“Sure you don’t want to come with us?” Colin asked, slinging the strap of his briefcase onto his shoulder. “Is it because of the pineapple shorts?” His smile was deliberately awkward. “Oh God, it’s because of the pineapple shorts.”

“It’s not because of the pineapple shorts,” I laughed, though I did need a second look at his pineapple printed shorts.

Thanks to the heat wave, a memo had been sent out earlier in the week regarding post-work changes of clothes. The general rule for Hoult Tower was that work appropriate clothing was required so long as you were in the building, even if you were off the clock. That meant no changing at the end of the day and walking out in shorts and T-shirts. So long as you were within its walls, you were to properly represent Hoult Tower.

Except this week.

I hadn’t taken advantage of the amendment yet, but today, I had a change of heart – and an actual change of clothes with me, thanks to the bag Lia dropped off at reception.

Oh Jesus.

I braced myself as I went over to reception to pick up my change of clothes. I peeked into the bag on my way to the bathroom and had to say, “Jesus, Lia,” for what she’d purchased me to wear. I’d asked for “reasonably sexy summer clothes, but nothing too crazy.” She gave me ripped denim shorts that would make Daisy Duke blush. One pair was white, the other light blue. Thankfully, the tops she chose weren’t studded bustiers like I half expected they’d be, so with a few texts to my fellow cafeteria regulars, I started changing.

When I emerged from the bathroom, Colin caught me.

“Whoa,” he said, adjusting his black frames.

I laughed. Well, that’s a good sign. As far as professionalism went, Colin was the one person who bested even Julian. I was positive that following the rules was his number one turn-on, so for him to check me out was pretty big.

“You look… very wow,” he said, blushing as he eyed my little blue shorts and flowy white top. But with a nervous glance up the stairs, he cleared his throat. “Oh Christ, he’s gonna fire me now,” he laughed under his breath before flashing a tight-lipped smile and hurrying off.

I chewed the corner of my mouth, well aware that I was going to turn around to find Julian at the top of the steps. Still, when I did, my heart thumped. His authority was unquestionable from this angle, and his voice practically echoed in the empty office.

“Sara. A word.”

There it is. I’d expected some kind of reaction, so with a nod, I started up the stairs. But he stopped me halfway up.

“I need you to change out of that first.”

I paused. “Excuse me?”

“That’s not workplace appropriate. Put on what you were wearing before,” Julian said before disappearing into his office.

Completely stunned, I stared up the steps, physically unable to blink.

Are you fucking serious?

I had expected a reaction, but definitely not this. This took the fun out of it pretty much immediately.

Already furious, I trudged back into the women’s room to violently shimmy out of my shorts and yank off my shirt, my heartbeat rising as I buttoned myself back into my top and zipped myself back into my skirt. Out of pure defiance, I opted out of the belt I’d had on. It was my pathetic little form of rebellion before marching up the steps and into Julian’s office.

He was just getting seated behind his desk as I walked in.

“Was that really necessary?” I demanded upfront.

He glanced up at me while adjusting his tie. “You can’t dress like that here,” he said casually before turning his eyes to his computer screen. My jaw tightened.

“Everyone changed after work today. Not just me.”

“Everyone changed into something casual, like a summer dress, or a polo and shorts.” Julian slid his gaze to me and let it dip. “Denim panties weren’t what I had in mind when I sent that memo.”

“Well, I apologize,” I said as evenly as I could through clenched teeth. “But I do feel the need to point out that several other women in this office left in dresses that were the same length as my shorts, with no sleeves, and you didn’t call them in to reprimand them.”

“You’re right. I didn’t,” he said.

There was no follow-up.

Asshole. Standing before Julian’s desk, I fumed, thoroughly ticked off by how relaxed he was as he sat back, his jacket draped over the back of his chair and his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. I ripped my eyes off the deep lines of his forearms to arch an expectant eyebrow at him.

“So, I don’t get an explanation for that inconsistency?”

Julian took his time to switch his gaze from his screen to me.

“No,” he finally said.

Disbelief hissed from my lips.

“That hardly seems fair, and again, I can’t help but suspect you’re treating me differently than the rest of the office,” I said hotly. “Actually, you are treating me differently than the rest of the office. The fact of the matter is, I know why you’re singling me out. We both do. And for you to use that as a reason to make my life difficult today is completely unfair given your problem is something you alone created.”

Shit.

I was breathless. I didn’t know how it happened, but I’d just let it all out. I’d given my office-appropriate version of “if you want to fuck me, then fuck me” and suddenly, it was Julian’s turn to raise his eyebrows.

“And for what reason do you think I’m singling you out?” he asked.

“Can I say it or do I need to use your beloved corporate-speak?”

“Just say it.”

“Because you want to fuck me, Julian,” I ground out. “You want to fuck me, you won’t let yourself fuck me, so you’re taking it out on me – since that makes so much sense, right?” I gave him a second to answer and got nothing. “Right. Well, if you have nothing left to say, then I’m going to go. I have to find some Starbucks to change in now, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be late to meet the guys for happy hour, so bye.”

“Who are you meeting?”

It was less a question than a demand and it made my entire body tingle with fury. I turned back on my heel to face him.

“Guys from Kinsley-Weiss,” I answered, referring to the notorious boys club on the thirty-third floor. I took a sick pleasure in the way Julian’s brow pulled together.

“Just you and them?”

“Just me and them.”

“I thought you were going to drinks with Colin.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I decided against it. He works in my office, so it’s probably safer to have drinks with men I don’t run the risk of losing my job with should I choose to go home with them.”

Julian’s shoulders went rigid. He still looked poised, controlled, but I could see the glint of fire behind his blue eyes.

“So your plan is to sleep with someone tonight.”

“That’s none of your business, and I’m leaving,” I muttered, but my breath caught fast in my throat because Julian stood in front of me within seconds. I started again toward the door, but he stepped neatly sideways to block me.

“It’s every bit my business when you’re going with people I know, and in particular don’t trust.”

I gave a bitter laugh.

“You strike me as someone who doesn’t trust, period, and we’ve already established the parameters of your authority over me, Julian. Yes, you can tell me what I can and cannot wear, but no, you don’t get to decide where I go after work or who I want to fuck, especially when I’m the one waiting for you,” I seethed. “You’re the one with the rule, so either make a move, asshole, or get out of my way.”

I could have sworn I saw hatred boiling in his eyes. I practically heard it in his voice when, with a glance at his desk, he finally spoke.

“Take a seat, Sara,” he said.

“Julian, I told you –”

“Unbutton your shirt before you sit down.”

I shut my mouth. A chill rippled over my skin as I watched Julian remove his hand from the door, his shoulders slightly relaxing.

“What exactly are you asking of me right now?” I clarified.

“I’m asking you to take a seat in front of my desk, Sara. And I want you to take your shirt off for me.”

Got it.

Turning stiffly, I saw him calmly return to his chair, watching me closely as I faced him once again. I was heated a second ago, but now I was hot. Searing. I swallowed away the tightness in my throat as I slowly made my way toward the desk, taking a seat in front of Julian as he’d asked me to.

“Unbutton,” he said with a glance down my front. I wet my lips as I shakily started but he stopped me. “Slowly.”

I glared. “Are you going to fuck me?”

“I don’t enjoy contradicting myself. If you’re making me break my rule, I’m going to take my time with you.”

I gulped.

Fair enough.

Breathing steady, I slowly unbuttoned my shirt, my eyes moving from the peek of my lacy bra to Julian’s wolfish gaze as he took me in from behind his desk. I kept my pace unhurried for him, despite the fact that it tormented me. It forced me to feel every ripple of sensation in slow motion, from the throbbing between my own legs to the shiver that crawled over the tops of my breasts as the ice-cold air hit my skin.

Leaning back, Julian simply watched me as I untucked my fully unbuttoned top from my skirt.

“Slow,” he reminded me as I let the shirt fall off my shoulders and down my arms. I shot him a look as if to say, don’t push it. He smirked. “Am I exhausting your patience right now, Ms. Hanna?”

“You’ve been.” Arching my back, I folded my hands in my lap, sitting perfectly straight before him in just my black bra and tan pencil skirt. “You’re torturing me, actually, but I realize that’s the point.”

“You do pick things up quickly,” he murmured, eyes still on me as he undid his belt. “You know what I want to see next.”

He laughed as I rolled my eyes away from him, looking decidedly out the window at the view of the Empire State as I reached behind myself and unclasped my bra. My breasts felt swollen, painfully heavy as the lace cups fell out from underneath them. I heard the sharp breath Julian drew in, and when I returned my eyes to him, I bit down hard on my lip. He looked every bit the practiced and polished authority he always did in that chair.

The only difference now was that he had his hard cock out, his hand wrapped around it, stroking languidly from root to tip.

My sex clenched from the sight alone. My hands instinctively moved toward the zipper behind my skirt, but Julian stopped me.

“Keep it on,” he said. “Stand up for me.”

I smirked.

“Let me guess,” I said, inching my fingers down my sides and curling them to gather up my skirt. I felt the rush of wetness in my pussy as I stood there pulling my skirt up for Julian, his gaze pinned so tight on me I felt magnetic. He didn’t so much as blink let alone look away as I sat back down in my panties, my skirt hiked up and my hand idling between my thighs.

“Do it,” he said. “Touch yourself.”

I did, closing my eyes as I pushed the lace aside to circle my fingers over my clit. That first wave of heat surged up my body and settled in my cheeks. My pulse was in my ears, but I could still hear when Julian’s chair creaked forward and his footsteps neared.

Writhing under my own fingers, I kept my eyes shut. I wasn’t ready for the sight of him yet. I wanted to process this first – the fact that I was sitting topless and touching myself in Julian Hoult’s shiny office at the top of the tower.

But I had little time before I felt him reach down from above me, his fingertips on the underside of my breast. I shivered when his hand fully cupped me and slowly squeezed.

With a gasp, I opened my eyes.

Holy shit.

Julian stood at my side. Without peering to my right, all I could see was his forearm, his expensive watch and his hand playing with my breast as I stared out the windows at Midtown Manhattan.

It was surreal.

Everything was still in place. His desk was neat, a gleaming surface that held only his laptop, his planner, one folder and one pen. His shelf was a towering display of books, awards and baseballs enshrined in glass cases.

Everything was as it was supposed to be.

Except for us.

“Julian.” I clasped my hand over his, holding it still over my breast as I turned to look up at him.

His every muscle was tight as he watched my other hand tease my clit. His eyes were hooded, and he was still stroking himself. My view combined with his touch was unbelievable. It had to be the definition of erotic: my boss looking sharp in his brilliant white shirt and expensive tie, jerking himself off as he massaged my naked breasts in his office.

“Stand for me,” he rasped.

I was on my feet barely a second before he was kissing me, both hands cupped around my face as I took over pumping his cock. I moaned against his mouth as he claimed mine, each wet stroke of his tongue reminding me that he was in control. I was frenzied, desperate to feel more and to feel it faster, but he kept me in check with just the deliberate movements of his tongue – sharp one second, leisurely the next.

Like he said, he was going to take his time with me.

“Three days.” Julian muttered as he brought me to the end of the leather couch. “You got me to break in three days.”

He pinched my nipple between his fingers and pulled away from my lips, prompting my mouth to fall desperately open in his absence. I moaned as he tugged on me lightly. Then harder.

“Look at me,” he said. I forced my eyes open despite the perfect mix of torment and pleasure he had blitzing through my body. “You do know you’re playing with fire, right?” he asked as his free hand pulled my panties down. I answered just as they fell in a ring of lace around my feet.

“Yes.”

Julian soaked in my answer for a second before turning me gently around and lifting my leg to place my knee on the armrest. I leaned forward to grab onto the back of the couch, sharply arching my back when I felt his fingers dip into my pussy.

“Good.” His low rumble and the ease with which he glided in told me just how incredibly wet I was. Already panting hard, I stared at my white knuckles, my ears perking to the sound of crinkling foil behind me. I glanced slightly over my shoulder to see a condom stretching shiny and thin over the flared tip of his cock. It struggled down every last inch of his thick shaft, causing the hot anticipation to churn in my belly as he drew closer. His eyes locked on mine, Julian shook his head. “You should see how fucking sexy you look right now.”

“Why don’t you just make me feel it?”

“I’ll be fucking you harder for that.”

“Do it,” I murmured, putting a smile on his lips. It spread wider as he ran the head of his dick along the length of my sex, taking pleasure in my brows pulled tight and my mouth hanging open. Just as I found the breath to beg for it already, he plunged inside me.

From there, slow was no longer in our vocabulary.

Gripping my hips, he pumped so deep and so hard inside me that my tits bounced just under my chin. My nails dug into leather as he leaned over and kissed my shoulders, my neck. Circling one arm tight around my waist, he freed his other to catch my jaw and turn my face to his.

“Is this what you wanted?” he demanded in a low whisper. “Or do you want me to pin you down and fuck you on the floor?”

He chuckled at my inability to answer him.

“Where do you want me to fuck you tomorrow, Sara?” he asked, prodding my emotions in the midst of his cock slamming inside me. How fucking worked up was he trying to get me?

“I don’t care, Julian.” The words hurtled from my lips. “I just want you to fuck me and make me come.”

“I will. You’ve opened the floodgates, Sara, so I have every intention of fucking you whenever and however I want in this office.” His ruthless words lit my every nerve ending on fire. “And I promise I’ll make that pussy come.” He thrust hard from behind. “Again.” Another. “And again.” I moaned. “And again,” he growled as he kept himself pressed balls-deep inside me, grinding himself against a sweet spot that made me almost scream. “I may just have to carry you home when I’m done,” he murmured, licking the underside of my jaw as he battered inside me.

Fuck.

I couldn’t stop moaning. I tried to control my volume, but it was in vain, and Julian loved every second of it, feigning surprise as he teased me in a low mutter.

“You’re such a good girl in my office. Who knew I could get you to be so loud?”

“Screw you,” I grinned just before letting out a yelp as he lifted me swiftly and laid me on my back on the couch. I gasped as he wrapped my legs around his back and entered me again, but at a pace now that I found brutally slow. Inch by inch, our eyes locked on one another, his steel length parted me.

And suddenly, I was overwhelmed.

I reveled in his weight on top of my body. Face to face with Julian, his cock felt deliriously good. Every stroke felt longer, deeper – less frantic, more deliberate. The air seized from my lungs as he studied me from my eyes to my nose to my lips, rocking inside me at a torturously languorous pace. My fingers dipped in every slow flex of his muscles as I grabbed his ass, and my heels dug into his sculpted back as I brought him all the way inside me.

Our eyes stayed locked as the pleasure grew.

And as it grew, the air shifted.

Sweat misted on my forehead. I swore it took every ounce of my strength just to return Julian’s electrifying gaze. His power, his intellect was already above all, but inside me, it multiplied. It made me feel as if he was claiming something of mine, discovering something about me that even I never knew. Without speaking a word, he asked me a question then found the answer himself.

It was insanely fucking daunting. I could barely take it anymore.

“Look at me,” Julian growled when I turned away. His pace quickened inside me, his intensity mounting. “Look at me, Sara. You’re going to let me watch you come.”

I ignored him, so he caught my jaw and kissed me forcefully, the shock of his tongue sending my body plunging into an orgasm.

Oh God.

It felt too big for my body. I must’ve made a sound, because Julian muttered, “I’ve got you,” before pinning me down and absorbing every wild second of my pleasure, his strength swallowing every twitch and buck of my body till he was hissing “fuck” under his breath. His body caged around me. Then with a vicious jerk, he let out a groan, the sound so deep and guttural it sent jolting aftershocks ripping through me.

He didn’t immediately get up off me. His lips were against my neck as we caught our breath, and only when he pulled away did I realize that our hands had been above my head, clasped together the whole time.

The void I felt when he withdrew from me hurt.

My nails dug into the couch, and I stared at the cum-filled tip of the condom as he slowly got up, his eyes still on me. He studied my nakedness from head to toe, refusing to break his gaze even as I drew my legs to my chest and got up.

“Sara.”

His voice was back to steady as I rushed to get dressed. I tossed him a hurried smile, though I knew I wasn’t fooling him. Something was bothering me. He knew that.

But I myself didn’t know what it was.

All I knew was that while I had wanted to be fucked, Julian had done something a little more than fuck me just now. And despite the hot, full-body pleasure I was still very much reeling from, I was suddenly feeling a bit lost, with not a single clue how to feel.