Page 58 of The Physical Attraction Seminar
As I round the corner to the elevators, my eyes are immediately drawn to a stunning man in his signature navy-blue suit, casually leaning against the wall with his hands hidden behind him.
“How’d you sleep?” Barrett asks while a slow smile transforms over his face.
“Can’t you see the bags under my eyes? I maybe got two hours,” I joke as I walk up.
I lean in and gently peck his cheek, my lipstick leaving a small, rosy mark on his smooth skin. I lift my hand to swipe it away with my thumb, but he shakes his head, silently telling me to leave it be.
Stepping back, I shake my head lovingly, and in that moment, he unveils a beautiful bouquet of pink tulips from behind his back. They’re packed in an equally stunning, thick pink wrapping paper, similar to the ones I bought on my first day working for him.
With a smile, he hands me the flowers, and I instinctively raise them to my nose, capturing the scent of their petals. “What are these for?”
“What? Can’t a guy get his girlfriend flowers for her brand-new desk? They’re nice to look at, and they’ll give people a reason to stop and talk to you so you can avoid working.” He pokes fun at what I said to him on our first day working together, and it feels like a full-circle moment.
“You think you’re quite the comedian, don’t you?” I tease.
“I’m hilarious,” he replies with a laugh, motioning for the two of us to enter the elevator as soon as it dings.
Since the non-fraternization policy was lifted a week ago, the HR department has been overwhelmed with couples coming forward to disclose their relationships. It’s ironic, but hopefully, it means that people will no longer have to tiptoe around the office or feel compelled to be secretive about their relationships.
There’s a sense of relief in not having to hide our relationship anymore and having the freedom to openly express our affection.
Barrett’s hand rests gently on the small of my back, leading me inside. There are several people milling about in the elevator lobby. Yet everyone seems to turn their backs to us, intentionally avoiding riding the elevator with the CEO, leaving us alone.
“Are you nervous?” Barrett peers down at me with a smirk pulled on his lips the second the doors shut.
My gaze is fixed on the digital floor counter in the top right corner of the elevator, counting in sync as we whiz past each floor.
6th floor… 7th floor… 8th floor…
The sound of my racing heart fills my ears as we inch closer to number twenty-eight.
“Why would I be nervous?” I finally reply as we soar past the 12th floor.
Barrett’s arm brushes against mine, sending a shiver down my spine as he leans across me. The sound of thebuzzer echoes through the elevator as it suddenly comes to a stop.
“What are you doing?” I tilt my head at him, my eyebrows furrowing inquisitively.
Barrett’s hand gently rests on my hips, guiding me back until I feel the coolness of the metal wall. I let the hand that’s still clutching the flowers slowly descend to my side.
A gasp lingers in my throat, but he presses his lips against mine, scorching and stealing the sound. His lips met mine in a slow, lingering kiss. The heat of his body melds with mine, and his hand gently cradles my jaw. “You’re going to do great.”
When he presses his lips against mine again, all my worries seem to dissolve into nothingness.
“You can’t stop the elevator,” I declare in a kiss-induced haze.
“I—”
“I already know what you’re about to say,” I interject, suddenly coming back to my senses
His eyes twinkle with amusement, and a hint of a smile plays at the edges of his mouth. “Oh, really? What’s that?”
“I own the building. I can do whatever I want.”I do my best impression of his voice, adding a mocking tone for emphasis.
As he throws his head back with a laugh, his grip on my waist tightens even more. “I should bend you over my desk and spank you for poking fun at me like that.”
“Sorry, sir.” I bat my eyelashes with a wry smile.
“Lyla…” Barrett’s lips fall to my neck. Slow kisses trail down my neck, and a familiar shiver courses down my spine.
