Just another mystery to add to the long list of things I can’t figure out about this man.
I sneak a sideways glance up at Cassius as I reach into the carriage to pat Luca’s stomach. He’s giggly and happy, and every now and then interrupts Cassius with a loud laugh. His laugh is contagious, and soon enough he gets his sister started too. They’re both giggling, and Cassius actually cracks a smile – the first I’ve seen from him all day. He leans over to stroke Luca’s hair, and my heart does a spinning leap in my chest.
Shit. He’s hot and bossy and he likes kids?
I’m doomed.
“Manila?”
Crap. What was he saying? He’s standing so close to me, his masculine, deep scent flooding my senses. It’s hard to concentrate on anything else. He takes another step closer when I don’t reply, and I catch my breath, counting the inches between us, watching his muscular chest, hoping he doesn’t notice the way mine is rising and falling faster as I try to control my breathing, which is suddenly desperate.
“Mmm?” I ask, hoping that’ll cover. I was a bit distracted staring at the way his muscles ripple underneath his shirt. He’s still got a hand resting on Luca’s carriage, and there’s something so sexy about that, the way he hangs out with the twins like it’s nothing, takes them in stride.
His hard eyes stare dead into my own. “I said, take all the time you need to care for the babies in between this filing. None of it is particularly urgent.” His breath ghosts over my cheeks as he speaks, and it takes my brain a second to register what he said. The excuse he just handed me. Is he really this nonchalant about a job he’s hiring a PA for?
My eyes widen. Seriously, did he just pop out of my imagination? “Are you sure? I don’t mind, if there’s something you want me to focus on right now…”
“Just get acquainted with things. We’ll start on the bigger tasks next week. I don’t want to rush you.” He rests his hand on my shoulder, for just an instant, and every nerve ending in my body fires. We’re just inches apart. So close I can feel his heat on me. I fight an insane, stupid urge to throw myself at him right here and now.
I haven’t gotten any action since giving birth to the twins – actually, no, since before I was even pregnant with them. My sex drive had been idling in the background, mostly forgotten, while I was swept up in parenting and all the crazy problems that come with it.
Now, though, it returns, roaring with a vengeance. There’s something about this man. His body, his looks, his piercing gaze… Not to mention how fucking good he smells. Or the way his gaze seems to drop and take me in, studying my body the way I’m studying his, before he recovers himself and snaps his eyes back to mine, pretending nothing happened. All I can think about is his tight body, the way he could lift me up right now and bend me over this desk before I’d even have time to react. I think about him pushing the slim-fitting work skirt I’m wearing up over my hips, tearing off the tights I’m wearing beneath, his fingers expertly sliding under my panties to yank them down around my knees. He’d undo his own pants, run his cock over my bare ass, teasing me, toying with me, totally in control…
I shiver. What is wrong with me! I force myself back into the present.
“Thank you, Mr. Anderson,” I reply, and startle when he shakes his head, hard.
His hand tightens on my shoulder. “Call me Cassius.”
“Cassius,” I repeat, and his name tastes delicious on my tongue. “I’m Manila.”
There’s that smile again. Not quite a full-on smile, more a teasing little smirk. Just half of his mouth, like it’s smiling against the permission of the other half. “Manila. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
For a long moment, we stare at one another, his gray eyes boring into mine. Then, without warning, he touches my shoulder again, his palm warm and reassuring before he lifts his hand away once more. Already I miss the warm pressure, the feeling of his palm through the thin fabric of my dressy work shirt. “I’ll leave you to it, Manila. Thank you again for taking this on.”
He’s gone without another word, and I’m alone in the room with the paperwork and my babies.
Lucie starts to fuss, and I slip her out of the stroller to bounce her on my knee while I wade into the first stack of papers in front of me. As long as I can keep my imagination just that – in my imagination – this job will be a piece of cake. Everything I could ask for.
I just have to avoid screwing it up by fantasizing too much about my sexy new boss…
4
I’m in a hot tub. Steam surrounds me, obscuring my view – that is, until I feel warm hands wrap around my waist from behind, and spin me slowly in the water. I turn to find Cassius behind me, his sexy, chiseled abs and chest on full display. I run my hands over his body, exploring every inch, until he cups my chin in his strong hand and pulls my face to his, claiming my mouth in a deep, slow kiss. I can feel his thighs under mine, his hips arcing up to meet mine, and his cock growing hard, pressed against my warm, wet pussy. Fuck, I want him so badly. I want him to tear off the thin swimsuit I’m wearing, thrust up into me and take control of my body.
He shakes my shoulder, his hand warm and familiar on my skin. I arch my back, lean into him, moaning slightly, thrusting against him as he shakes me again, harder…
“Manila,” he whispers, and I groan faintly.
“Manila.”
I start awake, jolting upright at the desk. Papers fly everywhere as I sit up, and one sticks to my forehead. I jerk it free, gasping, startled and confused. Where am I?
The location materializes one piece at a time. The computer, in sleep mode in front of me. The stack of papers I’d made it halfway through. The pile now scattered across the floor.
And of course, the man standing beside me, visible out of the corner of my eye. My cheeks burn so hot I could start a forest fire.
I clear my throat. “Cassius,” I greet him, still blushing hardcore.
At least he’s smiling a little. And, to my surprise, he’s cradling Luca in the crook of his arm, feeding him a bottle of warm formula. Luca is sucking away happily, his eyes closed in pleasure, making little mmm-mmm noises that make my heart melt.
I blink at Cassius, still figuring out my surroundings. “Sorry,” I croak, my voice thick with sleep. “What time is it?”
“Almost eleven,” he whispers. I wonder why he’s whispering for a second, until he points with his eyes toward the baby stroller. I glance over my shoulder and see he’s turned the stroller into a makeshift crib. Lucie is already fast asleep in it, curled up, a smile on her face as she dreams. “Are you okay?”
How did he get her to fall asleep without Luca beside her? Normally it’s impossible for me to make one relax without the other one being within sight.
When I glance back at him, he’s smiling fondly at Lucie. God, this man knows the way to a new mommy’s heart.