Layers(51)

Coming? Mmm … He turns on his heels, but not before leaving me entirely dazzled by another kiss even deeper, and more intense than its precursor. I could easily just follow him right now and talk him into act two of our earlier matinee performance.

“I told you that projecting his brains off would do the job.” Tasha wrinkles her nose, a teasing curve tugging her lips.

“You are so predictable. I was waiting to see how long it would take you to say that.”

We both giggle.

“So, back to you. What’s next with Rob the boss?” She thinks for a second and then mutters, “I don’t know, I guess I’ll flow with it. I’m not going to be the one initiating anything more serious, that’s for sure.”

“And what about the fact that he already has a live-in girlfriend?”

“Well, that’s his problem, not mine.”

Miss Judas does have a point.

“Are you going to drop by the apartment tonight before running off to get laid?” Tasha asks just as we go our separate ways.

I snicker, “I might. Depends when I get off work.”

“I really do miss you, Hales.” Her voice is transparently honest. We embrace tightly as we say our goodbyes.





Chapter 19: Workplace Romance and Fraternization


Daniel, talking on the phone, greets me with a warm embrace. He’s wearing a black tee and a pair of faded jeans that are slightly worn at the knees. A kitchen towel hangs over his shoulder, giving him an entirely domestic, sexy look. Indulging in his hug, I try to figure out what the mouthwatering aroma coming from the kitchen is.

He takes my hand and leads me to the kitchen, and without any prior warning I’m being lifted and settled on the kitchen counter, legs waving. Still deeply in conversation, he stands in front of me, parting my legs with his body, and starts kissing my neck. He holds the phone back for a moment and murmurs, “You smell so good, it’s driving me crazy.”

Multitasking, D? I like it. Entirely absorbed in his embrace, resting my head on his chest, I listen to the reverberation of his voice.

“For f**k’s sake, Rob, stop circling around the subject. I’m not interested in lame excuses; I’m interested in the solution,” Daniel snarls, making me flinch. He sighs and continues, “When the f**k do you expect the release of the next generation? Will we be delinquent to our initial deadline?”

Oh, hello Mr. Hyde. I missed you for a while there. Wait a minute. Rob? Release? Rob-as-in-my-best-friend-did-the-horizontal-dance-with Rob?




“Seriously, Christ, think again and then answer,” Daniel flares, getting more irritated, and I can feel the change on my now attacked neck. Hey, I’m not the one to blame here, though this rough fondling strikes a delicious cord deep, deep inside my core. He leaves me too abruptly for my taste and turns to stir the aromatic red sauce in the pan on the stove.

“Either call when you have a better answer or call Jobs-R-Us,” Daniel mutters with a tone as cold as ice, one I haven’t heard so far and could continue living devoid of. He quickly hangs up the phone.

“Taste this.” Daniel brings a wooden spoon with a steaming, chunky red sauce to my lips. He flashes me a crooked, scarred, sweet smile. Ping ponging between Hyde and Jekyll tonight, are we?

“Mmm. Did you make it?” I savor the exquisite, spicy sauce.

“No, but I have tremendous talent for heating frozen Italian food,” he responds with indecent glee. He kisses me hard, his tongue almost forcefully invading my slightly parted lips, claiming every part of my surprised yet welcoming mouth.

“It does taste delicious,” he murmurs, and bends to meet my mouth again. He fetches his phone to the sound of “It’s a Small World After All.” I grin at this revelation. That’s your ringtone, D? After glancing at the screen, he answers in an intolerant staccato. “Well? What is it now?” He saws his lips as he listens, looks at me with a piercing stare, then responds, “Better. Though I frankly don’t understand why for f**k’s sake this wasn’t your first answer.” His voice rises as he emphasizes the last part. He halts for a moment as though in thought and then says, “Rob, this was the first and the last time I waste my valuable time waiting for a better answer from you. There will not be a next time.”

I thank the powers that be that I am this man’s lover rather than his employee.

“So, where were we?” Placidity is back.

“You were showing me how talented you were at heating Italian food and making my every cell melt, not necessarily in that particular order.”

He raises his wicked gaze to meet mine and that scar, oh, that scar, lifts in sinful promise.

“Was that Rob from R&D?” I question.

Daniel’s brows knit inquisitively. “Yes, that was him. Why?” he says, licking the wooden spoon, disrupting the hell out of my train of thought.

“It’s just that he’s been quite popular today.”

“Is that so?”

Daniel is between my parted thighs again, brushing his fingers through my hair, pulling my head slightly back and pressing yet another seductive kiss on my eager mouth.

I could sit here reciprocating his fondling all day long. Who am I kidding, forever.

“Well, it seems that he and Tasha had an intimate encounter recently.”