Chapter 7

SEVEN

C at’s heart raced as Keir’s sleek sports car glided through the New York City traffic. The interior smelled of leather and his cologne, a heady combination that made it hard for her to focus. She stared out the window, trying to calm her nerves.

“So,” Keir’s voice broke through her reverie, “what are your dinner plans for tonight?”

Cat shrugged, turning to face him. “Oh, you know, probably just a bowl of cereal. I’m not much of a cook.”

Keir’s eyebrows shot up in mock horror. “Cereal? After a day like today? I can’t allow that.” He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. “There’s this amazing Italian place right around the corner from your building. What do you say we grab a bite there instead?”

Every logical part of Cat’s brain screamed that this was a bad idea. Dinner with her boss? Alone? But the way Keir was looking at her, hopeful and warm, made her throw caution to the wind.

“You know what? That sounds great,” she heard herself say.

The restaurant was intimate and cozy with soft lighting and the gentle strains of Italian music filling the air. The ma?tre d’ greeted Keir by name, leading them to a secluded corner table.

“Ah, Keir.” A jovial man approached their table, clasping Keir’s hand warmly. “It’s been too long. And who is this lovely lady?”

“Marco, this is Cat.” Keir introduced her, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. The touch sent shivers up her spine. “Cat, Marco owns this little slice of heaven.”

Marco beamed at her. “Any friend of Keir’s is family here. I’ll bring you my best wine on the house.”

As Marco bustled away, Cat raised an eyebrow at Keir. “I’m getting the feeling you didn’t just stumble upon this place online.”

Keir chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Let’s just say I have a weakness for good Italian food.”

The wine, as promised, was exquisite. Cat felt herself relaxing as the conversation flowed easily between them. Maybe it was the wine or the romantic atmosphere, but she found herself noticing things about Keir she’d tried to ignore before - the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, how his hands moved expressively as he talked.

“You know,” Keir said, leaning in slightly, “you look absolutely stunning in this light.”

Cat felt a blush creep up her cheeks. Two could play at this game. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she replied, surprised by her own boldness. “That shirt really brings out your eyes.”

Keir’s grin widened, and Cat felt a thrill go through her. As they talked about their childhoods and past experiences, she found herself opening up more than she had with anyone in years. There was something about Keir that made her feel safe and understood.

By the time dessert arrived - a decadent tiramisu - the air between them crackled with tension. Cat watched, mesmerized, as Keir took a bite of her dessert. He closed his eyes, savoring the taste, and let out a small moan of appreciation.

Cat cleared her throat, her mouth suddenly dry. “It’s good, right? Almost as good as my mother’s.”

Keir’s eyes opened, locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. “Is that so? I’d love to try it sometime.”

“You should,” Cat replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

The walk back to her apartment building was charged with anticipation. Cat’s mind raced. What was happening between them? She couldn’t keep daydreaming about kissing her boss - it was driving her crazy. Maybe if she just got it over with, the reality wouldn’t live up to the fantasy, and she could move on.

As they reached her door, Cat made a split-second decision. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was weeks of pent-up tension, but before she could talk herself out of it, she rose up on her tiptoes, fisted her hands in Keir’s shirt, and pressed her lips to his.

For a moment, Keir froze, and Cat feared she’d made a terrible mistake. But then his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he took control of the kiss. His lips were soft but insistent, coaxing hers open. Cat’s world narrowed to the points where their bodies connected, every nerve ending alive with sensation.

His tongue delved into her mouth, rubbing and caressing hers to the point she moaned into his kiss. His hands pressed her tightly into him and she felt his arousal hard, and thick between them. The kiss grew deeper, hotter, almost feverish as he continued to own her mouth. She clung to him, loving the feel of his lips, loving the way his hands squeezed at her ass. She’d never felt so wanted in her life.

She broke apart from him, knowing she should stop. They were both breathless. Cat knew with absolute certainty she fucked up. Big time. And yet she could not find it in her to feel bad. This was no fantasy - this was real, and infinitely better than anything she could have imagined. She kissed her boss. Her boss. HR would have a field day. She’d probably get fired in the morning. Still, she did not care.

“Wow,” she breathed, her hands still clutching Keir’s shirt.

Keir’s eyes, usually a warm hazel, now glowed with an almost otherworldly light. “Wow indeed,” he murmured, his voice low and deep.

“Keir…I…I should go.” What? No. Ask him to come in. Cat cleared her throat. She wanted desperately to ask him to come in, but she wasn’t sure what this was.

“Cat,” he pushed her up against the door, his hand cupping her cheek and lips mere inches from hers. “I want you.”

Oh, god. Did he really say those words?

He nodded, his intense gaze on hers. “I did. I want you.”

Wait, did she say that out loud? “Keir…you…we…”

What? What the heck could she say that wasn’t come in to my place and rock my world ? Because that’s all her brain wanted her to say.

She didn’t get a chance to say anything else. Cat’s heart thundered in her chest as Keir’s eyes locked onto hers, the intensity in his gaze making her breath catch. Time seemed to slow as he leaned down, one hand cupping her cheek while he held on to her waist, drawing her closer.

“Stop me now if you don’t want this.”

She sucked in a breath and waited expectantly. The first brush of his lips against hers was soft, but quickly turned harder, deeper. Cat’s eyes fluttered closed again and she savored the pressure. Then Keir tilted his head, deepening the kiss, and the world around them faded away. All thoughts of work, him being her boss, and HR flew out of her mind to be replaced by the fiery desire in her veins for him.

His lips were firm, moving against hers with a passion that made her knees weak. Cat’s hands found their way to his chest, feeling the strong, steady beat of his heart beneath her palms. She sighed, and he slid his tongue against hers in a dance that sent sparks shooting through her body. Unlike the kiss from before, this one felt hotter, as if they’d both agreed they just couldn’t stay away from each other.

She loved the taste of him – a hint of the wine they’d shared, mixed with something uniquely Keir – was intoxicating. She didn’t know how this second kiss only moments later was so much better than the first. Cat’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him even closer as she lost herself in the sensations.

Keir’s hand slid from her cheek to tangle in her hair, cradling the back of her head as he angled her face for better access. His other arm wrapped fully around her waist, pressing her body flush against his and the back of her door. The heat of him seeped through their clothes, igniting a fire low in Cat’s belly.

As Keir nipped gently at her bottom lip, Cat couldn’t hold back the soft moan that escaped her. She felt him smile against her mouth before he soothed the spot with his tongue, the action so sensual it made her toes curl.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Cat kept her eyes closed for a moment, trying to memorize every detail of the kiss. The lingering tingle on her lips, the warmth of Keir’s breath fanning across her face, the solid strength of his body against hers.

Slowly, she opened her eyes to find Keir watching her with a mix of tenderness and desire that made her heart stop.

“Cat,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. He rested his forehead against hers, their noses brushing. “That was...”

“Amazing,” Cat finished for him, her own voice breathy and low.

A slow smile spread across Keir’s face, making Cat’s heart flutter. “I was going to say ‘earth-shattering,’ but amazing works too.”

She licked her lips and knew there was no turning back. She’d been kissed before, but never like this. Never in a way that made her feel like her entire being was alight with passion and possibility. As she looked up at Keir, seeing her own emotions reflected in his eyes, Cat knew that everything had changed.

“Do you want to come in?”

“Only if you promise not to regret anything in the morning.”

She glanced at his lips and then back at his eyes. “I can’t promise that.”

He took a step back and cupped her cheek once more. “Then you’re not ready for me to come in.”

He turned to leave and it felt as if her heart was being ripped out. “Wait.” He stopped. “Keir.” He waited but didn’t turn to her. “Don’t go.”

He turned around. “I’m not going to act like this isn’t real tomorrow. Like we don’t share this connection that’s been building since the moment we met.”