What the actual fuck?

“Back to work,” she mumbled.

Did she really just throw a stapler at me and then blow me off?

My jaw ticked, and I turned to glare at her. “Yes, throw shit, Palmer, that’s mature.”

I clenched my fist, wishing the office was empty so I could bend her over her desk and spank her, then fuck her.

She let out a hard sigh and turned to glare at me. “Do you really want me to go there, Thorne? Answer me this—do you plan to screw one of them?”

Her question hinted at jealousy.

“No.”

“Then why do you flirt with them?” she asked, her jaw jutting forward.

An easy answer. It was the reason I always got what I wanted before.

“Because I’ve found that being friendly makes people more apt to do what you ask without delay or complaint. You catch more bees with honey, Palmer.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you’re the friendliest person in the world. Oh, wait, no…” she leaned forward and whispered, “You’re damaged and hiding behind a fucking mask.”

The last words were almost hissed, anger pouring out of her. She was pissed, and the beast liked it. More black to revel in.

I met her rage with my own anger, lip curled back. “You have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”

I sat back and returned my attention to the screen. She didn’t know anything, and if I had any say, she never would.

I refused to get close to her.

CHAPTER 12

Lila finished just before six, and instead of starting something new, opted for what was an early night compared to the rest. She didn’t say a word, still mulling in her anger from earlier, and just grabbed her coat and jacket and headed to the door. The moment she was out of sight, I saved my work, putting slips of paper with notes for where to pick up in the morning, and followed.

I stalked her ass home, speeding in order to decrease the time it took for me to catch up to her. Seconds after getting out of her car, I pulled into the parking spot next to her.

We had shit to talk about, namely what the fuck got into her at the office. She avoided my stare, tried to act like I wasn’t there, and that annoyed the fuck out of me.

Once I was within ten feet of her, something in the air changed. We weren’t in the office, bound by rules and watchful eyes.

We entered the elevator and pushed the buttons for our floors. She still refused to acknowledge me, even in the mirrored reflection of the doors.

Confined space with only her was a dangerous pairing. Part of me wanted to hurt her, make her acknowledge her want, be cruel to get it.

“Were you jealous?” I asked, my mouth ghosting her ear.

She drew in a stunted, jagged breath, but it wasn’t enough to hide the effect.

“No.”

Liar.

Yes, the beast was right.

“You shouldn’t be. I don’t want them, and I don’t want you either.” She flinched at what I said, making my chest clench. I couldn’t do it, especially knowing she was just as broken as I was. “No.” I reached up and moved a lock of her hair, leaning into her, unable to hold back. “That’s not true, is it?” My voice broke, unable to lie about that one thing. I did want her. “I don’t want to want you, but I do. I fucking crave you, but I can’t…I can’t give in.” There was no stopping me from getting closer, increasing the current that grew ever stronger with each passing second. “Please, Lila, push me away.” The plea was barely a broken whisper, my lips running up the column of her neck. “Don’t let me take you again.”

One more time and there’d be no stopping me, stopping whatever was happening between us. I refused to let it happen, but at the same time, I was so fucking weak for her. I needed her to shove me back, get me in line.

“I can’t stop you. I want you too much.” She turned, her hand right above my heart. “You’ve given me a taste, and now I want more. I need more.”

No! No, please! Don’t say that.

Yes! She’s ours. Ours!

I stared into her eyes, into the warmth, the affection, the need that was as much emotional as physical.

“Fuck.” I backed up, needing space. “No. Don’t say that.”

It was me begging, but for release from the hold she had on me.

She pulled at my tie, our lips so close I could feel her breath, then the faint teasing touch.

“You’re like a drug, and I’m going through withdrawal.” She licked at my lips, and my dick twitched. “I need your help.”

I struggled for breath, for control, a fight I was desperately losing with every inch her hand slid down my chest. Her hot hand over my cock, gripping it, rubbing it, was a fight I would never win.

Relent.

No.

Let me out!

My hips rocked into her hand, my mind overpowered with the lust that consumed me.

The ping of the elevator and the sliding of the door jolted me. She stepped away, and I stared at her, confused, my mind still clouded with desire. I needed to stay, to go to my own floor, my own condo, and forget her.

The doors began to slide closed, and I jumped through. She gave me a shy smile, then turned toward her door.

I was consumed, driven by greed for her skin. The door hadn’t even slid closed and I was on her, my mouth tasting, biting, marking her while my hips showed her just how much I needed to be inside her.

We stumbled down the hallway, all due to my inability to let her walk thirty fucking feet without every inch of my body attached to hers.

Getting the door unlocked took so much time I was about to say “fuck it,” pull her skirt up, and shove my cock in.

I didn’t care about neighbors or someone seeing us, nothing except getting my dick inside her again. The beast and I were one, in search of the same end goal, unable to stop.

Nothing could stop me.

The door opened and wasn’t even closed when I pinned her against the wall. Her eyes were hooded as her arms drew me closer.

“I want your hands and lips on me. You’ve kept me waiting long enough, Mr. Thorne.”

“Fuck.” If she called me Mr. Thorne again, I was going to tear her pussy up. “What about my cock?”

“I want it in my pussy where it fucking belongs.”

“I’ll fuck you so hard, you won’t be able to walk.” My voice was low and rough. “You make me so hard; you better be ready to work your ass off for my come.”