Page 61 of Lucas

Her entire body buzzed with awareness.

Bria gripped her cup with two hands and stayed perfectly still, except for her heartbeat which slammed against her ribs. Ashton planted his hands on the counter on either side of her and she felt him shift closer to her back. His warm breath washed over the sensitive curve of her ear and goose bumps exploded down her neck.

“Are you attracted to me, Bria?” he whispered right next to her ear.

Hearing her name coming from his lips, in that sexy voice of his, sent her mind spinning. For a second she closed her eyes as the sensations of deep arousal coursed through her.

If she leaned back, even an inch, she knew that she’d be able to feel him against her. Would he be hard again?

God, did he know how many times she’d secretly watched him, ached for him to do things to her that she’d only ever imagined and daydreamed about? Was this his test then; to see if she really would tell him the truth about wanting him when he already knew it?

“The truth,” he said darkly. He moved his hands from the counter to her hips and held her in place. Not that she would even think of going anywhere. Not when his touch was doing such delicious things to her body.

Her knees weakened and a soft moan fell from her lips. He shifted just a little but it was enough to give her an answer to her question. If looking at the bulge in his pants made her mouth water, then actually feeling it there against her ass was a new kind of torture. It didn’t even matter that they were in the break room where anyone could walk in.

She swallowed and tried to answer, but her voice was stuck in her throat. “Yes,” she finally croaked.

“Good answer.” He dragged his lips down along the column of her throat, lightly nipping that spot where her neck and shoulder met before licking the same spot.

“Oh god.” It escaped before she could stop it and his dark chuckle sent ripples of desire straight between her legs. Bria had never been this turned on in her life and she was lost in a hazy fog of desire. Never in her wildest fantasy would she have imagined being touched by Ashton would feel this good.

“Come back to my office at six tonight,” he said against her skin.

Her mind started to race. She wanted to ask if he was going to finish what he started but didn’t dare. This was kind of crazy and what if this was just a really really sexy dream. One where she would wake up and remember that she actually got fired and was lying in bed next to six empty ice cream containers.

“Bria, six o’clock,” Ashton said again and she finally nodded.

His hands were gone and when she was able to take a full breath, she turned and found herself alone in the break room. What the hell just happened? Had Ashton Carter really just come on to her? She looked at her hands, covered in coffee where it had splashed over the sides of her cup. Cleaning it up and making another gave her the time she needed to get her thundering heartbeat under control.

Six o’clock.

She glanced at the wall. Nine-thirteen. This was going to be the longest day ever.

* * *

“Ms. Long, I have a conference call with the west coast office and I need you to take notes.” Ashton’s deep voice caught her off guard and her gaze flew to his face. She looked at the clock. Six.

He stood in front of her desk and with his arms crossed, looking down at her. His eyes were hooded and she wished for just a second that she could see them; to know if he was thinking about earlier in the break room.

It had been all she could think about as the hours trickled by at a snail’s pace. About what he was going to do at six o’clock. Her imagination had been her best friend and worst enemy. And now it seemed all he needed her for was to take notes? A conference call wasn’t what she’d been thinking about all day. Maybe she had misinterpreted everything that happened.

Embarrassment made her look away.

“Two minutes.” He turned and walked back into his office and she let out the air that had lodged in her throat the second he stepped from his office. Her hands shook as she gathered the small recorder and her notepad.

There were always a million details that she had to remember and accuracy was very important to her. Especially now that she had a tenuous hold on a second chance. If this was really what he needed her for, then she’d comply. She would prove to Ashton that he hadn’t made a mistake by giving it to her.

She’d be the best assistant in the history of assistants.

Bria brewed a quick cup of coffee at her one cup Kauri pot and took it in with her. She knew that Ashton, no she had to stop calling him that in her head, Mr. Carter, liked the dark roast blend, black.

It was the start to her apology and she had a lot to make up to him for.

She knocked softly and then went in. Ashton sat behind his desk and he barely looked up when she walked in. Bria set the coffee next to him, then moved to the couch and set her things on the coffee table before sitting down.

After a few moments of silence, she shifted her position and crossed her ankles. Ashton still didn’t look up from whatever it was that had his attention. How long would she have to sit and wonder what he was doing?

Was this some kind of power play?