He paused, then stepped back and shook his head like he needed to clear it. “You’re right.”
“Maybe we should talk about last night.”
“What is there to talk about?”
I moved to peek into the closet, noting the plush seat and big vanity. It was an honest-to-goodness dressing room. This place was a dream. “We got carried away,” I said, running my fingers over the velvet hangers where my clothing already hung. Garcia’s staff moved fast. “We can pretend it didn’t happen and go back to being Jared Branson and guest.”
He hummed. “Or…maybe we shouldn’t fight it.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Jared leaning against the dressing room doorjamb, watching me. I arched a brow. “We shouldn’t fight it?”
“We obviously have chemistry. Maybe this is something we should indulge.”
“Jared, you’re my boss. We have a contract. I’m here to make you look good. Adding sex to the equation is a terrible idea.”
Even though it was tempting. As he dangled the forbidden fruit before me, I considered it. Ever since we’d kissed, I’d felt off-kilter. I couldn’t think straight. I’d dreamed of him last night, looking at me with those dark-blue eyes while my fingers curled into his shoulders.
But it was a terrible idea.
He tilted his head in agreement. “Probably.”
I turned my back to him to explore the space. On top of the big, tufted ottoman in the center of the space was a tray with two bottles of water and some fancy snacks. When I glanced up, I met Jared’s eyes in the vanity mirror.
He hadn’t moved, but I felt his presence everywhere. My resolve was being chipped away, and the man was doing nothing but watching me.
As if he could read my mind, Jared pushed off the wall and approached. I stood in front of the vanity, watching him come nearer as my heart took off at a gallop.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said in a low voice.
“Uh-oh,” I replied. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
Giving me a flat look, he came to stand directly behind me. His palms landed on the vanity on either side of me, the heat of him a bonfire at my back. “I’ve been thinking about what happened at the gala yesterday.”
His lips moved close to my neck, and it took all my self-control not to lean into him, to feel the press of his chest against my back. “What about the gala yesterday?”
“It’s been a long time since I felt that kind of spark with someone.”
My heart tripped over itself.
“Do you disagree?” His eyes met mine in the mirror.
My face gave me away. The wanting that coursed through my veins right now was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. One look caused my blood to heat. Now his nearness made it hard to focus on logic and reason.
But I clung to it anyway and said, “Just because we have a spark doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to get involved.”
His hands moved from the vanity to my hips, right above the flare of the peplum. “What if it’s a great idea? We’re supposed to be convincing everyone we’re together anyway.” His smile was wicked.
“I think you’re horny,” I said, slightly breathless at his closeness, “and that has made your brain malfunction.”
“Give me one good reason we shouldn’t fuck.” His hands moved up to my stomach, tracing the two rows of buttons on the front of my dress.
My pulse pounded, and I stopped resisting his pull. Leaning against him, I let my head fall against his shoulder. “We work together. Our contract explicitly states that no physical contact will occur between us.”
“Our contract states that no physical contact is required for you to complete your job duties.” His hands moved higher, tracing the undersides of my breasts. “It doesn’t say we can’t touch each other.”
My nipples tightened, but Jared kept his touch just beneath my breasts. I could feel his hardness against my ass, could read the desire in his gaze in the mirror. “You’re my boss,” I protested weakly.
“Last night,” Jared replied, his lips near my ear, “last night I was so hard I couldn’t think straight. The moment I got home I had my hand around my cock because of you.”
I closed my eyes. It was hard to think about anything except the feel of his broad hands on my body and the image of him losing control because of me.
I was nearly losing control myself. His hands stroked upward, over my breasts, and a shudder went through my body.
“You want me,” he cajoled. “Let me have you.”
Angling my face against his neck, I inhaled the scent of him. My whole body trembled. I’d never been seduced like this. It should have been a turn-off, but there was something addictive about being wanted by someone so badly he was ready to break all the rules for me.
In some far-off corner of my mind, I knew it was a very bad idea. He could fire me at any minute, and I’d be left with nothing but a few nice clothes and my banged-up pride. This wasn’t true love or even affection. This was convenience. I’d been hired as a placeholder, and he was treating me exactly like one.
I turned my head away, and the movement of his hands on my body stilled.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I don’t know.”
His palms slid down my sides to my hips. “Okay,” he said softly, then took his hands away. I was left in that beautiful dressing room surrounded by fantastic clothes and expensive furniture, breathing heavily, wondering how the hell I’d gotten myself in this position.
Jared’s POV
I’d gotten carried away. I knew that. Iris knew that. But I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.
She fit against me like she was made for me. I could sense her fighting herself, fighting the desire inside her that had to rival my own.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.