Page 76 of His Good Girl

His expression softened for one dangerous second. “Avery.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Is it?”

I looked down at my uneaten salad. “I’m trying to decide whether to lie.”

“Don’t.”

The firmness in his voice sent another flicker through me, quieter now but persistent.

I looked back at him. “It’s not fine.”

He held my gaze for a long moment. My thighs pressed together under the table before I could stop them. He glanced down atmy hands, then up to see the blush come back. He saw how one look from him could rearrange my breathing. When he met my gaze again, there was heat in his eyes so restrained that it nearly undid me.

“This is going to be a problem,” I whispered.

“Yes,” he whispered back.

My heart pounded so hard it felt visible.

“What do we do?” I asked.

“We behave like adults.”

I almost laughed. “That’s your whole plan?”

“For now.”

“For now,” I repeated, trying not to let my disappointment show.

Then he leaned forward and cleared his throat. “Listen to me.”

I did.

God help me, I did.

“You are going to go back to new employee training,” he commanded. “You are going to pay attention. You are going to ace every test they give you, even the insultingly obvious cybersecurity quiz. You are going to ask Benjamin questions when you need help. You are going to take Dana seriously. You are not going to pout because your first day is boring or because I am unavailable. You are not going to look for special treatment, and you are not going to make me regret giving you a place here.”

The words should have embarrassed me and they did, but they also made my body go soft and hot with need. I hated how much I liked being told exactly what was expected of me. I hated that his voice made instruction feel intimate. I hated that I liked all of it.

“Yes, sir,” I responded. My own words made my core clench.

He froze and his eyes locked on mine. “Say it properly,young lady.”

My mouth went dry.

The room seemed to tilt.

I knew he was doing it on purpose this time. He had seen what his firmness did to me, and for one brief, dangerous moment, he let himself use it.

I should have pushed back.

Instead, I said, “I won’t pout. I’ll take the training seriously. I’ll ace the tests. I won’t expect special treatment. Sir.”

His gaze darkened by a fraction.

“And?” he asked.