“Agreed.” Mia gazed at the ceiling for a few seconds before turning her gaze to Wyatt. “And no talking about personal stuff. Just because we’re screwing doesn’t mean we’re friends.”
Wyatt stared at her for a few moments, trying to see something, anything, in her closed off expression that would tip him off as to why Mia would stonewall him like that, before sighing. “If that’s what you want.”
“I want orgasms and the position I deserved to get in the first place.”
“Well,” he placed a palm on her knee and slowly dragged it up her thigh, “one of those I’m more than happy to provide.”
Mia
“Mia?”Giles’ concerned voice broke Mia out of her daze. She blinked a couple of times before remembering what he had asked and quickly checked her notes.
“The tray marked red needs to go to sequencing, and the one marked in blue to Amika in the clinical lab.”
“All right,” Giles said slowly, still gazing at her with concern. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, just tired,” Mia reassured him. “I was up late.”
“Reading the new John Hopkins paper?” Giles let out a low whistle that meant he was impressed by whatever he had read. “It was wicked interesting.”
“I haven’t gotten around to it yet,” Mia answered, staring intently at the sheet of paper attached to the clipboard in her hand. She’d been waiting for this specific article to come out for ages, constantly telling every willing listener how they simply must read it, had even marked it in her calendar, then proceeded to completely forget about it.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Giles asked again. “You seem out of sorts.”
She was about to answer when a voice from behind her spoke. “You do seem a bit out of focus, Doctor Bissonnette.” Mia spun on her heels, grip tight on her clipboard and eyes narrowing at Wyatt, daring him to dish out the innuendo laced taunt she knew was coming. “You should call it an early day, go home and straight to bed.”
Wait for me there, was said with his eyes. Wyatt presented a stoic exterior, but Mia was quickly learning it was a well-honed professional persona that was hiding a raging fire, one she had been willingly consumed by every night for the last two weeks.
“You know, you’re right.” She tapped her clipboard with her pen, eyes never leaving Wyatt’s. “I should go home, lock the doors, get a good night’s sleep.”
Wyatt’s brow arched, and he was clearly fighting the upward tug of his lips at her goading response, but Mia wasn’t done. If Wyatt thought he could use sleep deprivation and physical gratification to break her resolve and accept his presence in her lab, he had another thing coming.
Also, Mia was still in the dark as to why she would need a safe word. Wyatt was a ferocious lover, but nothing he did ventured beyond rough fucking and orgasm denial. It was only a matter of pushing him hard enough, though, and Mia was up for the task.
“But I’m not leaving until I’m done with this batch, and that could take a while.” Mia turned her clipboard to Wyatt, showing him all the boxes that had yet to be ticked off. “If you want to help, you could grab me a cup of coffee from the shop outside.”
Giles froze with the red tray in his hand, eyes wide as they bounced between her and Wyatt. Mia knew she was pushing the boundaries of Wyatt’s patience, sending him on a coffee run as if he were some low-level grad, and the dangerous flame that flickered in his eyes sent a hot thrill through her body.
He was back to amicable in a heartbeat, but Mia sensed she’d be paying for her impertinence later tonight.
“One cinnamon mocha coming right up,” Wyatt said in a light tone and an easy smile, turning his gaze to Giles. “Double shot cappuccino?”
“Err…” Giles seemed mortified, whether at Wyatt offering to get him coffee or remembering his preferred brew, Mia didn’t know, but it was amusing, nonetheless.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Wyatt laughed as he backed out of the lab. “I expect a full report on the initial findings no later than Friday, Doctor Bissonnette.”
“Of course,” Mia answered, wondering if her punishment was going to involve Wyatt keeping her awake through Friday.
“Um, Doctor Jenkins?” Giles said from behind Mia, finally finding his voice. “You’ve got donor meetings in London the entire of next week. You’re leaving Friday morning, remember?”
Wyatt grimaced, and Mia took a few steps closer to him. “It’s alright, I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone.”
“Will you, now?”
“Yes.” She took another step, close enough so only Wyatt could hear her when she whispered. “I’ll manage just fine without you for a week.”
Mia was met by a scorching gaze, her insides melting into a puddle under it.
“Want to bet on it?” he asked in a low voice, the tips of his fingers grazing hers.