I rush over to her.
Her expression morphs softer, warmer, and more innocent.
A flash of her in the white lingerie hits me. My spine goes rigid. I sharply address, "Blue."
A woman in a sleek coat crosses toward the elevator, her heels clicking too loudly. The elevator dings behind me.
Blue takes a small step closer. She puts her hand over my heart and breathlessly greets, "Hi."
I don't return it. I keep my voice low, clipped. "What are you doing here?"
Her lips curve. "You asked me to come into the lobby."
My words come out harshly. "That's not what I meant."
She jerks her head backward as if I slapped her. Hurt flies into her expression.
I force my hands not to clench. I lower my voice. "You were outside. Watching me."
Her eyes flick to the security desk, then back to mine. "Do you want to talk about this right here?"
I glance at the guard again. He's pretending not to listen, but he can hear.
Blue tilts her head, just slightly, adding, "In front of your neighbors?"
Heat crawls up my neck. "Stop."
She doesn't. She eliminates the distance between us, rises on her tiptoes, and her hot breath on my ear shoots tingles straight to my cock. She whispers, "Your heart's racing as fast as mine, Dr. Mercer."
I remove her hand from my chest. "Blue?—"
She puts her fingers over my lips and says in a firm tone, "Not here, Red."
I stare at her, my pulse beating too hard.
Her lashes flutter.
My jaw locks so hard, it aches. "Blue..." I can't find any words, hating how my body reacts to her.
"Okay." She lifts both hands as if surrendering. "Okay. Let's not do it here. I already asked that."
I stare at her, then glance at the guard.
He stares at the computer with his lips twitching.
Every cell in my body screams that the solution is simple. I should send her away, tell her this is unacceptable, and that there will be consequences for crossing the line.
But if I send her away, she'll walk back into the night with that smile still on her face, convinced she got to me, and won something just by existing in my space.
No. We need to talk.
She's right. This isn't a conversation for the public.
I step closer until my voice is for her alone. "We're going upstairs."
A tiny tremble rolls through her. Her eyes flare with victory so quickly, she can't hide it. She barely gets out in an excited voice, "Yes, Dr. Mercer."
I grab her elbow and steer her toward the elevator. I add, "Only to discuss this situation."
