TWO
Joseph
I was already out ofmy seat and by her side by the time she connected with the floor, just short of catching her before she hit the floor. Gripping her shoulders, I eased her into a sitting position, trying to ignore how fucking amazing she smelled.
She used a perfume that made her smell like a fucking sugar cookie, and it made me want to fucking throw her on top of my desk and have her for lunch instead of my protein shake and my grilled chicken salad.
She kept her eyes cast away from my face. The pulse at the base of her neck was beating in rapid time, and her hands were shaking as she reached toward her foot to undo the strap of her heel.
“I’m so, so sorry, Mr. Russo. I didn’t mean—” She began to profusely apologize, which I didn’t understand. She had tripped – shit happened. I shouldn’t have had this damn rug in my office anyway, especially since she always wore heals. It was a hazard.
And one I planned to rectify as soon as I knew she was okay.
“Hey; take it easy.” I told her. I could never be angry at this woman. Fuck, how could I? As a man who liked to be in control, this woman was everything I could have ever dreamed of. She had beautiful, wide, hazel eyes that gleamed a golden color in the light. And that figure beneath those pencil skirts she always wore? I didn’t know how many times I had to stop myself from running my hands over her body.
But I made a rule – a policy – that was now beginning to bite me in the fucking ass.
No fraternization between employees.
I was sorely on the verge of destroying that fucking rule, though. The only thing stopping me was the backlash Lana might receive from other employees. I didn’t want us being together to destroy her reputation.
This woman did her best every fucking day to please me, and I didn’t want to lose that. And I knew enough harassment could drive a good employee away.
Besides, I couldn’t even begin to imagine spending a day not seeing this beautiful woman across the room when I looked up from my work.
“Let’s take a look at your ankle.” I moved a little so I could grab her calf. Her breath hitched in her throat, and our eyes connected. Probably not even realizing she was doing so, she licked her lips, her cheeks flushing. Her eyes darkened, and a feeling so primal slammed into my gut, knocking the breath from my lungs.
My hand tightened on her leg. If she continued looking at me like that, I was going to lose my restraint, and I was going to have my way with her on my fucking office floor. To hell with the damn consequences.
Ripping my eyes from hers, I looked at her ankle. She had twisted it while falling, and it was already beginning to swell. I looked back at her, doing my damnest to ignore the heated look in her eyes. “I need to feel your ankle and make sure that it’s not broken. Are you okay with that?”
Swallowing nervously, she nodded her head. Clenching my jaw, I gently felt around her ankle. She winced a few times, but otherwise, she didn’t make any kind of sounds to voice her discomfort. Confirming that it was just swollen, I stood and then leaned down, lifting her body against my chest.
“Mr. Russo!” She exclaimed, her wide, hazel eyes snapping up to mine. “This is highly unprofessional.”
“Don’t care.” I retorted. Her cheeks flushed. I was beginning to not care about a lot of fucking things anymore. I was dying to make this woman mine. Two years was too long to fucking wait, and my patience was wearing thin.
I gently set her on the couch towards the back of my office and snatched one of the throw pillows from near the arm of the chair, placing it under her bad ankle so it would be elevated. “Sit and stay.” I ordered. “I’m going to get some ice for your ankle.”
“Mr. Russo, I can—” She quickly snapped her mouth shut when I shot my eyes to hers. Swallowing nervously, she nodded her head. “Yes, sir.” She said instead of protesting.
Fuck. Me. That obedience would be the fucking death of me – I knew it.
And it was making the urge to claim her surge stronger through me.
Something told me that by the end of the day, I would be claiming those fucking lips – my fraternization policy be fucking damned.
I couldn’t keep denying myself of her for too much longer. My restraint was snapping.
I fucking needed her.
Praying for restraint that I knew was now just about nonexistent, I quickly walked out of my office, heading towards the elevator that would take me down to the nearest breakroom so I could get Lana some ice.
I hated seeing her hurt, and I really fucking hated that my goddamn rug caused it – all because my interior decorator thought it would add a nice, final touch to the office.
That fucking thing would be gone by the end of the day.