88- Sometimes you only need to see

A small, treacherous gasp escapes my lips. I’m too susceptible to this man, too impressed, too aroused, too attracted. He’s a raging fire and I feel as weak and dumb as a moth about to fly into the midst of the inferno, seeking its own death.
My head turns as I lean away but it only gives him more access to my extremely sensitive neck. Of course, he knows the spots that drive me mad, and he takes full advantage of it… the bastard. His lips linger along my skin, just shy of making contact with the heated flesh. “How can you not want this between us?” he asks, his voice raspy and low. “You’ve experienced how it could be, how close we come to driving each other crazy, every single time. How can you not fucking want this?”
His tone is strained with frustration and desire and it makes me literally quake from the tip of my toes to the top of my head. With a heavy sigh, I move my hands from the wall and place it against his chest. The intention is to push him away, but he grabs my wrist and refuses to let go until I look up at him... until I stare into his eyes.
“Come home with me,” he says.

“Give me more than you're offering,” I reply. “I want to mean something to you beyond the assistant you fuck when you feel like it.”
He goes silent... and continues to watch me. “I can’t remember the last time I was in a relationship, Blair,” he says. “I don’t do them well. The expectations that come with it becomes a burden and when I’m not able to meet it, it will feed resentment. And then we’ll truly have to end things. I’m not ready to deal with complications like that.”
I give his explanation some thought, and then twist my wrist from his grip. “Let go.” He releases me and steps backwards.
I check to ensure that all the blood has returned to my legs, before heading to the space beneath my desk. I retrieve my purse and my phone and then proceed to walk past him. “Let’s go,” I say, and the pit of my stomach does several little flips.


know where he lives, as I’ve handled quite the number of correspondence that contains his personal details.
However, arriving and taking in the grandiosity of his building complex is a different matter.
A uniformed valet takes his car from him at the entrance, and it almost makes me ask if this is a hotel. His apartment is on the topmost floor which is the penthouse unit. I realize the moment he gets into the elevator and taps a key card to it that the only one with access to his floor is himself and whomever he allows.
“Maybe we don’t have to be in a relationship,” I say. “But for the duration of our time together, we must be exclusive.”
“Of course,” he agrees. He then begins to retreat to the wall and I turn around to see what he’s doing. After leaning against it, he beckons to me so I also step backwards until my frame settles into his. His warmth wraps around me like a shield, and shamelessly I turn my face to the side, reaching up on the tip of my toes to inhale his intoxicating scent. “And,” I say softly. “I’m going to need a card.”
He gazes down at me. “What card?”
“The one that gives private access to your floor.” He watches me for a moment.
I’m not daunted. “What? You don’t want to?” I ask defiantly.
His lips begin to spread into a wide smile. “You’re usually much more timid at the office.” “Well we’re not in the office and right now, I’m not your assistant.”
“I’m not complaining,” he says. “I immensely enjoy this uninhibited side of you.” “So do I get the key or not?”

He turns around with me and before I realize what he is about to do, my feet are off the floor.
“Grady,” I laugh just as he presses me to the wall. I hook my legs around his waist while his hands settle and support me under the curve of my ass.
Before I can say another word, his mouth covers mine, and I crumble.
His flavor... of intimacy, longing and sweet desire puts me in a state that I never want to wake up from. I’m only aware of the ding of the elevator as we arrive on his floor and the next time I’m coherent, he’s shutting the door to his apartment. Our lips part and the soft smack that sounds at the separation severely shakes the wall that I have erected to put my emotions in check.
My eyes flutter open to stare up at his face, and I can’t help but reach up to brush his slightly disheveled hair back into place. His chest is slightly heaving and so is mine, the need to devour each other at the foremost of our minds but tonight, I want to take things somewhat slow. So I press a kiss to his cheek and whisper to him to let me down.
He does so and my limbs slide down his body. It is only then I realize that somewhere along the way I have lost my purse. I look around to see that I am no longer holding it.
He is able to immediately guess what I’m searching for. “I’ll check the elevator,” he laughs and turns around. “Make yourself at home.” He shuts the door behind him.
I’m left alone in the massive apartment. It could have however passed for a house if it was located on the ground rather than at the top of the high rise building. The ceilings are incredibly high and right in this foyer is a magnificent chandelier that extends to hover just above the massive bouquet of Asiatic lilies that sit upon the center table.
I know that he is extremely wealthy, but seeing this magnificent display of extravagance is quite intimidating. I walk further into the space to meet a massive living room with windows that cover the entire length of one wall and also extend several feet above me.
There is a huge television embedded into a brick wall north of me, and on the second floor above, I can see an impressive array of bookshelves filled with countless titles. My eyes run down the winding staircase till it returns back to the floor, and then I turn around to head towards the kitchen.
It is immediately my favorite space so far, with its steel appliances and white cabinets. Again, there is a bouquet of fresh white lilies in the middle of the island which makes me believe that he has a cleaning service on employ to keep the place as sparkling clean as this. It almost seems unlived in and just a little bit lonely.
I hear the click to the front door signaling his return, so I turn around and head over to meet him.

True enough, he has found my purse which he places on the foyer table.
We are both amused at the occupation that led to its loss in the first place and share a smile together. “You haven't had dinner have you?” he asks. “What do you want to eat?”
I place my hand on my stomach as I ponder on the question. “I’m still full from lunch but I could definitely eat. Do you have something quick available in your fridge?”
“Absolutely not,” he says. “Just some beverages and snacks.”
“Hmm, I guess we should order something in then. What do you want?” “You decide,” he says. “I’m not very hungry either.”