Page 19 of Double Apex

I pause as I contemplate what this could mean, then capture her hand and lean in to place a kiss on her knuckles.

“Your father will be all right, draga. He’s well cared for.”

She pulls away—though gradually—before meeting my eye. “I hope. Mo says Dr. Brunner is one of the best.”

“Of that I am certain.” I offer a reassuring smile. “But I meant he is well cared for by you.”

When I come downstairs at nine the next morning, Phaedra is in the kitchen, pouring out the last cup of coffee. She’s wearing khaki shorts and a strappy tank top that shows off the curve of her shoulder blades. Her feet are bare, and her hair is twisted up, secured with a gold clip shaped like a leaf.

“Is there more coffee?” I ask, coming up beside her.

She smells like soap, but her hair is dry and has the pleasant sugary-musky scent of being unwashed. I ache to slide my arms around her, our bodies parallel as I stroke her narrow little waist.

“There is if you make it,” she says with a playful smirk.

It encourages me enough that as she walks away, I catch her hand and reel her back.

“Cruel woman, stealing the last cup.”

She tries to hold it away and my hand sweeps up her bare arm.

“Quit!” she commands with a laugh. She sidesteps and bumps the counter. “Oh my God, Ardelean, let go…”

I wonder if she doesn’t mind the way we’re pressed close. Her color is high, pupils wide in their halo of green.

“Let me have this cup,” I coax. “I’ll make more for you.”

“Maybe don’t roll out of bed at nine if you’re desperate for caffeine. I’ve been up since six, you lazy schmuck. Besides, I already drank out of this one. It’s officially mine. Claimed.”

We both go still, and I’m looking down at her from a foot above, our bodies aligned. She’s breathing fast, and my gaze drops to the curve of her breasts. Her full lips are rosy, and she moistens them. A dart of concern folds between her brows.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

I shift my hips. “Admiring you.” I gently manacle her wrist and draw it closer. Her fingers are around the mug, and I cover them with my own. Our hands joined, I lift the mug and take a sip. “Officially mine.Claimed,” I echo.

Her direct nature regains control of our moment of runaway lust. She shakes her head.

“This isn’t a romantic getaway, Ardelean. It’s like an extended conference room meeting, minus the headsets.”

“I know.” I allow a hint of teasing in my tone.

“We’re just supposed to, y’know, chitchat. Get comfortable.”

“I’m very comfortable.” An electric surge of blood flow moves my cock, and I suspect she feels it.

“Cosmin,” she whispers. “This”—and to my shock, she pushes her hips against me to illustrate her point—“can’t be what we bring back to the team. It’s not what Klaus intended.”

I lightly run a knuckle down her upper arm. “We are supposed to build trust. What better way?”

“The nonfraternization guidelines exist for a reason: no dating team members, journalists, investors, or sponsors. The rules are clear.”

She pauses, searching my eyes, and I think she’s going to step back, but she remains pressed close.

“You weren’t there when it happened,” she continues, “but three years ago when Reece started dating her wife, who was an Emerald systems tech at the time, Colettehad to quit her job, for fuck’s sake.”

I sigh. “Yes, but—”

“We stick to the program, got it?” She lifts the coffee mug, resting it against her lower lip for a moment, but doesn’t take a drink. I wonder if it’s to make sure I don’t initiate the kiss we can both feel.

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