"Oh God."
A wave of emotion sweeps over me as I feel her dainty body collapse against my chest. She feels so fucking small and fragile, and while it makes me want to protect her, cherish her, and claim her as forever mine—-
All of those things are also making me want to push her away at the same time...and I end up doing exactly that the next day.
Mary
It's my first weekend with Stone, and I feel like pinching myself again as I watch my boss walk around just so he can open my car door for me. I've already told him I hadn't really meant it when I called myself a 'spoiled' princess, but Stone insists on treating me like one all the same, and well...
I'd have to be crazy to ask him to stop, don't you think?
Stone takes my hand to help me out of his sports car, but as soon as I'm on my feet he cups my chin to give me a long, hard kiss that has my toes curling inside of my shoes.
When he finally lifts his head, my beautiful boss grins with shameless satisfaction as he surveys my features. "Your lips are swollen, baby girl."
Eep!
I'm tempted to rub my mouth with the back of my hand, but if I do that, I also know it's only going to make the swelling worse.
"You promised you'd behave," I say hotly.
"And I meant it at that time," he says silkily. "But you just look so fucking irresistible right now, I can't seem to help myself."
Lord oh Lord, save me from beautiful, smooth-talking men like my boss.
I've never imagined Stone being able to say such things, and if he keeps acting like this, I'm just going to fall in love with him even more. And that's not exactly a good thing, considering how I'm not yet sure where this 'thing' we have is heading.
Nic will be back at the office on Monday, and my other boss won't be as easy to fool as the others. He'll know something's changed between Stone and me, and once he does...
Stop right there, Mary Cavendish!
Tomorrow's worries are for tomorrow, and just for tonight, I want to simply enjoy myself and pretend this is an ordinary date between me and the man I love.
Stone doesn't let go of my hand even as we walk, and when we reach the cinemas, both of us are surprised when we end up wanting to watch the same thing. I had assumed Stone was into movies that were more cerebral than entertaining, and apparently, he had assumed the same about me.
But instead, we both prefer testosterone-fueled flicks with more explosions than dialogues, and the higher the body count (of evil guys, natch), the better.
"Do you want some popcorn?" Stone asks after buying our tickets. "Or do you prefer something more substantial?"
I frown. "Like what?"
"Like something thick...and long...and meaty..."
Gulp.
Violet eyes gleam down at me. "Get your mind out of the gutter, princess. I'm talking about hotdog sandwiches."
Oh.
Stone smirks. "Were you thinking of something else?"
I make a face even as I can feel my cheeks heating up in mortification. "Stop teasing me!"
"I will, baby girl...if you stop being so cute."
Oh, be still, my foolishly-racing heart.
As Stone queues up for popcorn, I excuse myself to go to the ladies'...and it's only so I can take my panties off and hide them in my purse. I'm pretty sure my boss will do something "bad" once the lights go out, and I'm determined to be just as naughty.
Stone is no longer in line when I get back, and it takes a while before I find him. He's speaking to an older woman I've never seen before, and by the looks of it, their discussion isn't to his liking.
Mmm.
In the past, there have been instances when people he didn't want to talk to would succeed in cornering him in public, and I'd usually pretend to interrupt them with an all-important call to give Stone an excuse to walk away.
"This is the first year you haven't visited my daughter," I hear the older woman say as I come closer to them.
"I'm sorry," I hear Stone say in a surprisingly stiff voice. "I was out of the country—-"
"You always made sure you were here before. What changed? Are you seriously dating someone else now?"
Everything suddenly becomes clear. From time to time, matchmaking mamas would ambush my boss in hopes of getting him to say yes to a date with their daughters, and I have a feeling this woman is one of them.
I step forward and flash an apologetic smile when both Stone and the older woman turn to me. "I'm so sorry to interrupt, Mr. Verhoff. But you have a call from China—-"
"Are you his secretary?" the older woman demands. "Don't you know it's rude to interrupt your employer when he's talking to someone else?"