Chapter 5 - Harper

I’ve never spent this much time with him. Usually Zach is in and out of the office and it’s all business with him. He spends his time doing who knows what with clients - networking, I guess - and leaves the actual operation of the business to us. I watch the way he’s reclining on the chair, bringing the plastic wine glass to his red lips. I wonder what his lips would taste like?

I glance away and try to shake the thought from my head. This wine must be getting to me, or maybe it was the adrenaline of the fall. This is my boss! Not only that, this is the CEO of the whole company!! It’s probably inappropriate for me to be here alone drinking with him. It’s definitely inappropriate for me to be thinking about kissing him.

Still, there’s something exciting about it. My eyes dart back to him and a thrill rushes down my spine when I see he’s looking at me. Why did I have to wear this stupid sweatshirt?? As if reading my mind, Zach asks me:

“Where’d you get your sweater? It’s very… unique.” He grins and raises an eyebrow. I look down and gently touch the twinkling LEDs on my torso.

“I got it at a Goodwill. It was three dollars.”

“Wow, what a bargain,” he responds. I nod, grinning proudly.

“Didn’t even have to buy any batteries for it!” This time he laughs, a deep belly laugh that makes his shoulders shake. I notice the way his smile lights his whole face up and his eyes close as he tilts his head back to laugh. He has perfect teeth. His laugh sends a wave of heat through me and I can’t help but giggle along. It feels good to be here with him, like this.

Zach’s laugh dies down and he grins at me. “I never knew this side of you.” He’s staring at me intently, as if he’s looking through me or into me, trying to figure me out. “You always seem so serious and professional.” I resist the urge to squirm. Instead, I turn to the fallen tree.

“What, this side of me?” I ask, sweeping my arm towards the mess of snacks and drinks and upturned furniture. “Now that you see it, are you impressed? Personally I think clumsiness is irresistible.”

I bring the the wine glass up to my lips and raise my eyebrow, watching his face as I take a sip. My heart is thumping as he watches me, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

“Irresistible is one word for it,” he responds in a low voice. I can feel the rumble of his voice in my bones, like it traveled straight through me. It doesn’t sound like he’s joking. A warmth starts spreading in my centre and I desperately want to reach over and touch him, grab him, feel his hand or his arm or anything. I want to feel his arms around me and breathe in his smell.

Instead I stay rooted to my chair. We watch each other without moving. The tension is palpable, and I can hardly breathe for fear of breaking the spell that’s cast over us. Zach looks towards the fallen table and slowly gets up. He rolls up the sleeves of his shirt to reveal his sinewy forearms. I lick my lips. I watch as he walks towards the mess, his crisp white shirt tucked into his pinstriped trousers. His back looks wide and strong, and I can see the outline of his shoulders through the thin white fabric. I watch him crouch down and pick up the table, setting it back upright.

I get up and follow him over. I start a few feet away from him, picking up boxes and cookies and cakes that have fallen on the floor. We work in silence for a few minutes. I stand up after picking up the millionth item off the floor, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead. I grab my heavy sweater and pull it off over my head, letting out a sigh.

“It’s hot in here!” I exclaim, and then I see Zach’s eyes on me. His eyes are roaming over me and suddenly I feel like I’m wearing nothing at all. I pull down the hem of my thin camisole. I wasn’t intending on taking off my sweater. I blush and turn back to the mess on the floor to hide my embarrassment. I bend over to pick up a stack of plastic plates and when I stand up he’s right beside me, his arm brushing against mine. He turns towards me so that his chest is inches from mine.

I place the plates down gently on the table and try to slow down the thumping in my chest. Zach is so close to me I can feel the heat radiating off his skin. He smells sweet and spicy at the same time and I breathe deeply, trying to calm myself down. As soon as his scent hits my nostrils it has the opposite effect. My body goes into overdrive and all I can think of is putting my hands on his body.

We’re inches apart. Slowly, I drag my eyes up his chest to his jaw, watch his lips as he opens them gently and finally let my eyes drift up to his. They look so dark, like bottomless pools of brown staring back at me.

My heart is going wild. I can feel it beating against my ribcage as we stand there, transfixed. I can’t tear my eyes away from his. I don’t want to.

Ever so slowly, Zach brings his hand up and gently brushes the edge of my hip with his fingertips. I shiver, closing my eyes gently and relishing his touch. He’s barely touching me but it feels more intense than I could imagine. It’s like his fingers have a direct line to my centre, sending wave after wave of heat towards my core.

His fingers drift from my hip towards my navel, ever so gently brushing the fabric of my camisole. The blood is rushing between my legs and desire floods my veins with every heartbeat banging against my ribcage. I open my eyes and glance back at him. His eyes are half-closed. I can see him looking at me and the intensity of his gaze sends another wave of heat through me. I know my eyes have the same look of pure desire as his. I raise my hand and hesitate, then place it gently on his chest. He’s warm, and hard, his smooth muscles rippling under his shirt. I can feel his heart beating as well and it gives me a surge of confidence. My other hand flies up to his chest and I run it up towards his neck.

The second my fingers touch the bare skin of his neck it’s like something explodes between us. My skin touches his and it sizzles, sending sparks through my entire body. He grips my waist and pulls me into him.

This is so wrong. This is my boss! Zach Lockwood! I shouldn’t be doing this.

But then his lips crush against mine and all thought disappears from my head. He tastes sweet, his lips soft against mine as they part and kiss me. His hand grips my neck, tangling into the hair at the nape of my neck and pulling my head in towards his. My hands are gripping his shoulders, his neck, grabbing his shirt and pulling him into me.

He’s pressing me into the table and I lean back, loving the way his body feels strong and muscular as he crushes it into me. His lips press against my neck, trailing kisses down my collarbone as his hands grab the small of my back and pull me into him. I’m panting, trying to keep my feet on the ground as my body goes into overdrive. The pleasure and desire is exploding through my entire body and I can feel my wetness pooling between my legs.

I want him. I don’t care that he’s my boss, or the CEO, or that we’re at the office. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before.