Crave E-Book

Jessa James

• Herausgeber: Jessa James
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 269

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

All I wanted was one night with no strings. The plan? Meet Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome at a bar, and take him home. Check and check. But I'd never felt like that, ever. Daylight strikes, and he's gone. Me? I have the real world to get back to. Not the fantasy he made come true. I put on my tallest heels and get ready to meet my brand new boss. Only, it's him. I'm assigned to be his personal executive assistant, but all I can do is want more. Yes, I have a job to do, and it's not what he thinks it is. I'm here to dig into his company's financial records working as an undercover journalist. My new boss hasn't forgotten last night either. Every glance is heated, and the tension thickens every time I walk into his office. Will we both give in? Or will we both want forever?

Leseprobe

Crave

Jessa James

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

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Also by Jessa James

About the Author

Crave: Copyright © 2019 by Jessa James

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electrical, digital or mechanical including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning or by any type of data storage and retrieval system without express, written permission from the author.

Published by Jessa James

James, Jessa

Crave

Cover design copyright 2018 by Jessa James, Author

Images/Photo Credit: Deposit Photos: fxquadro

Publisher’s Note:

This book was written for an adult audience. The book may contain explicit sexual content. Sexual activities included in this book are strictly fantasies intended for adults and any activities or risks taken by fictional characters within the story are neither endorsed nor encouraged by the author or publisher.

This book has been previously published.

1

Cameron Parker shaded her eyes against the bright lights that splashed against the wall of the smoke-filled punk club. She was in the very back, tucked against the wall near the door. The floor of the club slanted down to the stage, so Cam had a good view.

Not that she was finding who she sought. She was looking for her friend Liz, who’d sworn to meet her. She’d come here a few times with friends, but never alone.

Cam checked her phone, ignoring a deluge of texts and emails. They were work, and she’d promised herself a night of fun before her new assignment started.

It was 10:10. Liz was late, as usual. Cam looked around at the crush of people in the room and wished she were somewhere else.

It was loud as hell in here, although the band wasn’t playing. Raucous music seeped out of crappy speakers, making it impossible for Cam to call Liz.

Cam turned her head and caught a glimpse of herself in the cracked mirror clinging to the club’s wall, segmented and broken-looking. She was tall, whip-thin, and redheaded, wearing lots of dark eyeshadow and a strapless leather dress. The only parts of her face that weren’t covered in glitter were her big blue eyes and soft pink lips. Instead, she wore a ton of smoky eye makeup and lots of lip gloss.

The image bobbed in the mirror’s smashed surface, making her look insane. It seemed to fit perfectly with her surroundings.

She looked away from the mirror and took a big sip of her drink. She was nervous, being here without a friend. Being a woman alone looked pathetic, but then again that was sort of the whole vibe of this place. Pathetic.

She finished her drink and headed for the bar. People swirled around her, and the spot she’d held was immediately absorbed into the crowd. This bar was always busy, despite the lack of servers and seats.

If she was going to stay long enough to say hi to Liz, she was going to get another drink. She squeezed in between two big guys, waiting patiently for the bartender to notice her.

One of the guys moved. Cam had to do a double take when she saw the man that took his place.

Damn.

He was huge, at least six foot five, and built of pure muscle. Dressed in a black leather jacket and black jeans. Dark hair, dark blue eyes, tattoos up and down his arms. Hair cut in the popular Peaky Blinders undercut, long on the top and shaved on the sides.

But it was really the expression on his face that got her. Something like amusement flitted across his features, but she could tell that there was something raw there. Anger, or self-hatred maybe.

She realized she was staring a second before he looked at her, his eyes traveling from her face down to her long legs, then back up to her tits.

Then, he looked her right in the face and smiled.

A chill ran through her body at his expression. It was like having a big cat grinning at her, tightly wound and ready to pounce.

She blushed and looked down. That didn’t stop him from sliding over to take the spot next to her, though.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.

He was British, which was something of a shock. His voice was a lovely, velvety purr that matched his looks perfectly. She looked up at him again, a little awestruck. Cam cleared her throat, suddenly nervous, but willed her voice to remain steady.

“Sure,” she said. “Whiskey, on the rocks.”

He turned to the bar, looking around for the bartender. He waved him down, though the words of his order were lost in the melee all around them. He paid for the drinks, then turned to Cam with the drink dangling from his fingers.

“Thanks,” she said.

Their fingers touched as she took it. He took a sip of his drink without breaking eye contact. She had to smile, because either the man was a born predator or he did this a lot.

Not that she was dissuaded by it. She took a long swallow of her drink, thinking that maybe there was a cosmic reason why Liz hadn’t shown. She wasn’t really the type to take men home, but he was so good looking…

“Are you gonna tell me your name?” he asked, arching a brow.

His voice was cultured, polished, as if he’d just stepped out of Parliament. And yet, he was here, at a punk rock show. She looked at him with curiosity.

“Cameron,” she said. “Cam.”

“Smith,” he said.

He offered her a hand, which she shook. A thousand tiny spikes of energy crawled over her skin, and it was hard not to look at him with doe eyes. She resisted, though, playing it casual.

“So…” she said, reclaiming her hand. “Are you here to see the band?”

He shifted, making her all the more aware of his muscles beneath the leather jacket and Death From Above 1979 t-shirt.

“The Blinds? I am. The drummer’s a friend of mine,” he said.

She didn’t know what to say, so instead she filled the silence with taking another big pull of her drink. At the rate she was going, she was going to be tipsy before she knew it.

Cam looked at the ridiculously hot punk rocker, biting her lip. Would it be so bad to let her freak flag fly, just for one night?

“You want another drink?” Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome asked.

She looked down at the drink in her hands, surprised to find it empty.

“Yeah, why not?” she said. “It’s early, right?”

He grinned again and waved down the bartender. She took the opportunity to check him out some more. He had a dimple on the right side of his face that flashed when he grinned. And his leather jacket was rolled up at the elbows, revealing strong forearms, veiny and muscular in a way that made her knees weak.

She looked away, running her hand down her hip, sheathed in the little leather dress. She had to get up early tomorrow for work. She was starting a new assignment, working undercover at Calloway Corp, posing as a secretary to try to find out if a few financial inconsistencies were just that… or more.

But since her last assignment as an investigative reporter had involved discovering -- via telephone call -- what went on at slaughterhouses, she’d promised herself a few days off before starting something new. She worked hard, and deserved every bit of it.

The band started assembling onstage as he handed her another drink. They weren’t especially memorable, but the lead singer had bright green hair, pulled into spikes all over his head.

Smith started to bob his head in appreciation. She smiled. It was hard not to admire appreciation, especially when it was expressed by someone so damned good looking

“Here,” he said, holding his cup up to give a toast. “To new experiences and living every moment to the fullest.”

Her lips curled up as she tapped her cup to his, then took a sip. He really was playing with her, teasing her with his salute. One glance at him and she was certain that he’d perfected his moves long ago, the toast merely the beginning of it.

Then again, he wasn’t saying much. Maybe his shtick was being good looking and mysterious, then. He was no doubt used to girls nervously standing next to him, looking at him with wide eyes just as she’d done.

Maybe it was time that she took control, that she put the moves on him. She had a vague desire to wipe the smirk off his face. Who was to say she couldn’t do that with her mouth?

The band started playing, the lights dimming. It was as if it was meant to be.

Cam put her drink down and stepped up to him, looking him straight in the eye. He raised his brows, facing her as he set his cup down. Before she could hesitate or flinch, she reached out and grabbed the lapel of his jacket.

Gripping him hard, she pulled him down and kissed him.

The contact of his lips against her own was like lightning. The sensation crackled along her skin, sent a fission of pleasure down her spine. He seemed surprised by the kiss at first, but after a moment he kissed her back, threading his fingers into her hair.

The kiss was like fire, beginning small but growing to a roaring blaze in moments. She slid her arm around his waist and closed the gap between them, her toes curling in her boots.

He broke away to kiss her neck. She moaned, a combination of satisfaction and yearning. Her nails dug into the back of his neck. He growled low in his chest.

“You are quite a surprise, aren’t you?” he ground out.

She didn’t answer, just kissed him again, hard. Her tongue clashed with his, a war between them that they both enjoyed. When she pulled back and bit his lower lip, he growled again, his hands working down her body.

When his hands hit her ass, she worked up the nerve to step back, cocking her head.

“Do you want to… go somewhere?” she asked, enjoying the fact that she was the instigator.

“God, yes,” he said.

She bit her lip, trying not to grin. She looked at him under her lashes. Something about him screamed TAKE ME HOME. He was a perfect stranger, but she felt somehow that she could trust him.

“Good. My apartment is right down the street.”

“Lead the way,” he said, inclining his head.

Cam grabbed her clutch and wove through the crowd, out into the darkened street. The streetlights were out on the whole block, in fact in most of the neighborhood. It wasn’t exactly the greatest neighborhood, but she made do. Cam lived in a warehouse loft just down the street from here, so she was well aware of the neighborhood’s colorful reputation.

“Do we need to grab a car?” he asked as she made her way through the parking lot.

“Not really. I live two blocks from here,” she said, moving faster to keep from feeling awkward.

“You live here?” he asked, looking askance at the block as she led him down the street.

“Yes. Is that a problem?” she said. She eyed him in his punk rock garb. It seemed unlikely that such a big guy would have any problems walking alone at night.

“No, just curious.”

They turned the corner, and Cam’s apartment loomed.

“My apartment’s just right here,” she said, her nerves beginning to show when she dug her keys out.

She skipped up the half-dozen steps to her apartment, willing her hands not to shake as she unlocked the door. She felt his eyes all over her body as she got the door open.

She threw a glance over her shoulder as she let him into the loft, standing aside and locking the door behind him. It was one huge room, all the floors and walls cement, but she’d done her best to glam it up. There were soft rugs everywhere, a lovely L-shaped couch, a femininely decorated kitchen, and delicate Japanese screens dividing off her bedroom. A small office setup sat in one corner, and the bathroom in another.

“Nice,” he said, looking around. “It looks like you’ve done well for yourself.”

His accent made her shiver all over again. Surely he must know that the accent was a killer.

“It’s a work in progress,” she said, dropping her clutch and keys on a side table. “Do you want a drink?”

“I can think of things I want more,” he said, smirking as he reached out to snag her waist. He leaned down, seeking her mouth.

Cam gave in to him instantly, kissing him back. He pushed her back toward the bedroom, and she went willingly. She wanted him, if his being in her apartment weren’t clear enough.

She turned to part the screens of her bedroom, revealing a huge white bed. He followed, kissing her neck. She gasped, feeling herself grow wet. Her pussy clenched with need.

He unzipped the back of her dress with nimble fingers, taking his time. She took a breath, letting the dress drop to the floor. She was left bare except for a black lace thong.

She closed her eyes, hearing his intake of breath when he saw her like that.

“God, you’re fucking beautiful,” he said, turning her back toward him.

She opened her eyes and looked up at him, realizing just then that his eyes were the darkest shade of blue. He palmed both her breasts, weighing them in his hands.

She sucked in a breath and shivered at his touch, her nipples hardening. She reached out and started to undress him, peeling off his jacket.

He tugged his shirt over his head, muscles rippling. He was a work of art, all chiseled abs and straining biceps. His tattoos entranced her, although she couldn’t make heads or tails of them in the gloom. It was everything she could do to control herself, not just stand there slack-jawed.

The last things to go were his shoes and dark jeans. He shucked his pants and reached for her, but she managed to get a glimpse of his cock. Apparently he wasn’t merely arrogant, he actually had a huge dick to back up all his smooth moves.

They kissed again, and she led him backward to the bed. When the backs of her knees hit the bed, she melted back onto it.

He paused a second, going back and getting something from his wallet. She saw him grasp a shiny foil packet. She approved; if he hadn’t pulled out a condom, she would have.

Then he was back on the bed, on top of her. He kissed her deeply, then attended to both breasts, rolling her nipples around with his tongue. She moaned at the pulse of sensation between her breasts and her pussy, writhing.

She wriggled to get her thong off, wanting nothing between her and his cock.

He pulled back for just long enough to get the condom on, then spread her legs. He pressed his cock against her entrance.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, do it.”

He smirked for a moment, then pushed himself into her pussy inch by inch, making her cry out.

“You’re so tight,” he said, thrusting again. “Damn.”

She wrapped her legs around him as he set a rhythm, moaning at the feel of his cock going in and out, hitting every single spot that cried out for touch. He was setting her on fire as he worked himself in and out of her pussy.

He pulled out, flipping her around so that she was on her knees and elbows. She cried out as he plunged deep inside her again. He wrapped her hair around his fist, pulling gently on it as he fucked her.

She came alive with that small bit of pain, pushing back against every thrust, calling out as he worked his cock in and out. He grunted as he thrust, slipping his hand around and between her legs.

He touched her clit, made slippery with her own excitement. He worked in slow circles as his thrusts grew shorter. She could feel the tension in him, feel him winding up, but she was too lost in sensation to care.

She was right on the edge, waiting to fall from the precipice. He pinched her clit, adding a little pain to her pleasure, and she exploded.

Her body spasmed as she came, her mind blanking as she was overcome with pleasure, the slick slide of it. He stiffened and came with a groan, thrusting into her.

He collapsed beside her, and she lay on her side, struggling to breathe. Her mind was totally blown, but she didn’t say anything to him. He apparently didn’t feel like talking either, because he was silent.

He took the condom off, but where he put it she didn’t know.

She felt her eyes growing heavy, but she didn’t feel comfortable falling asleep with him here. She was about to roll over and tell him to leave, but she felt him rise from the bed.

She stayed still, waiting to see what he would do. He didn’t waste any time getting dressed. When he was ready, he stood for a second and stared over at her body. He hesitated, as if he weren’t used to this part.

What, he wasn’t used to sneaking out on girls he’d hooked up with? She would’ve rolled her eyes if she wasn’t pretending to be asleep.

After a moment, he turned and left her room. She listened intently for sounds of him going through her stuff. It wouldn’t be the first time that she’d exercised poor judgment in guys, although she didn’t usually hook up with random guys. Let alone bring them home...

The sound of the front door closing made her sit up. Apparently she’d picked the only punk rocker who wasn’t hard up enough for cash that he’d at least rifle through her things when he thought she was asleep.

She looked at her bedside table, at the clock. It was still only twelve.

She closed her eyes, smiling to herself. Tonight was fun, if nothing else. A good way to blow off steam before her new assignment.

She drifted off, content in her post-coital bliss.

2

Cameron’s heels clicked as she walked up the stairs of the subway, her phone glued to her ear.

“We’ve manufactured your executive assistant background, so you’ll have to remember the secretarial training course you went through,” her boss Erika MacMillan said.

As an investigative reporter in the making for The Daily News, Cam had done a lot of things, but cloaking herself as a secretary at Calloway Corp was altogether different. She was going to be investigating Calloway’s financial dealings, trying to figure out if they were just hemorrhaging money or if there was someone corrupt at the bottom of it all.

“I brushed up on all of that last week,” Cam said. “I promise, I’ll be fine.”

“You’ll need to draw on your accounting background for this one.”

“Accounting background? I took like four accounting classes, then switched majors,” she said irritably.

“Well, you’d better put on your big girl pants and use what accounting knowledge you do have. Especially if you want to earn a spot as a reporter on the team. Or maybe you like being the team’s errand boy?”

Cam scowled. In truth, she hated being the one who made photocopies and got coffee for everyone. This assignment was her chance to rise above all that.

“Right,” Cam sighed. “I remember the basics from my accounting classes.”

“Good. When do you start at Calloway Corp?”

“Twenty minutes,” Cam said. “And I’m wearing my conservative little black dress for the first day, before you ask.”

“Hmmmph,” Erika said. “Some people like the fact that I’m detail oriented.”

Cam rolled her eyes silently. “Yeah, well. You picked me for this assignment. You’ll have to trust me a little more if you expect me to find anything out.”

“I trust you,” Erika said defensively. “I lobbied really hard for you to be put on this assignment. Hell, for this to be investigated at all is a triumph. The big bosses don’t think there’s anything in the financial statements, so they don’t believe you’ll find anything.”

“I know,” Cam said, stopping across the street from Calloway Plaza. “It’s a big deal for me, too. My first real assignment, even if it’s a little unconventional. There is something fishy going on, though. I can feel it. I'm positive money is being misappropriated.”

“Cameron—”

“I should go. I’m too close to the building to be talking to you,” Cam said.

Erika sighed. “Alright. Good luck.”

“I’ll check in with you in a couple of days, okay?”

“Okay.”

Cam hung up the phone, feeling jittery.

She looked up at the main building, where she would enter for her first day of work shortly. It was a thing of beauty, all chrome and glass and concrete, the pride and joy of some designer.

It was a real personal statement for someone, even if the statement was that a private military defense company could be represented by such beauty. She’d been here before, for her three separate rounds of interviews, but now it was real.

This was her first shot at being the journalist who cracked the case. All she had to do now was make friends with some of the higher-ups, get those people to talk about top secret financial information, and back it all up with proof.

She laughed aloud, a shaky sound. She shook out the anxiety built up in her arms and legs, an old habit from her days growing up in the foster care system.

Just shake it off! she thought, picturing her younger self saying it. She’d come a long way since leaving the system at eighteen, struggling through four years of waiting tables and night classes. Then a year ago she’d landed the job at The Daily News, trying to prove herself.

All so she could build up to this. She could do this.

She blew out a breath and crossed the street to Calloway Plaza, determined not to let her nerves show. She straightened her black dress, pulled out her brand new employee ID, and strode in through the high glass doors.

It was a couple of minutes before ten o’clock as she rode up the elevators. She got off on the fifth floor and held her head high. She could do this.

She walked through a set of doors and came to a reception desk. She looked at the elegant waiting area, trying not to lose her nerve.

“Can I help you?” asked the pretty blonde receptionist.

Cam swallowed, trying not to think about how that would be her from now on.

“Hi, I’m Cameron Turner, here to see Stephanie?” she said. She almost tripped over the false last name she was using for the job.

The receptionist nodded and picked up the phone. She spoke into the phone, then hung up.

“You can have a seat,” the blonde said.

Cam smiled and took a seat. She waited for a minute, trying not to fidget.

Moments later, a smooth wooden panel opened, and Stephanie came out. A thin, gray-haired woman with immaculate style, Stephanie had interviewed and ultimately hired her.

Right behind her was another woman, a pretty brunette. The brunette was in tears, holding a cardboard box with what looked like the contents of her desk.

Stephanie stopped and patted the woman on the arm.

“Thank you, Ingrid. You can expect a severance check along with your last paycheck,” she said.

The brunette nodded, holding back what looked like a fresh wave of tears. She turned and practically ran to the elevator.

Stephanie turned to Cam, brightening.

“Cameron! You’re right on time,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Cam said, rising.

“Well, you came at just the right time,” said Stephanie. “Mr. Calloway just lost his assistant. The younger Mr. Calloway, that is.”

Cameron’s eyebrows shot up. “Mr. Calloway? Really?”

“Yes, really. Come on, I’ll get you settled,” Stephanie said, heading to the elevators. “Normally we wouldn’t put a new hire in such an important position, but you have a really excellent résumé . Besides, Mr. Calloway absolutely cannot go without an executive assistant.”

Something clicked in Cam’s head as they stepped onto the elevator. Stephanie pressed the button for the twenty-first floor, one floor down from the top.

“So when you say he just lost his assistant…”

“I mean Ingrid, the girl downstairs. Yes. Mr. Calloway didn’t find her services up to snuff, I’m afraid.”

“I…” Cam said, then shook her head.

Stephanie slid her a look.

“Don’t worry. Your résumé said you’ve worked for three CEOs. This won’t be any different.”

“Right,” Cam said. She gave Stephanie a smile, trying to appear calm and collected.

The elevator doors opened, and Cam walked out into another reception area, this one all done in chrome. There was a receptionist here too, a plump brunette. She frowned at Cam until she saw Stephanie escorting her.

The brunette shot to her feet.

“Ma’am,” she said, dipping her head to Stephanie. “I suppose you know that Ingrid just walked out?”

“Yes, yes,” Stephanie said. “Lucy, this is Cameron. Cameron, this is Lucy. Cameron will be taking over Ingrid’s position.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped. “Already?’

“Would you have Mr. Calloway be without an assistant, Lucy?”

Lucy paled and swallowed. “No, ma’am.”

“Lucy, would you get Cameron settled in? Show her around. I have calls to return.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Stephanie left with a wave of her fingertips, her heels clicking. Cameron turned to Lucy, a little wide-eyed.

“Don’t even start asking questions,” Lucy said, sighing. “Come on, I’ll get you set up.”

“Okay,” Cam said with a shrug.

Lucy led her through a set of chrome doors and down a hallway. She stopped at an empty desk beside a breathtaking view of downtown. Behind the desk was a single door, obviously leading to Mr. Calloway’s office.

“Here’s your desk,” she said, brow creasing. “There’s Mr. Calloway’s office. He keeps the door closed when he’s in a meeting or doesn’t want to be disturbed. Here’s Mr. Calloway’s paper calendar. You should probably take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with his online calendar, too.”

Lucy pointed to the computer on the desk. Cam walked around and pulled out the chair, putting her purse down.

“Okay,” she said. “What else should I know?”

“Umm… the bathrooms are at the end of this hall. Press nine to dial out. Otherwise just dial an extension number to call someone in the building. Lunch is twelve to one, unless Mr. Calloway says otherwise. Mr. Calloway will be out of his meeting in about five minutes. I would be as prepared as possible by then. And…” she bit her lip. “Well, let me just log you into the computer system.”

For the next couple of minutes, Cam watched as Lucy showed her around the company network. Using Cam’s last name and the last four digits of her social security number, Lucy gave her the keys to the kingdom.

“Okay, that’s the calendar portion. The rest of the job changes depending on what Mr. Calloway needs,” Lucy said. She looked at Cam skeptically. “But apparently you know all that.”

Cam smiled, pretending she didn’t notice the other woman’s tone.

“Yeah, I’ve worked for three high-level CEOs, so we’re probably good.”

Lucy started to say something, but just then the door behind them swung open.

“We’ll see what the market does,” said the first man to exit.

The man had a posh British accent. He talked to someone inside the office, but Cam couldn’t see who without seeming rude. Gray-haired and well-dressed, he stopped when he saw Lucy and Cam.

“Ladies?” he asked.

Lucy stood up straighter, grabbing and raising Cam by the arm.

“Mr. Calloway,” she said, nodding politely. “This is Cameron, Ingrid’s replacement.”

“Ah! Spencer Calloway. A pleasure to meet you,” he said, shaking Cam’s hand.

“You too, sir,” Cam replied. She noticed that he was tall and broad, probably quite the ladies man in his day.

Was this her boss?

The man gave her a once-over, then turned back to the office.

“Smith! Your new assistant is out here!” he called.

Cam had about three seconds to turn the name over in her mind before its owner came out of the office. She only put it together half a second before he was in her face.

It was the same Smith from last night, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome himself. Only now he was dressed in an expensive suit, not punk rock gear.

Her mouth opened in shock.

“Hello—” he said, then paused. He looked at her, taking in her black business dress. She saw the moment of recognition, then saw him blow past it. “Uh… what was your name?”

“Cameron,” she said, blinking. She held out her hand. “I’m your new executive assistant.”

He took her hand. The moment they touched, the skin-to-skin contact caused the fine hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. Their eyes caught and held, the moment stretching a bit too long.

“All right, then. It was nice to meet you, Cameron,” the senior Calloway said. “Lucy, why don’t you walk me out? We should let her get settled in.”

“Yes, sir,” Lucy said, throwing a look over her shoulder as she escorted her boss down the hall.

She was busy trying not to eye fuck the hell out of her new boss. It was just… he wore the hell out of a suit, and she happened to know what was underneath.

Cam and Smith were silent until they were out of sight, then he turned around and picked up the phone.

“Who are you calling?” she asked.

“Stephanie,” he said, looking at her as he dialed the phone. “No need to discuss what happened last night. I’ll just have you transferred.”

“Stop!” she said, stepping over and pressing the switchhook to disconnect the call. “Wait.”

He frowned. “Why?”

She knew her best shot at finding out about financial matters would be in this office. If she let him transfer her, she was blowing an amazing chance. She scrambled for something to say.

“Look, I need this job,” she said, throwing her head back. “I really, really need this job. Without it, I’ll be thrown out of my apartment.”

“So? You can have this job and work for someone else,” he said. That British accent was so smooth, it gave her chills.

“But—” she started, then put her hand on his wrist. The contact was shocking, like licking a battery. He looked up at her, making eye contact. “I was recommended to this job by someone that works here, okay? If I’m making trouble and getting transferred all over the place, it would be… let’s just say it would be bad for me. Really bad.”

Smith grimaced, pulling away from her touch.

“So what, then? What is it that you want?” he asked.

“Just give me a week,” she said, trying not to let her excitement show. “We both pretend nothing ever happened, and you try me out for a week.”

For a moment, she wasn’t sure he was going to go for it. He ran his hand through his hair, looking annoyed. Still, he couldn’t hold last night against her, could he?

“One week,” he said at last. “You’ll be here when I’m here, yeah?”

“Yes! Thank you. You won’t regret it, I promise!” she said.

“Just… do your job, and don’t bring up my activities outside of here,” he said, shaking his head.

“I won’t,” she replied.