Book 2 Chapter 21

By the time the clock slid toward noon, Yalda felt the slow, creeping exhaustion settle across her shoulders like it had been waiting to settle over her like a shawl. She was physically exhausted, but ultimately, she was more drained from having to deal with Helen and Marina's attitudes.

She finished re-typing a task Helen had unnecessarily revised three times and finally stood for her lunch break. Ioannis had already sent a brief message asking her to join him for lunch: 'Leave whatever you're doing and come have lunch.'

It was a clear order, but something about it was warm, something about the fact that he wanted her to have food and forget about everything else made her want to go to him. He was the presence she needed right now, plus, she needed to get away from the watching eyes for a moment, she needed to catch her breath.

Everyone seemed to be watching everything she was doing and she wanted to tell them there was truly nothing to see, she just wanted to be left alone like everyone else.

Helen pretended not to notice Yalda’s departure and Yalda was glad she didn't try to come up with an excuse to stop her. Nikos waved at her enthusiastically as she walked past his desk and she forced a small smile back before stepping into the hallway.

The moment she reached Ioannis’s private floor, everything inside her loosened. The air was quieter here, calmer, it was scented faintly with cedar and clean paper, and there was no one watching her like she was a character from a movie. She knocked once and stepped in.

Ioannis looked up immediately.

He was standing near the window, sleeves rolled to his forearms, his dark hair was slightly mussed from running his fingers through it. The second he saw her, his posture shifted, the executive focus dissolved at once and was replaced by something sharper, something more possessive, yet intensely soft.

He gestured for her to come to him at once and she did.

“There you are.” His voice wrapped around her like a warm coat, low and intimate.

He cupped her chin gently, his thumb stroked the sensitive skin just below her lip as he searched her face.

“You look drained,” he murmured. “What’s going on?”

Yalda forced a small laugh and shook her head. “I’m fine. Just adjusting back to work. And the pregnancy… it makes me slower.”

His disbelief was visible. He studied her again, his thumb brushed her cheekbone gently as he did.

“Don’t lie to me, Yalda.” he said. "Is there a problem?"

“I’m not lying,” she insisted softly. “I’m just tired. That’s all.”

He exhaled, choosing not to demand or press for an answer. Instead, he leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes for a brief second, as if just breathing her in.

“Sit with me. Eat something.”

But when she sat, Ioannis didn’t move toward the small lunch tray on the table. He just watched her with dark, warm eyes filled with an unreadable depth of feeling, he lowered himself beside her.

“Something's off,” he said quietly. “You think I don’t see it, but I do.”

She looked down at her hands, her fingers twisted lightly in her lap. “I’m really okay. Just… a lot of emotions. A lot of adjusting.” she replied. "Nothing's off, trust me."

He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze before planting a lingering kiss on it.

"I understand. But don't forget that you can always come to me if there's an issue you want sorted out." He said.

Her throat tightened, not enough to cry, just enough to feel the pressure build behind her ribs. Ioannis's probably noticed because he rose and made his way over to the door determinedly, and she turned to look on hearing the locks click shut.

Yalda blinked. “Ioannis?”

Surely he wasn't planning on doing anything here, right? She needed to get back soon so Helen wouldn't have an excuse to give more attitude.

He turned back to her, and the look in his eyes confirmed her suspicion.

“Come here,” he murmured. It wasn't a request.

She rose instinctively, feeling his energy pull her like a magnet. He didn't wait for her to cross the room. He met her halfway, his hands found her waist, wrapped around her, and pulled her flush against the hard lines of his body. He lifted her effortlessly and made his way over to his desk before settling her onto the edge of it. The cold, smooth surface of the wood was a stark shock against the heat of her skin.

He stepped between her legs, crowding her in the best way possible, his body was a solid wall of warmth. He braced his hands on the desk on either side of her hips, caging her in.

“You're too tense,” he said, his voice a low vibration that she felt in her chest. “Too worked up.”

Her breath shuddered as she stared up at him with darkening eyes. She wanted this, she wanted the distraction, she wanted everything he had to give.

He kissed her.

It wasn't the tender kiss from the morning, it was a slow, deep, passionate, and claiming. His mouth moved over hers with a devastating thoroughness, her hands moved up to grab his arms for support because his kiss made her lightheaded.

His hands came to her face, then slid down her arms, slow and warm, tracing the smoothie of her blouse.

“You're supposed to relax,” he whispered against her lips, his breath ghosting over her skin. "not overwork yourself.”

She nodded, her legs instinctively slid around his hips, drawing him closer. He responded with a soft, deep groan that rumbled against her mouth, he kissed her again, longer this time, slower, until she felt her entire body turn to liquid.

His touch moved to her waist, his fingers deftly unfastening buttons and zippers, pushing aside the layers of her clothes. He guided her gently as he leaned her back onto the desk. The cold, hard surface contrasted violently with the heat of his palms on her skin, making her gasp.

“I’ll take care of you,” he promised quietly, brushing her hair back from her face. “Just breathe.”

She did. For the first time all day, her breath went all the way down.

Ioannis kissed her neck, his lips lingered on her pulse point, then he moved to her shoulders, then the delicate space beneath her ear. She arched into him instinctively in surrender.

He lifted her slightly, adjusting her skirt, his hands slid beneath her and he drew her closer to the edge of the desk. Her body hummed with anticipation as he unbuckled his belt and undid his zipper to free his hardened erection.

“I'm going to loosen you up w bit,” he whispered, his voice thick. “Just relax and feel everything.”

And when he finally filled her, he did so with a slow but deep thrust that stole the air from her lungs. His hands bracketed her hips, holding her steady as he pushed into her even more to bury himself in her warmth. his gaze locked onto hers, as if making sure she could still breathe. Yalda let out a quiet, shaky sound which wasn't of pain or distress but something raw and primal that made her want to scream.

Ioannis bent to kiss her lips, then her throat, then her jaw, he kissed her till her entire body softened beneath him.

“You’re doing so well,” he murmured, beginning to move. “Stay with me.”

And she did. She didn’t cry, she didn’t fall apart. She simply felt his warmth, his patience, and the sheer strength of his support.

He shifted her slightly, lifting her hips so his large hands supported her lower back, he guides her into a slow, rocking rhythm. The friction was deep and intoxicating, it was a perfect, steady pressure that was slowly erasing the fatigue from her center.

“Good,” he whispered against her mouth when she trembled. “That’s it. Let everything else go. Feel this.”

She held onto his shoulders, her fingers digging in lightly, not for stability, but because she needed the closeness, she needed his weight, she needed the careful, dominant way he was loving her.

"Ioannis." She whimpered softly.

"Yes baby, tell me what you want. Tell me anything." He replied.

"Oh my..."

She was so close, so very close. And when her orgasm began to wash over her, it wasn’t sharp or overwhelming, it was deep and grounding. Her breath hitched softly, she moaned as her body tightened around him. Ioannis kissed her immediately, absorbing the sound.

“There you go,” he murmured, kissing her temple, her cheek, her jaw. “I’ve got you.”

A moment later, his pace picked up and he thrusted into her a couple of times before he let out a controlled groan into her neck, he followed. His release was a slow and powerful, his arms wrapped tightly around her as if keeping her anchored to him.

They stayed like that for several long minutes as they caught their breaths before Ioannis kissed her cheek, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and pulled himself together.

“Feeling better?” he said softly, his voice still rough.

Yalda gave a tiny, sated smile, she nodded.

“I needed
that,” she whispered.

“I know.” He cupped her face.

She kissed him then, a slow kiss which expressed her gratitude.