15.

Ryan

" T he meeting has moved from 203 to 204," Alex says. She looks at me like she's really focused on the location of my meeting, which is great aside from the fact that I don't care at all. What I care about is the fact that she's wearing the red blouse I bought her. I care about the fact that it hugs her curves. The black pencil skirt she's paired her top with is even more perfect, somehow.

She's everything .

I'm smitten, and this is going to be a real issue.

"Fine," I say. I try to sound gruff. It works because she looks up at me sharply.

"Is everything okay? Do you need any other support for this?"

"I've got everything I need," I tell her, and I turn to head down the hallway. Both of my brothers are going to be here today. This is a rare occurrence around Shadowvale Industries, so I'm ready to knock a few things out and get down to business. Before I start walking, though, I feel her hand on my arm. I pause, and I turn.

"Ryan?" Alex's voice is soft, gentle. It just does something to me.

"What is it, Alexandra?" I want her on her knees. She has to know this. The kissing wasn't enough. I need more. I want more.

"I really can come to the meeting and help," she says, but her eyes are focused on my lips, and I know she's not thinking about the meeting.

I reach for her cheek, stroking her. This is a dangerous move to be making out in public. Anyone could see. Anyone could find out and realize that the two of us are more than just an employee and an employer.

They could know .

"I can't stop thinking about the other day," I say.

"Me neither."

"I want to see you after the meeting." I decide this quickly. Before I can talk myself out of it, I say the words. There's a certain power that comes from being a Shadowvale. Being able to command someone to just come to my office for sex or fooling around is certainly one of them.

"Done," she says. Then she turns and slowly leaves. I stay where I am and watch her. A second later, I feel Phoenix's hand on my shoulder.

"Brother," he says. "It's time."

I'm being whisked away for business again, but all I want is her.

THERE'S A LOT I DON'T know about Alexandra Sparrow.

I don't know where she came from. I don't know what her childhood was like. I don't know what her favorite color is, and I don't know the first movie she saw in theaters.

What I do know is that she moans a little when I kiss her.

What I do know is that she fits perfectly on my lap.

An hour after the meeting ends, and she's sitting sideways on me. I'm holding her close, and there's no doubt that she can feel my cock harden beneath her. She kisses me like she's been dreaming about me, and I kiss her just as fiercely.

"You like this," I murmur.

"Of course, I do."

"You taste like honey."

"Good," she says. "I heard you like sweet things."

She kisses me again, and this time, she's the one cupping my cheeks. This is too sweet. Too tame. I'm used to bending women over my desk and fucking them until they can't walk straight. I'm not exactly good at the whole "making out with my assistant in my office" thing. It feels different. More intimate.

Eventually, we slow down instead of speed up, and she ends up just sitting in my lap with her arms around my neck.

"This is weird," she says.

"In what way?"

"I'm not supposed to be kissing my boss."

"Says who?"

"Everyone," she laughs. "Everyone knows this. It's a very common policy that companies have."

"At my company, I make the policies," I tell her. "And in my office, I can do what I want."

"And what you want is to kiss me, huh?"

"Something like that."

"Why'd you hire me, anyway?" Alex asks. "Surely it wasn't because you needed a makeout buddy. I'm sure you aren't wanting for those."

"You're right. I have plenty of women who would be willing to come kiss me a little between meetings."

"What is it, then?"

"I owe Beatrice," I tell her honestly. "And I respect my cousin. She asked me to interview you. That was the favor. I didn't hire you because of her. I hired you because you seemed self-assured, prepared, and good at what you do."

"Is that right?"

"It's right," I nod.

"You're so different than I thought you would be," she says.

"What do you mean?" I already know. She thought I'd be a prick. I want people to think that I am. Nobody needs to know that Mr. Grump has a soft spot for needy puppies like Alex. I'm sure she's got a tragic backstory that would have my cock weeping for her tight body if she felt like telling me, but right now, I want to listen to what she has to say.

"I thought you'd be more rough around the edges," she admits.

"You thought I'd put up more of a fight when you tried to make out with me, huh?"

"Hey," she slaps my chest playfully. "You made the first move."

"If that's the story you want to go with, then we'll go with it," I say. Then I kiss her again, and again, and just for good measure, I kiss her a little bit more.