Page 27 of The Substitute
“Fucking talk to me.” I push my hand through my hair in agitation. I hate feeling like I’m begging her to open up to me.
She bites her lip and then shakes her head. “I don’t have anything else to say.”
“Fine.” I bite out the word and want to shake her. Make her tell me what’s going on in that gorgeous, stubborn-as-fuck head of hers. “Whenever you’re ready to stop acting like a child, you know where to find me.”
I march away. Seconds later, she comes in after me, her face full of anger.
“I’m a child?”
“You called me out—rightfully—but now it’s my turn. I don’t know what you want if you won’t tell me. I can’t read your mind.” I’m throwing all her words back at her, and she frowns down at the carpet.
I notice she’s barefoot. She must have taken the shoes off at her desk.
“I want you,” she finally says with a shrug. “And I know I’m not supposed to. You’re grouchy, and you were such an asshole that first week, but damn it, I like you, and I’m so freaking attracted to you. So much so that I dress to impress you every morning and think about you when I’m at home. And I want to ask you a million questions that have absolutely nothing to do with work. But we set rules, and I made a promise to be professional, and that’s what I’ll damn well do until this job is finished.”
“And then what?” Calm again, knowing she feels the same way I do, I steeple my fingers and watch her. She’s breathing harder, her blue-gray eyes flashing, and her hands balled into fists at her sides. “After the job is finished, that is.”
“Then I’m just done.” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“So, let me get this straight. We’re attracted to each other. We think about one another all the time, even when we’re not together. The sex is ridiculously stellar, even though it’s only happened once, and we’d like to get to know each other better. But when the job is done it’s just…done?”
She scowls and shuffles back and forth on her feet. “Yes.”
“That’s bloody ridiculous.”
“Well, when you say it all like that, yeah, it does sound ridiculous.”
I’ve never felt tender toward a woman in my life, but right now, I want to cuddle her. I want to touch her, and it has nothing at all to do with sex.
“Come here.”
She bites that plump lower lip, and I simply lift an eyebrow, waiting for her to decide if she’ll comply.
Finally, after an internal debate that shows all over her gorgeous face, she walks across the room and stands in front of my desk.
“Closer.”
“I don’t know if—”
“Oh, bugger it.” I stand and round the desk, taking her into my arms and hugging her. “I just want to hold you, Maya.”
“Oh.” Her arms circle around me, and she holds on tightly as I bury my lips in her hair and press a kiss there. “You have to be in court in thirty minutes,” she says.
I grin and tip her chin up so I can look down at her, loving how she fits against me. Now that I have her in my arms, I want to do much more than simply kiss her.
But I do have an important court appearance that I can’t miss.
Her skin is soft and warm where I drag my fingers down her cheek. Finally, I lean in to brush my lips over hers, gently at first but then deeper. Her hand fists my tie, and the kiss becomes hotter, much more desperate, as I growl against her lips.
“If I don’t stop now,” I murmur, moving down her neck, “I’ll be in contempt of court.”
She giggles and then pulls back, her whole face lit with an amazing smile that makes me feel like I’ve won the lottery.
“You’re bloody gorgeous. And as soon as I get back to this office, I’m going to show you exactly what I want to do to you in those heels.”
She blushes and smooths my tie. “Sounds like a date. Except you’re due in court all day for the next two days. You won’t be in the office.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right.