The Intern (The Dalton Family #4)(54)

“Jenner, are you sure? I don’t know if she’s ready for something so hands-on, in your face. I’d prefer to go alone and—”

“She’s more than ready,” he countered. “I realize you do things a bit solo. I’m the same way, to be honest, but Hannah isn’t just any team member. She’s a Dalton.”

A point I couldn’t forget. I didn’t need the reminder.

If she wasn’t a Dalton, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

A trip together meant time on the private plane.

Two rooms in the same hotel.

Dinners.

“Understood,” I said.

When he touched me this time, it was on my shoulder, praising me like a goddamn dog. “I knew you would.”

He disappeared down the hallway, and I finally glanced at Hannah again, the hen still at her desk.

I couldn’t take another second of this.

“Hannah!”

The hen was startled by my sound, his back going erect, his eyes immediately flitting to me.

Hannah slowly swung her chair around, giving me her full face.

“You”—I pointed at him—“get to work. This is your last warning. I’m not going to tell you again, and you”—I nodded toward Hannah—“get in my office.”

I took a seat at my desk, and within a few seconds, she walked in with a notebook in her hand.

“I thought you wanted to be quizzed?” I waited for her to sit. “Or did that little boy get you so frazzled that you’re afraid you won’t remember what I’m about to say?”

She set the notebook on the chair beside her, placed the pen on top, and crossed her arms. “What do you need to tell me, Declan?”

Oh, this fucking girl.

She tested me at every opportunity.

Challenged me.

Her attitude was so nonchalant that I wanted to tie her hands behind her back and show her what submissive really looked like.

“I know you’ve been so fucking busy flirting your ass off, but if you happened to read any of the information in the file that I gave you, then you’d know Walter’s case is regarding a piece of land in Wyoming. I plan to visit that location at the end of this week, and you’re coming with me.”

Her brows rose. “Oh?”

“For the record, this wasn’t my choice. Jenner insisted.”

“How long will we be gone for?”

I pressed my hands together, holding them close to my face. “Is your calendar so full that you don’t know if you can fit it in?”

“Actually, it is.” She recrossed her legs, switching sides. “I’m in law school, Declan. I’m bar prepping. I’m working here more hours than I can even keep track of. I need to make arrangements if I’m going to miss class.”

Things I hadn’t considered. My mind had been somewhere else.

“We’ll plan the trip around your schedule since you insist that you’re the busiest person on this floor.”

Her head leaned back, and the most lighthearted sound came out of her.

Laughter.

But it wasn’t the sound I found myself drawn to as much as the beautiful arch of her neck. The way her throat bobbed as she took in a breath. The way her cheeks flushed as her neck resumed its normal position, her eyes catching with mine again.

“You”—her tongue swiped my favorite lip—“are too much.”

I felt the same way about her.

Consumed.

Over-fucking-whelmed.

I was in competition with the clucking hen and the flower dude, and it seemed like every other motherfucker.

I needed to claim what was mine.

Mark her.

Make sure she knew, without a question in her mind, whose cock belonged inside her.

I couldn’t wait until after hours, when everyone was gone from the building.

This was risky, dangerous. I didn’t care.

Nor did I care that I’d promised myself I was never going to touch Hannah again, that the night in the conference room would be the last time.

Even then I had known I was lying to myself.

And now, all rational thoughts were gone from my mind.

I needed her.

Now.

“Go lock the door, Hannah.”

Her head cocked to the side as she analyzed me. “For what reason?”

“Because I ordered you to do so.”

She set her arms on my desk, leaning on the hard edge. “And you think, just because you gave me that order, I’m going to listen?” Her voice was serene.

She was trying to gain the upper hand.

“Yes,” I growled. “Now, go.”

“For the record,” she said, using my own words, “I’m locking the door because I’m interested to see where this is going, not because you told me to.”

I didn’t care what her reasoning was as long as she moved quickly.

And she did, turning the lock with those delicate fingers once she reached the door.

From there, she didn’t move. She stayed put, flattening her palms against the door like she was being arrested.

The reason was because she’d heard me get up and follow her, stopping directly behind her. “Hannah …” My hands moved above hers, closing our bodies together, inhaling the scent of her hair as I buried my face in her locks. “Tell me to stop.”