“I have two architects and six designers arriving in an hour, how the fuck can you tell me now that you’re not going to be here, Regina?” Russell’s voice came booming through the open doors of the office in the warehouse and made the hairs on Amanda’s neck stand on end.

He sounded furious, and it was no wonder why.

The past couple of weeks had been hectic and miserable, with a ton of work happening around them and now, Mr. and Mrs. Newport were also back in the equation. Russell had settled into the apartment across the river well, and now he and Amanda were working each day out of the office in the warehouse, but there was so much work to be done, and deals hanging by a thread at every turn, Russell’s stress levels were rising, and Amanda feared he may be about to go off the deep end.

She closed her eyes and winced, waiting for the further onslaught of abuse that he was surely about to hurl at his sister. Regina had slowly begun to withdraw her support after her parents had returned from Europe, and Amanda had a sneaky suspicion that they had bought her loyalty in some way. Regina had told Amanda how her father had loved being in control and only Russell had the vision and determination to get them out of that situation, maybe her father had offered her a big slice of the Newport pie to keep her on their side, and to not go off playing real estate developer with her brother.

“Fuck you, Regina,” Russell’s words sounded laced with venom. “Seriously, fuck you.”

Amanda heard the crash of the phone hitting the stand and she waited a moment before she dared get to her feet and try to see if he was all right.

When she peered around the edge of the office door, he was standing in the window with his fingertips pinching the bridge of his nose, looking down at the ground but facing out toward the river and the city skyline.

“So, I take it, she’s not coming,” Amanda whispered tentatively.

“No, Amanda, she isn’t fucking coming,” Russell said harshly, and then he turned and looked at her over his shoulder and shrugged as his way of apology.

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.

She had spent enough time with Russell Newport now to know how to tread carefully around him. Now that he had calmed down on the erratic behavior front, the best thing she could do was just keep him from going overly alpha male all over the place. He was so full of rage and aggression, it could, at times, be intimidating, whereas at others, it was kind of a turn on. Not that Amanda would ever admit it.

“My fucking family,” Russell said as he slumped down into his chair and kicked his feet up onto the desk. “It’s just a never-ending shit show.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette before he lit it and exhaled a plume of smoke into the air.

“Sit with me, Amanda,” he said as he looked up to her.

She felt her heart race a little. The way he had started saying her name was sounding more and more lyrical each time. It was as if he had noticed her for who she truly was. She wasn’t just his lowly assistant, since she had told him about the girls, her divorce, and her life, it was almost as if he romanticized her a bit… and Amanda was struggling to know how to handle the situation.

If she was honest with herself, she would have to admit that she liked Russell. He may have been a walking disaster when they had first met, but as the weeks had passed and she had spent more time with him, she was beginning to see what a brilliant person he was. How strong he was, how determined, and how he knew how to go out and seize life. He may have lost his way at some point, but he was definitely back on track now, and he was showing Amanda what it meant to truly live.

Now she knew why he wanted an assistant with ‘balls’… it was because he was the very definition of that. He was gutsy and brash, he was masculine and strong. He was full of it. And he needed someone beside him that wasn’t afraid of his energy, or of how strong willed he could be. He needed someone to guide him, to steady him in the right direction if he ever was tempted to veer off course again. And since Amanda had arrived into his life, she had done nothing but support him in all the right ways.

“My father and I have been at war since I was a kid,” Russell said with a half laugh. “He loved it when I went off the rails, not that he would ever publicly admit it.”

Amanda leaned in closer and crossed her legs over one another. Russell smoked and flicked ash into the small glass ashtray on his desk.

“The Newports have always been dysfunctional,” he said. “And I was always looking for a way out of that. I always wanted to do my own thing and be my own boss, not under someone. Even with all of the money, my father still had control. I guess you could say that’s why I’m the way I am. I can’t stand being suppressed, and when I was a kid that was all he did.”

Amanda nodded her head sympathetically. She could tell how much he needed to get this off his chest.

“I’ll never forgive him,” Russell said as he sucked in on the cigarette. “But I’m done with the hate. What I’m doing now, I’m doing on my own and I know it’s going to be huge.”

“It’s going to be bigger than huge,” Amanda assured him with a warm smile. “I’ve watched you grow over the past few weeks, and your parents returning only seems to have strengthened your resolve.”

He smiled back at her and let his eyes linger on hers. The way he was looking at her was making her skin tingle, and she felt her heart flutter in her chest. It had been so long since she had seen a man in that kind of light, it was as if she had forgotten what it felt like.

She had vowed off dating and men since she had split with Rob, but now, as she sat there in the office with a powerhouse who would make most women and men tremble, she was finding herself wanting to be closer to him than she had wanted to be closer to anyone in a long, long time.

“I want to thank you for helping me sort out my head,” he said as he got to his feet and walked around to the same side of the desk that Amanda was sitting on. She looked up at him and their bodies were so close she could feel the heat bouncing between them. Her heart had jumped right up into her throat, and she wanted to speak but she couldn’t find the words. Nothing would form, and all she could do was gasp as he reached down and took hold of her hand to pull her up to meet him.

He cupped her face in his hands and looked at her sternly in the eyes. His lips were only centimeters from hers and she could feel his breath on her face. Her eyes were locked in on his and she was so nervous she could feel herself going dizzy. Her head was a mess of lust and confusion. She wanted him badly, but she was so aware of what a terrible mistake it could be for her job. An affair with her boss could spell complete disaster, and she didn’t want to let the girls down.

“Russell,” she whispered, and he reached up and grazed his thumb across her bottom lip, while his other palm cradled her cheek.

She closed her eyes, her nerves mounting even further, and her heart pounding so hard she didn’t know if she was going to be able to stand it.

When he leaned in and kissed her and their lips finally connected, it was the biggest sense of relief she had ever felt. He parted her lips with his tongue and massaged it against hers, as he dipped her back slightly and wrapped his huge, aching arms around her.

She felt tiny against him, and she moaned as he showered her with his strength, pushing her up against the edge of the desk and gripping her gently by the throat, but still keeping her exactly where he wanted her to be.

When their lips broke apart, they both looked at each other, stunned for a moment. Amanda’s heart was racing so hard all she could hear was the rush of blood in her ears, and Russell’s eyes glinted down at her before he took a step back and ran a hand through his hair.

When he turned back to face her, it was as if neither of them knew what to say or do. The tension between them was so thick it could be cut with a knife, and all she wanted was to dive on him again, but her nerves were keeping her rooted to the spot.

What were they doing?

And what repercussions was this going to have for everything?

Russell took a moment, but he still didn’t let his eyes leave hers. When he moved back toward her and swept her up in his arms again, this time, she knew there was no going back. This time, the kiss was real and thought out, this time, he hadn’t been able to tear himself away.

He lifted her up onto the desk and wrapped her legs around him, he kissed her strong and passionately, and behind her, he swept all of the files and paperwork from the desk and onto the floor. He pushed his groin against hers and she could already feel how rock hard and huge he was for her. He thrust his hips against her and she moaned as she trailed her fingernails up his back and up into his hair.

She knew it was wrong, but it felt so right that there was going to be no way to stop it.

She wanted him.

She needed him.

He was going to take her places she had never been before and teach her things about love she had never known possible.

He reached up and cupped her breast, as he squeezed it gently and trailed kisses down her neck and to her collarbone. They felt so strong and so intense, she gasped and moaned in ecstasy. He had barely even touched her, but already she was soaking wet and engorged, ready for him to take her and show her how much power he truly had.

Russell pushed her back further and ripped at the fabric of her dress as he pulled it up and hooked his fingers into her panties. They were so hot and feverish for each other, and everything was happening so fast that she could barely keep herself together. She felt as if she was going to unravel the moment he touched her. She reached down and grasped at his belt buckle, and as she opened it and started to rip open his jeans, Russell eased himself out of them and his underwear and she took hold of his incredible length. As she wrapped her fist around his cock, she moaned as she felt the sheer size of it. He was big and thick, hard and throbbing, and when she jacked him slowly she felt a jerk of appreciation roll through him.

Russell touched her pussy and she gasped as he slid a finger inside of her, working her over and over, and getting her wetter and more turned on by the second.

She threw her head back and he ripped her dress up and off over her head, before he pulled at his own t-shirt and kicked off his jeans. They were completely naked, rolling around the office and smashing into the filing cabinets and against the walls. Russell pulled her down onto the floor so that she was on top of him and she looked down at him, barely daring to meet his eye.

She wanted him so badly, but she was scared of the consequences.

Surely, this was going to be the beginning of the end for them.

Russell groaned as he flipped her over and pinned her down onto the ground. As she lay there beneath him and he stared down at her, she had never been more turned on in her entire life. She hadn’t been with many men, and Russell was such a fine example of how they should be. He was headstrong, physically strong, and now she could see that he had incredible strength between his legs as well.

He took hold of the base of his cock and rubbed it up and down her pussy. She moaned as he got wet with her juices and then teased her opening, before he plunged himself inside of her.

The feeling of being penetrated by such an enormous size was enough to send Amanda into a wave of powerful pleasure. Her legs tightened around him as she ground her heels into the base of his back and he hammered himself into her, filling her right up with his huge girth and reaching all the right places to send her toward the most incredible orgasm of her life.

When she felt his strokes become quicker and more intense Amanda couldn’t hold on anymore. She was lying beneath her boss, completely naked, and being nailed on the office floor. And not just by any boss, by Russell fucking Newport. A billionaire legendary businessman who was about to take over their city and steal the real estate crown from his father.

Russell’s eyes locked in on hers and she trembled beneath him. He was so strong and powerful, she couldn’t move, and she opened herself wider, guiding him in so deep they were locked together perfectly. When they both came at the same time, Amanda’s whole world spun around her. Russell groaned on top of her, emptying his seed deep inside of her cunt and making her shake with pleasure.

When he collapsed down on top of her he kissed her forehead, holding her close as his sweat trickled down from his brow and onto hers. He smiled at her, cupping her cheek and kissing her lips softly, and Amanda looked into his eyes with a sense of true belonging and safety. She had never felt like this before, it was as if she had finally found her true place in the world.

Suddenly, the buzzer to the entrance of the building started to shrill loudly through the entire top floor of the warehouse. Amanda and Russell were wrapped up together in a mess of each other’s limbs, and Russell slapped his forehead and started to laugh.

“Fuck,” he panted as he was still trying to catch his breath. “I guess that will be the architects.”

Amanda put her hands over her eyes and tried not to giggle, but it was too late… her and Russell both fell about the floor laughing as they both tried to scoop up their clothes and wriggle back into them before he dashed over to the intercom and answered it for the architects and designers who were waiting down at the door below.

Amanda smoothed down her hair and watched him and the way he moved so fluidly, the way he held a confidence that was addictive and inspiring. He turned back to face her and he looked flushed and radiant. He looked relaxed and as if he was going to be able to focus properly and give it his all.

He waited for a moment and held her gaze. She could feel something coming from him that was a mix of passion and lust and appreciation.

“You have no idea how much you’ve helped me,” he said as he crossed the room to be right in front of her and he wrapped his hand up in her hair. “Since you’ve been by my side, each day has brought me back closer to who I truly am.”

He cupped her cheek with his big, rough hand and stared deeply into her eyes. They lingered like that for a moment, not wanting to break something so raw and real, but the buzz of the elevator and the whir of the cameras around the building let them know that their visitors were coming, and Russell stole one last kiss while he had the chance.

He smiled at her, and she felt so tiny and safe next to him it was wonderful.

“Get yourself home,” he said as he slapped her playfully on the ass. “Otherwise, I’m not going to be able to keep my eyes or my hands off you while they’re here and quite frankly, I don’t need the distraction.”

Amanda laughed and let him kiss her again.

“Okay,” she grinned.

She wasn’t going to argue with that. She didn’t think there would be any way she would be able to sit through a meeting without shifting uncomfortably in her chair, her pussy still hot, tingling and aching from having Russell inside of her.

He kissed her and let it linger on her lips. She could tell that he didn’t want her to go, but at the same time, this meeting was going to be one of the most important when it came to the regeneration of the whole site, and she knew he needed to have his head screwed on.

She moved toward the elevator and waited for it to ping with the architects and designers inside. As they exited and moved out onto the warehouse floor, she slipped inside without them seeing and pressed to go down to the ground floor.

Russell winked at her over the tops of the visitor’s heads and she blew him a kiss. As the doors closed, she sagged back against the wall and wrapped her arms around herself.

What the hell had just happened?

Had any of it even been real?

All she knew was that her head was spinning, and she had found something she never thought possible.

Her arrogant boss was turning it all around.

And now, she could feel herself falling for him.

Deep, hard, and fast.

Without a safety net in sight.