I swallowed hard at the sound of the word. Why did he have to say everything like he was in the middle of having sex with you?
His smile grew. That hot, sexy little devil smile—his smile should come with a mandatory warning.
WARNING: Females should be aware that this smile can be detrimental to your health. Side effects include rapid pulse, palpitation, sweaty palms and in severe cases sexual arousal leading to impromptu hot-as-hell back-seat sex.
“So you’re my client service intern, I see.” He bit down on the end of his pen. There it was again. Why did all his phrasing seem steeped in sexual innuendo? Accident? I think not. He was obviously some kind of modern-day sleazy Casanova, going around deliberately trying to make females amorous—it was working. I crossed my legs tightly . . .just in case.
“Mmmm, yes,” I managed with a slight nod, trying to look as professional as possible.
“And are you finding you’re on top of things?”
“On top of what?” My body stiffened as sudden images of me grinding away on his lap went careering through my mind.
“On top of your work?”
“Hahaha.” I let out a small laugh. “Yes. Absolutely. Of course, I’m always on top.” I flashed a smile that faltered quickly the second I heard the words that had just come out of my mouth.
“Good to know.” Ben’s eyes darkened and seemed to drift over me, or was it my imagination?
He suddenly looked away and cleared his throat. “Well, we’re going to be working very closely on the next few campaigns.”
“Mmmm, I’m very excited,” I lied. I was terrified.
“I demand a lot from my staff, you know?” he leaned in looking serious, “but I’m guessing someone as dedicated to their job as you won’t have a problem with pushing yourself and working under someone like me.”
I swallowed. The previous images of me on top had just shifted to steamy images of Ben-on-top. I nodded and mumbled, the feelings surging through me were fast turning me into a blithering idiot. “Of course, I’m good on the bottom too . . .”Shit!“I mean, not on the bottom bottom per se.” I frantically tried to correct myself. I was failing dismally, but continued anyway. “I’m good under you, though . . .no, I mean working under a boss, like you, I mean, um . . .” I stopped. If I opened my mouth again I was sure I was going to choke not just on my foot, but on my entire leg as well.
Ben smiled across at me and opened a file, “So I see you’ve only been here for six months. Straight out of college, enjoy long walks on the beach at sunset, badminton, puppies . . . hmm . . . Elton John?” he said.
“What? I beg your pardon. What the hell is that?”
“HR sent up files on everyone.” He had that naughty smile on his face again.
“That’s not in there . . . I don’t like . . . why would that file say that?” I was totally confused and panicked now.
He chuckled. “Just joking, Sera De La Haye.”
“Oh.” I forced a nervous laugh. “Of course.”
He closed the file, leaned in closer, put his elbows on the table and locked eyes with me. “Well Sera . . .”He kept saying my name. No one had ever made it sound so wonderfully filthy before.“I’m looking forward to working with you . . .Sera.”
I stifled a gasp as my name dripped from his lips once more, “Th . . . thank you. Me too. Everyone is very, very excited . . .”
“Well,” his voice suddenly went all husky, like it had been at the bar. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here."
That was it!
His voice coupled with those smoldering eyes, his smile and smell, the seductive vibe that was oozing out of every one of his tattooed pores was driving me insane. I needed to put as much space between us as possible—right now. I stood up and stepped awkwardly away from the table. “I . . . I need to get home, so I better . . . leave now and . . . because it’s the end of the day and that’s what you do at the end of the day is . . . leave.” My nonsensical words cascaded out like dropped marbles.
“Sure, I wouldn’t want to keep you from going, because that’s what you do at the end of the day, is go.” He was smiling broadly now.
He was mocking me. “Okay. Thanks,” I said flatly and headed out the door . . . until he stopped me.
“Oh Sera, I think you’re forgetting something.”
I turned and that’s when I saw them. It took a few seconds to register because they were so out of place here, like seeing a polar bear take a leisurely stroll across the desert. But when I finally accepted what I was seeing, my brain felt like it was going to shatter into a billion fragments.Because there they were.Peeping out of an envelope he was pushing across the table.
Pink.
