Page 41 of Heart of The Night

‘Great.’ He picked up one of the coffees on his desk and proffered it to me. ‘Don’t forget this.’

Crossing the room, I thanked him with a smile, appreciating the small gesture. As I reached out to take the coffee, he gently drew me closer. His arm encircled my waist, anchoring me between his legs as he continued to lean against his desk.

‘You look stunning today – as always,’ he said, his voice imbued with tenderness. His eyes flitted toward my lips. ‘I’m sorry I seem a bit off.’

I lightly brushed his chiselled jawline with my hand, assuring him, ‘It’s fine. I get you’re tired.’

He nodded.

‘Perhaps you should leave early today,’ I suggested. ‘I can reschedule your calls, if you’d like.’

‘No, I can pull through until five. I’ll head off after that.’

‘All right.’

He punctuated the moment with a swift, sweet kiss, then passed me the coffee and the folder. As I turned to leave, he playfully swatted my bottom.

I jerked forward, taken by surprise.

‘That skirt is…’ He trailed off.

Casting a glance over my shoulder, I saw his eyes lingering appreciatively on my bum.

‘Waking me up,’ he went on, his gaze laden with desire as it flickered to mine.

His double entendre drew an amused glance toward his beige trousers, where a bulk was swelling. ‘Soldier on,’ I said, ‘and you can peel it off me after work.’

He smiled, his teeth digging into his lower lip. ‘Deal.’

§ § §

Returning to work alongside Ellie was genuinely refreshing. Her vibrant personality and friendly demeanour were infectious, and her ability to balance her naturally sociable nature with respecting the need for focus was commendable. She seemed to have an innate understanding of when to engage and when to give me space; she read me quite well.

Just before lunch, she left for a client meeting with Frederick, one of the senior lawyers, leaving me to eat lunch solo. I went to William’s office, hoping he might join me, but he requested I bring him something from the canteen so he could continue working. Thus, I found myself alone on the way to the lifts. One of them arrived just as Violet joined me. She looked stunning in a baby pink dress, which accentuated her olive complexion.

I couldn’t help but admire her. She was a true role model, both graceful and successful. What I found particularly inspiring was her embrace of femininity. She commanded respect without resorting to masculine attire, wearing her femininity as a badge of pride. In doing so, she challenged the erroneous notion that femininity equates to incompetence or incapability.

‘Hello,’ she greeted, her full, glossy lips curving into a warm smile. ‘Love your outfit.’

‘Funny, I was just admiring your dress,’ I said amusedly, following her into the lift.

She let out a soft chuckle. ‘Thanks. I feel a bit like a doll in it, but in a good way,’ she said, giving herself a once-over in the mirror-lined walls of the lift as the doors smoothly closed. ‘Where’s Will?’

‘In his office.’

Her upturned, rich brown eyes met mine. ‘Skipping lunch, is he?’

‘Yes and no.’ I shrugged. ‘He asked me to fetch him something from the canteen so he can keep working.’

‘Hmm.’ She leaned back against the reflective surface, her slender arms crossing over her ample chest. A playful smirk danced on her lips. ‘So…?’

My brow furrowed in confusion.

‘How was your date on Friday?’ she asked, her smirk transforming into a sly grin.

A blush crept onto my cheeks. ‘Oh, it went really well.’

‘Yeah? What did you get up to?’

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