Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 104138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“What’s your name?” I ask, ignoring him as I take the file. I make a point of angling my arm so my wrist brushes against his knuckles and I feel it all the way to my dick. My brain tells me to look at his I.D. badge but my eyes refuse to leave his face.
He’s a stunning man; brown hair with soft highlights that I suspect come from a bottle, vivid green eyes, and just enough stubble on his face to drive me insane as I imagine it grating against my balls while I fuck his mouth.
“I assume you have one?” I press, after several seconds of silence.
“Theodore Davenport. My friends call me Theo. You can call me Theodore.”
So he does have a voice? A sarcastic one at that. It turns me the hell on. “Like the chipmunk?” I say with an amused smile.
I get the reaction I’m pushing for – a delicious scowl. “Original,” he mutters, thoroughly unimpressed.
“And which department do you work in, Theodore?”
“I’m an office junior down in marketing. Just started last week.” His voice gains more confidence with every word.
“A junior? How old are you?”
“Old enough to know I don’t need to answer your questions unless they’re business related.”
It’s like we’re children in a staring contest, and as with any challenge, I accept, and I win. Eventually he gives in first and blinks, holding his eyes closed for a little longer than necessary.
“You weren’t this fiery on Friday,” I say, purposely goading him for no other reason than I’m an arse.
“I was drunk,” he says, his pink cheeks betraying his conviction. “That won’t happen again.”
It will. “Of course. Anything else I can help you with?” Like maybe the erection you’re sporting?
“No. That’s it,” he says, yet he’s still standing in front of me.
“If you’re waiting for me to open the door for you, I’m not that much of a gentleman.”
He turns a whole new shade of red as he coughs into his fist and turns sharply on his heels. I stare after him until the door closes, with a smile on my face that I just can’t seem to wipe away. It’s unusual for me to be so attracted to a guy and I decide it must be because I didn’t savour him for long enough. One more night, in a bed, taking my time, will erase my fascination with him I’m sure.
I stand by my floor to ceiling window, looking out onto the city while I wait for the business to finish shutting down for the day. I’m the head of this building, responsible for hundreds of people, yet I feel so small up here, watching the world go by beneath me. I mean nothing to a single one of the thousands of people hurrying along the pavements below. Sometimes I wonder if I mean anything to anybody. If I do, I shouldn’t. I’m a selfish bastard.
I turn at the sound of a knock on my door, followed immediately by Edward strolling straight into my office without permission.
It riles me and my expression surely shows it. “I’m busy,” I snap, feeling a small stab of guilt when Edward’s gaze drops to the floor.
“Oh,” he all but whispers. “I just thought, I mean everyone’s left so…never mind.”
I sigh deeply through my nose, annoyed with myself for being an unnecessary twat. “I have a headache,” I lie. It’s the nearest to an apology I can muster. “But I’ll see you tomorrow. Helen needs a few extra days before she can come back.”
A twinkle of hope glistens in his eyes and it makes me wonder if I should find someone else to assist me tomorrow.
“Sure. See you tomorrow.” He smiles as he walks away and I try to return it but the muscles in my face seem to have broken.
Once alone, I switch off the lights to the top floor and lock up my office, briefcase in hand, before beginning the five-minute walk to my car. I see Theodore standing next to a Ford Fiesta, that’s probably older than he is, as I approach the car park. That inexplicable tightening occurs in my throat again at the sight of him, but I force myself to ignore it and climb into my Mercedes.
It’s an effort not to stare at him, but I manage it. Tossing my keys into the drawer beneath the stereo, I press the keyless ignition button and reverse out of my space. It’s only when I drive past Theodore and catch a glimpse of him kicking his tyre in my rear-view mirror that I back up and open my window.
Clearly, fate wants me to talk to this guy again, so who am I to argue? “Car trouble?” I call out, leaning over the centre console.
Theodore huffs and kicks the clapped-out car once more. “Won’t start.” He sounds angry and I don’t know if it’s because of the car, or because he’s talking to me.
Probably a little bit of both, I decide, feeling smugger than I should that I’m able to provoke such a reaction from him. “Have you called the AA?”
“I don’t have roadside cover. Just go. I’ll sort something.”
“Do you need a ride home?”
“No,” he says, refusing to look at me as he pulls out his phone and makes a call.
I’m intrigued as to why he has such an attitude towards me. So we fucked? Big deal. He didn’t say no. In fact I’m sure I remember him saying yes, God yes, fuck yes, more than once.
After holding the phone to his ear for a minute or so, he huffs and starts tapping the screen again. He makes another call, and nobody answers that one either.
“You sure you don’t want that ride?”
He rolls his eyes and I smile because I know I’ve won. Tucking his phone back into his jacket, he gives his car one last kick before approaching mine with his head down.
“Where do you live?” I ask as he slides into the passenger seat. He takes hold of his seatbelt and guides it over his taut chest. Suddenly, I’m glad I brought my car today. I walk to work most days because I usually spend the weekdays at my apartment in the city, but I spent the weekend at my place in Alderley Edge and came straight from there.