Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Now it was my turn to glare. He really should know by now that challenging me wasn't a wise move. "I wasn't done," I said, lifting the note higher and projecting my voice as I continued to read, trying to ignore how his eyes darkened.
“You were completely naked. Your body glistened from the steam of the shower, and your well-endowed manhood hung with a weighty girth I only dared imagine until that point. You took it in your hand and began to stroke yourself as you watched me, making sure I applied the soap generously and vigorously to every. Last. crevice.
“Then, you took me in your arms and dragged me to my bed. You taught me what it meant to be a man—” I paused to let the crowd snicker at that part. “Plot twist, right?” I said, diving back into the note as Orion’s expression darkened.
“You took me in so many positions that I lost count. But before I could finally orgasm, you lowered your lips to my ear and whispered these words.
“I need that TPS report by Thursday, or your ass is fired.
“And then I woke up. So, screw you for being such an asshole that you can’t even get a sexy dream right.”
I lowered the card with a grin as the assembled onlookers laughed, though my heart was racing. Something had shifted in the air between us, making it harder to breathe.
Orion was giving me a look that made heat pool low in my belly. His eyes held mine with an intensity that said he was hoping he had suddenly developed laser vision just so he could incinerate me where I stood.
I straightened and shuffled my little deck of cards, using the motion to hide how my hands shook. "Think we'll have any more pervy ones this morning? Because that was fun."
"Enough," he said, turning and walking toward the building with long strides that made his perfectly tailored pants do interesting things around the shape of his muscular thighs and ass.
"You know I'm going to follow you," I called after him, hurrying to keep up. "When you lead me into the building, it just makes me think you like being alone in the elevator with me. Do I smell good? Is that it?”
Orion cut me a look that should have killed me, but I smiled cheerily back. I was playing with fire and I knew it. The problem was, I'd always liked getting burned
I flipped the stack of cards until I landed on one that had my handwriting. I had scribbled this on my walk here today, and it was my desperate attempt to fast-track this whole scheme of mine.
“Mr. Foster,
“That girl who reads you Hate Notes is really pretty, charming, funny, and such a great dresser. I also think it’s super admirable that she never accepts your bribes, even though she’s probably super poor and could absolutely use the money. Have you ever considered that she might be hoping for an offer other than money? Maybe you should widen your bribery horizons and get creative. Hmm? Just a thought.
“Oh, and while we’re just giving thoughts… Have you ever considered lightening up? I can’t believe you can listen to these notes every morning and still refuse to change. It’s either impressive or the greatest single act of stubbornness in human history.”
I looked up from the card as the elevator doors closed in front of us.
Orion stared at me. “What is it you want, Ember?”
Even hearing my name on his mouth did things to me that weren’t entirely unpleasant. I pushed through the feelings and gave a snarky smile. “Mr. Foster…I’m a proper woman. I don’t just come out and say what I want.”
He clenched his jaw so hard I thought I heard his teeth groaning. “Sex? Is that what you’re after? You’re trying to… seduce me?”
I sputtered with laughter. “No, no. God, no.” My first laughs had been genuine, but the combination of the weird sex dream I just read and the looming, brooding, admittedly sexy presence of the man-made the last laughs come out with a fake tinge.
I swallowed, going suddenly quiet. “No. That’s not what I was trying to get at.”
“Then what?”
“A job,” I said. “A real job. Not this… Hate notes crap. I could work for you. I’m actually qualified. I brought my resume incase—” Orion snatched the resume from my hand as soon as I produced it from my messenger bag.
He folded it carefully down the middle once, twice, then stuffed it in his suit pocket. The elevator dinged.
“I will consider your request,” he said, stepping off the elevator. “And Ember?” he added.
“Yes?”
“I’m asking you not to come to the art gallery tomorrow.”
The doors begun closing, so I cupped a hand to my ear and smiled. “What was that? I couldn’t hear—”
The doors shut as I smiled wider to myself. If Orion was so worried about me coming to the gallery, then I had to go. That much was a given. Even if a small voice in my head whispered that maybe, just maybe, I wanted to go for reasons that had nothing to do with my original plan.