Page 27 of Tempt My Heart

The blue candle on her bedside sat to her right and she inhaled as she lit it, enjoying the scent of ocean and cotton as she propped herself up against the headboard and reached for her top drawer.

Truthfully, it had been a much better night than she had been anticipating when she’d left the apartment. She'd been expecting to feel out of place, awkward, and tense—and she had, a little, but the truth was that around Christopher she always felt at ease. He had an air of calm about him that she had found soothing from the very moment she'd met him, like he was the eye at the center of the storm, calm amidst the chaos.

But right then, the last thing Ali felt was calm. All she could think about was Christopher's hands on her body, his fingers between her thighs, the roughness of his voice when he'd whispered filthy things in her ear. She wanted more. But she couldn't have it—not if they wanted to keep things uncomplicated between them, both for the sake of the ruse and their professional lives.

So Ali grabbed the two-pronged toy and let it massage her clit as it vibrated before easing it inside herself.

Christopher had been good with his hands, attentive, drinking up every one of her reactions and repeating whatever had pleased her the most. It made her wonder just how attentive he might be elsewhere in the bedroom.

She panted slightly as she ground her hips against the toy, imagining it was her boss' mouth, his tongue, tasting her.

Jesse had obviously got Ali wondering about other areas Christopher might be generous in too. After he'd made her come, they'd eaten dinner and he'd stayed by her side instead of moving back to the other seat. The bulge in his dark jeans had been noticeable, but he hadn't seemed to care if she returned the favor, like he was sated enough from having made her fall apart for him.

Ali tilted her hand and let her body take over as she thought about the way the material of her boss' shirt had stretched across his chest, loosely buttoned to reveal a tease of bare skin, the way he'd sucked on his fingers to taste her and the longing in his face when he told her how much he wanted to devour her.

Her body shuddered and her face felt warm as she slumped back, easing the toy out of her with a satisfied sigh. It had taken the edge off, but she got the feeling she would need to stock up on batteries if she was going to keep her head in the game and her hands to herself.

ChapterFifteen

It wasn’t often that she stopped for coffee on the way to work, but she needed the extra fortification in order to face her boss after the things he’d done to her last night. Naturally though, she only got a few paces inside the door and within sight of the counter ofLola’sbefore a tentative voice sounded from behind her.

“Alison?”

She turned and felt her mouth drop open. “You don’t come here.” Her cheeks heated immediately and she scrambled to apologize. “I’m sorry, I meant that I haven’t seen you in here before and this place is kind of a favorite of mine.”

Rose DuLoe laughed and it was a sultry sound that had a few heads turning as she brushed her blonde sheet of hair back from her face. “I’m not local, no. It’s part of my therapy, trying new things and going to new places. I’ve still got Noah with me though.”

Ali smiled, tilting her head slightly. If it wasn’t for the fact that her ex-boyfriend wanted her to screw up this woman’s wedding, she might have enjoyed the conversation more. It was refreshing to hear someone so openly discussing their mental health, though Rose had become somewhat known for it in the year after being targeted by a stalker. “Let me get you a coffee,” she said as the barista called her forwards and Rose blinked and then smiled.

“Thank you.”

They placed their order and took a seat at a nearby table to wait for them to be ready. It felt beyond strange to be sitting in a coffee shop with Rose, like being out with a celebrity.

“Forgive me for prying,” she said and Ali raised an eyebrow. “But I heard you were atThe Hummingbirdyesterday with Chris.”

Ali nodded. “Yeah, it’s lovely in there.”

Rose smiled slightly. “I’m glad he’s dating again. I told Blake we should set him up with someone but he said Chris was already into some redhead at work.” A glint in her eye made Ali sit up straight as the words swam around her head.Some redhead.Fuck. Christopherlikedher? Or was there another redhead her boss often noticed?

She wracked her brains and couldn’t think of anyone else, and it filled her with a smug sort of satisfaction.

“So I’m glad you’re finally giving him a shot,” Rose finished and Ali nearly did a double-take.

“I had no idea he even liked me,” she said and then amended hastily, “Until recently, obviously.”

Rose snorted. “I’m pleased for you both all the same.”

They stood for their coffees and Ali smiled. “Well, I’ve got to get into the office. It was nice seeing you.”

“You too,” Rose said, light brown eyes assessing her keenly. “I look forward to getting to know you better. Thanks for the coffee.”

Why did that sound more like a threat than anything else?

* * *

The coffee was sitting oddlyin her stomach as she found her way to her desk. Not only was almost every eye in the office watching her, but she was worried about how she was supposed to act around Christopher after last night, especially with the info Rose had just dropped on her.

That nervousness immediately faded once she saw Denver in her boss' office talking to himand she hurried over to them, knocking quickly on the door before pushing it open and then freezing when they both turned to look at her.

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