Good girl.
Keep a door between us that shall remain shut for our well-being.
.
5
SAVANNAH
Irest my head back against the hot wood of the dim sauna. It’s been a long few days. Yet, I survived my first week with a new boss. I’m thankful Julian was away on a work trip at the end of the week, though his constant emails and calls were enough to give me a migraine. Even in writing, he’s grumpy and impossible. One email had nearly twenty exclamation marks because he thought I’d changed a meeting location, though he simply missed the right room down the hall. It’s growing on me, at least. I’m now immune to him and his ways at the office.
Closing my eyes, I attempt to find peace. I was in the office until 9 PM today. Not only because of work, but also because I was in the zone, I figured I would work on my paper. By the time I looked at the clock, I realized how late it was. It also made me think that the company gym and sauna would be empty. Actually, I knew it would be. It closes at nine, but I managed to convince them to keep it open just for me. The perk of being Julian’s PA. Everyone bows at my feet—or maybe it’s because they realize I need every bit of relaxation I can get.
Wrapping the towel tighter around my naked body, I reach to the side to flip the hourglass timer. Fifteen minutes will be perfect. I scoot over, lie down, and my body begins to loosen, but after a minute, the sound of the door cracking opening causes me to shoot up because I thought I was alone.
It only takes one look, and dread fills me to the brim.
“Should I even ask?” Julian says, not waiting for my answer as he walks over to the other bench.
I do my best not to let my eyes drift to where the white towel is hanging low on his hips, but it’s hard not to notice due to the taut lines on his stomach and the V leading south.
Running through the options in my head, I can either flee or knot my towel strongly. But I don’t want either of those options.Instead, I get back into my comfortable position because I’ve already survived him—well, past the average success rate.
“I could say the same. Don’t you have your own sauna in your little castle in the sky?”
I’m not even sure if he has looked at me longer than he should while I’m in a towel, so maybe hecanbe a gentleman. He adjusts his spare towel around his shoulders and sits on the upper bench. “I do.But my flight got in early, and traffic is a bitch due to a baseball game. Normally, when I come this late, they lock it so nobody else can join. Imagine my surprise when they told me tonight that they would have to kick you out so I could enjoy my relaxing time. Lucky for you, I said there was no need.”
I stare up at the ceiling, already feeling that familiar urge that always comes when we're together. We volley retorts and jabs back and forth. I sigh and say, “Such a kind soul you are,” my voice lacking authenticity.
“I should point out it's wildly inappropriate for us to behere naked except for a towel.” He sounds utterly unconcerned. “Company policies. Harassment risks.”
“We abolished the boundaries policy, remember?” I counter.
He lets out a brief chuckle, and out of the corner of my eye, I see him adjust the towel draped over his waist, moved to leave little to the imagination.
"Oh yeah, I can ditch this and use the sauna properly. You really only need the towel to sit on—not for anything else. It’s better for your body." Now I hear him yank his towel off, and I divert my gaze even further away.
“I’ll take that under consideration.”
The entire last few minutes have me questioning what world I’m in. This isn’t me, is it? I’m not completely on edge or having a meltdown; I’m actually ready to level with him because I need to prove to him that I’m not fazed and to myself that I have the power to hold the upper hand. This scene was nowhere on my professional list, but I’ve quickly learned that Julian doesn’t fit the mold, and we already established our lack of rules.
One tilt of my head and I’ll see if reality matches his ego.
“But I could counter, Savannah. Either one of us could willingly leave, yet we don’t. Besides, it’s a sauna. There are rules for the sauna. You know what you signed up for. There’s even a sign that states to enter at your own risk.” His tone is a little too patronizing for my taste.
I cross my thighs, his taunting making the pining worse. “Boundaries. We have none,” I say, a little too loudly.
The room grows quiet; at least he gives me that—a moment of solitude. But the silence shatters as something in me snaps. I shoot upright, clutching the towel around me so loosely that it reveals more cleavage than I intend. His heavy gaze lingers, and I can feel my pulse quicken under his stare.
“Is this my initiation? Is that why you’re here?”
That curl of his lip only displays his arrogance. “No. But that is a great suggestion.”
“Do I get under your skin, Julian?”
A tiny smirk plays on his lips. “I don’t know, Savannah. Tell me what that must feel like, as I know I’m under yours.”
I huff and check my hourglass—only halfway. Nothing is keeping me here. I could leave, but I stay. My feet won't move.
