Hot Boss, Boardroom Mistress

She said nothing, couldn’t come up with even the smallest barb in defence—there was only the mad acceleration of her heart and the fierce throb as blood poured into her most secret, sensual places. For that moment nothing mattered but getting what she needed. He shut the door behind them and she turned to face him.

It was like that first kiss of old—hard and angry and full of passion. Violent need burst through both of them, enhancing their strength and speed. But he broke away, breathing hard. She pulled him back, tender lips begging for more.

‘I’m hurting you,’ he resisted.

‘You’re not.’ And she took him, mouth bruising, hands moving to get what she wanted. He took a step back but she followed, pushing him right up against the bed and then onto it. Straddling him, she pulled her panties aside and impaled herself in one fast movement.

‘Amanda.’ He sucked in a shocked breath. ‘Are you OK?’

She sighed—a breathy half-laugh of amusement, and sublime sensual fulfilment. ‘Never better.’

A gleam grew in the depths of his dark brown eyes. ‘This is how you want it?’

‘For now.’

He chuckled, a low, sexier-than-hell sound that should have warned her. She felt his muscles ripple and flex. And then, with fearsome self-control, he worked her up to ecstasy, beyond and back again. Until she understood entirely—while she might be on top, he still called all the shots.

Jared could admit it now. The last two days had been hell and merely proved that this thing wasn’t over between them. In fact there was more to it that needed addressing. He listened to her breathing slow as he stroked the damp from her cooling skin.

‘I’m sorry. I should have been more honest about where and why I was going away.’

There was no audible response, but he felt her body tense just that tiniest bit under his fingers.

‘I like the mountains,’ he tried to explain. ‘They’re relaxing.’ Usually.

‘Have you been feeling tense?’

‘A bit.’ Massively. Still was. His body was on constant alert, ready to go into battle—protect and defend mode. It was ridiculous.

He tried to relax again. Made her take it slower this time, wanting to wring out the last of the sexual tension from her body as well as his own.

It worked only momentarily.

Rampant, unrelenting desire.

Jared cradled her once more as she recovered, her body half on his in the narrow bed of her hideous room. Places like these were rented on a week-by-week basis. Princess Amanda shouldn’t be living in such a dump with scary transient neighbours. Even if she did bolt the door. But he had a solution.

His heart thudded in his chest and he swallowed.

‘There’s a vacant apartment in the building two along from mine,’ he said. It was less than a three-minute walk.

‘Are you thinking of moving?’

‘No.’ He cleared his throat. ‘But I think you should.’

‘I can’t afford to move,’ she said lazily. ‘Things will get better now that I’m not going south all the time and don’t have to pay for these extra meds for Grandfather, but it’ll take a while for me to save bond and extra rent.’

‘Why don’t I rent it for you?’

‘Pardon?’

‘I’ll take the lease. You just move in.’

They could be close. Accessible. He could be with her when he needed her, and have his space the rest of the time. He could maintain that distance that was so crucial. But she’d be there for him. He’d know she was there.

His muscles were taut, waiting for her answer. It was the closest he’d ever come to claiming a woman—to offering her a permanent place in his life.

‘You’re saying you’ll set me up in my own apartment?’

‘We could be together but…’

‘Not be together.’

He let her go as she pushed up on his chest. Her tone hadn’t exactly been thrilled.

‘I thought this was just for a wee while,’ she said, looking into his face.

‘It’s…ah…’ He broke from her gaze. ‘It’s taking longer…’

She nodded slowly. ‘And what happens when we do eventually reach our conclusion? Am I out on the street? Given forty-eight hours’ notice or what?’

‘Amanda—’

‘No, I want to know. What is it you’re wanting from me in return? Just sex? A specific number of times a week? Do we commit to dinner dates as well or is it just what happens in the apartment? Do we draw up a written contract? Six nights of sex for a bed and a roof. Dinner on a blowjob-by-blowjob basis?’

‘Amanda, don’t be—’

‘No, Jared. Don’t you,’ she said harshly. ‘Don’t you make it worse.’