"Are you kidding me?" I said, stunned that she'd think this mistake was intentional. "You have got to be fucking kidding me!"
"Don't get mad at me," she warned. "I didn't set this up so that we'd be trapped together here."
"I didn't either!" I shouted as I strode over to the door and tried unsuccessfully to force it open. "Well, we'll just have to call someone to come down and let us out."
"I don't have my phone on me, so you'll have to call, Mr. Big Shot," she said dryly. I reached in my back pocket and realized that I had left my phone on my desk upstairs.
"Shit," I muttered as I walked to the desk and picked up the receiver, only to find that they hadn't yet connected the line. I looked at Leah and said, "We're locked in."
"You are kidding me," she said as she turned to the door and began pounding on it yelling, "HEY GUYS! WE'RE LOCKED IN THIS DAMN OFFICE! COME OPEN THE DOOR!"
We both listened for movement outside of the door, but when no one responded, Leah slumped against the door, looking defeated.
"I didn't do this on purpose," I said a little defensively.
"Oh, I know you didn't," she replied. "No one is that stupid."
"Hey, there's no need to get mean," I said, realizing that she was really upset. I looked at my watch and said, "I'm sure that someone will come looking for us in a bit. It's only . . . 6:30."
"What if everyone's gone home for the night?" she asked.
"Then the cleaning crew will find us," I replied trying to sound certain of the fact that a cleaning crew would be coming in tonight. I cursed myself silently for the tenth time for leaving my phone on my desk. I looked at Leah, who was now sitting on the floor with her back against the door and her knees drawn up to her chest. "What's really going on?"
"Nothing, I'm just upset about being locked in an office with my boss!" she shot back.
"Leah, look at me," I said as I walked over to her and held out a hand. She looked up, hesitated, and then took my hand so I could pull her off the floor. "At least sit on the couch or somewhere more comfortable, and tell me what's going on."
She sat down on the couch and dropped her head into her hands as she massaged her forehead. I could tell that she wanted to say something, but the words refused to come. I decided to be patient and wait for her to tell me what was going on.
As the minutes ticked by I could feel my anticipation—and my worry—growing.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Leah
As I sat on the couch trying to figure out what to say to the man who had sparked the flames of desire in me but was also my boss. I was torn between wanting to toss everything aside to just follow the path we'd been heading down since his father's funeral and maintaining my professional demeanor so I didn't lose my job. As the war between the two raged, I felt my frustration at being trapped rising.
Trapped in a life that I hadn't chosen, but had made the best of. Trapped in a constant battle with my family. And now, trapped in a room with my boss who I desperately wanted. It all seemed like a cruel joke played by the universe, and I was sick of towing the line and being the good, responsible one.
"Jack . . ." I said as I looked up into his eyes and searched for a reason to let go. "I . . . I . . . I want . . ."
The next thing I knew, he'd leaned down and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me up off the couch and into his strong embrace. He set me on the ground and ran one hand through my hair as he held me tightly against his body. I struggled for a moment, and then let go and melted into his arms.
"Leah . . ." he said as he bent his head so that his mouth was inches from mine. "I need you."
My sigh was all he needed as encouragement before he pressed his lips to mine. I let go and returned his kiss as I reached up and wound my arms around his neck. Our mouths desperately tried to do what our bodies had been aching for. I felt the need welling up in me as Jack ran his fingers through my hair and down my back.
With our lips pressed together, I began unbuttoning his shirt as he removed mine before quickly doing the same with my bra. I felt him breathe in deeply as his hands cupped my breasts and began teasing my nipples. At first he rolled them between his thumb and forefinger but, as I moaned softly into his lips, he increased the pressure until I was groaning with every squeeze. He pulled away and dipped his head so that he could capture one of them between his lips. As he licked and sucked it, I pushed his shirt down his arms and dug my nails into his bare back. I heard him inhale sharply.
In rapid succession, he stripped my pants and underwear off until I was standing stark naked in the middle of the room. Jack pushed me gently backwards until I fell on the couch, looking up at him with my legs spread.
"My God, you're so beautiful," he said as he yanked his pants down and kicked them to the side. He dropped to his knees and lightly ran his fingers up the insides of my thighs as he watched my expression.
I'd never wanted anyone so much in my whole life. When his fingers reached the soft, sensitive spot between my legs, he stopped and began lightly stroking a path from top to bottom with his thumbs. I moaned as he slowly increased the pressure before splaying my lips and sliding his fingers into the slippery wet folds.
"Oh God," I groaned as he spent long moments just stroking from top to bottom while never quiet reaching my point of pleasure. The teasing was exquisite torture, and he reveled in the way my hips involuntarily moved in time with his strokes.
"You like this, don't you?" he whispered as he stopped and traced a cruel path around the outer edge before dipping back down and slipping a finger inside me.