Page 97 of Not Safe for Work

“The HR department is going to lose its mind,” I gasp.

He lets out a low, dark chuckle as he unhooks my bra, still grinding his knee between my legs.

“When you’re done, I lay you on my desk, where you spread your legs, and I feast on your pussy until you’re a quivering, boneless mess.”

I wonder if you can orgasm just from the sound of a man’s voice?

“You really thought about that?”

“Intensely,” he replies with a smile. “Do you have a fantasy, Tris?”

I look away, suddenly self-conscious, but he catches my chin and directs my gaze back to him, his lush brown eyes full of determination. “Tell me.”

I bite my lip and give him a shy smile. “I pictured you as an evil villain dressed in black,” I say, and I can tell he’s already enjoying this. “You’d sling me over your shoulder and steal me away to your stone tower or your high-tech lair, where you’d have your way with me.”

He’s grinning now. “Oh, we are definitely making that happen. Airbnb must include villainous lair as a search option.” I sputter out a laugh that comes up short because that’s a future plan, which means he’s thinking about us beyond this room and this resort, and I can pretend all I want, but I kind of like the sound of that.

I want to let go. I want to let him in. Maybe I’m ready for that.

But then we’re interrupted by the buzzing of his phone. He digs into the jeans hanging off his hips and pulls it out. I catch the flash of Hannah’s name on the screen, and he silences it and tosses it on the nearby counter.

“Sorry about that.” He leans in again, but I place a hand against his chest, holding him back.

“She calls you a lot.”

“I’m sorry. There’s nothing going on with her, I promise.”

I stand up straighter, pressing my palms to the door at my back.

“Clearly something is going on, Rafe.”

He’s about to respond, but I don’t give him the chance, not sure I want to hear what comes out of his mouth. I was wrong about giving this a chance. It’s safer if I just keep my feelings out of this and let this be casual and temporary.

“Never mind. It’s fine. We’re just having fun, right? We agreed. This is a Hawaii thing only. It’s none of my business.”

There. I wipe away everything real, like the lines on a chalkboard.

He tilts his head, searching my face. “Is that really what you want?”

“Yes. I’m already breaking my rule about getting involved with anyone at work.”

His brows furrow at that. “Why won’t you date someone at work?”

“Because it’s… a bad idea.”

His expression of confusion deepens. “I don’t understand. We wouldn’t be breaking any rules. There are tons of couples who met at the office.”

I pin him with as stern a look as I can, considering I’m mostly naked. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” He cups the side of my face, his eyes brimming with concern. “What happened?”

My mouth opens and then closes. I’ve kept this story so close to my chest, but maybe it’s time to come clean. I’ve lived in fear of everyone’s judgment, but if I tell Rafe, his horrified reaction might be what I need to break away from this infatuation.

So, I tell him about Leo. All of it. How we dated and he lied to me. And about how he betrayed me and violated my privacy, leaving me to the wolves.

“They called me a ladder-climbing slut and… so many other vile things I can’t even repeat,” I say, trying to steady my voice.

Rafe clenches his jaw, his eyes flashing. He places his palms on either side of my head and leans in. “He broke the law, Tris. None of that was your fault. Please tell me you went to the police.”