Torrid Little Affair (Forbidden Desires #3)

Corinne

“I’m so sorry. I know I’ve been shadowing you for a week, but could you show me again how you did that?” I asked, leaning over Alyssa’s shoulder to watch her computer screen more closely.

I had to be so annoying. Any second now, I was sure she would let out a heavy sigh or roll her eyes, but she surprised me, smiling patiently for the fiftieth time and clicking the Undo button.

“Corinne, you seriously need to stop apologizing.” Alyssa turned to give me a sympathetic grin. “I remember what my first week was like. There’s a lot to take in, especially with this scheduling software. Just be patient with yourself. The Kingsley brothers run their business unlike anyone else I’ve ever worked for.”

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It was Monday, and I hadn’t said more than “good morning” to Cooper since he told me to take my time making my decision. He had been true to his word, giving me the time and space I needed to think the whole situation through. I appreciated that fact, and I had taken my sweet time deliberating over all the pros and cons of the situation. I knew I wouldn’t be able to feel secure in my decision unless I thoroughly weighed my options.

“Hey, by the way, clear your schedule for tonight,” Alyssa said, flashing me a playful grin. “We’re taking you to happy hour after work to celebrate the end of your first full week at Forbidden Desires.”

I smiled, chuckling at the idea that I, of all people, would have a busy social calendar I’d need to clear. “Who’s we?” I asked. I was ready to tell Cooper about the decision I’d reached, but I also needed to mentally prepare myself if he would be at happy hour too.

“The whole office,” Alyssa said. “It’s tradition. Like I said, the first week here is always crazy. I’m sure you could use a drink-or five.”

I snorted and quickly threw my hand over my mouth. I wasn’t exactly a lightweight, but it had been so long since I had more than one drink in a night, I could only imagine what five drinks would do to me.

But then again, I was looking to expand my horizons.

“What the heck,” I said. “Sure, I’m in.”

Alyssa smiled widely at me, and I smiled back. I was so grateful for how welcome she and all the other women who worked here made me feel.

“Perfect. Now that that’s settled, let’s get back to making you comfortable with our online scheduler.”

By the time I finished shadowing Alyssa later that day, I had half an hour before leaving for happy hour. I sat at my desk, grateful for some time to myself before going out to socialize again. I organized the desktop on my computer, and soon my thoughts wandered back to my mental pros-and-cons list about my possible arrangement with Cooper.

Pros: I might actually have good sex. I’ll have the opportunity to go as slow as I want. Cooper seems confident that he knows what to do. Did I mention good sex?

Cons: Cooper is my boss. If things go south, it’ll be hard to get away from him. And if things go well, there’s no way I could ever have a future with him. Once again, boss-with a capital B.

I sighed, my mind whirling from one item on the list to the next. I’d been thinking about this decision all weekend, and I was quickly becoming exhausted from trying to piece together the best course of action. Glancing at the clock on my computer, I realized it was almost time to leave. I grabbed my purse and walked to the bathroom to freshen up before heading out for drinks.

Standing in front of the mirror, I reapplied my light pink lipstick and ran my fingers through the hair around my face. I stared at myself for a moment, taking in my rounded features. Men had told me I was pretty before, but it always felt like they were only saying it to get something out of it for themselves. Cooper made me feel that way when I first met him, but that had quickly faded when he realized how uncomfortable I was.

Our first interaction alone showed me that Cooper was more complicated than I realized. For as gruff and forward as he’d been when we first met, it was clear that there was a soft side underneath all that armor.

And it was that soft side that helped me make my final decision.

I took a deep breath and straightened the hem of my blouse. This job would be a new beginning for me in more ways than one. The thought of being in a relationship centered around my own pleasure made my stomach churn, but I knew that it was time for me to do more things that initially made me uncomfortable. The all-consuming pleasure I’d get in return was too enticing to pass up any longer. Cooper was sexy as hell, and I was more than ready to start having a normal, healthy sex life.

I was ready to say yes to Cooper’s offer.

And I was ready to experience the mind-boggling pleasure I’d been denying myself for years.

Still, I knew in the back of my mind that this relationship could never go any further than sex. For as much as the physical side of things made me nervous, my life was way too complicated to even consider venturing into the emotional. The arrangement I wanted with Cooper would have nothing to do with love or affection or emotional needs. All I wanted from him was an introduction to pleasure, a chance to feel good for the first time in a very long time.

A knock on the the bathroom door snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Hey, Corinne, are you in there? It’s time to go,” Alyssa called out.

“Coming,” I said, taking one last look at myself in the mirror. I looked good. And it was about time I started acting like it.

The second I stepped out of the bathroom, Alyssa turned to excitedly lead me to the parking lot. We climbed into the back of a company car, and I braced myself for my upcoming encounter with Cooper. To my surprise, Alyssa closed the door behind her and told the driver we were ready to go.

“The guys will join us in a bit,” she said, rifling through her purse. “Apparently, they had some last-minute business to attend to.”

I nodded and looked out the window, unsure of what to say.

Alyssa smiled. “That’s typical for the Kingsley brothers, though. Always working. They’re private too. I understand that what we do requires a certain level of discretion, but these guys take secrets to a whole new level,” she said, checking her reflection in a small compact mirror. “It’s like, what do these guys really have to hide, you know?”

I do know, I thought, but I simply chuckled and shook my head.

I might have been ready to tell Cooper about my decision, but I didn’t think it was something he’d want the whole office to know. Besides, for as kind and welcoming as Alyssa had been so far, we were nowhere near gal pals, and I didn’t like the idea of a work acquaintance knowing anything about my sex life.