Текст книги "Be My Temptation"

Автор книги: Rachel Brookes

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 24 страниц)

THE CAB RIDE BACK to the apartment had me seething with heat and need. Ashlyn sat beside me, her hands clamped together in her lap, and she had been continually crossing and uncrossing her legs since we left the bar. My gaze was drawn to her legs, and it trailed over her skin and up to her thighs. Choosing that dress was the best fucking decision I’d ever made. It fit her like a glove, and it emphasized her curves like a perfect second skin. I was a desperate man, I needed to touch her.

I angled my body in a way that allowed me to face her. My movement gained her attention, and she watched with earnest as I leaned in toward her ear.

“Trust me,” I whispered, lightly sweeping a piece of loose hair over her shoulder.

She turned her head until there was barely two inches between us. Her breathing increased, bouncing off my lips as we remained close. I wish I could step into her head and sort through her thoughts. I needed to know what she was thinking. Her anxiety was palpable, and it slammed into me full force. I never wanted her to be nervous around me, and I’d work my ass off to prevent it.

“I do trust you,” she whispered, her gaze dropping momentarily to my lips.

Her gasp rang through the cab as my hand fell to the bare skin just above her knee. My eyes darted from hers to the driver, but he was focused entirely on the road, as if Ashlyn and I didn’t exist. My hand swept lightly up her leg, caressing her skin like it was delicate silk, and I wanted to treasure it like it was priceless. Her eyes trained on mine, locking me in with fierce need flashing within them. With a zealous sigh, her head fell back against the leather headrest, but she never broke my gaze. Slowly, and with a featherlike touch, I ran my fingertips over her thighs until I hit the edge of her dress. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her lips parted as she took an unsteady breath. It was the best fucking sight in the world. Her body was electric, needy, and alight. My fingertips edged under the red satin, and I glided it up her thighs.

“Do you want me to stop?” I asked in a voice laced with desire. I was so fucking close to her panties, to her pussy, and the throbbing in my pants indicated that my cock knew it too.

There was one question that held so many other questions within it. If she said no, I’d respect her decision, and that would be it. My hand would come out from under her dress and leave only a memory on her skin. I’d move back to the other side of the cab, then we’d go back to my apartment, say goodnight, and disappear into our own rooms. No would mean that we’d continue what we’d been sharing for the past five years. A friendship filled with flirting, sideways glances, and my obsession with wanting to grab her by the shoulders, kiss the fuck out of her, and tell her exactly what I wanted. I’d remain her friend, the brother of her best friend, and the guy who took her virginity, and she’d remain my not-so-secret temptation, the girl who was my ultimate sacrifice, the girl who ruined me the moment she pleaded with me to take all of her. I wasn’t a praying man, but I was praying to every god there was that she wouldn’t say no.

Her gaze dashed from mine to the cab driver, and it hit me. She wasn’t nervous about me, she was nervous about him. She wasn’t hesitating because of my actions, her hesitation was from not wanting to be seen. Calm cascaded through me, and my intentions roared to life. I leaned in until my mouth hovered over her ear, and I devoured the gasp that shot from her like a starving man.

“It’s just me and you, Ashy. Trust me.”

Her hand dropped to my forearm as the cab stopped at a set of lights. “Touch me,” she whispered.

Our heated stares locked, and my heart hammered in my chest as she moved my hand devastatingly slow along her thigh. With one slight movement, she encouraged me to go where I wanted, and she pushed my hand under her dress until it rested on her upper thigh.

Her head fell back, and she turned to look at me, allowing me to keep hold of her gaze. My fingertips grazed the edge of her silk panties, then she shifted in the seat and licked her lips. The glaze that was moving across her eyes, combined with her broken breathing, was the greatest kind of encouragement. My skin stabbed to life as Ashlyn dug her nails into my arm when I ran my finger over her panties and pressed down on her clit. Neither of us broke our gaze, which only increased the sheer need to make her completely lose control. I pushed aside the edge of her panties, and hissed as my finger ran through her wetness. One thing about Ashlyn was that I knew she’d always be ready for me, and that made me want to beat my chest and claim victory.

Her broken breathing switched into soft pants, and her hips shifted, pushing closer to my hand and fingers. I was desperate to witness every emotion that swept over her face: the need, the want, the desire, the lust, and the realization that this was exactly where she should be . . . with me. I needed to see it. The green eyes that held me captive from day one now begged me for relief, and the passing lights that washed through the cab allowed me to see the flush of heat that swept across her cheeks. She pulled her plump bottom lip between her teeth and slammed her eyes shut, as I slowly pushed a finger deep inside her.

All the inhibition and hesitation that consumed her body earlier, fled as she parted her legs, offering herself to me. I took her invitation without question. I added a second finger, and her gasp rang through the cab.

“Fuck,” she hissed, as I slowly moved my fingers in and out of her. Her grip on my arm intensified, and all sense of reason fled as I focused squarely on her face. Perfection certainly did exist, and it was in the form of a stunning blond, with eyes that destroyed me, a body that encouraged me, and a heart that owned me.

The slowing movements of the cab and the sound of the driver humming tugged me back to reality. It took every bit of strength I had as a man to remove my fingers when all I wanted was to see her lose control.

“You two are very quiet back there,” the cab driver announced.

His eyes hit the rearview mirror seconds after I ceased finger fucking Ashlyn in the back of his cab.

“Just relaxing, it’s been a big night,” I shot back, my gaze firmly locked on Ashlyn.

Her eyes widened as she realized what could have happened, but I saw a flicker of rebellion flash before me.

I pulled her against my chest and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. Her hand rested on my stomach, her head fell against my heart, and we were soon lost in a thick silence. Our driver continued his humming and swerving through the traffic as we made our way back to my apartment. With every minute that passed, the electricity between us strengthened. The soft movements of her hand over my stomach, the light kisses I lay on her forehead, and the barely heard sighs she’d make when she moved her legs, made me feel as alive as I did five years ago.

“You stopped,” she whispered and turned her head slightly. “I’d just like it noted, that was an asshole move. You don’t leave a woman hanging like that.”

“Like what?” I asked innocently, and received a slap on my stomach.

“Don’t be an asshole.” She laughed softly.

I pulled her in closer and dropped my mouth to her ear. “I’d love to finger fuck you until you come, but it won’t be in the back of a cab when we have an overeager driver who likes to chat. No one but me is seeing you come apart, Ashy. If I get to have you again, I am going to damn well enjoy every fucking second of it, and I want you to be as loud as you want as you come on my cock, mouth, and fingers.”

With a smirk, she spoke so low that I almost didn’t hear her. “Do you think we can get him to hurry up?”

The moment I opened my apartment door, tension spilled over. Our hands pawed at each other like we were feral animals desperate for our next meal, and our mouths frantically devoured each other, desperate to steal one another’s breath. After kicking the door shut, we were on the move. We stumbled into the coffee table and hit the couch before we came to a stop against the wall. Ashlyn’s hands ripped at my shirt, pulling it out of my pants, and her touch made my skin feel electric.

I dropped to my knees and my hands ran up her thighs, pushing the red satin over her hips. Her arousal was evident, engulfing, and teasing my senses. Knowing that she wanted this, that her body was as eager as mine, was the only encouragement I needed.

“Pull your dress off,” I murmured against her thigh as I trailed her skin with kisses. My tongue swept over her heated skin, toward her pussy, and I found myself becoming drunk on her scent. Her dress became a puddle of red satin on the floor beside me, and I took a moment to admire the barely-there black lingerie that caressed her body and wrapped her curves like a perfect gift. Ashlyn Hart was a fucking goddess.

Our eyes locked, then she gasped and dug her fingernails into my shoulder as I slowly slid her panties over her hips. I shifted forward, not breaking our gaze, and slid my tongue in one long, slow movement along her pussy. Her eyes slammed shut and her lips parted as she inhaled a desperate breath. With long, prominent strokes, I feasted on her like a king eating his prized meal.

“Josh, ahh, shit,” Ashlyn cried. Her fingers clutched onto my hair as she ground her pussy harder against my face.

I dipped my tongue inside her, before gently pulling her clit between my teeth. Her panting became frantic, and her movements fierce as she soared to heights of coming undone.

“Come on my tongue. Let me taste you,” I said in a growl against her.

My arms wrapped around her thighs, offering the support her body needed and, with one last suck of her clit, she shuddered hard against me with a low moan of my name.

I rose to my feet and lifted her in my arms. Her legs threaded around my hips, and her hooded eyes met mine as I walked us to my bedroom. No words were spoken, just the promise of our gaze.

In a tangle of limbs, we dropped to my bed. Our mouths found each other and her hands made short work of my shirt, before starting on my pants.

“Josh.” She sighed and hauled my body closer.

I pushed her legs apart with my knees and she opened willingly. Our breathing came out in pants, as neither of us wanted to break the connection of our kiss. I’d kiss this woman every day for the rest of my life if she’d let me. My erection rubbed against her pussy, and I groaned as I felt her arousal coat my desperate cock. Our bodies, as if they were both silently pleading, began frantically moving against one another. The air surrounding us electrified, and her small whimpers of pleasure only enticed me to drive further. I needed to fuck her, but I needed to give her something different than the other women I’ve shared a bed with. I needed to cherish her with my mouth as my body showed her my clear intent.

I broke the connection of our mouths, and grinned as she took a deep, ragged breath. My lips found her jaw, and I began kissing and nibbling my way down her neck in soft, sweeping movements. I moaned against her skin as her fingers raked through my hair. I fucking loved when she did that. I pulled down the top of her bra, the only clothing she had on, and pulled one of her peaked nipples into my mouth. Her body jerked from the bed with a loud sigh of my name. I continued swirling my tongue and grazing my teeth along her sensitive skin. The louder she moaned, the more I would feast.

“Wait!” Ashlyn wiggled her body slightly. “We need rules.”

Christ.

With a pop, I released her nipple and gazed down at her. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her lips swollen, and her hair messy and untamed. Fuck, she had never looked more beautiful.

“Name your terms. Quickly. I need to fuck you.”

Her gaze dropped to my mouth. “No emotions. Just friends. No awkwardness. One time only.”

She could not be serious.

“I don’t agree to all of those terms.”

“What!” she shrieked with eyes wide in shock.

“Once I have your pussy, I’m going to want it again.” I leaned down and my lips trailed her jaw, then I licked my way up to her ear.

She shuddered below me, and I knew this conversation would be over very quickly.

“One time only is all I can offer,” she muttered, hesitation sprinkling her words.

“I’ll just have to work harder for it.”

“Josh, agree.”

“Do you want my cock?” I asked as I rubbed the tip of my cock over her highly-reactive clit.

“Fuck, holy shit, you.” Her eyes slammed shut and her hips moved, pressing her clit harder against my cock.

I was ready to explode. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. We’re done talking.”

My lips crashed to hers, and her body lifted from the bed. Ashlyn’s lips opened as she took a desperate breath, and my tongue slid into the warmness of her mouth. Her sigh seduced me into kissing her harder. I craved her taste. Her hands feverishly ran up my back, and I hissed as her nails dug into my flesh. My hand skimmed down her body, over her hips, across her stomach, and slid between us. I didn’t give her any warning before I drove two fingers deep inside her soaked pussy. Her reaction was immediate, and her lips left mine as she cried my name.

“So fucking wet.” I groaned as I thrust my fingers feverishly. The sound of her wetness slapping against them was incredible, and it echoed around us. “Fuck my fingers, Ashy. Get yourself close, because I’m ready to fuck you so hard that you forget your name.”

Her whimpers and cries collided perfectly. Her body shifted as she rode my fingers, and her eyes latched fiercely onto mine. My cock strained and begged for relief, and I knew the moment I slid into her I wouldn’t last long. I needed her close to erupting around my fingers so that we could come together. This would be a hard, fast, and intense fucking. This was five years of waiting. Five years of craving. There would be no time for slow, delicate movements, romance, or soft kisses. I wanted to mark her, to kiss her lips until they bruised, and I wanted her body feeling exactly where I had been so she’d forget the fucked up rule about this being a one-time-only thing. Once I had her, I’d have her again, and I’d make sure she’d be the one begging for it.

“Squeeze my fingers with your pussy, think they are my cock.”

“Josh, please. I’m going to come,” she cried with vigor.

“Beg for my cock.” I removed my fingers, and her eyes flew open in utter plea. “What do you want, Ashlyn?”

“Stop being a tease and fuck me. You have me where you want me, so do it. Fuck me, Josh, and do it now.”

My cock edged her pussy, and before I claimed her yet again, I had to see her look at me. Her green eyes beamed with need and heat. They pleaded with me for what I could give her, and I knew mine were showing her just what this meant to me. Her body was like a prized treasure to me. There was nothing casual or random about this. This wasn’t about just getting pussy, this was about seeking and gaining everything my somewhat-stunted heart wanted. She was what I wanted and who I wanted for exactly five years. My most beautiful sacrifice was the woman below me.

I slid into her in one thrust. I stilled, allowing her body to accommodate my cock. Her pleas for me to move shook me back to reality, and I obeyed her. I thrust into her like this was my one and only chance. Her legs wrapped around my hips, and her heels dug into my ass as I pounded hard, fast, and deep. Her moans held hands with my groans as we skipped together to a paradise of pure unadulterated pleasure. I felt the walls of her pussy begin to squeeze my cock, and it took everything in my power not to unleash my come deep inside of her. She would come before me. Her nails continued to scrape down my back, and she met my every movement with a matching ferocity. Christ, our first time together had been fucking great, but this was fucking spectacular.

“Are you close, Ashy?” I breathed deeply and increased my pace. “Look at me when you come.”

“Josh, harder, please,” she begged.

Ashlyn’s wish would be my command. I grabbed hold of the headboard and pounded into her like I’d never done before. Her face showed me the intensity was exactly what she wanted, while her tits bounced in freedom.

“I’m com—”

With one final squeeze of my cock, her body shuddered below me and she screamed my name as an orgasm soared through her. I kept my movements steady as I watched this beautiful woman come undone. I felt the tightening in my stomach, the tingling sensation jab down my spine, and I knew I was seconds away from unloading my seed deep inside her. I wouldn’t do that until we had the talk. Just as I was about to come, I pulled out and spilled over her tits that were still heaving from her orgasm. With a grunt and a call of her name, I worked my cock with my hand until I was completely spent. Her gaze traveled down to her chest, and her lips twisted into a smirk. I collapsed onto the bed beside her, our legs tangled, and our breathing loud and broken.

“Fuck,” I muttered and turned to face her. “Perfect night, Ashy.”

“Second best night of my life,” she whispered. “Best night of my life was when I was nineteen.”

Hearing her say that did something to me. “Next time, I’ll be sure it’s the third best night of your life.”

“Josh.” She sighed.

“I’m a rule breaker, baby. Remember that.” I shot her a wink and tapped her nose lightly with my finger.

She shook her head while trying to hide a smile, and went to roll over into me, until she realized I was still all over her chest. I shot out of bed and walked to the bathroom, still sporting a half-erect cock. When I returned with a warm cloth, I stood beside the bed and gazed down at my come still tainting her tits and stomach. It was the best fucking sight in the world. Could I consider this marking my territory?

Ashlyn’s eyes turned deviant as she looked at up me. “I just realized something. You’ve tasted me, but I’ve never tasted you.”

My ability to speak was torn from me. As if in slow motion, Ashlyn ran her finger through my come and lifted it to her lips. My half-erect cock shot back to life when her finger disappeared between her lips, and she sucked with a low moan for good measure.

“Now we are even,” she whispered, and gave me a wink.

Like hell, we were even.

This was just the beginning, and I’d fight until she realized that.

MUSIC FILLED MY APARTMENT, soothing the chaotic thoughts that had been circling through my head since I snuck out of Josh’s bed. I had awoken to warmth that could never be provided by a comforter, and my body ached in places I never knew could ache. I had taken a few moments to memorize his face and bask in his features before I gently snuck out of his bed and covered my naked body with the shirt he wore during our night. Rushing through his apartment, I quietly grabbed the bag that held my toiletries, found my dress and panties, then quickly left and disappeared back into mine.

I had fallen asleep with Josh plenty of times, but not after having mind-blowing sex that resulted in multiple orgasms, an aching body, and lips that felt so swollen that I was rocking an Angelina Jolie pout. Josh gave me everything last night. It was completely different than what we experienced before, but it felt so right . . . too right. It was like slipping into your favorite pair of heels and feeling like you could take on the world. Josh made me feel like that, and as long as he was there, I could actually envision myself doing everything I had dreamed about. It was a surreal feeling—confusing, yet strangely beautiful.

After showering in my newly-renovated bathroom and regretfully washing away his scent, I pulled his shirt back on and was offered comfort all over again. I was functioning on autopilot, because I couldn’t think of anything other than Josh. Once upon a time I wouldn’t have hesitated in giving myself to Josh Crawford. I would have given him everything and more; whatever he asked for would have been his. But now I felt like damaged goods, like my parents and Lachlan destroyed my sense of entitlement to a happily-ever-after. Being told I wasn’t worthy of love or being good enough to stick around for had finally seeped so deep inside me that the one thing I wanted most in life was the one thing I realized I’d never have.

Josh could have been it for me. He could have been my forever, but we never got that chance. I had been a one-night stand to him; merely a girl he had slept with in college.

After our night, he stepped into the friend role and I was left wondering why. It took me a good two years to get over the feeling of not being enough for him and, though I learned to hide it well, I still lived with that fear today. Josh was the kind of guy that needed options, who craved variety and spontaneity, and I was just one girl. Recently, though, he had been treating me like I was his prized possession. But how long would that last? I would continue to refuse him access to my heart, but there was no hope in denying him my body. Last night confirmed that.

I stood absentmindedly in my kitchen and busied myself making my famous scrambled eggs. It was weird being back in my apartment, but I couldn’t stay away forever. Even though I had music playing, it was still too quiet. Distraction by food was the safest bet. As I stirred the eggy mixture and added shredded cheese, images of Josh on his knees hit me. Fuck, that man had a magical tongue, and boy did my body love it. Last night had been incredible. I still couldn’t get past the fact that he had taken me to Rosie’s. For someone who swears he doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body, he certainly showed true romance last night. All inhibitions were lost, all my fears forgotten, and I got lost in Josh. Tension that had been simmering between us exploded in the best possible way, and I had the aches to prove it.

“You left.”

The wooden spoon flew out of my hand and egg mixture splashed onto the bench as Josh’s voice hit me. I twisted around quickly, to find him leaning against the entrance to my kitchen, arms crossed over his chest, and a scowl taking over his face.

“I got hungry.”

“You are the world’s worst liar,” he scoffed, and stepped into the room. With every step he took, the distance between us dissolved and my lungs seized. “I woke up ready to have a lazy morning with you, and my bed was empty.”

I wanted that too.

“Do you want some eggs?” I stuttered, completely changing the subject, and once again transforming into a babbling mess. He had an effect on me like nothing else. “I’m making scrambled eggs, the ones you like.”

His eyes softened and he nodded quickly. “If having eggs will make you talk, then yes, I’ll have some eggs.”

How did I know he’d say that? I turned my back to him and started frantically beating the egg mixture. The heat of his body beside me held my attention and hitched my breathing. I loved the smell of freshly-showered Josh, and it was beaming off him and circling my senses. He hauled himself up onto the bench, and sat so his thighs were right beside the bowl.

“Last night changed things, Ashy.”

I froze mid stir, and my gaze rose to meet his. His face was placid, but his eyes determined, and I knew it was a dangerous combination.

“I can still feel you,” I admitted softly, deciding to throw caution to the wind and give him what he wanted. “My body aches. I’m fantastically exhausted, and standing here with you so close confuses the fuck out of me.”

“You can still feel me? Christ.”

A chuckle rose from my chest. What did he expect? He ruined me. The egg mixture became my focus once again, and I began to furiously beat. I had never been this focused on making breakfast before. Shit, at this rate I’d be whipping them into meringues instead of scrambled eggs. But with Josh staring at me, and with images of his fucking me flooding my thoughts, I had no control.

Josh jumped off the bench as silence churned around us. Was he leaving? Was that it? My head dropped in defeat, and I cursed under my breath. Since when had I lost the ability to talk around him? I get into his bed, he fucks me into oblivion, and suddenly I lose the ability to speak? For the second time in a matter of minutes, I jumped. Pressing his firm body against my back and threading his arms around my waist, Josh once against consumed me with his head and familiar scent. Wooziness hit me. Could you get a sex hangover? Was that even possible? All the signs were pointing to that: woozy, dry mouth, thumping head, desperate to scoff my face with naughty food? Shit, I was, hands down, suffering from a sex hangover brought on by Josh effing Crawford. I was done for.

Every inch of my body ignited, and being so close to him set off every pleasure point I had. Now that I had him again, my awareness of what he could do seemed to make me constantly ready and willing. Staying away just became so much harder. My head fell back and rested against his shoulder, and the tension taking over my body vanished. Josh placed his hand over mine, tangling our fingers together, and with slow, delicate movements, took over mixing the eggs. The movement of his hands became mechanical, structured, and mindless, while his attention fell squarely onto my neck as his mouth tasted and feasted on my sensitive skin. I sighed and felt heat soaring in my panties, as his tongue swept from my collarbone to my ear.

“I’ll never stop chasing you, Ashy. I will never stop wanting you. I will never stop craving you, and you will never stop tempting me. You need to stop with the thoughts that I know are in your head, because I am not him. His fuck up will be my greatest reward.”

My heart hammered in my chest. How could he read me so well? Lachlan was a constant reminder of why relationships and I would never work. It was like he was sitting on my shoulder, ready to dispel any thoughts I had of Josh.

“I can’t think like that,” I said, practically whimpering under the intensity of his words. “I have no regrets about last night, but I’m too scared of it happening again.”

“I’ll never make the same mistakes again.” His voice vibrated off my skin. “Five fucking years.”

I spun around in his arms and suddenly all inhibitions were lost, never to be found again. What did he mean? We were chest to chest, two hearts frantically beating and joining as one while I pressed hard into him. We stared at each other in silent communication, speaking the words that should be said but were held in a vortex of silence. There was so much I wanted to say to him. I wanted him to know everything that I was thinking. I was scared, I was panicked, but I was intrigued. I wanted him to know that he could take what he wanted, whenever he wanted, and I would never stop him as long as he never took my heart.

“I’ll never stop chasing, Ash, because now that I’ve had you again, I’ll be picking up the pace. What I want, I always get.”

Lightly, his lips touched the side of my mouth, missing my lips entirely, but leaving a lasting impression. The thought of him chasing me caused a shiver to run down my spine. Josh was ruthless. He was overly confident, and stubborn to boot, so I knew I was in for the ride of my life. I hadn’t realized I was gripping his shirt until he attempted to step away. I quickly let go and put some distance between us, then crossed my arms over my chest in fear that I’d reach out for him. His eyes traced my body, and a smirk flittered over his lips.

“My shirt looks good on you,” he said, and nodded in approval. “Really fucking good.”

I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “I’m keeping it.”

A smirk took over his handsome features, and with another roaming look over my body, he moved to me. “Last night was incredible, Ashy. No regrets, okay? It would destroy me if you had any regrets.”

“How can I regret something that made me feel so alive?”

Softness greeted his eyes and, without saying another word, he brushed his lips gently against mine, then left my apartment.

Three days later, I walked into the reception of Bangs and Beats with determination in my step, ready for a meeting with Ky. After a morning spent prepping myself for this visit and far too many cups of coffee, I felt like I could handle seeing Josh. For the past three days, I had been locked away from the world, working my ass off on the blog and putting in eighteen hour days. During those three days, I was also hiding from the reality of wanting him again. The ridiculous rules I made up seemed to be taunting me, because all I wanted to do was sneak into his apartment, pull down his sweatpants, and ride his cock like a cowgirl.

I was a hot mess of re-engaged hormones, sexually-stimulating orgasms, and a man who seemed determined to unravel me at a wickedly-insane rate.

It had been three days since he rocked my world, and there was still the slightest reminder of where he had been. It would seem that sometime during my begging for him to fuck me harder and faster, he had imprinted himself. Now if I moved a certain way, my body would scream “Josh was here.” I was ruined. Completely and utterly ruined. Trying to concentrate when all my mind wanted to do was replay the single, most erotic moment of my life—the image of Josh marking me when he unloaded his come onto my breasts, then claiming me with a grunt and the words “You’re mine, Ash”—was beautifully hellish.

I tore myself from going down memory lane for what seemed like the hundredth time, then stepped out of the elevator when I reached the fourteenth floor and headed straight for Ky’s office. After knocking once, I opened the door and stepped into his overly-large corner office, with views that made me constantly green with envy.

He was sitting behind his desk, tapping away mindlessly on his laptop, and his head snapped up at the intrusion. The narrowing of his eyes disbanded when his gaze locked onto mine.

“You’re early,” he announced happily, and rose from his desk. With two large strides, he was in front of me and pulling me in for a side hug.

“Want to grab some lunch before the meeting?” I asked, returning his hug.