Page 304 of Sins & Secrets

“I fucked up. It’s a lot of fucking money.”

“Sir,” Andrea starts, a nervous energy around her.

“It’s fine, Andrea.” I wave her away as Wyatt takes hesitant steps inside the barren office, his hand running down his face. “I’ll call you back,” is all I say to my father without taking my eyes off my good friend, who just made a horrific deal … one for the both of us.

SUZETTE

Iknock softly at Adrian’s door and go in. It’s the latest I’ve ever visited him, but he’s been busy all day and evening. As it stands I’ve barely seen him the last two days, and when I do, he’s reserved with me and soft in a way he hasn’t been before. I nearly left, thinking maybe he just needed space and wasn’t telling me, but I thought better of it.

I messaged:I have work I can do too, do you mind if I stop by later tonight?

His response told me everything I needed to know:I’d love it if you did.

So with all these nerves still wreaking havoc inside of me, and the realization that I’m head over heels for a man and I think he may be head over heels for me too, I crack open the door to his office.

“Adrian,” I call out, saying his name as if to gauge whether or not he’s done even though he told me if I came up at nine he should be finished.

Sitting at his desk, Adrian runs his hands over his hair. “Suzette,” he responds, my name a murmur on his lips. His stress is apparent even from the door.

“Come have a drink with me,” he offers and I instantly relax.

I go around his desk and fold my arms around him from behind, resting my chin on his shoulder. He leans into me for a kiss on the cheek and I feel like I could burst with all the things that threaten to spill out of me. There are so many things that I can’t decide what to say first. That I love him? That I’m in love with him? It feels almost childish, raw and vulnerable. It doesn’t escape me that I’m insecure and he hasn’t given me a reason not to be. I’m holding back and he hasn’t as far as I know. This is the part of the relationship where it doesn’t feel even.

He may be my boss, the devil in a suit, rich and powerful and I’m lowly compared to him on the surface of it all, but I’ve never felt inferior. Not until now. Not until I’ve realized how I feel and that I’m terrified to admit it, just in case he doesn’t feel the same.

Adrian turns his face to mine and stands up, pushing his chair out of the way before I can speak. I can taste alcohol on him. He’s been drinking, no doubt to get rid of the stresses of the day, though it’s a good stress. At least I thought it was. The numbers are good and I’m excited for our meeting next week. I’m not sure what it will entail but I already have a business plan laid out. It’ll be wonderful, I can reassure him of that.

“I need you,” he whispers against the crook of my neck and the warmth of his breath forces my head to fall back and desire spreads through me like wildfire.

He’s almost frantic at my clothes, pushing my skirt up and lifting me onto the desk. A gasp leaves me and it’s all too welcomed. Maybe he needs this as much as I do. Adrian strips off my panties with an efficient movement as he looks me in the eyes, his emotions running through them too fast for me to name them all. He undoes his belt and zipper and pushes into me with the same ferocity he used that first day. He’s not shy about putting his hands on my body wherever he wants them. He touches me everywhere he can reach, with a firm grip on my thighs and my hips. Adrian fucks me in the way I love him to,with possessive strokes. Pleasure pools between my legs at how close he is and how intimate it is to be used like this.

My nails dig into his shoulder as I moan his name. His thrusts are merciless and the pleasure builds and builds without warning.

We’re in danger of knocking things off the desk now and it’s so hot to see him unraveling like this.

All too soon, I come first and then he follows. It’s only when he leaves me, both of us still catching our breath that I realize he’s fully clothed.

“Would you want me still if I couldn’t afford it?” His question came out of nowhere.

“What?” My head is cloudy with lust and my legs still tremble as I try to gather what he’s said. “Afford what?”

“To support the split. To fund the company during the changes.”

I pull back so I can look into his eyes, following his movements as he undoes his tie and then reaches into his desk for tissues, no doubt to clean up. I’m surprised that he’s talking business after six, let alone the second he finished inside of me. Of all the things I want to respond, I want to tease him about it, to lighten it and allay any worries he has.

Before any words can leave me, his gaze pins me. It’s one of a wounded man. The same vulnerability that plagued me all day stares back at me.

“I couldn’t give two shits if you have money. I don’t care.” The last couple of days play through my mind. “Is that what’s been bothering you?” I ask. “Is it because of my department? I mean it, Adrian.” I lick my lips, rushing my words out and praying he understands just how much I mean it. “If you don’t want to save the department, if it has to go … I would still want you.”

His pace has slowed, but it’s as if he can’t bring himself to end this conversation. Adrian looks down and I swallow hard.

“Adrian. I swear to you. If you need to tell me something, it’s okay.” Reaching for the box of tissues and taking it from him, I attempt to convince him. “If you need to tell me something, you can.” There’s an ache that starts in my chest, but it works its way outward. “I’ll still want you.”

His pale blue eyes come back to mine again. “Suzette.”

“Jobs come and go.” I get a lump in my throat from unshed tears and my love for him.How did this even happen?I’ve never wanted to cover myself more, but I’m on his desk and my clothes are on the floor. “Just like clients. I love my job. I love what I do, and I believe in it. But if something were to happen …” Feeling his eyes on my naked body like this makes me even more emotional. Adrian is so connected to this job for me. I met him here, even though he came to change everything. I don’t know whether I’m just clinging to those memories or if I’m genuinely afraid to lose my job. “If funding fell through …” He doesn’t react at all, other than to pull my hips to the edge of the desk and rest his forehead against mine. “If it all fell to shit and was taken away …”

“Hush.”

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