Page 32 of Hollywood King
Twelve
Cathy
After he made the deal,I should've gone home. Probably, never even set foot in his car again. But the weight of the week, and the fact that I wasn't headed straight to the hospital right now made his presence comforting. I never realized how little time I spent alone.
I could only watch as he loosened his tie and dragged it from his shirt collar. Stopping him didn't cross my mind, even as he twisted the top button of the shirt and then loosened the next two.
"Are you going to say something, or are you going to stare at me?"
I dragged my gaze to his with the realization he'd stood there and witnessed all my gawking. "You mentioned something about a list. And even though you are implying something dirty, I'm sure you actually have other things for me to do."
"You're right, I do have something. You can tell me why you're not working tonight."
I turned away and ran my hand along his desk, a deep mahogany. Nothing graced the top except for a closed computer, a small black notebook, and a pen. He'd already filed a contract away.
"The hospital thought it would be best if I took a few days off after Father's death."
I caught the sound of him flopping into an oversized chair and thought it might be safe to turn back. My lie delivered, now I could stare over his head until I thought of a way to properly flee.
“Already somewhat familiar with your work ethic and your persuasion skills, I have a hard time believing they could convince you to take time off.”
My patience had long ago worn thin. Aided by the fact I needed to keep reigning in the desire to throw myself at him. My brain being torn between wanting what I shouldn’t have, and knowing having it would be worse, wasn’t faring well in other arenas. Like lying, or exiting the room like I should have ten minutes ago.
“What do you care about it? I’m here, and you have me for two weeks. That should be enough for you.”
His forehead crinkle as he looked at me, and I caught a glimmer of hurt in his eyes. Awesome. Now I could feel guilty for being a bitch to him all night too. “Look, I’m tired, I’m sorry I snapped at you. I’ll just head home now and get some sleep.”
I crossed the room heading for the door.
“Sleep here.”
Jerking to a halt, I glanced back with my hand on the knob. “What?”
He rose, effortless, gracefully, the way the handsome leading man always did in Hollywood films, before the film sizzled off the reel.
“I told you, I’m not going to sleep with you.”
“Yes, and you meant sex. What I’m proposing is you sleep here.”
My feet ached, and the rig keeping everything in the dress started cutting off circulation an hour ago. I wanted to stay, but…our history made if such a bad idea. “I really should get home. Staying here wouldn’t be good for either of us.”
He sidled closer, and I tried not to breath in the scent of him. And failed.
“How long has it been since you’ve been held while you slept. Just laid in bed and cuddled with someone close.”
“Did you say cuddled?” Such a juxtaposition against the man who spanked my ass raw two days ago.
“I love cuddling just as much as the next man. Especially when it’s naked.”
“You’re really selling this here.”
He held out his hand, and against my better judgement, I curled my fingers over his. To my surprise, he led me to his chair and gently pushed me into it. My belly melted into my hips as he knelt in front of me and removed my high heels. I focused on keeping my breathing even but stopped all together when he pressed his strong thumb into the bottom of the arch in my foot.
Fuck me.
I kept the words from tumbling out of my mouth by biting my lip and dropping my head back against the chair. He continued his ministrations, running his nimble fingers up and back down one foot, then the other. I was soaking wet before he switched.
“Isn’t that better?” he asked. His voice came out deep and smoky.
