Chapter 31

“Ready?” He gazes at me as the car door opens and holds out his hand. The Carrero building looms in front of us, and it feels like I haven’t been here in weeks. So much has changed in such a short time. He slides out of the car, pulling me with him, and straightens up as Jefferson shuts the door behind us. Normally, Jake would use the underground car park, but Jefferson has errands to run for him today, so we are being dropped at the front door. This is very public, right outside the main entrance to Carrero House in the morning rush. I take a deep, anxious breath, push down the onslaught of emotions, and nod, trying not to run away.

We are the talk of the building and very much confirming rumors while walking hand in hand through the foyer. I tense as we enter the building and resist the urge to pull my hand out of his as heads turn at our arrival. Faces glance our way with stifled grins and whispers as people pretend not to be staring.

Ugh, this is embarrassing.

I was surprised this morning to find my work clothes hanging in Jake’s closet, along with more of my outfits from my apartment. Apparently, while we were away, at Jake’s bidding, Jefferson had Sarah pack me some essentials for our return.

Nice to know my commanding man still exists in there somewhere.

I’m in my familiar gray suit jacket, pencil skirt, and my favorite Louboutin black stiletto heels. Like old PA Emma, except my boss is now casually leading me to the elevator with his fingers entwined in mine with the smug expression on his face of a guy who got a lot of sex before getting out of bed this morning. I shake my head at him, wishing he wouldn’t make it so obvious, but that glint in his eye serves as a warning that he will be far worse if I protest. I wouldn’t put it past him to pick me up over his shoulder and drag me to the nearest elevator to make out.

He throws me a warning eyebrow lift when I try to slide my fingers out of his, and I give up; he’s never been a guy to push. He has no qualms about making a scene and doesn’t care what people think about him.

Luckily, the elevator is full, so Jake’s wandering hands can only skim my ass briefly as he’s trying to be on his best behavior. We get to the sixty-fifth floor without too much drama or other people in the elevator making it obvious they are outright mesmerized. I know most of the building has been gossiping non-stop about our dancefloor kiss at the charity ball, and as this is the first time most can see that the rumor is true, people are looking our way.

Was that just over a week ago?

So much has happened in such a short time, and things between us got so intense that I can hardly comprehend that it’s only been a week. I can’t believe it’s only been days. I feel like Jake’s been with me for so much longer and that we spent a month on that yacht.

“Want to come to christen my desk?” he whispers as he pulls me after him to our old familiar offices.

“Jake!” I scold, my old PA mode kicking in, “When we’re at work, then I’m going to be the PA Emma you paid for.” I let go of his hand haughtily and walk forward quickly to my old desk, feet away, jumping with a flinch as he smacks my ass loudly, and about ten heads snap around to look. I hold myself in check from reacting.

“I swear to God,” I begin through gritted teeth, but he only smiles with a flick of his eyebrows before walking past into his own office, leaving the door wide open. My face flaming with embarrassment, I throw my bag onto my desk, pushing down the urge to throw something at him through his door.

I swear I may actually throttle him.

I note that Margo’s personal effects are gone already; she’s cleared this in anticipation of my return. I’m sad about this as I’d have loved seeing her again, a chance to talk to her about coming back.

“Miss Anderson, I’ve something that requires your immediate attention.” Jake’s voice floats through from his door, and I already regret coming to work for him. I push down my irritation, knowing that this will be sexual, except unlike old me, I can’t threaten to sue him to make him behave or brush off his advances anymore. I walk into his office and immediately turn and walk back out when I see him patting the new couch in his office suggestively, loosening his tie with a naughty look in his eye.

“Work!… Remember?” I yell back and stomp off to find a coffee; I will need it today. We need to set some ground rules about this working together, or I’ll end up choking him with his own tie.

“I forgot what PA Emma was like,” he yells back, but there’s only amusement in his voice, “I’ve changed my mind; I might fire you after all.”

I ignore him and instead begin pulling out all the files Margo has left for me, briefs for getting me up to speed on things I’ve missed, and other projects in mid-flow. I’ve missed a huge amount of work in the last month; this will be a nightmare to get my head around, and the last thing I need is Jake trying to get me naked in his office.

I glance up and spy Rosalie grinning at me from the outer office and smile back. She seems genuinely happy to see me, waving as she returns to her desk and continues working. It makes me feel a bit warmer inside and a little less upset with my boyfriend’s or boss’s overly public displays of affection.

An hour later, Jake comes strolling out to my desk, where I’m wading through all the documents Margo has left for me; I have two empty coffee mugs on my desk and a lot of scrunched-up notes in the bin. He’s lost his jacket and tie, his blue shirt is untucked at the waist with sleeves rolled up, and the collar is open; it’s devastating to me like it always is. I’m a sucker for this look on him; even without looking directly at him, my temperature soars along with my heart rate.

“I want to fuck you,” he utters quietly, leaning into my ear so only I can hear. My knees press together under the desk as I put my pen down and look up with indulgence at his serious face.

“Jake, first, will you stop calling it that? Second, no! We’re at work, to work. You get enough at home and this morning,” I whisper, looking around nervously in case anyone can hear us.

Maybe I should shut my office door from now on; Rosalie is within earshot most of the time.

“Fine, let’s screw, copulate, make love, have sex…whatever you want to call it. You’re ten feet away, wearing a tight skirt and stilettos, and I’m supposed not to feel horny? Bambina, please. I’ve got a convenient second room that locks, with a couch in there…remember?” He looks at me in a way that sends my organs into a frenzy, my body clenching ecstatically. He leans in close enough to kiss me without effort, his aftershave drawing me in.

I need to have more control than this.

I cast my mind back to the walk-in closet-type second room in his office and the last time I saw that couch months ago, before he ever kissed me, before I even knew how I felt about him, and I’m more than tempted.

“You can’t do this to me,” I pout. “It’s not fair.”

“You think this is a one-sided deal?” He laughs. “Baby, I’ve had to stop myself from coming through here about eighteen times in the last hour, just thinking about ripping that skirt off and taking you on the desk. It’s not fair on me, looking like that and not being allowed to do anything about it.” He leans down and plants a chaste kiss on my cheek. “I’m going for a cold shower before I make good on that threat.” He walks off toward Rosalie’s desk in the outer office, looking particularly hot in his tailored gray pants.

“Jake, wait,” I blurt out impulsively. He turns slowly and looks me up and down, his face blank but his eyes heavy, his pupils dilated from his horny state.

Oh, God, how sexy he looks standing there. Screw it.

“Yes, Miss Anderson?” His voice is low, husky, and full of hidden intent, making my knees press together more firmly in response.

Jesus, what he does to me.

“I, ummm, think I need you to look these over in your office,” I chirp brightly, deliberately getting up to walk sexily into his office without a backward glance. In full sight of the open door, I walk to his desk and bend over to slide the file forward just enough for my jacket to ride up and expose my butt in my tight skirt, lifting one foot slightly as though I’m reaching out, so my legs look shapelier in the confined material. The door shuts behind me almost immediately, and then his hands run up my thighs, igniting passion. I’m turned and thrown over his shoulder instantly. I let out a small squeal and giggle as he marches me toward that internal door.

***

I stretch out in my chair and arch my back; my desk is littered with papers, files, my laptop, and an overwhelming amount of random crap. The past few days have been hard, not made any easier by my oversexed boss-lover and his attempts at dragging me into his storeroom at every opportunity. He’s succeeded more times than I want to admit, making that couch almost like a bed away from home.

He has finally settled into some work routine and left me alone today. I can see him through the open door with his head down as he types, focus intent, his old Carrero frown in place, showing he means business. I watch him for a few seconds with that familiar swell of love inside of me. I can’t stop it; every time I look at him, I have to pinch myself that this is real, that I’m really here. He senses my eyes on him and glances up, throwing me a knee-weakening smile, his boyish ‘I’m way too hot to be legal’ smile. I beam back and turn away, not wanting to give him too much encouragement. It doesn’t take much to send that libido of his spinning my way lately, and I’ve only just managed to get absorbed in my work.

I hear his phone ring, and he sounds agitated when he answers; I know it’s her again. He’s refusing to sit down with the lawyers until they can reach some middle ground on where I fit in with this whole thing. Ever since our return, they have argued non-stop.

I’ve told him so many times that I shouldn’t be a factor in this, that I’ll step away and keep my distance until the baby is born for the sake of peace. He’s adamant he won’t let her dictate his life, and I know that stubborn streak too well; he will never back down. He’s incapable of backing down when he’s got the bit between his teeth. That determined side of him won’t let him.

I tune out and focus back on what I’m doing, trying to ignore how his tone and anger are rising slowly and how my stomach aches at the thought of her.

***

A little past noon, I get up and take him the files I’ve gone through, some contracts he needs to check, a new start-up he’s interested in investing in, and some minor publicity suggestions from Wilma. He’s glaring at a document in front of him, obviously unhappy with something contained within, and it makes me smile. Despite loving him as a boyfriend, the Jake I missed most was boss Carrero and his multitude of facial expressions when he was absorbed in something mundane. He has a face that can say a million things without opening his mouth when he isn’t maintaining his poker face, that is.

“Hey,” I mutter softly, and his chin lifts to look at me.

“Hey,” he replies with a smile, getting up and coming around the desk to pull me against him. I glance back to see if anyone is watching through the open door and catch Rosalie turning away quickly. I try to push myself away, but he only tightens his grip.

“Stop caring about what people will think or say.” He nuzzles my neck, making me melt against him too readily. I have no willpower when it comes to his touch.

“It’s easy for you to say that; you intimidate everyone. No one would say a thing about you for fear of your wrath. They all think I’m some gold-digging whore who’s bedding the boss to get my job back,” I sigh. He brings his face to mine, and it’s glaringly obvious he doesn’t like what I’ve said.

“I’ll fire anyone I catch saying that,” he growls seriously, his tone a tad harsh, and sadly, I know he means every word. I push away from him and straighten my clothes, making it clear that I need to go.

“I’ve got to go to Queens to meet Sarah,” I remind him. “I need more clothes and things from the apartment and sit down and talk to her properly before she goes to work.” He steps forward, closing the gap between us again, and kisses me on the mouth, taking a moment to linger with his lips against mine. He has one hand on my face, holding me steady, and slowly grazes my lips with a brush of his tongue. It’s hard not to react when he kisses me this way; the urge to grab and kiss him harder makes my fingers twitch. He finally steps back.

“Jefferson is already waiting,” he says as he straightens my jacket and smooths down my blouse, lingering over my cleavage with a naughty smile that gains him an indulgent one back.

~What am I to do with you?~

“I have a meeting with my lawyer while you’re gone; we’ll eat when you’re back, dolcezza.” His fingertips touch my lower lip tenderly, his eyes focused on mine.

“She isn’t going to be too pleased when I tell her you’ve asked me to move into your apartment full-time,” I add. We briefly talked about this last night, him adamant, and even though I want nothing more than to curl up in his bed every night, a part of me knows the thought still terrifies me. Sarah will be upset, too, at the speed this is all progressing. It’s all happened so suddenly; we are moving so fast. He shrugs that infuriating mannerism of his when he couldn’t care less about someone opposing what he wants.

“She has her live-in boyfriend, and you two rarely see each other because of your work schedules.” He moves back around his desk, sits in his chair, and picks up the file he’d thrown down. “It’s going to happen, Emma, whether now or in a month or two. You think I will be happy living apart for very long?”

“You don’t think this is moving too quickly?” I query. I tried to talk this through sensibly last night, but he closed me down every time, stubborn and set on what he wanted. Typical Jake, it’s always how he wants things, and I get no say unless it is to agree.

“Nope,” he responds quickly, “We practically lived together when you were just my PA. Why is this suddenly something scary? If you don’t want to do it, then just tell me.” He sits back in agitation, a childish pout-face appearing, indicating I’ve hurt his feelings. He pushes away the file, almost like a mini temper tantrum.

~Little boy Carrero.~

“I do want this,” I retort quickly, trying to smooth the ruffled feathers of my man-child. “It’s just…it’s serious, Jake. What if spending all this time working and living together makes you feel caged in…restless? I want to be sure that you’ve thought about it. I mean, you went from serious man-whore to a one-woman man overnight.” I move to the chair beside his desk and sit down, leaning closer so outside ears won’t be able to hear us. “I’m just worried this is so full-on so quickly that you’ll start missing being free and single.” I look away from him to the view outside the window, cursing myself for letting Miss Insecurity show face again. He sighs, then leans forward, so our heads are close; his hand comes to find mine and pulls it between us. He starts playing with my fingers between his thumb and forefinger, dwarfing my hand.

“You’ve got to stop thinking that way. And you’ve got to stop pinpointing the start of our relationship from the night I told you I loved you. I’ve loved you for a lot longer than that; I’ve wanted you for months. Our relationship started over a year ago, Emma, not a few weeks ago. There’s nothing rushed about where we are now; if anything, I’ve had the patience of a saint to wait this long to ask you.” He smiles his killer Casanova Carrero beam, and I return it; he knows how to play me so easily.

“I don’t want you to get fed up with me. Constantly being together can’t be healthy,” I add gently.

“It won’t be like that. We’re still enjoying being together in ways we never allowed ourselves; this is the honeymoon period. When we get comfier, we’ll do some things apart, like you and Sarah, Leila…Sophie. I still want to go out with Daniel. I have other friends that you probably wouldn’t be comfortable around, friends I really wouldn’t trust near you. I’ll still have to take solo business trips when things are hectic and you’re needed here. There are no rules; we make them up as we go, il mio amore.” He strokes my fingers, voice low and sincere.

~I know he’s not saying it, but he also means trips to LA once a month, too.~

“It makes no sense to me having you beside me at work, then you going home to Queens at night. I want you home with me to kick back and unwind. Here, we’re starting to get back into our roles as boss and PA. I want my girlfriend when we’re not working.”

“Sarah’s going to try and talk me out of it,” I sigh, watching him play with my fingers one by one, enjoying the sensation. “She’ll think we’re rushing things.” I look up at him and shake my head when he shrugs, his answer to everything. It’s so infuriating.

“I’m not going to force you, Emma. Go see her, collect what you need for this week anyway, then let me know what you decide. I won’t be mad if you decide not to, but I want you to know that it will happen eventually.” He moves forward and kisses me quickly before letting me get up to leave. I ruffle my fingers lightly through his hair, smiling at how he looks up at me, and our eyes instantly connect.

~A face that could melt icebergs. And it’s all mine. Stubborn to a fault.~

I turn and walk off, grabbing my bag as I pass my desk. I can sense his eyes on me, but I don’t look around. I like torturing him subtly; it makes me feel good to know I have a little power over him, too. Probably more than I realize; besides, he can be so commanding sometimes that he deserves it.

I want to move in with him, but I’m terrified. It’s a huge step for me, depending on someone else: his apartment, his things, his money, his furniture, his way!

I’ve always stood on my own two feet, and what if it all goes to hell and we break up? I can’t go crawling back to Sarah, and I’d have nowhere else to go.

I go into overdrive, thinking this all through as I make my way down to the underground car park to find Jefferson, with one of Jake’s four-by-fours, parked and waiting.