Page 73 of Illicit Education

“I’m not your boss here, Rylan.”

I nodded.

“Tell me you understand that.”

“I understand that.”

He licked his lips, the movement painfully slow and directly connected to the need swirling in my belly.

“Come.”

My body jerked in response to the power in that singular command, and he smiled a slow, satisfied grin. I was putty in his hands.

And now he’d confirmed it.

“I have to close up.”

He inclined his head, giving me permission with just a movement.

Turning quickly, I hurried to the register on shaky legs. I hadn’t started doing the night drops at the bank yet, as this was only my fourth shift, but I did gather all of the receipts and the credit card transactions, along with all the cash from the register each night, then secure it within the safe in Mina’s office before I left. Laurel and the other managers handled the bank deposits and anything else that needed to be done when they came in for their morning shifts.

My pulse sped as I hurried through the nighttime routine, my body buzzing as anticipation and adrenaline filled me with nervous energy.

And I dropped the bag.

“Let me.”

I froze as his scent came over me. He squatted at my feet, then held my gaze as he rose again. “Breathe, Rylan.”

“You make it really hard.”

He closed his eyes on a long blink, his lips twitching with a smile.

“That’s what he said,” I mumbled under my breath.

He chuckled, and the low rumble melted my insides. Then he motioned toward the back of the store. “All set?”

Nodding, I took a deep breath to steady myself for the walk back to Mina’s office. “I just have to put this away and lock up here.”

He nodded.

“Is there another way out?” I paused. “Downstairs, I mean?”

“Yes, of course.” His gaze flicked back and forth between my eyes. “Have you seen me coming and going this week?”

My mouth dropped open but I quickly closed it. “So you have been here.”

The Smirker was back. “So you have been looking.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

That smug smirk remained in place while he waited for me to deposit everything into Mina’s safe, then grab my things and lock up her office. When I turned to him, I caught him staring at my chest.

I cleared my throat. “My eyes are up here.”

He raised his eyebrows. “This might be my favorite one yet.”