Page 51 of The Marriage Bid
I thought he would resist. He didn’t. At first. The shift in power dynamics knocked him over so that all he could do was letme explore his lips, his mouth. My hands went to his waist and brushed against his jacket as they slid inside, pressing my body against his.
That’s when he pushed back. “What was that?” he said, wiping his mouth.
“A kiss. I’ve always wondered what you taste like. Now that I know, I can leave you comfortably.”
He blanched and marched out of the room. Tyler left in such a storm that his underlings peeped into the room after he stormed out, casting surreptitious glances at me.
“What happened?” Richard asked.
I shrugged. I couldn’t exactly tell them about the kiss. “He said he would email me his decision.” That seemed to mollify them, but I didn’t stay too long for second questions. I quickly packed my stuff and headed out. The taste of the kiss was still on my lips. I don’t know what made me do it. Maybe it was knowing he was finally moving on, that he would no longer be mine for good—that made me want to know the thing he had denied me all these years. As grown as I was, I didn’t expect to be rocked off my axis by it. My lips were still tingling when I reached the lobby and was almost at the door when a man called out my name, stopping me dead in my tracks.
“Mr. Hawthorne would like to see you,” he said. His black suit, white shirt, and earpiece made me assume he was part of security.
“I have another meeting to get to,” I said with a bright plastic smile. “Tell him I’ll call?”
The bulky man was not taking no for an answer. He had his arm up as though already directing me back to Tyler’s office. There was no use in fighting him. He was only doing his job. I nodded and followed the man, who went into the elevator with me. Tyler must have given him explicit instructions to make sure I made it back. Fuck. I hope he wasn’t about to fire me again.
The office was cool and elegant, much more pristine than the last time I was here. “Here she is,” the security officer said.
“Thanks, Cade.” Tyler got up from his desk and went to close the door behind Cade, leaving me in the office with him.
“What now?” I said. He hadn’t moved away from the door, and I hadn’t taken more than a couple of steps into the large office.
“Why did you kiss me?” he said.
“You know why? I told you.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Do you have a problem with being kissed? If so, I am sorry; it won’t happen again.”
“Yes. No. It’s just…” He pinched his forehead. I peered into him. He looked… unsettled? It was odd to see someone with great confidence, such as him, so unsure of himself.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to—”
“No, it’s fine.”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
He crossed his arms, then uncrossed them to rest them on his waist, then crossed them again.
“Tyler…”
He swallowed the space between us with two quick strides, took my face into his hands, and kissed me hard—rough and all-consuming. I held onto the lapels of his jacket as he devoured me with a kiss that was both punishing and reverent. He would caress my lips with his one moment, then bite me the next. His tongue clashed with mine, and they both mimicked a dance I wanted to do for real—a dance my loins yearned for. I could not stop myself even if I wanted to. I let him lead me in the kiss, and as his footsteps marched forward, mine marched backward. I had no idea where we were going until I felt the hard black oak of his desk against my butt. His hands slipped to my sides,imprisoning me between him and his desk, not that I wanted to go anywhere.
“You wanted to know why I never kissed you? This is why.” He brushed my lips with his again, dropping a small kiss before drawing back and staring into my eyes.
“I don’t get it.”
“You drive me crazy.” He kissed me again, more fervently if that were possible, rendering me silent. I never got to ask what he meant because he then slid his arms down my silk blouse and began undoing the buttons.
“Tyler.” I glanced at the door.
“No one will come in without my saying so unless they want to die.” His voice was gruff with need.
He undid the second and third buttons. On the fourth, the button refused to budge. He wrestled with it and was about to rip my blouse when I placed my hand above his. “You haven’t replaced my dress like you promised, and I don’t think I have the confidence to walk out of here naked.”
He grumbled and reluctantly undid the rest of the buttons, then he flung the blouse out of the skirt, making me jump. My blouse fell onto the desk. Then he unzipped my skirt and drew it down to my legs. He let it fall as he went for my bra next, pinching and palming my breasts before removing the lace fabric. I silently thanked myself for opting for the lace and not going for the cotton ensemble I wanted to put on.
