“No, Sir,” I bite back, my words coming out with more venom than I intended.“I wasn’t lying when I said I had things to take care of.I was too busy to devote any time to your absurd request to call my parents and tell them I fucked my boss.”I hiss those last words, thankful that no one else is in the office yet.They won’t start arriving for another hour.
“I’m not sure I would recommend wording it quite like that.It sounds so crass, Kels.Maybe you could ease them in without the specific mention of intercourse.”
I roll my eyes dramatically.“Sure.Hey, Mom.Dad.Remember Maddie’s father?The one who came to my graduation party two months ago?I sort of fell onto his cock after his daughter’s wedding.Several times in fact.We didn’t use condoms most of the time.”
He laughs.“Sassy girl.Do you need help coming up with something a bit softer?Your tone is rather snarky, and I’m not sure they will appreciate the wordcock.If you want to tell them your biological clock is ticking and you’ve decided you want to have babies with me immediately, that’s up to you, but I don’t think it’s necessary to get quite so personal.Maybe save some of that information for next week?”
Mr.Kennedy is the most infuriating man alive.Why must he look so fucking hot in his suit?And I can smell his cologne from across the desk.It’s intoxicating.So is his smile and his laugh.Damn him.
“As if you wouldn’t lose your head if I got pregnant,” I respond.“You already raised a child into adulthood.Why are you so laid back about playing Russian roulette with the inside of my pussy?Are you one of those men who thinks the morning after pill is a good form of birth control?”
He winces.“Jesus, Kelsey.I’m certain I will enjoy sparring with you for the next fifty years, but there’s no need to throw punches.I’m gathering that you either believe I’m some sort of rake, or you’ve chosen to pretend that’s the case because it’s easier to think I’m a jackass than face what we have.”
I can’t process what he’s saying.He can’t possibly want something long-term.Is he toying with me?
He leans forward and puts his elbows on my desk.“Stop throwing jabs and listen to me,” he demands in a tone that causes me to hold back whatever my next retort might be.
I purse my lips again.
“Good girl.”His gaze is intense, and it doesn’t escape my notice that he’s looking up at me from a less dominant position.“Let me see if I can address your out-of-control thoughts one at a time.First of all, let’s get one thing straight.I’m not fucking around, Kelsey.I never have been.I would not have taken you to my bed if I hadn’t meant to keep you there.”
I gasp.My jaw drops.
He holds up a hand.“Let me finish.”
My nostrils flare out, and then I inhale deeply.
Mr.Kennedy leans closer to me as if to emphasize his next words.“You’re mine, Kels.Not for a night or a weekend or a month.Not hiding and sneaking around.Not just in my bed or at the club.You’re mine, every hour of every day, no matter where we are.”
I can’t blink or begin to respond.
“You’re young.If you’re in a full-on spiral at the idea of being permanently off the market, I’ll give you the space to figure things out.I can be patient.”
It’s impossible to control the snarky grunt that escapes my lips.
Him?
Patient?
He chuckles.“Fine.I’m not very patient.But I’ll do it for you.Next point.Never once in the past twenty-one years have I considered having more kids.But I hadn’t met the right woman.Not only would I never deprive you of motherhood because that would be a dick move, but I find myself visualizing having a family with you.I meant what I said about birth control.It’s your choice.If you’re on some form of it, you should keep taking it for as long as you’d like.If you’re not, and you want to roll the dice every month, I’m good with that, too.”
I can’t move.I’m so stunned by his speech that my tongue is stuck.
“Our chemistry is off the charts.Do you deny it?”He bores a hole in me with his gaze.
Licking my lips, I finally find the ability to make language.“No, Sir.”
“Look at us agreeing on something.”
I roll my eyes.“Haha.”
“I assume it’s out of self-preservation that you feel the need to back away from me metaphorically.You think I’m not serious.You’re afraid you’ll get hurt, that I’ll dump you next week, that it will fuck up your career.What you’re really worried about is your heart, though, isn’t it, Kelsey?”
I gasp.I’m taken aback, and there’s no way I’m going to answer that question.He might be right.He’s gotten ahold of my damn heart, and he has the power to destroy me.It scares the fuck out of me.Now I’m fighting off tears.The last thing I want to do is cry, especially in my office.
“Will you please come around the desk so I can touch you, baby?”he asks softly.
Shaking my head, I reach up and dab at my eyes.I’m not ready for him to touch me.I’ll end up caving, and I don’t want to do that.
