“This is our new secretary, Bella,” Miles introduces. “Bella, I hope you don’t mind if I share you.”
“Please do.” I breathe.
Miles and Gunner chuckle. I can hear the dark edge there and I don’t even care if I’m feeding into the dirty innuendo. I would love to be shared by these three. They’re just … otherworldly. What woman would possibly be able to resist them?
“I look forward to spending more time with you,” Gunner says after taking a long drink. “Especially lunch breaks.” He winks.
“Gun.” Matthew says gently. “Give her at least a full day to settle in.”
One day? That’s one more than I need.
“I have a meeting to get to, so Matthew will show you the rest of the office and make the other introductions,” Miles says, then I feel his fingers stroke down my spine. “If you need anything …” I meet his eyes and my throat tightens as he gives me a naughty smile. “Or want to fill your mouth with more than my name, just let me know.”
The whole room is so quiet, I can hear the unsteady beating of my heart. “I will.”
Miles nods and heads out. Gunner winks. “That goes double for me, gorgeous. But let’s pretend I’m professional.”
“In your dreams.” Matthew chuckles before leading me out. “We’re rather informal, but we’re used to it being a boy’s club. Sorry about the blatant flirting.”
“I’d rather it be blatant, I guess,” I admit, trying to keep my face passive.
“If you don’t like it, just say something. No one will act on anything without you eagerly … requesting it.”
He puts me at ease just like that. My shoulders drop as his smile grows. He’s tan, gorgeous, and obviously knows it, but the fact that he could read my discomfort and knows that this is a very … different environment. I appreciate that he has that kind of insight.
“So, Mr. Thomas, do you like working here?” I ask.
“Call me Matthew, please. I get to work with my best friends and make enough money to do whatever I’d like. It’s a rare kind of job. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“Nothing else?”
His brown eyes flash with a hunger that takes my breath away. “Not when it comes to work.”
I bite my lip and let him introduce me to another gorgeous man, because honestly, at this point, should I expect anything else? Matthew grins as he waves his hand towards a large guy with short brown hair. His eyes are so dark and deep, that I think I could stare forever and never find where they end. He looks up at me and I swear, I feel like I’m wearing at least one layer too many.
He looks me over slowly, his jaw sharpening as he drinks me in. He stands and offers me a tan hand. “Holden.”
“Holden,” I repeat automatically, my voice breathy and embarrassing.
He nods once and motions to the computer. Matthew puts his hands up. “Yeah. Yeah. Work first. I get it.”
He leads me from the office and shakes his head. “Holden doesn’t believe in conversation for the sake of conversation. He thinks double what he says.”
“So only mildly terrifying?”
“I’m sure if you ask Gunner, you’ll get the gist of what we’re all thinking,” Matthew assures me.
I trip over the edge of the carpet and Matthew catches me, his big hands on my waist as I land against his hard chest. I slowly push myself away from him as my eyes stroke up his neck and his squared jaw. I swallow and open my mouth to say something, but I feel something tap my belly.
“Oh.”
“You’re not dense, Bella. I have no doubt you’ve caught every innuendo and lingering look,” He says softly. How is that look and his voice making me feel like I’m the only woman in the room? His fingers brush up my body, nearly cupping my breast before he rights me and pushes my hair from my face. “But if you’re not comfortable, speak up.”
“I have no problem speaking up,” I assure him, letting my fingers linger on him.
If they’re allowed to take liberties with me, they better believe I’m doing it too. He smiles and takes my hand, rubbing my knuckles with his thumb. “Then I think you’ll be able to handle Roman.”
I lean my head to the side at that, not sure what to expect until we’re in another office. It smells like leather, old books, and a fresh summer day all at the same time. I blink myself through the mouthwatering scent and then I’m stopped dead by the man in front of me.