na(

orning came

s face, the way his hand had lingered near my cheek, t

re forcing myself out of bed. I told myself that today was business,noth

ident, devastating in a charcoal suit that fit hi

But his eyes... they gave him away. There was

ckwood," I replied

ing. "Mr. Blackwood? You only call me that

my cheeks. "We should go. W

aid nothing more as we st

overlooking the Boston harbor. The air was thick with polite tension and quiet pow

trying to focus on the words inste

d mine when passing a document. Ever

eone asked suddenly

e was looking at me. "I- I'm

ard me:sharp, protective,

"I asked if the prese

said quickly, recover

d the slideshow, I felt Adrian's gaze follow me. He didn't speak, bu

when it ended and the meeting wrapped up, m

closed behind us, Adrian final

him, startled

ntly. "You were.

ly as it descended, but t

urted out. "I can't keep preten

ened. "Then st

lobby, and I stepped out bef

the documents across the bed, typing furiously, trying to focus on figures

ck on my door, my heart s

en need to a

ned th

is eyes. His tie was gone, his shirt unbuttoned at the top. He

dri

y. "Just stop pretendin

he stepped inside, clos

t right," I

n't you tellin

rd. "Because I

, neither of us moved. The air be

y away. I tried to be your boss and nothing more. But every t

sides. "And what happen

, inches away. "Then we de

to push him away but

jaw, every part of me melted. The scent of him:cedar

moment, I let myself for

was that I

arely a whisper. "Tell me

idn't. I

whispered,

at was

ad been starving for it. We lost ourselves on the bed, wr

oom, the city lights flickering through t

e me:asleep, peaceful, hi

e man the world saw as powerful, untouchable, ruthl

f dawn touched the room,

have I

was something darker, more dangerous, a

ep down

take that neither of