Bet On It: An Age Gap Billionaire Office Romance(30)

I rose from the bed, taking off the robe and inhaling the scent of Reed one more time before I laid it on the bed. Then I pulled back the covers and sheets and climbed in. I turned off the light on the side table and snuggled in to get some sleep.

Unfortunately, while my body was tired, my brain couldn't stop flitting from one thought to the next. Most of it had to do with figuring out how I would tell Betts about Paul.

But other times, my thoughts were of Reed. Of imagining him alone in that large bed of his. There was the desire to join him, but then also the need to be taken seriously at work. I didn't want to risk my work reputation by being found out to have slept with the boss. Just coming here was a risk. Staying the night was riskiest of all. But it was a risk that I was glad I took.

Reed was a good and decent man. I could see that he respected me, and it was good to my ego that he was attracted to me.

I tossed and turned, and finally, at three in the morning, I gave up. I got out of bed and slipped on the robe. As quietly as I could, I opened the door to my bedroom and made my way back up the hall. It seemed to take forever, but I finally reached the foyer, and after a little bit more searching, I found the kitchen. It didn't feel right to rummage through his home looking for a bottle of wine, but I had hoped that a glass might help me go to sleep.

I didn’t bother to turn the lights on. I didn’t need to with how the light from the moon illuminated the kitchen well enough to see what I was doing.

I found an open bottle of white wine in the fridge and took it out, placing it on the counter. Then I began the process of opening the cabinets, of which there were many, looking for a wine glass. I finally gave up and just grabbed a juice glass and poured the wine into it.

I’d just taken a long gulp when I heard, "Are you okay?" Startled, I turned to the entrance to the kitchen. The lights might have been out, but it was bright enough for me to see that Reed was in his lounge pants, and only his pants. His chest was bare, and as he approached me, I was transfixed by the hard planes etched to form his pecs and strong abs. The memory of touching and kissing them a month ago flooded back to me.

"I'm sorry I didn't ask first."

"It's not a problem, Analyn. I'm just checking to see if you're all right." He stopped a few feet away, opening the cupboard and pulling out two wine glasses. He brought them over and set them on the counter next to me. Then taking the wine bottle, he poured us each a glass.

He handed me one and picked up the other. "To insomnia."

I smiled, embarrassed at being caught but at the same time happy to have his company again. "I'm not so sure we should be cheering to insomnia."

He shrugged. "At least we don't have to suffer it alone."

I laughed. "I suppose there's that." I clinked my glass with his and took a sip. It really was very good wine.

"Is insomnia a common issue for you?" He leaned against the counter, and I did my best not to stare at his chest.

"Only when I have the weight of ruining my best friend’s life bearing down on me."

He nodded. "But I imagine her life would be more ruined if she marries someone who was willing to cheat on her with her best friend. What are the odds he hasn't cheated on her already?"

"I wondered the same thing.” I hoped Betts would see things like that. “What has you up so late?"

He looked from me down into his wine glass. "I suppose, like you, I've got things on my mind."

The vagueness of his answer got me curious. Was my being here keeping him up? Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part. Maybe there were issues at work.

He finished his wine, setting the glass on the counter. I worried that he was getting ready to go back to bed, and I didn't want him to leave.

"The team is on board with the mystical creatures fantasy league," I blurted out.

His lips twitched upward. "I look forward to seeing it. It looks like this bottle is kaput. We should have some more."

I nodded, pleased that he wasn't leaving. He leaned closer to me, reaching above me, and it was only then I realized he had a wine rack built into his cupboards. Of course, that knowledge slipped away the closer he came to me in his effort to get a bottle of wine. I closed my eyes, inhaling his scent, awareness of his body heat sending sumptuous sensations through my body. Unable to help myself, I pressed my hand on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart.

He flinched. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to crowd you."

I looked up into his eyes and saw the craving, the hunger that I had for him reflected in his eyes. It was like lunchtime all over again, and this time, my brain was sounding alarms, reminding me of how important it was that I retain my reputation at work. But with Reed so close, his body heat radiating around me, his scent filling the air and making me dizzy with desire, and seeing the need burning in his eyes, I was helpless.

I couldn't figure out what words to say, so I simply went with instinct. I leaned in, pressing my lips against his chest. He growled, the rumble of it shaking me to my core.

"Analyn." His voice was strained, like it was all he could do to restrain himself. It was another thing that boosted my ego.

I looked up at him. “I'm sorry."

He let out another frustrated growl as he set his hand on my hip. "You don't have to be sorry. I like it when you touch me. It's no secret that I want to touch you."