Lisabeth closed her eyes and rolled her head back and forth, a kink in her neck, the long hours at the office starting to take a toll on her. With the issues with the contract coming to a close, and everything being squared away, Lisabeth was looking forward to leaving at a decent hour every day.

Although she loved working with David, enjoyed his company, and wanted to see him constantly, she wasn’t here for a free ride. She was learning, trying to better herself and make something for herself once her internship was done.

She wanted to be successful, and that included going above and beyond to make things work, even if she wasn’t getting paid for it.

Lisabeth grabbed a stack of paperwork that needed copied and headed out of the file room and toward the copying room. The office was silent, everyone mostly gone. There were a few stragglers lingering here and there, but the part of the office she worked in, where David worked in, was empty. She didn’t even know if David was still here, but she assumed he was. He’d been pulling really long nights trying to get a merger, the contract issue, and a handful of other things done. He was dedicated, but then again, to run a successful company like this she supposed he had to be.

Once she had the paper in the machine she started making the first round of copies. The light and sound was almost hypnotic, and she rested her hands on the counter beside her and exhaled. Her feet hurt, her neck ached, and she was tired.

But despite her fatigue she couldn’t help but think about David, how fierce and strong he was when he worked, how much it turned her on. She had to be insane not to put her desires to the side, not to think about her best friend’s father in this way. But she loved him, and she knew there was no getting around that. There was no trying to pretend or ignore.

Lisabeth thought about the meeting she’d been in this afternoon. How she’d been taking dictation for David, listening to him, seeing the dominance in the way he held himself and spoke. He commanded the room and everyone had paid attention.

And then she’d seen him staring at her. A lot.

She exhaled and opened her eyes, the flash of light from the copy machine slightly blinding in that moment, but strangely mesmerizing, as well. Lisabeth finished the copies, stacking them and rubbing the back of her neck once more. She was ready for bed. On the heels of that thought she couldn’t help but envision being in bed with David.

Her cheeks heated at that thought.

She picked up the papers and turned, her heart jumping in her throat and this small cry leaving her from being startled. David stood there on the other side of the door, leaning against the frame, his focus on her. He had his arms crossed, his tendons and sinews bulging under his button-up shirt. He didn’t have a suit jacket on, and his sleeves were rolled up his forearms, showing off his muscles. She felt herself become wet at the sight of him, at the masculinity that poured from him.

His shoulders were broad, his hips narrow. And maybe she shouldn’t have lowered her gaze to his crotch, but Lisabeth couldn’t help it, especially not when his slacks were a little on the snug side and the outline of what he was sporting between his thighs was evident.

God, he looks huge.

For long seconds they just stood there staring at each other, their gazes locked, her breathing increasing. She felt her nipples harden, felt herself get wet between her thighs.

“You’re working late again,” he said in his deep, gravelly voice. “You’ve been doing that too much, too often.”

“There’s a lot that needs done,” she said, her voice whisper soft. “I don’t want to fall behind.” She inhaled roughly, feeling her heart race faster, her belly clench tighter.

He nodded, his focus still trained on her.

He didn’t respond for a moment, just stared at her. He seemed calm and collected, whereas she felt like she was spiraling out of control. “Can you come to my office? I have some things that needed taken care of.”

“Of course,” Lisabeth managed to say in a surprisingly calm voice.

He turned and headed down the hallway and she followed, her knees feeling like pudding filled them. She curled her hands more tightly around the papers she held.

If she wasn’t careful she would ruin things, not just with her position there, or her relationship with David, but also quite possibly tarnishing things with Rachel.

But despite her better judgment she loved this man, and she knew that the affection he’d shown her, that kiss he’d given her, proved this wasn’t just one way, even if they were both clearly fighting it.

****

David

They were back in his office, and he knew what he wanted to do, what he’d probably do, was crossing so many lines. But David couldn’t help himself. He shut the door once they were inside, and for a second he just stared at her, looked at the curves of her body, the way she was innocent yet erotic all in the same breath.

Reining in his desires was hard as fuck, but he controlled himself the best he could and moved over to his desk. He’d been lying when he said he needed her in his office for work-related things. Truth was he just wanted her alone again, wanted to feel her body pressed against his, her breath moving along his lips as he kissed her.

And as David stared at her, the office empty, his emotions running high, he knew he was done waiting. He was done pretending he could control himself where Lisabeth was concerned.

And as he stared at her he knew he had to be honest, had to finally make his intentions known. As if their kiss wasn’t affirmation enough, he had to let her know that she was his. David had to make Lisabeth understand that he couldn’t wait anymore, that he couldn’t stand back for another moment.

“Come here, Lisabeth,” he said low, deep. She moved over to him, her body slightly rigid, her nerves on display. But underneath that he could see how much she desired him. He watched her pupils dilate, saw how much she tried to act like this didn’t affect her as well.

When she was right in front of him, David heard her breathing pick up. There was something about Lisabeth that made him want so much more. It wasn’t about sex, although he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he wanted her like a fucking fiend.

He wanted her in every way, not just in his bed but also in his life.

David didn’t want anyone else. Ever. The years he’d been celibate, busy with work, knowing that getting into a relationship would just complicate things, had helped clear his head. But then he’d seen Lisabeth as a woman, and once that had happened it wasn’t about focusing on work anymore. He’d not been with a woman, not even desiring them, because he’d only wanted her.

“You’re looking at me like—”

“I want you,” he said, cutting her off, not able to control himself any longer. She sucked in a breath. David was ready to stake his claim, make her know he wanted her irrevocably, and to hell with it that they were in his office. Fuck it if he was crossing lines.

He leaned in and kissed her, pulling her in close, needing her body pressed to his. He wasn’t letting her go, not now, not fucking ever.