In a fit of panic the other night, I looked up other jobs in finance, not only limited to Boston, but the number of entry-level positions was concerning.
Mr. Rossi keeps telling me how impressed he’s been lately, and I’ve been invited into meetings with important clients that I had to pretend I wasn’t wetting myself over. Not only is this job great in terms of stability, but I enjoy it. I love the people and the work and yeah, seeing Rossi every day.
If I am successful in winning the role, him not being here will be an adjustment. Though not walking around with a semi all day can only be an improvement, right?
“I like your tie,” Rossi says, eyeing it with more intensity than should be allowed in the office.
“Thanks. It was a gift from this guy I know.”
“I like the cherry print.”
My grin is automatic. “I gave him my cherry, so he gave me these.”
Rossi’s laugh is loud, and I glance around to make sure no one’s paying attention.
We head toward the lunchroom and veer off from the people around us. I drop my voice the second we’re alone. “Seriously though, this is getting hard.”
“Can I make a dick joke?”
“Not this time.” I pout, full lip-out-batting-eyes. “This is supposed to be the part where we’re fucking like bunnies and you can’t get enough of me—”
“I can’t get enough of you—”
“But instead, we’re pretending like I’m not desperate to get dicked down by you every night.”
He smirks. I’m desperate to kiss it off his face. “Geez, someone’s greedy for the D.”
“You have no idea.” I shiver. “I always assumed I was missing out, but now I know for sure what it’s like. There’s so much I want to try when we’re free to spend every spare second together.”
Some of the humor melts off his face. “You know I’m more than ready to tell people about us. I thought this is what you wanted?”
“Don’t you come at me with logic.” This is what I wanted. This distance is all on me. Not only because I want the job, but because I’d be completely mortified if either Rossi or his dad thought I was dating him to get ahead. It’s not like that, and I want to make sure there’s never a second of doubt.
“I’m just making sure you know.” Rossi goes to reach for me and stops himself.
I sigh. “I know I’m being stupid, because it was the right choice, but damn you for being so fucking irresistible, Mr. Rossi.”
“It’s doubly worse when you call me that in the office, by the way.”
“Focus, Gian.”
He chuckles. “On what?”
“Me and my dramatics.” It’s physically exhausting holding myself back from pressing up against him and burying my face in his neck.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry. Just put up with my whining for a little bit longer.”
“I love that you think your whining somehow has an end date.”
I gasp, pretending to be worlds of offended. “Well, I never.”
“Uh-huh. Yep.” He finally steps back to a distance that isn’t dangerous and puts our lunch in the fridge. “Do you need me to tell you you’re cute again?”
“Excuse me, I’m a grown-ass man who doesn’t need reassurance.”
He steps close again. Closer. Closer. My heart starts to thump as he moves near enough that it would definitely look suspicious to anyone who walked in. He leans down, breath fanning over my cheek. “You’re so goddamn pretty.”
“Eeep.”
“Did you just squeak?”
“It’s not my fault.” I press my hands to his chest and force him to put space between us. Then remove my hands … now. Or … now? “You can’t be all swoony and expect my brain to work.”
With a quick glance around the corner into the hall, Rossi grabs one of my hands, raises it to his lips, and presses a kiss to the palm.
I melt and release him. “See? How’s a boy supposed to resist you?”
“Simple. Don’t.” He winks as he goes to leave. “But until the internship is over, that stationery closet down near the archives has our name on it.”
I shouldn’t take him up on that offer, but it’s too tempting not to.
* * *
Have I ever mentioned how much I love stationery?
It’s so smooth …
And innovative …
And … useful? Okay, so the comparisons to Rossi are slim, but when it comes to bulk packs of pens, reams of paper, and boxes of printer cartridges, I should probably be asking myself some questions about how horny the sight of them makes me. I close the door to the closet and wait.
Rossi’s dad gave me a slight early mark to lunch, which wasn’t the good thing he thinks it was. Because now I need to wait impatiently for his son to get here and ravish me.
This is a risk, one I shouldn’t take. The more we hook up around the office, the more chance there is of being caught, but damn I need it. The last two weeks have been torture.