Page 58 of Not Safe For Work

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. After all, Teagan and I were still required to attend meetings—keeping up appearances, according to Mitchell. So I’d seen Rick in the conference room, and I’d seen him in the halls. I’d seen my firm’s client, but I hadn’t seen Rick. I hadn’t seen my submissive. The man I’d been fucking.

And I missed him. Even when I hit the exhaustion threshold—that point when I’d rather glue my balls to the floor than think about sex—I missed him. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Seeing him in the halls and in meetings wasn’t enough.

Then Marie put her foot down and said they couldn’t afford for Teagan and me to waste time in meetings with this many projects on our plates. Teagan was so happy, she almost cried. Me, I didn’t quite know how to feel. When I attended meetings, Rick’s presence was utter torture, the looks we exchanged driving me further out of my mind than the sleep deprivation and all the shit I was consuming from the vending machines. But then when I didn’t have to attend anymore, I wasn’t in the same room with him, and…fuck.

Well. The sooner I finished this project, the sooner I’d finish the next one, and the sooner I’d have him again.

When my eyes refused to stay open, I took a break and went down to the employee locker rooms. After showering and brushing my teeth so I felt less gross and slightly closer to human, I headed back toward the NSFW Zone for another marathon session.

I’d just stepped off the elevator when I saw Rick.

And damn it, my knees almost collapsed out from under me.

I want you, goddammit.

He met my gaze, and to my horror—and relief—he immediately excused himself from his conversation with Mitchell and Dion. He looked right at me, tilted his head slightly and started walking in the opposite direction.

My heart sped up. What the hell?

But I couldn’t resist. Without so much as a cautious glance at my bosses, I surreptitiously followed him. The hallway turned, and I went around the corner just in time to catch him disappearing into the men’s room.

I glanced around. Did I dare?

Oh fuck it. Let the whole goddamned company catch us.

I stepped into the men’s room. He didn’t even wait for the door to shut before he pulled me to him, cupped my face and kissed me.

My whole body was suddenly hot and cold all over, featherlight and ready to sink right through the floor. I was so fucking exhausted, my body didn’t even know how to be turned on anymore, and my brain couldn’t remember how to be afraid we might get caught—all I could do was wrap my arms around Rick and kiss him for the first time in too damned long. I’d been missing him like crazy but hadn’t understood just how much until now. Until I had him in my arms, until he was kissing me hungrily like this, until I could almost feel my body rationing energy away from nonessential things like my heart and my brain so I could muster up just enough to get hard and come.

Rick loosened his grasp, and we separated enough to meet each other’s gazes in the restroom’s cool light. God, weren’t we a pair. Here he was dressed like GQ, and here I was after three days without shaving. I hadn’t even worn a tie in I didn’t know how long.

I was out of breath, my hand unsteady as I touched his face. “This is insane.”

He ran his fingers through my damp hair. “I’m sorry. I know it’s—”

“No one’s going to catch us.” I pressed my foot against the door just to be sure. “I’m not worried.”

“No, I…I meant, it’s a little out of line.” He kissed me again. “Me taking charge.”

My shoulders sagged, and I held him tighter. “I don’t even care about that right now. I just miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

The days-old fatigue was even heavier now. “I’m sorry about all this,” I whispered. “I know it’s… I mean we just…”

He pressed his lips to mine again. “It’s the nature of the beast in this business. It’s all right. I’ll have to put in some long hours sometimes too.”

“Still.” I touched my forehead to his. “This is killing me.”

“We’ll make up for lost time. When this is all over, anything you want…” He pulled me closer. “Anything. Just say the word.”

You. I just want you.

“I should let you get back to work.” He kissed me again, lightly this time, and we managed to pry ourselves apart. “I just…needed…”

“Me too.” And now I don’t want to stop. “But yeah, I should get back to work. This will be over soon. I promise.” Though it took a lot of energy, I added in my Dom voice, “And then you’re all mine.”

The result was worth the effort: Rick pulled in a breath and tugged at his tie. “Yes, please. I can’t wait.”