“Isla.” He shook his head once. “We didn’t have sex. You blacked out in the back seat of my car. You were in and out. But mostly you were passed out.”
“I woke up naked.”
He cleared his throat as if trying to erase the memory of whatever he saw. “You must’ve taken your clothes off after I went to bed. But nothing happened between us.”
“Did I hit on you?” I winced. “I tend to get frisky sometimes when I drink too much. And it’s been so long.” I covered my mouth again. Jeez, I needed to stop with the oversharing.
“You mentioned that.” He pressed his lips together. “It’s not that I don’t want you. But my life is on this side of fucked up right now with a new son. Everything is a mess. I’m notused to that. It wouldn’t be fair to drag you into it. I mean, no more than I already have.”
“I understand.”
“If you’re going to be here for a month, we need a few house rules.”
“Of course. House rules. Good idea.” The bubbly tone in my voice made me cringe inside.
“Right.” He stood, towering over me.
Not in an intimidating way, but in a sexy, all-consuming way. The want in his eyes was so enchanting.
He wanted me. What would he do if I asked him for sex again? No strings attached. Would he refuse? Who was I kidding? I wasn’t the love ’em and leave ’em type. I always fell for the guys I slept with. The raw ache at my core told me that if I ever slept with Declan, I would fall—madly and desperately—in love with him.
I inhaled a long breath to force myself to come to my senses. My future, my career, it all depended on my ability to keep my composure and not throw myself at my boss. I wasn’t a sex addict or anything, but it had been at least a year since the last time I was with Steve. And it had been exactly never since someone kissed me like that—with so much desire and longing.
“I promise to keep my clothes on from now on.” I placed my hand over my heart.
“That’s a good place to start.” He chuckled. “Rule number one. Clothes on at all times.”
“Number two.” I put up two fingers, squeezing my legs together to ease the lingering sensations his erection had left behind. “No sex.”
“Yeah, that’s a given.” His hot breath brushed theside of my face, then his gaze dropped to my lips for a beat. “And definitely no more kissing.”
“Of course, no more of that.” I inhaled his musky scent, a mix of sweat, wine, and sandalwood. “I feel like we need a third rule just to have a complete list.”
“You can’t have men over while you’re with me. I mean, living with me.” He slow-blinked. “Working here.”
He came up with that rule rather quickly.
“Oh, I wasn’t going to do that anyway. I just broke up with my boyfriend. I’m not ready to jump into that again. Not to mention, I need to focus on my new job.”
“Lovely. I’m glad you see it that way.” He crossed his arms over his chest, looking very much like a possessive alpha.
Why was that a turn-on for me?
“Okay, so, rule number three: don’t bring dates home. That’s simple enough.”
Simple enough to keep my clothes on, not ask him for sex again, and no dates. But how the hell was I supposed to keep my hands off of him when I couldn’t stop thinking about his deft hands and demanding mouth?
“You’re my employee. The optics are bad. Nicolas doesn’t need another scandal surrounding his company.”
“Yeah, makes sense. The tabloids would have a field day with all this.” I tapped my nose as I considered what the headline would read. “Noble’s New Baby Momma and His American Side Hussy.”
“That’s terrible.” He laughed, a throaty and sexy sound that made my knees buckle. “But it’s something they would absolutely use.”
“I’m really sorry about last night.” I was about to tell himhow I got drunk because Steve broke up with me, but I had to start owning that. I didn’t have to get drunk. And I sure as hell didn’t have to get naked in the middle of his condo. “I don’t blame you for firing me.”
“It wasn’t all that bad. I didn’t fire you because you got drunk and hit on me. I fired you because…” He scratched the stubble on his cheek. “Because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get anything done with you sitting outside my office.” His gaze fell on my chest again. “It’s incredibly sexist. And I do apologize for that. I’m quite capable of controlling my cock, I assure you. I was being an asshole.”
I gaped at him. Who was oversharing now? He really did want me. How? “I’m glad we had this talk and hashed things out.”
