Chapter Four

Kol’s desk was even bigger than Melody’s car. The intricately carved wood gleamed invitingly. Every piece of furniture or decor in his office just invited closer inspection. The man apparently had a knack for collecting things. When he’d first promoted Melody to her current position, he’d invited her into this very office and encouraged her to look around while they talked. To touch if she chose to, even though many of the objects had the look of rare, priceless artifacts.

Now the only thing she wanted to touch was the wide-shouldered man behind the desk.

She had to tell him and then accept the consequences. A small part of her hoped he’d feel the same way—that he’d want more, too—but she wasn’t hopeful. If he hadn’t made any gesture indicating he was willing over the last few months, he likely had no intention of it.

Kol stood and gave her a friendly smile. “Good to see you, Melody. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?” He gestured to the chair on the other side of his desk.

She fidgeted before the desk for a moment, her heart racing, and her mind too conscious of her proximity to him. She finally let herself sit in response to his gesture of invitation.

Kol sank back down into his own chair and gave her an expectant look, his full lips turning up slightly at the corners. Was he remembering the feel of her against his mouth? God, that was exactly what ~she~ was remembering just then. She shifted in her seat and stared down at her hands.

“Well, sir. That’s just the thing … the pleasure, I mean.” Good girl, get right to the point. She praised herself for her sharp response.

He frowned at her, his eyes narrowing. “Melody, I need you to be direct with me. Anything you share in here I will hold in confidence.”

“The trip to Boston last month.”

“What about it?”

She swallowed and clenched her fists. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Do you think it’s affecting your productivity?”

“What? Is that all you care about? I mean … you … you. Oh, God, are you really going to make me say it? I had the most mind-blowing sex of my life ~with your tongue~. But it wasn’t only that, it was everything else. You telling me what to do to get to that point. I would have done anything you told me to do. I still will. I just wish you would tell me to do ~something~.”

Melody took a shaky breath and struggled to fight back tears that threatened to spill forth after her entire humiliating confession.

His expression had barely changed. If anything he looked more amused, which infuriated her. He sat forward in his chair and placed his hands flat on the desk.

“Melody, you are an incredibly special young woman. Even more special than you realize. I value your presence more than you know, and that trip in particular. Your willingness to follow my commands without question made me realize something about myself, and about you.”

“Wh-what did you realize?”

“That a balance of power is important for a man who holds a position like I do. Asserting too much of it in any arena can be devastating. Too little can be just as bad. Having you and Hallie at the same time made me realize that I can assert it productively while still relinquishing it in other areas.”

Melody blinked. “So you enjoyed it?”

“I always enjoy sex. That day with you and Hallie was one of the highlights of my life. But I discovered I much prefer the balance I have with Hallie. She’s in control of my sex life. I have relinquished all the power I have in that arena to her, which is for the best. We’ve decided we have had enough of sharing each other for the time being, particularly since we’re expecting our first child soon.”

“Oh,” Melody said in a small voice when his words sank in. The tears finally broke through and she didn’t bother trying to hide them. Through the blurry wetness, she saw him rise and come around his desk. His tall, sturdy form crouched down before her and the soft fabric of a handkerchief pressed into her hands.

“Tell me why you’re crying,” he said in a low, gentle voice. “You’re not in love with me. I know that much.”

“How do you know?” She wiped her eyes and looked into his. Even crouched down in front of her, he was still at eye-level, his broad shoulders flexing beneath his expensive suit as he rested his large hands on the arms of her chair. She wanted them on her body, but knew now that was never going to happen again.

“I’m perceptive,” he said. “You want me because I gave you intense pleasure one time. I understand your infatuation, but it isn’t a good reason to jeopardize your job. And you are more special than you realize, so I want to help you find where you belong.”

“Is my job in jeopardy?”

“You tell me. You seemed to have made a decision already, likely before you even walked in here today. I’m guessing if my reaction hadn’t been to your liking, you were planning on quitting. How warm am I?”

Melody clenched her eyes shut and nodded. “Yes. I can’t be around you without thinking about it, constantly. And it wasn’t just the pleasure. It was the way you spoke to me just before.”

“You enjoyed being told what to do,” he said.

She shook her head. “No. Yes! Oh, God … It’s so much more than that. Since I started working for you, it’s like you own me. That day on the plane … what we did … just seemed like a natural extension of being your possession. I didn’t even know how much I wanted it until you started doing it. Now when you tell me what to do, I keep hoping it’ll lead to more, but it never does.”

Kol’s expression darkened. “You’re not a possession, Melody. You’re simply Blessed.”

“But what if I want to be?” She didn’t know quite what he meant by the other part. She didn’t feel particularly blessed—not with the confusion of emotions tangled inside her at the moment.

He pursed his lips and eyed her thoughtfully. “If I told you to undress and touch yourself right now, in my office, would you do it?”

She dropped the handkerchief and reached for the top button of her blouse, amazed at her own reaction. The despair disappeared, replaced by intense arousal.

“Sweet Mother, stop.” Kol grabbed her hands and pulled them away from her shirt. His nostrils flared and his pupils dilated as though he’d caught some sense of what she’d felt and responded to it. He released her and stood again. His erection pressed unmistakably at the fabric of his trousers as he made his way back around the desk and sat again.

“Why did you stop me?” she asked.

“I was testing you. I didn’t mean for you to actually follow my command, but the fact that you did is very telling, and proves my suspicion.” His brows creased and he steepled his fingers beneath his chin, pressing both forefingers against his lips. “I won’t let you quit, Melody, but you’re right to think we shouldn’t work together any longer.”

“So … what? You demote me? As much as I love it here, I’d rather go work somewhere else. No offense.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary, either. You’re a very special young woman with unrealized potential. Let me make a few calls.”

“Am I allowed to ask who you’re calling?”

“Someone who can help you realize your potential better than I can. I’d rather not give you details until I know it’s certain. You have vacation days. Why don’t you use them until I call you?”