Page 43 of Connor

She looks at me curiously with her sparkling blues, hair long and damp, face flushed but clear like porcelain. Her shirt is open, her bathing suit still wet underneath. The air around us shifts as her stubbornness softens, and my anger gives way to relief that she’s here, she’s safe, not drowned, lying face down in the springs. I’m sick of denying it. Daisy is beautiful, smart, and so goddamn sexy, and I need to taste her. I need her… just once.

“Come here,” I say in a low growl as I stand by my desk. I need her to come to me. I need to know she’s feeling the same way I do. My stare remains intense as I watch her, and her hand lets go of her towel, it hitting the floor at her feet. Her eyes don’t move from mine as she steps forward, toward me, and my breathing quickens. Shit, this is happening.

She doesn’t stop until our toes meet. I look down at her and watch her hair fall down her back as she looks up at me, hearing a shaky breath leave her lips that calls to my own desperation. My head moves before my brain catches up, and I’m putting my lips to hers.

Her mouth opens on a gasp, and she’s still for a beat, before her hands grip on to my shirt at my chest and she pulls me down to her, sealing her lips to mine fully. A rough growl rumbles from my core in appreciation, now knowing that her feelings for me mirror my own for her as my hands sweep around her damp waist and I pull her body flush to mine. We’re connected, our tongues tangling, lips meshing, and I swear I feel my soul leave my body because this woman will be my undoing, I just know it.

Relaxing her hold on my shirt, her hands move up around my neck and land on the back of my head, and she pulls me closer. I lower my hands past her waist, my palms cupping her round ass, and I groan at the feeling. My large hands are full of her, appreciating her body as I pull her hips to meet mine, letting her feel exactly what she does to me. I revel in the moan she releases into my mouth.

As our kiss becomes more frantic, I trail a hand to her front, sliding it up her body, until I can cup her breast, squeezing once. I think I’m in heaven.

“Connor…” she whispers as I mold her large breast, really wanting to put my mouth on her. She pulls my hair and I can barely get a hold of myself. But as I open my eyes for a second to look at her, I see my pile of reports on my desk, and reality sets in that I’m groping my fucking employee. My brain kicks back into gear like it’s yanked the emergency brake, and I drop my hands and step back.

Swallowing, we look at each other. Both panting, both a little shocked, and both obviously feeling a certain way about the other.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” I say, my hands threading through my hair, waiting to see what she says. I’m praying to God I got this right and she wants me as much as I want her. That I didn’t just take advantage in any way.

“Me neither,” she says breathily as her hands run down her front and she fixes herself up a little.

“We work together. We… We need to build the spa,” I say, shaking my head, feeling like I’m telling myself rather than her, needing to keep this professional.

“I’m here for just a few more weeks. I need to focus.” She nods, and I hate the words of truth she speaks.

“We can’t do that again.” Even though I really, really want to.

“Definitely not. Absolutely can’t happen,” she agrees, and I step farther away from her. If I don’t, then this will escalate. Quickly.

“I need a shower.” Gathering her towel, she moves toward my door, opening it but hesitating before looking back at me. She remains quiet before quickly opening the door wider and walking through, closing it behind her. I release a big breath, watching where she left. All I can think about now is lathering her naked body in soap and fucking her in my shower.

But that definitely cannot happen. No, absolutely not.

19

CONNOR

“Good, you’re here. I need to talk to you,” I say to Sawyer the minute he steps inside my office. I’m up, out of my chair, and striding to the door, closing it behind him. I flew him in today to go over a few things with the spa, and then we’re heading to Hudson’s place for the day. Lacy’s mom is going in for an operation, and we need to keep Hudson busy so he doesn’t go mad waiting for news. Lacy has delegated him to stay at home, not allowing him to go to the hospital with them. Too independent for her own good, that girl.

“Okaaaay. You have my attention.” He’s watching me like a hawk, knowing something’s up. I’ve been feeling a mix of emotions all day. I haven’t seen Daisy since the mineral springs yesterday, and we’re deliberately ignoring each other, yet I feel like I’m sitting on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump, because all I can think about is her. My eyes move to the small parcel on my desk. The one that houses arm floaties I bought for her, given swimming isn’t her strong suit and drowning isn’t something I want her to experience.

“I’ve done something…” I start, now pacing my office. I’ve thought of nothing else other than that bruising kiss yesterday, and now I want more.

“What?” he asks sharply, and I run my hand through my hair, then stand with my hands on my hips.

“I kissed her,” I admit. “I couldn’t fucking stay away. She was there in her swimsuit, her body on full display, and I couldn’t take it. I’ve been itching to kiss her since she arrived.” I start to pace again. As a boss, it was a stupid thing to do. I mean, we’re both consenting adults, but still, there’s a line, and I crossed it. After she left my office yesterday, I went straight home and sat under a cold shower for an hour. Since then, the two of us have been busy, but we both wanted it, and we both agreed we couldn’t. But now I really, really want to do it again.

“Kissed who?” he asks, his eyes narrowing.

“Daisy,” I breathe out. He looks confused for a moment before his eyes widen once the pieces click together.

“Your new consultant?” he clarifies, and I nod.

“Well, shit.” He slumps in the armchair, my news obviously not what he was expecting to hear. “And so…?” he asks, wanting more information.

“And it was fucking amazing, but we both agreed it can’t happen again.”

“You're in agreement? So she was happily involved in this incident?”

I pause my strides and look at him sharply.

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