But even Seth hadn’t stirred her heat like Richard did.
What the hell was she going to do with Richard? How would she last an hour, sitting across from him, and engage in a conversation without making it weird?
He was smiling at her with that heated gaze again.How long does it take for the elevator to hit the lobby, anyway?
“Look, this will sound forward and possibly inappropriate, given I’m your boss, but since I’m only that for a half-day longer, I can’t hold it in anymore. I’m attracted to you, Amira.”
His words had her snapping her eyes up to meet his directly. He drew his index finger up to her cheek and brushed it with the slightest featherlight touch before it grazed down to her jaw. He then gripped her chin with his thumb and forefinger.
“You are?” Her words came out as barely more than a whisper.
“Yes, very much attracted to you,” he continued. “But if this feeling is one-way, just tell me.”
She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, allowing his hand to stroke her neck. “It’s not one-way,” she breathed.
Then his lips were on hers, and his arms wrapped around her body, pulling her in for an embrace that lasted for far too short a time, as the elevator dinged, signifying the doors would open and expose them to the lobby filled with people. He pivoted away from her and, when the doors opened, motioned for her to exit the car first.
She stepped out, wondering if he was checking out her ass.
Did that really happen?The heat that sizzled between them had been shocking, but she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d imagined it.
She glanced behind her to see that Richard was, in fact, staring at her ass.I guess it really did happen.Heat scorched her backside as if his gaze was branding her as his. She somehow managed to keep her composure through the lobby, but once she reached the door to exit the building, she couldn’t ignore him anymore. She reached for the door handle, but so did he. His palm covered hers, pushing the door open, and she let go, gazing up at him.
“After you,” he prompted.
She hadn’t realized that she’d come to a standstill. He motioned for her to go through the door, and she did.
“So, where did you want to go for lunch? The pub or the diner? Or we could head to the next town over.”
“The diner,” she quickly replied. The pub was frequented by cadets and Academy staff, and she didn’t want to run into anyone she knew while she was so flustered by her boss-crush.
Richard nodded, and his eyes dropped momentarily to her lips. Then he turned and gestured to the parking lot. “We can take my car.”
He led her to a nice black Lexus. He opened the car door for her, and she slid into the buttery-soft palomino-colored seat. She couldn’t help but caress the curves just to feel the smoothness on her fingertips. Richard smirked at her as he got in on his side and pulled on his seatbelt.
“It’s man-made leather, by the way.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s more eco-friendly than the actual stuff. Plus? Being a shifter, I couldn’t fathom…”
His voice trailed as he swallowed hard.
“Yeah, I get what you mean. It’s animal cruelty, in a way, and why I always buy cars with a cloth interior. I couldn’t afford something like this—too rich for my blood. The exterior color is nice, too.”
“Caviar,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I think they name the colors for items of expensive taste so you feel better shelling out so much money for something that only gets you from point A to point B.”
“That’s true.”
They were pulling into the parking lot before Amira had even thought of something else to say. She reached for the latch to the door to get out, but he stopped her.
“Let me get the door for you,” he said to her as he quickly hopped out of the car. The man was on the passenger’s side with an outstretched hand before her foot ever touched the asphalt.
“This isn’t necessary, you know. I’m quite capable of getting out of the car on my own.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just my mother ingrained in me good manners with women. It’s second nature to me now. I don’t even realize I’m doing it, though I should, if I want people to stop calling me chauvinistic.” He grimaced at that.
“I don’t think it’s chauvinistic,” Amira assured him. “I’m just not used to accepting acts of chivalry.”
