Page 17 of My Office Rival

When I looked up, I met his eyes. For just one second, they seemed to burn right into me. He swallowed hard and shifted in his seat. In that brief moment, I thought he might be imagining me naked.

“Anything else?” I asked, striving for calm, even as my pulse fluttered.

“I’m sure I’ll think of something,” he said.

“I’m sure you will,” I responded and rolled my eyes. “If that’s all for now, can you show me to my room?”

Without a word, he pushed back from the table and grabbed my bags, the muscles in his back flexing and rolling under his thin shirt. I looked away, remembering how good they had felt under my fingers.

This is going to be fun.I stuck my tongue out at his retreating back.Hot and cold.One second, he looked at me like I was water in the desert, the next, he was back to being an impassive observer.

We mounted the stairs from the kitchen into a short hallway, carpeted in soft green. There were framed photos of chickens on the walls, and chicken signs on each door.Lovely.

“My room.” He pointed at the first door on the right. I caught a glimpse of a massive bed, neatly made.

“Your room,” he said, pushing open the next door on the right. Another king-size bed with a thick frame. Soft blue rug, a plush armchair.

He surveyed the space. “Huh. Less chicken paraphernalia in here. I should have picked this one.”

“Not going to make me swap with you, King Jason?”

He rounded on me, eyes lit with unholy light. “Maybe I will.”

“You’re such a jerk.” The words popped out before I could think better of it. His nostrils flared.

“Besides,” I said and sprawled out on the bed. “Now it’s mine.”

He scanned my body, and my skin prickled. He’d looked at me just like that last night. Face set, eyes hot.

“Bathroom is across the hall,” he finally said. “I’ll do my best to make sure we don’t run into each other.” He crossed his arms over his chest.Naked, he didn’t need to add.

“Well, that would be impossible with our set shower times,” I muttered.

He ignored my sarcasm and gave me a decisive nod. “Good night.” He turned and strode from the room.

“Good night,” I sang, just because I knew it would annoy him. When he was gone, I flopped back on the bed. My breaths were short and my palms sweaty. Arguing with Jason was like running ten miles, or having really good sex with someone who made you a little nervous.Don’t even go there.

His door slammed shut, and I smirked. Someone wasn’t as unaffected as they pretended to be. My pleasure evaporated at the soft rasp of pants being pulled over skin.Oh no. He’d said the walls were thin, but how thin? The creak of a bed frame was like a gunshot in my silent room. His soft groan as he settled made my face flame.

Okay, so really fucking thin.Great. Just great. I held myself rigid in the bed, listening to every creak of his mattress.Here’s hoping he doesn’t snore.This was insane. Trapped here, in this absurd house, with my rival. The rival I’d slept with last night. And, if I were being perfectly honest, the man who’d given me the best orgasms of my life. We’d spend every day together at work, and every night together sharing a wall. And if I didn’t win this deal, I’d be fired. A desperate laugh tore from my throat, and I muffled it quickly with a pillow. I couldn’t hear Jason over the cloud of down and cotton.That’s how I’ll be sleeping then.Pillow over my head, pajamas in place.

With any luck, I wouldn’t have to see him at all tomorrow.

The very firstperson I ran into the next day was Jason. Literally ran into. I’d slept restlessly in the too-quiet house, and my eyes were half-closed and gritty when I stumbled into the hallway that morning.

I groped for the bathroom door handle right as he swung it open. Grasping fingers met hard muscle and hot skin. His soft groan made me leap back and plaster myself to the opposite wall. The edge of a frame dug into my skull, but I stayed still.

“Good morning to you too,” he said, his voice a little rough.

Against my better judgment, I met his eyes. His mouth was soft and tilted upward. Laughing at me. Of course. I caught a glimpse of his rounded shoulders and the swoop of his collarbones before I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Tell me I’m having a nightmare,” I muttered.

“More like a dream,” he replied smugly.

“Go away, Jason. It’s too early.” I ignored his barb. “Don’t you shower at seven a.m. anyway? It’s nine.” I sounded as grumpy as I felt. Running into my semi-nude opposing counsel was not a good start to my day.

“On weekdays. On weekends, I’m more…relaxed,” he replied.

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