Page 16 of Charmed and Alarmed

Then, he looked at me, and now… Now, all I can think about is walking around to the back of his desk, sinking to my knees between his parted legs…

As if he knows what I’m thinking, Holden leans back in his chair, his fingers digging into the edge of the desk. “I’ll answer your question if you answer one for me in exchange.”

I swallow, and my heart is pounding so wildly that in the silence of the office, there’s no way he can’t hear it. “Okay.”

The word is out of my mouth before I can think better of it, and, as Holden’s lips curve into a smirk, I know I’ve taken a misstep. “It’s for no one,” he tells me calmly. “I just like to draw.”

Oh boy. Straightening up, I cross my arms, staring at him and willing myself not to run from the room as quickly as my dumb leg will allow. Why would I have agreed to that exchange? Is this man so hot he scrambles my brain? Seriously, I should have known that was dumb…

Holden’s head tilts slightly as he studies me, obviously enjoying my tension.

“I should be getting home?—”

“Why have you been dressing like that?”

My thundering heart stalls. “Like what?” I ask, glancing down at my outfit, as if I have no idea what he’s talking about.

My boss lifts an eyebrow, his expression arranged into one of amused skepticism. “Don’t lie to me, princess.” His eyes rake over my body without apology, lingering far longer than could ever be considered casual. “Answer the question.”

I blow out an unsteady breath as heat floods my body. He wants to put it out there? Fine. “I like you looking at me.”

Holden nods slowly, thoughtfully. Then, pushing his chair away from the desk, he looks past me into the main office space, at the rows of empty desks.

“What are you—Holden!” His name comes out in a squeal as, without warning, my boss reaches out to grab my wrist, pulling me toward him so abruptly that I stumble. The air is pushed from my lungs as I find myself face down across his lap, staring at the floor with my ass in the air.

An impatient growl sounds above me, and before I can make any attempt to right myself, my skirt is being pulled up around my waist. Beneath, I’m wearing tights and a plain white thong, but soon the top layer is gone, too, shoved down below my butt.

The sound of his hand hitting my flesh is almost more unexpected than the feeling of it. Squealing, I buck against him, trying to push off the edge of the chair, but it’s no use. Holden keeps one hand on my lower back, pressing me down as he delivers four more spanks to my bare ass.

“If you’re determined to be a goddamn cocktease, there will be consequences, Lenora.” His voice is rough with want, and I gasp as I feel the long, hard line of his erection pressing against my stomach. Another round of spanks, and I stare at the floor, dizzy with shock and arousal.

Holy shit.

My face burns as he grips my ass in both hands, squeezing the burning flesh harshly. “Consider this a warning. The next time you decide to put on a little show to get my dick hard, you’ll get more of the same.” He spanks me again, hard enough to make me cry out as my clit throbs and arousal coats the narrow strip of fabric covering my pussy. If I parted my legs even an inch, he would be able to see exactly what this is doing to me.

So, I do it.

My thighs inch apart, and above me, there’s a low, furious curse. I can feel Holden’s chest heaving as the rush of blood makes my ears ring. Against my stomach, his cock twitches. Seconds pass in which neither of us moves, and every one of them is unbearable.

I open my mouth, preparing to beg, to plead for him to keep going, to touch me like I need him to… Then his hands are gone.

Face burning, I scramble to my feet, adjusting my tights and skirt. Holden stares up at me from his chair, looking as stunned at what just transpired between us as I am, his erection still straining against his slacks.

“I’m sorry,” he says at last, his voice strained. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

He’s rattled, but so am I. My pulse is still racing, my breathing still ragged, and it takes me two tries to remember how to speak. I should tell him I’ll stop trying to torture him, or that I’m sorry too, or any number of things that would diffuse the sudden tension between us.

But since when have I done what I was supposed to?

I smirk, drawing backward toward the door. “See you tomorrow, boss.”

7

HOLDEN

Imet Bram Vogel at my first job out of college.

The shitty firm I convinced to give me a shot, crammed me in a tiny, windowless office, shared with a tired young father. We bonded quickly, united in our passion for architecture and frustration with our employer. The idea of Ellinger & Vogel came early on, and the two of us spent five years saving, planning, and working toward the goal of starting our own firm.

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