“So, about that talk… Hugh came to me this afternoon. He told me he knew about us and basically called me an opportunistic slut.”
As I wait for his answer, I hear the raspy sound of his hands fisting the leather of the wheel with a death grip. “I will punch that cunt the next time I see him. I should have been more careful when I talked to him yesterday.”
“Why? What did you two talk about?”
“He made some snarky remarks about poaching you, and I told him to stay the fuck away.”
A mix of pride and joy overwhelms me. Possessiveness isn’t a trait I should appreciate—it’s a Neanderthal thing—but it’s different with Lex. “He offered to double my salary if I go work for Avoss,” I reveal.
“He did? What did you tell him?”
“I accepted, of course. It’s double my pay.”
I’m obviously joking, but Lex doesn’t get it, frowning and grasping the steering wheel even harder.
“I told him I was happy where I am,” I quickly explain, sorry to have distressed him over a stupid joke. “Anyhow, Hugh’s an asshole, but other people will think the same and draw those conclusions. Although they probably won’t voice it so rudely.”
As someone who is always a few steps ahead, he probably thought of that already.
“I didn’t really care about it before, because it was supposed to be just a one-time thing. But it looks like we’ll be doing this for a while—at least if I have a say in it,” I continue, biting my lip anxiously.
“Yeah, I’m… hoping the same.”
His confirmation has my chest tightening with glee. “Great. This means we have to be discreet. I don’t want people to know about us. It would hurt me if the guys thought all I’ve accomplished is because we were having sex and not because I’m worthy.”
“I imagine you’ll want to work back downstairs from now on?”
“It would be wiser, yes.”
“I’ll have Aditya move your computer. When will we see each other?”
I think about it for a moment. “Maybe keeping it to the weekends is more prudent.”
Lex reluctantly mumbles. “I’m all for planning things, but five days is a long wait. I will only agree to this if you stay from Friday evening to the end of Sunday without disappearing in the middle of the night,” he negotiates, clearly disliking my nocturnal escapes.
“I don’t think I can survive forty-eight hours with you. And I have plans most weekends.”
“Fair enough. Then we let it happen as it comes.”
I give the idea some consideration. Tamika knows I’m seeing someone, so I can go to his place now and then without raising her suspicions. And barely anyone at work knows anything about Lex’s personal life, so I would be safe from that.
“As long as we make sure no one knows, I’m good with that,” I agree.
We talk a little longer about logistics, and then I brag about winning our bet. Both our robots failed to be crowned champion, but mine lasted a little longer than his, meaning I’ll get to tie him up. He doesn’t look too pleased with that, especially since he thought his robot was a sure thing—he personally knows the guy who built it but claims that wasn’t cheating.
“I wish you could come up for a quickie,” I say with a pout once he’s parked in front of my building.
He chuckles and shakes his head. “You live with Tamika, right?”
“Yes, and seeing you sneak into my room would blow our cover.”
“We probably wouldn’t be quick anyway,” he says with one of his wickedly sexy half-smiles.
“Stop tempting me, Coleman.”
Despite the coziness of the moment, I force myself to exit his car, and he opens the trunk to take my suitcase out of it. The rain momentarily stopped, which allows us to linger a little. “I’ll see you on Monday,” I tell him, raising myself on my toes for a kiss. As always with this man, I rapidly crave more, and what’s supposed to be a quick peck on the lips turns into a thorough make-out session.
I’m trying to press myself harder on him, our tongues lasciviously grazing each other’s, my fingers curled into his jacket, when he pushes me away with a groan. “You should go before I forget about Tamika and drag you to your room.”
