Millionaire Romance: In Love With My Personal Assistant - A Contemporary Romance (Millionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Comedy Romance Book 2) (19 page)

“You’re danger and I need to—I should probably leave,” she finally managed.

“Danger?” He chuckled. “I’m not a stranger.”

“You’re my boss,” Jennifer breathed. Her response only made James chortle. “And that kiss earlier,” Jennifer continued hastily; she gulped down air, hoping it would give her strength, “You shouldn’t have done that.” James mulled over her words with disinterest.

“I wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t want it,” he said at length.

Jennifer frowned. She wasn’t joking anymore and neither was he. She hated that he was every bit of right. She did want him to kiss her. So who was really at fault? Her for wanting it or him for doing it first?

“You’re my boss,” she said again, this time softly.  James chuckled, deep and searing to her flesh and soul.

“You keep saying that but I don’t mind.”

Ohmygoshhe’ssohot.

“I need to go—”

“Can I move this?” James reached for her purse and held it up. His actions stole her eyes to his and she gasped. Her instincts told her to grab her purse and run, but she froze. She really needed that purse to stay where it was. James watched her carefully. His breathing was heavy.

“I can put it back if you want,” he commented, but at the same time, he moved it across Jennifer’s line of sight and over her body. He was nowhere close to putting it back. Jennifer’s brow bunched, but she said nothing. James took a deep breath and wet his lips.

“Jennifer,” he said her name softly, and didn’t bother to mask the trace of his desire and need within, “I can stop if you want me to,” his gaze trailed to her lips, then back to her eyes. His chest was rising and falling at twice the speed and his arm was across the full length of her body. He started to lower the purse. It swung and turned freely in the air.

Jennifer opened her mouth, but only guttural sounds escaped.
“If you want me to.”
 Those were the magic words. Did she really want him to? She glanced at his lips, inviting and for the taking. A second later and she was staring back into his eyes. The choice he was forcing her to make didn’t seem fair, even still, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him to replace the purse to its original position. The purse was nearly to the cushion. He hesitated.

“Just tell me to stop, Jenn,” he whispered. Jennifer shook her head. It was hardly a movement at all, but when she did it, she knew James saw it. He dropped the purse behind her and was cradling her head within the second. Their lips locked and this time, she didn’t restrain herself.

His mouth was hot, sweet, and sticky, and she surprised herself by wanting more. His hand was on her back, her side, her upper thigh, and then at the edge of her skirt. His grip on her flesh was strong. It made her body run hotter and her knees quake. She was sure she might have swooned if she were standing. James pulled back from her and met her eyes.

“I want you on top of me.” His words made her quiver. That was the alpha male talking. His eyes were cast over with lust and alcohol and she didn’t even care. She might have even said that she wanted the same thing; but their gaze held for just a moment more and then his lips were back on hers.

“I’ve got a suite,” he breathed. “You need to see it.”

Jennifer chuckled, “Oh no.”

“Oh, yes,” James pulled back and gripped her hand. “Come with me.”

Without a word, she obeyed. They moved through the lounge quickly and in the elevator, James closed the door before anyone else could step in. Jennifer grinned and welcomed James’s body when he turned to her and pushed her against the glass panels.

He stood in front of her and ran his fingers through her hair from the top of her scalp through the back of her head and down the length of her hair. He pulled gently as he reached the end of her strands, tilting her mouth towards him. He greedily kissed her lips and moved his hands around the back of her body hungrily.

Their hands eventually found the other’s and he and intertwined his fingers with hers, raising her hands high above her head. He smiled down at her with sweet temptation. Jennifer kept her arms raised, welcoming his touch as he trailed his searing palms down the length of her arms.

The doors to the elevator opened, startling both of them. She hadn’t realized the elevator had stopped; and judging by the look on James’s face as he saw the waiting group of three, he felt the same. The small gathering bunched at the door eyed them curiously.

“We can take the next one,” someone said.

“We’ve been waiting for over a minute,” another one growled.

James chuckled smoothly and stepped away from Jennifer, still holding her hand. “What floor is this?”

“14,” the angry one answered back with a snarl.

Grinning, James stepped out the elevator. “Just what we need,” he turned back to Jennifer and waited for her to exit. As she stepped out the elevator, the group of three climbed in. Two pairs of eyes avoid them while one stared back mercilessly.

“James,” Jennifer finally found her voice. James turned to her quickly and shook his head.

“Ssshhh,” he held a finger to her lips. “Stop thinking,” he whispered. She wasn’t sure if it was a command, suggestion, or both, but James found her lips against his seconds later and she forgot to care about the answer.

They fumbled down the hallway, looking for his room number. Jennifer wasn’t even sure what floor her room  was on. Then again, seconds later she remembered it didn’t even matter as she tasted the inside of James’s hot mouth once more. They had found his room, or rather, he had.

The door lock turned green and in an instant, they were inside, pushing the door closed with their bodies as James pushed against her. Jennifer’s back was to the door and she cradled his head, her fingers in his hair.

Stepping back, James looked over her body, and then reached for her blouse. Jennifer covered his hands with her own and took the moment to take a deep breath. Her mind cleared for the moment and she dropped her head back to rest against the back of the door. She called to James again. This time, he released her blouse and placed them on the door behind her, looming over her.

“What?”

Jennifer searched his face. Her mind was blank, but something within her spoke on her behalf.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

James grinned and wet his lips. “You need some time to think about it?” He wore a huge grin and kissed her forehead, not waiting for answer. Jennifer closed her eyes. She wanted this. Her body wanted this, but somewhere, something protested.

“I already told you,” he whispered near her ear, “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.” Jennifer felt a hand tugging at her blouse again. It was half-undone and James was working quickly to open the rest of it up. After a moment, his movements slowed and he pulled back from Jennifer.

“Do you want me to stop?” He asked her directly. She stared back into his eyes calmly, but didn’t answer. James leaned into her again, and kissed her lips. He moved slowly, and stopped again.

“You have to talk to me, Angel,” he moaned softly into her hair. He stole another kiss. Jennifer closed her eyes and nodded.

“Yes, you want it or yes, you want me to stop?” James chuckled and nipped at her neck. He pulled back and grinned. “You’ve got to say it out loud.” Jennifer wet her lips. She knew exactly what he was doing.

“Yes,” she finally managed in a timid voice. She grinned as James leaned down and pushed his lips against hers with more force. She pressed back eagerly and thrust back with her moist tongue. A throaty chuckle escaped James and he moved his hands to her thighs. He tugged up on her skirt and licked his lips.

“Yes, what?” He asked with a gruff.

Jennifer grinned, welcoming another kiss. She pulled back and opened her mouth to speak. Yes. Yes, she wanted it and she was tired of denying it.

Before she could say anything, she frowned. She heard something, a ringing. It was her phone. It wasn’t the first time it had rang. In fact, she remembered vaguely in the moment that it had actually rang on the elevator once or twice, but she could have cared less. She had managed to grab her purse before they left the lounge, but now it was somewhere on the floor.

She looked for it, and saw it slumped at her feet. After a moment, she remembered Nicole. She remembered the plan seconds later. The foolproof plan. The genius plan that would save her. If she ever saw Nicole again within the next few months, she would kiss her toes and clean her feet with her own bare hands. Jennifer pulled back.

“No,” James moaned.

“I need to answer this,” Jennifer said quickly, ignoring his whine. She stooped and grabbed her purse, fishing for her phone quickly. She answered without a thought and shoved the tech to her ear.

“Hey,” she breathed with excitement.

“Ooohhh, it’s so good to hear your voice. Especially since I’ve been trying to get ahold of you all day.”

Dread filled Jennifer’s chest. “This isn’t Nicole,” she said softly.

“No, Sweetie, it’s me. Andrew.”

Chapter Fifteen

Blessed Remorse

Jennifer stepped away from James like he was fire. She didn’t care that he called out to her or that her abruptness was beyond rude. She needed space. Space and a breath. She was back in the hallway within a matter of seconds, blouse still half-unbuttoned. James didn’t readily follow her. That was fate. She began to walk. She needed the elevator and after a moment, she found her bearing. Andrew wasn’t on the line anymore. She hung up on him.

Once he said his name, her autonomic nervous system took over and fired synapses with a ready response for her thumb to end the call ASAP. Or maybe that was actually just her frantic response to suddenly being confronted with the consequences of her actions.

Whatever the case, her body obliged and then her legs answered the call to move and get her away. She figured she was several doors away from James’s room. Her blouse was still open, but she didn’t care. The halls were empty. She searched her purse for her room key and looked for the floor she was on. Twelve. Room 1205.

Jennifer started to jog towards the elevator. It opened without hesitation. The stars had aligned on her behalf. Inside, she reached for the side panel and froze. The elevator shafts were located in a small cubby in the middle of the floor.

She saw James just at the edge, rounding the corner. Their eyes met and he headed towards her. He called her name, but without hesitation, Jennifer quickly punched the 12
^th
floor button. James called to her.

“Please wait—”

But she looked away. She was thankful that James wasn’t pushy. He let the doors close. In the final moments before they became flushed, she looked up and caught a glimpse of his face.

That look—she had seen it before—then it was gone. She stared at a dull reflection of herself in the chrome back panels of the elevator. This elevator wasn’t glass. She didn’t care. She rather she didn’t have to look at herself then anyway.

In the small square, she was alone. Jennifer dropped to her knees and buried her face into her hands. She needed to call Andrew back. As far as she was concerned, she was guilty. Guilty as the maid caught in the kitchen with the butcher knife. She was guilty!

Her mind raced with someone to call—someone to talk to. The only thought that settled was Nicole. It couldn’t have been but 20 minutes since her friend had left them though. But maybe more? Had she missed Nicole’s call? If she hadn’t, Jennifer remembered that Nicole said she was late for her own date. Jennifer didn’t even know who the guy was or how long they had been together—that made her a terrible friend. A good friend would have asked that stuff instead of trying to get help wading through her man problems.

So she was a bad friend and apparently, a bad girlfriend. That’s what she was, right? Andrew called her all sorts of sweet pet names. Her favorite had come to be Jessica, after Jessica Rabbit. She finally looked that fictitious character up and decided it must have been a compliment.

“Oh gosh,” Jennifer breathed, her mind still racing. “I can’t believe I hung up on him,” she was speaking aloud and didn’t even care. She covered her face with her palms and rubbed. Her body quaked. She couldn’t stop groaning and her breathing raced.

The elevator slowed. She still hadn’t recovered by the time the doors opened. There was a group of four standing there. The first, a woman, gasped when she saw Jennifer.

“Honey, are you okay?” She couldn’t have been a New Yorker. She was probably just passing through.

“I can’t find my room,” Jennifer lied as she stood. She tried to lean against the wall of the elevator but stumbled. The woman gasped again. Jennifer realized her blouse was still open.

“Guys, we can’t leave her here,” a woman stated.

“Help her get to her room,” a male suggested.

“What’s your room number?” The first woman spoke, she cradled Jennifer around her back, but Jennifer avoided her eyes. She figured she must have looked blackout drunk, but she didn’t care. Her eyes hurt along with her heart and her head was suddenly pounding in between her eardrums.

“Do you have a room key? Where’s that?”

“I think that’s it in her hand,” the male spoke again.

She heard a bit of whispering and then looked down at her room key. Someone was looking over her shoulder because they called out the room number just moments later.

“One floor down,” the first woman commented. “We’ll help you get there.” And the strangers did.

When the elevator stopped a second time, the woman ushered Jennifer down the hall despite her claims that she felt much better. She tried to explain that her head hurt, but the woman just smiled and nodded. She was older with soft wrinkles on her forehead and smile lines that creased as she listened to Jennifer’s excuses.

At her door, they saw her through and told her to lock it afterwards. They pulled it shut and Jennifer stood alone in darkness with her thoughts. She found a light switch near the door and the entire suite lit up. It was beautiful—probably the best hotel room she had stayed in since working with James.