Grace (The ‘Hello’ series)

11. Chapter 11

eleven

A little whimper I don’t recognize leaves my throat, and I realize he’s not the only one who’s pushing boundaries. I’m slipping closer to him, as if he’s going to follow those two words with a kiss that will have me questioning my sanity and every thought swirling though my head.

“You work so hard to be quiet, to blend in, even when you’re panting and blushing. You do such a good job of hiding what you’re feeling. No one even looked where my hand was. They were too focused on my tone,” he assures, his fingers skimming higher on my thigh.

“That’s… that’s good,” I whimper.

“ You are good. Working so hard, trying so hard to be professional, keeping space between us, following through when you say you’re going to do something, being so fucking sweet all the time,” he says, his nose now brushing mine. “You, darling, are perfect.”

Something in my belly is melting and pooling between my legs. “Daniel.”

He runs his lips across my jaw, to the corner of my mouth, and back to my ear. “And good girls get rewards, but you know that, don’t you?”

“I… I…” I trail off, not sure what I’m supposed to say. I don’t feel like I deserve a reward, but I want one so desperately, I’m ready to give him whatever he wants to get it… because I want his touch. “I’m not supposed to be turned on at work,” I whimper.

He nips my earlobe. “As long as you’re turned on for me .”

His touch trails higher, and goosebumps paint my skin.

“I’ll have to reward you thoroughly… as long as you stop clicking on certain… tabs on my computer,” he says against the corner of my mouth.

I whimper and squirm. His hand tightens on my thigh. “Because if you keep doing that, I won’t be able to show you how much better it is to do than to watch. So, keep being naughty at work, keep squirming and fantasizing during meetings. Distract me thoroughly, darling Grace, but don’t let anyone else see. It’s our secret .”

“Yes,” I pant softly.

“You’re only allowed to call me ‘sir’ when you’re needy for me. You have no idea what hearing that little word in your breathy voice does to me,” he groans.

He grabs my skirt, and for one intoxicating moment, I’m sure he’s going to pull it up and show me what it does to him, but someone knocks on the door and he hisses. He stands, and for the first time, I don’t need an explanation and I certainly don’t have any way to doubt his intentions.

Daniel is hard as a rock. The outline of his thick erection against his pants is obvious. He takes a few deep breaths and looks over at me. “Keep being good for me, Grace. I think it’s best that you head to your desk and type up your notes. I’m sure you noticed more than I did.”

More praise, so much praise. It tightens around me until my nipples are hard, and I think I’m actually wet from his words alone. It’s like they’re tugging on every pleasure point in my body at once, rubbing exactly where I need.

Taking a deep breath, I stand, adjust my skirt, and exhale, thinking about all the reports I have to do now, thinking of a game plan to get through today while avoiding every dirty, naughty thought in my head no matter how it tries to push to the surface.

Of course, just as I slip out the door, the back of Daniel’s hand moves against my ass, stroking in a way that I’m sure isn’t satisfying for either of us.

One thing is inescapably clear when I sit back down at my desk. I have a secret now, a secret that could make the office gossip implode, and Daniel and I would be the ones who would burn in the aftermath.

A delicious, spine-tingling secret and one question—is this what lust actually feels like? Not just an itch to be scratched, but a desire so potent it just won’t get out of my head?

Daniel

There was some truth in my son’s words today, how I have this weakness for her, and I know I should try to keep my distance from Grace. But how? How can I walk away as she gazes up at me with those big eyes, the soft freckles running over her nose and cheekbones, that stunning red hair? She’s so small, so delicate, and all I want is to show her how good she is.

How good she is for me …

The words I purred to her earlier barely scratch the surface. Although the way she looked at me, a mix of fear, lust, and innocence, had me ready to tell her whatever she wanted to hear as long as she’d let my hand roam a little higher, as long as I could keep calling her ‘good girl’ until she came all over my fingers.

I know I can be exactly what Grace desires, can love her the way she needs to be loved to be her best self. No matter what my son has said to me, the way that he’s ranted about her, said that she’s useless and he should have dumped her sooner and that I’m wasting my time even employing her, I see more.

Her effortless desire to want to take care of others, how nervous she is to even own her wins… She needs the right kind of love, the right kind of man to make her open up, enjoy herself, to embrace who she really is. I’m the man to do that, even if I’m her ex’s father, even if I’m her boss.

It’s so twisted, and I know it.

The age difference should scare me off, and it does slightly. The fact that she’s my son’s ex should keep me back, and it does. It is the only reason I haven’t touched her properly. The only reason I didn’t make our night at the office much more fun is because of the complications. That and she ran. She ran because she wants to be good even though she’s aching to be naughty for me.

She brought up that she’s Sebastian’s ex. Sebastian himself brought it up, but when she looks at me with those big eyes all dilated and hopeful, confused, but eager… it doesn’t matter. She wants me to touch her. She doesn’t have to say it. I know. I read it on her face anytime we’re alone together. I can see it in her eyes, how her lips part and her breathing changes. The redness in her cheeks, the slight tremor in her thighs. I know how I’m affecting her and I know what she saw… on my computer. I was only half sure until I teased her with it in the conference room, but now I know, and I know she likes it too.

Even though I kicked my son out of my office this morning, sent him home and scolded him for talking to her like he did, I want her here. On my lap, her legs open just for me as I play with her, letting her feel how good she has been, rewarding her for her hard work.

But I can’t.

I shouldn’t.

A soft knock on the door pulls my attention, and the corner of my lips lifts a tad.

“Come in,” I call out and watch as the door slowly creaks open and her small frame crooks around it.

“I’ve finished the reports,” she says, showing the binders she’s holding.

“Come,” I say, rolling my chair slightly back as all my doubt, my reservations slip through my fingers just with a simple look at her.

My darling. She needs so much more than just praise. She needs to know what kind of pleasure she deserves. She needs to know how good I can make her feel.

She tucks her hair behind her ear, all kinds of professional as she sets the binders on my desk.

She peeks up at me from under her lashes, and her lips part as her cheeks flush pink. She hasn’t forgotten a second of our time together, and whether I should, shouldn’t, can, or can’t, it doesn’t matter because I won’t let her go. Grace is something rare and special, and I’m not going to let her slip away or doubt herself.

I’ll take care of it all, my darling .