Risk (The Men of Matiz 1)

"I think a lot of people see that in you." I tug my hand away from his when I look toward the corridor beyond the open door. Matiz corporate employees stream past at a steady clip, each turning to glance our way. There's a grin on every face, just as there was during the meeting. "Everyone who works here seems very happy."

"I pay them to look happy." He raises his hand, jerking his thumb back in the direction of the door. "The second I'm out of earshot, they're bitching about me."

"You don't know that." I meet his eyes. "I think people who work for you genuinely like you."

"Including you?" He lowers his hand to my waist, his fingers pressing through the thin blue blouse I'm wearing causing my nipples to furl into firm points. "Do you genuinely like me?"

I nod as his gaze falls to my blouse. "I work for Crew, but, yes, I genuinely like you."

"I can tell. We're alone so feel free to show me how much you like me." The tone of his voice lowers as he steps even closer. My body heats, the flush racing over me. The need to touch him winds through me from my core. He's taunting me with my own desire for him.

I lean in, not wanting anyone passing the room to catch my words. "I'm not sucking your cock in this conference room, Nolan."

He stares at me, first my eyes and then my lips. His fingers bite into my skin through the blouse. "Don't tease me with that mouth, Ellie. You've made me hard."

I glance down. The outline of his erection is straining against his pants. "Don't tease me with that."

"I'm not teasing," he hisses the words out. "Don't think for a second that I won't lock that door and strip you naked. I'm not opposed to fucking you on the conference table."

"I thought we were talking about you fucking my mouth."

"Jesus." He runs the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. "Come to my place at nine tonight. The place I took you to."

"You mean your shoebox?"

A soft smile crosses his lips. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

"You said it has sentimental value, so it's your shoebox."

"I suppose it is." He steps back as someone clears their throat in the doorway behind him. "That's Miller from Marketing. We have a meeting. If he's lucky, he'll have a job when it's over."

"Don't pretend you're not a nice guy, Nolan Black." I inch back on my heels. "I'll see you at the shoebox at nine."

"Nine sharp. I'll be there waiting for you."

"I'll try not to touch myself before then," I whisper. "No promises, though. You look extra hot today in that suit."

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"That mouth," he growls under his breath as I walk past him and smile at Mr. Miller on my way to the elevator.

Chapter 33

Nolan

"Mr. Black, I need a moment," Kristof Hellaman says as I step off the elevator after my meeting with Miller.

I spared the Marketing Manager my wrath today. It wasn't because Ellie had insisted that I'm a good guy. It was because I believe that second chances can yield tremendous results. He has one last opportunity to impress me with his vision of the campaign for our new skin care line. If he fails to knock it out of the park the next go-round, he'll be leaving the building with only his pride and a box of his belongings.

"My office." I walk quickly. He follows me in silence, waiting when I tell Eda to hold my calls.

"What's this about?" I ask as soon as the door is shut. I trust Eda, implicitly. She's one of the few people in my life I confided in when May arrived. She's never questioned anything she's overheard. She wears her loyalty on her sleeve, yet there are still conversations that aren't her concern. Typically, that's any discussion that Kristof and I have.

"Tad Darling, sir."

Anger crawls through me at the mention of his name. He's the man Ellie loved. She promised to marry him and he tossed her trust aside like a piece of dirty trash. I'm grateful in a twisted way that he's an asshole. It set her free so that when she fell in my lap, she wasn't bound to him in any way.

"What about him?" I perch a brow.