Page 52 of Secrets, Lies and Love

"Regarding my desires, what I want is to know what it's like to touch myself listening to your voice. Finally being sure what an orgasm is. I dreamed that you saw me doing it, and I woke up with my body on fire."

If he weren't who he is, I might be scared by the intensity of his gaze after what I say, because he looks like he's about to rip my clothes off. "Go on. What else do you want?"

"I don't know much about sex, sir, except in theory, but the way I get hot when you're around, I think anything between us would be very . . . rough."

He lowers his face and smells the curve between my shoulder and neck. I shudder.

"Rough?Do you think it would berough?I would turn you inside out, Cecily. Right now I want to pull up that dress, get down on my knees, and suck your pussy until I hear you scream my name. To not stop until I’ve ensured that not only do you know what an orgasm really is but you won’t be able to see me without imagining my fingers, tongue, and cock inside you."

I feel so weak from those words that I need to lean on his forearm.

"See what I can do just by telling you what I want? You think that if we fucked, it would be ‘rough?’ No, redhead. When I take you, the fucking planet is going to fall off its axis."

I force myself not to get carried away by what he says. It’s all just a fantasy between two people who want each other.

Even if I didn't expect anything from him afterwards, as soon as I gave in, he would send me away and I would lose contact with Joseph forever.

"It won't happen, because we live on different planets. I need my job, and I'm determined to keep it. You won't want me around when it's all over. Can you deny that?"

He says nothing, and I have my answer.

I don't give him time to continue talking, because despite trying to use my reason, his words—when I take you, the fucking planet will fall off its axis—is such a tempting invitation that I’m scared I’ll give in.

I barely reach the door when his voice stops me again:

"I said I'll take you." He sounds angry, and I think a little bit frustrated too.

We both are because the desire we feel is dangerous.

I look back. "Thank you, but there’s no need. I already have a ride."

On cue, the doorbell rings, and I quickly walk to open it.

Cage looks at me from the other side, smiling and without disguising his interest in me.

His look doesn't do anything to me other than massage my ego. I know there will never be anything between us, but I need a distraction before I make a mistake that will cost me dearly.

Cecily

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“You look beautiful.”Cage repeats what Dionysus said when he opens the car door for me.

This time, however, my heart doesn’t race. “Thanks.”

I’m still reeling from the conversation earlier and the fact that Dionysus walked to the door as I left, didn’t respond to Cage’s greeting, and if I guessed right, almost went for my date’s jugular.

“I never imagined seeing Zeus getting married,” he says, much more to fill the uncomfortable silence than to talk about his employer’s love life, I think.

I fasten my seatbelt and turn to face him. “I texted you because you told me you were offering friendship, so just to be clear, that’s what I’m accepting, Cage. A dance or two. Your company and good conversation. Nothing but that.”

He doesn’t seem upset. “May I know why?”

“I don’t have an answer to give you at the moment, just that I’m not looking for romance.”

Yes, I have an answer to give, but what am I going to say? Confess that any man besides Dionysus seems dull? Or that myskin still tingles from the unseemly promise to pleasure me that my boss just made?

“I accept your friendship and the dances, Cici. For now, I won’t ask you for anything more than that.”

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