“And he and I have been attracted for years.”

“Yet you’ve never done anything about this attraction before. So why now?”

She dragged her fingernail along the armrest of the couch, staring intently at the fabric. “Well, because of you. When I started seeing you, it made us realize that the barriers keeping us apart—the age difference, the fact that he’s my boss—don’t really matter.”

Wait a minute. He was her boss? She was involved with Adam Rawlins?

Fuck, why did it have to be Adam?

*   *   *

Adam watched Ashley working studiously at her desk as he approached. He’d been dying to see her since he’d left her on Sunday morning. Wanting to hold her in his arms again. To feel her soft hair against his cheek. He wanted to taste her sweet mouth as he plundered her lips.

And he didn’t want to wait until this evening to do it.

“Ashley,” he said as he stood facing her desk.

She glanced up, startled. “Oh, Adam. Good morning.”

Her voice sounded strained and her gaze flickered away from his. Was she nervous about their relationship in the office? Maybe she was hoping they’d keep it quiet.

“I need to see you in my office,” he said, keeping his boss face on.

“Okay.” She stood up and followed him to his door.

Once inside, he turned. “Close the door.”

She closed it, then with a stern expression on his face, as if he’d called her in here to lecture her, he walked toward her. Slowly.

“I heard about something that happened this weekend.”

She gazed at him uncertainly. “You did?”

“That’s right. About you and a man.”

Her eyes widened. She shook her head. “I…”

God, she seemed nervous.

“You know, office romances can be tricky things.” He stopped in front of her and stroked her cheek. “But you and I have history, and a deep friendship. I know we’ll be fine. But if you want to keep it quiet for a while, then we can do that.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Hell, no. I’m happy to shout it from the rooftops.” He grinned. “We could put it on the front page of the magazine.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, gliding his tongue deep into her mouth and stroking until he felt her melt against him. His hand slid to the small of her back and he pulled her tight to his hips, his cock already growing for her. Ready to slide inside her.

He spun her around and backed her to the wall, then pressed her to it. He continued to kiss her, her head pressed to the wall as he grabbed her wrists and drew them over her head, then pinned them there with one hand.