Page 16 of Lovesick

“Last-minute strategy session for the Morrison case. Everyone from the litigation team is already in the conference room.”

“Oh…” I looked at my computer screen, then past Leann to Dean’s office door. Starting the morning with a meeting like that meant more work. Not that I didn’t want to work, or disliked it, but every time I had to be there for one of those meetings, I would get bombarded with emails and phone calls.

Well, maybe it was a good thing. Maybe that was, I would get my mind off Dean. At least, after this meeting.

“Okay, thank you, Leann.”

“Of course. Hey, you look like you’ve had a good night’s sleep. Are you feeling better?” she asked.

If she only knew what had made me sleep so well last night…

“Much,” I replied with a tight smile.

“I’m glad. And, hey, I’m having lunch with Brit and Kayla down atThe Canteen. You’re welcome to join.”

With all the work I’d have to deal with, I wasn’t so sure I had time for lunch. But it sounded nice. Another way to get my mind off Dean. “Sounds perfect.”

“Great! We’ll wait for you by the elevator at noon.” She gave me a quick wave before leaving my office, and I let out a heavy sigh, unprepared for the meeting in a few minutes.

I grabbed my laptop, forced a calm I didn’t really feel, and walked down the corridor. The closer I got, the warmer I felt, like my skin knew he was near before I even laid eyes on him.

I pushed open the large door and took in the sight in front of me. Around fourteen men were sitting around the table, all wearing suits. And there he was, sitting at the head of the table, fingers tapping lazily against it. He looked up as I walked in, and that slow, knowing smirk curved across his mouth.

Of course, the only open seat was next to him. Then again, I was his assistant. I needed to be close to him at all times. Apparently.

I put on a smile and greeted the other men. Some of them I knew, others were new faces I didn’t expect to ever see again after this meeting. I walked over to sit down next to Dean, trying not to make eye contact, but the air between us buzzed with so much electricity and tension. Dean didn’t say a word, but I felt the weight of his gaze slide down my neck, linger at my collarbone, then my legs.

He shifted subtly in his chair, his thigh brushing mine just enough to make me jolt. Then he leaned in, voice a low whisper only for me to hear while the other men chatted.

“Still aching from last night?”

I inhaled sharply, eyes fixed on the presentation slides ahead, pretending like my body wasn’t betraying me yet again.

“Don’t worry,” he murmured, breath warm against my ear. “I’ll fix that later.”

I gripped the sides of my laptop, my thumb prints staining the clean screen. All I could think in that moment was: this man is going to ruin me.

And the unfunny thing about that was…I would let him.

The meeting went on for over an hour, and I wrote down everything important. I was focused, but that lasted only until Dean placed his hand on my thigh under the table. One of the men I didn’t know was talking up front, explaining what was on the presentation, while everyone else listened closely.

My body tensed as Dean’s fingers slid beneath the hem of my skirt, inching higher on my thigh with excruciating slowness. I tried desperately to maintain my composure as I felt the heat of his touch against my skin.

“Take notes, Emilia,” he whispered, his voice carrying an edge of amusement only I could detect. “This is important information.”

His fingertips traced small circles on my inner thigh, each one moving gradually higher. I curled my hands into fits, letting them hover over the keyboard. The Morrison case details blurred before my eyes.

"Problem focusing?" Dean leaned closer, his lips barely grazing my ear. "You seemed so…attentive last night."

I crossed my legs abruptly, trapping his hand between my thighs. A mistake. His thumb stroked the sensitive skin there, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from making a sound.

“Uncross them,” he commanded softly, his professional façade never slipping. To everyone else, he appeared to be whispering work instructions.

Against my better judgement, I obeyed, parting my legs slightly. His fingers resumed their torturous path, now dangerously close to the edge of my underwear.

“I wonder if anyone would notice,” he mused, his attention seemingly on the presentation while his fingers told a different story. “If I made you come right here.”

“Dean,” I breathed, the word barely audible.

---