Bound Beneath His Pain (Dirty Little Secrets 1)

A valid point, I thought. One I intend to crush anyhow. “Have you ever read in the tabloids about me dating anyone here at Holt?”

“No.”

“I’ve dated five people and all five of those women still work here.” Her nose scrunches, and I can tell my answer is a double-edged sword. “While that might not be what you want to hear, it also shows you that I know how to keep professional and personal separate. If nothing comes of our date, only you and I will know about it. Believe me, I won’t let the tabloids photograph you.” I see by the way her shoulders droop that what I’ve said pleases her.

Regardless, she fires off her next excuse. “I haven’t dated in over a year, because I’ve been focused on my career. It’s important to me. I don’t want the complication of a relationship right now.”

“I’m not asking for a relationship,” I say easily, gazing over the soft lines of her face. My fingers twitch to feel her skin heat under my hands like I did so easily last night. I want to hear those soft moans and feel them brushing down my neck while I thrust deep inside her. I lift my eyes to hers, which are becoming more heated as the seconds drag on. “I’m asking for a date. Two people. One dinner. One night.”

She inhales a big deep breath and then blows it out slowly, enough for me to remember how her breath hitches right before climax and how she releases a perfect little squeak. “I don’t do one-night stands,” she continues. “If that’s what you’re looking for, you should look elsewhere.”

“Good to know.” I fold my arms, lean back in my chair, actually glad. My possessive side likes that. If she doesn’t do one-night stands then I can only assume Allie hasn’t had many lovers. All mine, the beast purrs inside. “But I never said anything about sex. I said I want a date.” I like the way she blushes when I add, “And I also believe that last night proves enough that my pleasure is not on my mind. Therefore, your objection is also irrelevant.”

A long few seconds of silence passes before she breaks the staring contest and shakes her head. “Why won’t you let this go?”

“You know why,” I tell her.

Again, she silently stares at me. I don’t understand her objection. Christ, last night she let me get her off. Now she’s having second thoughts? Regardless of what her mind is telling her, I see the way her lips part under my regard and how she’s trembling slightly. I see the flush over her cheeks and how her eyes undress me. I intend to fully help her understand why neither of us should ignore this.

I’m done waiting.

No more refusing me.

I rise and move to her, watching her eyes widen, pupils becoming large and dark. When I grab the back of her chair, wheeling her out from under the table and turn her toward me, she leans into me and her face is deepening in color. My cock hardens to steel as I inhale her sweet scent, while I brace on the armrests, bringing my face close to hers, noticing her firm eye contact; telling signs for me not to stop. “This is why I can’t leave you alone.” I lift my fingers, pleased when she stays put, as I drag them gently down the long lines of her neck, feeling her tremble.

Her lips part wide, inviting me to kiss her.

I lick mine, desperate to seal my mouth over hers. Temptation is driving me to touch her and I’m staring at my fingers sliding over her collarbone then up her neck to her jawline, feeling her skin heat under my touch. But I can’t kiss her. I need her to hear me. “The pull that I feel toward you is rare. You make me do things I would never do; break rules I would never break.” Her legs part and she’s tempting me to slide my fingers up to her warmth again. “The only thing that is stopping me from fucking you right here, right now, until we break this goddamn table, is you.” She lifts her chin, exposing her neck to me, and I slide my hand across her warm skin, feeling her pulse hammering beneath my palm. “We could ignore this thing between us and pretend that one date isn’t worth all the risks you’ve stated. Or we could see exactly why”—I tangle my fingers into her hair at her nape, tugging a little, and lowering my voice—“this feels so damn good.”

“Micah…” she breathes, leaning up to kiss me.

I drop my hand and step back. “You want more, Allie. We go on a date. That’s how this works.”

She flops back into her chair, breathing deeply and crossing her legs tightly. I know she’s squeezing her legs together and feeding pleasure to her swollen clit, because I already know how sensitive she is and how aroused she becomes by my touch alone.

“Well…”—she finally draws in a long breath and releases it slowly—“…you’ve mad

e your position perfectly clear.”

I stuff a hand in my pocket, stroking the side of my hard cock, wishing it’s her damn fingers, awaiting her next move.

Eyes on me, she rises and pushes the chair under the table, then heads swiftly toward the door. “You’ll let me know where to meet you tonight?”

“Who says our date is tonight?” I call out.

She opens the door and glances over her shoulder. “I do.”

Then she smiles.

It’s warm. It’s real.

It swallows me whole.

Chapter 7

Allie

“Wait. What? You said yes!”