“I don’t.” He continued to meet her eyes levelly as he leaned forward, bracing his hands on the smooth wooden tabletop.“Tell me.”
The industrial clock on the wall ticked. Annica licked her lips before looking back down at the table, breaking eye contact at last. “I’m sorry I wasted your time with this discussion. I’ll just get back to organizing your schedule for the day before I write down those figures for Harold.”
That’s what I thought, you little sneak.He leaned back in the chair as she spun around in clear irritation, all but stomping back to her desk. Arthur had mentioned a group chat. He wasn’t in the habit of spying on his employees, but perhaps he ought to get James to monitor it. If she was playing fast and loose with rumors in the office, she might also be committing other violations.
He picked up his phone and began to scroll through his emails. Then it buzzed in his hand and a notification blocked the top of his screen, which annoyed him until he saw that it was from Jay.
After that shitshow of a conversation, he’d left her on read, unsure of how to respond and aware that the longer he waited, the more likely it would only spiral into another argument. She could have written tohim, but she hadn’t, which pissed him off. What the hell was she doing up there that was so important that she couldn’t be bothered to check in with him?
There was a photo attachment. Curious and vaguely apprehensive, he tapped to open it—and then his breath left him in a rush and he dropped his phone.
“Fuck,” he growled, as he bumped his head on the table trying to retrieve it. The photo was still on the screen. With a glance at the security cameras, he thumbed it dark and shrugged off his jacket, draping it over his arm and slightly in front of himself as he walked briskly to the executive bathrooms.Whatthe hell does she think she’s playing at?
He slammed the door behind him and locked it, leaning against the door briefly before heading towards the stall. There, alone at last, he unlocked his screen and squeezed his thigh bracingly as he took in her flushed face, and the unbuttoned blouse thrown open to reveal lingerie so sheer, it was nearly an afterthought.
The zipper track of his pants pressed uncomfortably into his erection as his cock swelled. She had a hand between her legs, inside her see-through-fucking-underwear, and though she was shielding herself from his view, he could still make out the slight shadow of her pubic hair, and the shape of her sex. And her fingers—
Her fingers were fuckingglistening.
With a groan, he freed himself from his pants.
He had always held himself back with her. How could he do otherwise, when she dragged herself to his bedroom like an innocent martyr approaching the executioner’s block? But this version of Jay looked as if she could quite literally fuck him within an inch of his life.
Did you really think you could send me this and get away with it?He drew in a rough breath.I hope you’re ready to finish this game you’ve started.
He sent her a video call. She didn’t pick up.
Aware that this came dangerously close to violating his promise not to touch her in the office and far beyond caring, he sent her another message.
Pick up the phone. There are consequences for being a bad girl.
Jay didn’t respond. She also didn’t pick up the phone. Thetext had been received but it hadn’t gone to ‘read.’ If she was near her phone, she was purposefully not looking at it.
Annoyed now, Nicholas tried calling her, but after eight rings, he only got her voicemail.
“Hi, this is Justine Varens. I’m so sorry I missed your call. If you’d like me to get back to you, leave your name and number, and I’ll reach out as soon as I can.”
God, I wish you fucking would.
He closed his eyes and stroked himself as he called her phone again, savoring the sound of her voice. He fucking loved her voice—low and throaty, and yes, just a little cold. But he knew how to make his little snowbird melt, and she always sang for Daddy.
Nicholas fell back against the tank, fisting his straining dick in earnest now as he swiped back to the picture she’d sent him. Her skin glowed, all those curves she buttoned away now on full display for his greedy eyes. From the sharp rise of her collarbones, to her dimpled thighs, to her sweet and beautiful face, he felt transfixed. Hypnotized.
It reminded him of the video he’d taken of her all those years ago, and the way she had looked while she had gotten herself off in her room. Arching her back and lifting her hips while she touched herself beneath her clothes, unaware that she was doing so for a rapt audience.
Well, she’s certainly aware now.
Nicholas sank his teeth into his lip so hard that he tasted blood as he came, metallic and sharply bitter. Panting, he swiped off his bloody mouth with the wrist of his come-slicked hand.
“Fuck,” he said again, eyes rolling back. “Fuck.”
He had been in love with her for his whole entire life, but itwas his lust for her that had proved to be their undoing. No love, no matter how pure, could remain so in a man like him.
Chapter Seven
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There are consequences for being a bad girl.
