Page 200 of Ruin Me Gently

His knuckles curled into a fist on the desk, the veins in his hand standing out, running over his skin like something carved. “I don’t give a fuck about the numbers. I want the results. Are we clear?”

Oh, this was going to kill me. This was how I died. Right here, on this couch, watching my… whatever he was… be an absolute tyrant over Bluetooth.

“If you have time for excuses, you have time to fix it,” he snapped.

Maybe Ididwant to work in corporate. Maybe I’d go back to college. Was I too old for college? No, people went back to school all the time.

I’d learn tech. I could work a phone. I’d even figured out how to use his stupidly complicated smart panel to turn the penthouse lights on.

Then he could hire me. And I’d fuck things up on purpose, just so he’d talk to me like that all day long.

He drummed his fingers against the desk, clearly unimpressed with whatever response he was getting. “If I have to get involved again, it won’t be a conversation.”

Holy shit.

My thighs pressed together instinctively.

Yeah. I needed to start looking at college applications effective immediately.

“Good. Then do your job.” He hung up, threw his glasses onto the desk, and blew out a heavy breath as he pressed a hand over his face. Without a word, he stood and crossed the room to the glass side, hands sliding into his pockets.

I stepped up beside him and his arm came around my shoulders, pulling me in.

“I’m sorry,” he said, giving me a small squeeze.

I glanced up at him, brow furrowing. “For what?”

“For this. For bringing you here and then working all morning.”

A smirk tugged at my lips. “Are you kidding?” I turned slightly, trailing my gaze over him. “I get to watch you work.”

His brows lifted, just a fraction. “And that’s… fun for you?”

I let my fingers skim lightly down his chest. “Oh, yeah.”

He let out a short laugh, but his breathing shifted, muscles tightening beneath my touch.

“You look a little tense,” I murmured, pressing my palm against the warmth of his stomach. “Anything I can do to help?”

His fingers tightened on my shoulders as he shook his head.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

His breath stuttered as my hand slid lower, over his belt, down—

“Lilith,” he warned.

I tilted my head up at him, fingers already working at his belt buckle.

“We had fun at the bookstore,” I murmured, dragging the leather free with a slow, deliberate pull. “Why not here?”

“Lilith,” he said again.

I just smirked, slipping my hand past his waistband.

“Damn. Didn’t realise spreadsheets got you this worked up,” I said as I pulled his cock free. He was thick and hot, already so hard beneath my touch.

He let out a low, rough chuckle, but it was cut off instantly as I tightened my grip, and his hips pushed forward, just slightly. His hand snapped down, gripping my wrist. But he didn’t stop me. Just held on.

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