trying to say anymore. Words dissolve on my tongue while Phoenix’s flutters against my clit, circling, sucking, and destroying every coherent thought I have.
