Chapter 40

The door to Reese's office bangs open, making me jump. But the temporary shock is nothing compared to the jolt of electricity that shoots straight through my spine as I spot her standing in the doorway.

Her hair is wet and plastered to her face, she's panting and breathless, and her expression is wild and desperate.

And she's never been more beautiful.

For a moment, I just stare at her—unable to think or move. All I can do is take in the sight of her, drinking in every detail.

"Thomas?" she asks, as if she can't trust I'm really here. "What are you doing here?"

I stand up and pat K-2P's dome. "It's Friday night, and I didn't want this guy to spend the weekend alone. I know he hates it."

Reese's face twists with something ugly and beautiful at the same time. For a moment, I think she might cry. Instead, she lets out a sound that is a mix of a strangled sob and a battle cry and launches herself at me.

When she barrels into me, I'm not prepared for the impact. I stumble backward until we crash against the metal blinds covering the glass walls of her office.

And then we're kissing.

Reese's mouth is determined, urgent, and fierce. Demanding.

Her hands are on my face, in my hair, pulling me closer and closer. My hands snake around her waist, joining in the effort of obliterating all and any distance between us.

My head spins with her scent, with the taste of her lips on mine. Every sensation is so achingly intense.

We kiss until we can't breathe and my lungs ache. Until our lips are swollen and bruised. Until I am so lost in her I don't know who I am or where I am.

The kiss ends softly as my arms tighten around Reese's waist, but neither one of us backs away; we just stand there with our foreheads pressed together, trying to find our breaths again.

Trembling hands find their way to my face and she cups either side of it, gazing up at me with eyes that are still fiery with emotion.

"I love you," she says. "I want you. Being without you has been like being trapped underwater with no air."

The words hit me like a physical blow. "It's over, baby, you don't have to miss me anymore. I'm here, I love you. I quit my job."

"I know." She hugs me. Squeezing me within an inch of my last breath. For someone so small she sure has a hell of a grip.

"How do you know?"

She looks up at me, an unsure smile on her swollen lips. "Your father told me. He asked me to call him Nolan, invited me to family brunch, and winked at me."

That pulls a smile from me. "Did he now?"

"What is family brunch?"

"A message to me."

"What message?"

"That if I'm not sure enough about us to bring you to family brunch, then I should probably reconsider my choices."

Reese frowns. "Your dad thinks you're making a mistake?"

"No, he's just telling me to be sure." I gently dig my fingers into her hips. "I am sure."

"And what were you waiting for before telling me? I've been dying here."

"I wanted to wait until tomorrow. I didn't suppose you wanted to discuss anything here at work, and I didn't want to ambush you after a long day at the office."

"That is the silliest thing I've ever heard. Ambush me, ambush me whenever you want."

"Oh, I plan on ambushing you a lot from now on, Campbell."

Her eyes go molten and her gaze drops to my mouth. "Well, in that case…"

She presses against me in a sensual way that has my head spinning again. But before she can kiss me I turn her in my arms and flip her around, pulling her back flush with my front. Then I lower my head to whisper in her ear, "What do you say this time we take this somewhere more appropriate and cut those poor security guards a break?"

I nip her earlobe.

She squirms against me. "You're not making the argument to wait a strong one."

That's when K-2P wheels in front of us. "How about I do? You can't make another sex tape in the office. Plus, my battery is running low, and I don't plan on exiting the room. So, either I stay here and recharge and watch whatever happens, or we all go to Thomas's place and I recharge in the privacy of my room while you two do whatever has you both so worked up in his room."

Keeping my arms tightly wrapped around her, I add, "My bed is enormous and soft, but if you're dead set on desk sex I?—"

She turns around and pushes a finger over my mouth. "Stop talking before we make another scandal. Let's go home."

We lace our fingers and walk out of the office hand in hand, headed home—K-2P trailing behind us.

And tonight, home is more than just a place, it's a whispered promise of us, of a future together, of a new beginning.