“I actually am really grateful for everything you’ve done this past week. I know I haven’t been the easiest to work for.”
“You haven’t been too bad, well, besides your good water bagels.”
He smirks, and just the light turn up of his lips has my stomach bouncing with desire. “They were worth it. Best bagels ever. Which reminds me, feel free to help yourself to the stash. You should be able to enjoy them as well.”
“Careful what you say. I might eat them all.”
“Just means more morning trips for you.”
I tap my chin. “Hmm, decisions, decisions.”
He chuckles, and it’s an earthy sound straight from his barrel-like chest. “I do want to thank you, though, so I sent you a gift card to your email. Did you get it?”
“Uh, I haven’t checked,” I say.
“Go ahead and look.” Really confused by this change in behavior and the lightness in his eyes, I swipe out of our chat and go to my email, where I find a gift card from him to get a massage.
“You’re sending me to get a massage?”
“Tomorrow,” he says. “I booked an appointment for you and everything. Told them it’s all on me. Get what you want. But you have to be there around nine thirty. Hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t have anything going on other than regular work.” I stare at him for a few seconds. “Levi, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I just wanted to show you that I appreciate you.”
“Well, thank you. That’ll be really nice.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiles, and ugh, it makes me feel even more guilty for what I’ve put him through.
And because my guilt takes over, I say, “And I’m sorry if I’ve been difficult or unsatisfactory. Just been going through some things, and I don’t think I handled it well.”
“You’ve been great,” he says. “More than great. No need to apologize, but I do need to ask you something.”
“Okay,” I say. “What is it?”
“Today, in the kitchen, were you crying?”
I glance away from looking at his handsome face and tug on the corner of my lip. Why is it so easy for him to read me? He barely knows me, and it’s like he can already see past my defenses. That connection is there, just like the first night we met.
“You were, weren’t you?” he presses.
“It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with,” I say, looking back at him. “And I mean that. Don’t bother asking me because I won’t say anything.”
“Okay,” he says. “If that’s the case, did your day improve?”
“Uh, yeah. It was okay.”
“Cool, yeah, my day was pretty good, thanks for asking.”
I smile. “Wasn’t aware we were gabbing.”
“Don’t you think you should gab with your boss? I am your only co-worker, after all.”
“I guess you are.” I shift to be more comfortable as I stare at Levi’s face. “How was your day?”
“Like I said, pretty good. Considered going down to the bar after the game tonight but wasn’t feeling it.”
“No?” I ask, feeling grateful that he’s not trying to pick someone up, but I guess, rather talking to me. “Why not?”
“Thought I’d give that Patty Ford girl another go-around since I was interrupted last time.”
“Why, Levi, isn’t that a little too intimate for a boss-assistant relationship?” I tease.
“According to you and the vibrator you packed me for my travels, nothing is too intimate. The more we know about each other, the better. You know . . . so you can meet all my needs.” The way he says that in such a dark voice sends a shiver right up my spine.
If I was still trying to drive him nuts with erotic torture, I might playfully talk about his needs being met, but I keep it clean. “Aw, you do listen to me.”
“I listen to everything you say.”
“Not everything,” I reply. “When I tell you that waking up at one in the morning to retrieve bagels is not my idea of fun, you seem to keep telling me it might happen again.”
“Which reminds me, I’m going to need more bagels.”
I stare blankly at him, and he laughs.
“Fine, I’ll eat the ones we have before I make you grab more.”
“That’s a good boy, Levi.”
His grin nearly melts me right into the spring coils of my mattress. “So which Patty Ford video is your favorite?”
“Looking for ideas on how to get off?” I ask.
“You’re my assistant. Shouldn’t you be helping me make decisions?”
“I suppose so.” I playfully tap my chin. “Well, personally, I like it when she’s fully clothed and slowly takes her clothes off, one by one. There’s this one outfit she wears, it’s an oversized button-up blouse with a tight mini skirt and these high boots. As she’s undressing, she tells you exactly where to touch yourself, and she uses all parts of the body.”
He wets his lips. “Yeah, that’s hot.”
“You’ll enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Also, I’m so glad you’re not going down to the bar. The thought of him hooking up makes my stomach sour. I know I can’t have him, and I know he’s not mine, but I hate the idea of him touching another woman. At least not right now.
What am I thinking? I’ll never be able to have Levi as anything other than my temporary boss. And that’s . . . well, that’s fucking sad. Every moment I spend with this Levi makes me like him more. It’s not as if I’m ready for marriage or want to settle down, per se—I’m only twenty-two—but I genuinely like this man. He ticks so many boxes. Good humor, kind, sexy, fun to chat with . . . real.
He yawns. “Okay, time to release this adrenaline.”
“Is that why you usually pick someone up at the bar?” I ask, not wanting him to hang up yet.
“Yeah.” He pushes his hand through his hair. “I’m usually buzzing after a game, and it’s a great way to blow off steam.”
“So is that a regular activity for you then? Just so I’m aware not to bother you after a game.”
“Yes, it’s a regular occurrence. So, unless you want to walk in on me again, I’d probably stay away. Although it seemed like you were ready for a show.”
My cheeks heat. “No, I mean . . . I was, uh, no, I wasn’t ready for a show.”
He laughs. “Are you sure? You seemed to linger.”
“Was just making conversation.”
“While I was holding my hard dick?”
“Is that, uh, not an appropriate time to converse?” I lightly chuckle.
He grins. “Not so much, Wylie.”
“Oh, okay. Noted.”
He chuckles some more, and God, I love that sound. I love how easy it is to talk with him. This is the Levi that I almost spent the night with. There’s something about him that’s changed, and it’s making me want him so much more.
Which means one thing: I’m glad I put the brakes on the erotic torture because I’m not sure I could hold out. One once-over from him, and I’m pretty sure I’d be pushing him down on the couch and settling on his lap.
“Question for you,” I say.
“What’s that?” He plays with the ends of his hair, his bicep flexing with every twist and pull of the short strands.
“Should I expect you to bring a woman back to your place? Just want to know since you like to get that adrenaline out.”
Please say no. Please say no.
“Why?” he asks and grins even wider. “Jealous, Wylie?”
“What? No,” I say quickly. “Just, you know, wanting to see if I need to account for, uh, more bagels or something like that.”
“It’s rare if I bring someone back to my place.”
“That’s surprising, given the toys and bed you have.”
He wets his lips, and his eyes become hazy as he says, “Didn’t say I never bring women back, it’s just rare. And the women I do bring back have signed an NDA, everything we do is consensual, and we have the same sort of pleasure in mind.”
Dear God.
I squeeze my legs together from what he could possibly mean by that.
Hell, I know what he means.
I’ve seen the ties.
I’ve seen the toys.
I’ve seen the hooks and the blindfolds.
“How, uh, how do you know she’s someone who has that same mindset?”
“Usually meet her at the club,” he says casually.
“The club?” I ask, confused.
He slowly nods. “The sex club, Wylie.”
“Right, oh yeah, sure, of course. Yup, that makes sense.” Sweat forms on my upper lip. “Well, I’m sure you have a lot of fun with those women. They’re adventurous.”
“They are.” From the way his lips tilt up, I know he can sense how uncomfortable I am.
“Anyway, I’ll let you get to your release. Enjoy.”
He winks.
Freaking winks.
“I will. Night, Wylie.”
“Good night.” I gulp.