“I forgot where I was.” She begins to whimper.
“Please don’t cry. You’re just fine. I’m here for you.”
She sniffs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I don’t sleep well anyway.”
I sit down at the edge of her bed and the neck of the T-shirt I lent her slips over her shoulder. My cock pays attention. I try to concentrate on her nightmare and not her beautiful alabaster skin.
“It’s nothing. Really.”
The light from the hall casts this beautiful glow on her, and despite her disheveled hair, I’ve never seen her look so lovely. I reach for her and pull her close. She collapses into me. Her arms snake around my waist, and I take in her smell. She wears a perfume I can’t quite name, but I recognize the scent. You have to be close to smell it, and she smells so good.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m reacting like this,” she says through tears.
Usually, tears have me running to the hills, but I want her to feel better. I want her to feel safe.
“You can stay here as long as you need.”
I start to stand, but she doesn’t let go. “Please don’t leave me.” Her tears begin to fall. “He’s hurt me so badly. Not only did he say those awful things, but he was cheating on me, too. What did I ever see in that guy? Why is my picker so bad?”
We lean back against the headboard, and I hold her tight. Her arms remain around me, and I feel content as we sit in silence.
After some time, I hear the rhythmic sound of her breathing. She’s fallen asleep curled up against me. I almost never want to spend the night with women, but I’m shocked at how right this feels.
Sometime later, when I wake to the sunlight, I can tell instantly that it’s much later than I usually wake. We’re spooning, and my cock is nestled against Corrine’s backside, pulsing and begging for entry. My hand is holding her soft breast. I should let it go, but I don’t want to. I smell her floral-scented shampoo. I want her.
She rolls over. My hand falls away, but my cock is still obviously as hard as a steel rod.
“We should probably get into the office,” she says.
“I know.” I enjoy a few more moments lying next to her. I don’t want this to end. Then it occurs to me. “My flight to Maui is tomorrow after work, right?”
“Yes. I should be able to move back into my place by then. I have a lot of cleaning up to do before my roommates get home.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I already told you I’ll have somebody come in and clean up the apartment, but I think you should come with me to Maui.”
I say that last part quickly, so I can’t change my mind.
She sits up and turns to me. “What? Why on Earth would I do that?”
I try not to notice her pebbled nipples beneath the T-shirt, but I’ve never been so sure of anything. “I don’t want you staying alone, and you could use some time away. When was the last time you took any vacation?”
“It’s been a while, but we already discussed that Detective Lenning needs me to be close by.”
That was really just my excuse to get her to stay at my place. “You’ll have the jet at your disposal, so if he needs you back, you can come back.” I look into her caramel-colored eyes, noticing their gold flecks. I could get lost in there forever. “Please come with me to Maui.”
“What will people at the office think?” she asks as she begins to bite her thumbnail.
“Who cares?”
She takes a big breath. “I truly appreciate your offer. Maui sounds amazing, but people already think I’ve gotten on my knees to keep my job. If I go with you to Maui, that will only reinforce that rumor.”
“All that matters is that we know the truth,” I tell her.
Her shoulders fall, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing.
I try again. “Look, you’re my assistant. The house has multiple bedrooms with their own bathrooms. Just because I take my admin doesn’t mean you get on your knees for me. It means I work a lot, and together, we are assessing whether the house should remain in my portfolio.”
A smile crosses her face that finally reaches her eyes. “If my boss requires my assistance for a work-related trip, then I must go.”
I can’t wait. What is this ridiculous giddiness I feel?
She sighs. “I should warn you, though, my bathing suit was in my apartment, and I’ll need to do some shopping.”
“You have access to my personal card. Buy whatever you need.”
“I can afford a bathing suit,” she informs me.
“I know you can, but I want to do this for you.”
The idea of four days away with Corrine with her in a bathing suit does something to me. But for now, I need to get to work. I still need to get a meeting with Hydro before they start producing my solar film with stolen plans.
Chapter 10
Corrine
Maui. I’m so excited. Time away from this place has never, ever sounded better than it does right now. I have nothing to pack, and I’m not even sure where to start.
I’ll worry about that later. Right now, I need to make it through my day. I look around my desk for the next task I need to tackle.
Waking up with Jackson was way too comfortable. It took all of my willpower not to jump him this morning. His not-so-little friend wanted to play, but things are already awkward enough.
My cell phone pings.
