"No, there's no us." I finish the drink.
Suddenly, fire breaks out in my stomach, and that warmth radiates outward.
I just hold the empty glass. "It was a stupid idea, all in my head, and I should go. Forget I was ever here. Forget it all. I quit."
He laughs and shakes his head. "Lola. Resignation not accepted." Then the laughter dies. "It's not in your head, and the idea of an us isn't stupid. We have chemistry. I have tried to avoid it because I'm your boss, and that's some kind of clear power imbalance."
"HR would not be pleased."
"I'm not telling them. Fuck, they're not also into psychoanalysis, are they?"
"This is serious, Enzo." I force myself to breathe, to calm. But it is hard with over six feet of hotness so close. "And your father?—"
"Can we leave him out of this?"
I cross my arms. "He wouldn't approve."
"We're not declaring love or marriage, and I'm not fourteen, Lola. I do what I want."
"Well, he's not going to approve of you seeing me."
He laughs and shakes his head. "Like I just said, we sharedsome kisses and a little hanky and a touch of panky, so sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not proposing."
"Good," I snap. "I don't even like you. I don't want to marry you."
How the hell did we get onto marriage?
"You do like me."
"Sometimes."
He rises and takes a step closer to me, pouring half his drink into my glass. "You know, I do go out of my way to annoy my asshole father, so his disapproval isn't going to stop me from doing a fucking thing."
Personally, I'm not too sure. It might. Anyone who protests that much wants their father's approval. When he was young, I remember how proud he was to be a Marino, so I bet?—
"What is it you want, Lola? Was there something you wanted to get from coming here tonight and talking to me?"
Yes. Your cock in my mouth.
I remember how big he was pressed against me, and his package in the jeans is looking all sorts of delicious.
It's not like I have had many guys, and including Alex, it would be...three? But right now, I think I could do wicked things to him. In fact, Alex gave me an instruction text that is burned into my head.
"You do know I can read you like a book, right? Your face is so expressive. Are you thinking...what? Filthy things you want to do with me? Last time, I remember I had my fingers in your holes, my tongue down your throat, and you were writhing, grinding. If S—Simon hadn't come in, who knows what we would have done."
I stare up at him, dragging my gaze from his crotch. "I don't know."
"Really? You came here to say you don't know?"
I empty the contents of the glass once more. I wish therewere more in the glass. The way I'm feeling right now, I could use the numbing effect.
He makes me lose my mind.
"Did you want to kiss me? Let me eat you? I licked my fingers, and you were fucking tasty, Lola. Delicious is a word for it, I guess." He starts walking toward me.
I get up.
Sit.
