A/N
Disclaimer - Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, I'm just messing around in her stationery cupboard ;-)
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As always, special thanks to my beta, Trip, for working her magic and for her support.
It's time for Bossward & Assistella to get back to grindstone...
BPOV
In stark contrast to what I'm rapidly considering the best weekend of my life, I've hit Monday morning with a bump. My fingers tremble slightly as I attempt to pull up the fiddly zip on my shift dress and I try not to panic about how I'm going to act when I have to see and speak to Edward, in front of an office full of people, without letting a single soul realise there is something going on between us.
Edward seems irritatingly unruffled by the entire thing. When Jasper arrived at his apartment I just about had a heart attack, not helped by the fact that I had been in the process of drifting into a delicious sleep in the arms of the man who had just delivered the best orgasm I've ever had.
I had stood and eavesdropped at the bedroom doorway and it soon became pretty clear that Jasper wouldn't be leaving any time soon. I briefly considered hiding but I had no idea how long Jasper was going to be here and I couldn't hide forever. Plus Edward's loft is entirely open plan - you can practically see the entire bedroom just from glancing up the open staircase so I'd be surprised if Jasper hadn't already spotted me where I was pressed behind the door, wrapped in Edward's bed sheet.
I hastily located my panties, threw my crumpled dress back on and ran my hands through my hair to little effect; it was still sticking up all over the place in a very obvious way. I couldn't resist a small smile; damn Edward and his hair-obsessed hands.
Deep breath.
Stop being a coward, Swan, and get the fuck down there.
Judging by the snippets of conversation I could hear it sounded like Jasper had more to worry about than the girl creeping out of Edward's bedroom anyway. As soon as I moved one step towards the door though a floorboard creaked loudly and I heard Jasper say, in somewhat of a stage whisper.
"Shit, sorry mate, do you have a bird here? Is that why you took so long to answer the door?"
"Ah well, yeah. It's not like that but yeah." Edward stammered in reply and I tried not to focus too closely on what he meant by "not like that."
With as much dignity as this situation allowed, which wasn't much, I descended the stairs. As soon as Jasper glanced up and saw me his face broke into the most terribly knowing grin, which he turned to Edward briefly and back to me.
"Well, what do you know?" he exclaimed while I stood beside Edward wearing a sheepish half-smile. "Fancy seeing you here, Miss Swan."
"Hi, Jasper," I said quietly, glancing at Edward who appeared to be repressing a smile. The cocky bastard.
Later, when Jasper was sleeping on the couch and I was back in Edward's bed, I had tried to explain why I really didn't think it was a good idea for anyone to know about this at work.
"I'll be fired, Edward."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course you won't, don't be ridiculous."
"I've been here two months and I'm sleeping with my superior! Well I'm not actually, you know, but you know, anyway -"
My face flushed red with embarrassment at the situation and shame at my sexual inadequacies which, thanks to the poor timing of Jasper's arrival, we still hadn't really discussed.
"Sweetheart," Edward said calmly. "First of all, no one at work has to find out, I've told you J won't breathe a word. Secondly, even if they did you would not be sacked. If anyone's going to be in trouble it will be me and even then I don't think Aro would have to balls to take it too far. He likes my monthly figures too much." He grins, confident.
"What would happen then?" I ask.
Edward looks uncertain. "To be completely honest, I don't really know but two members of the Accounts team actually live together and I'm fairly certain they met at Volturi, so I'm sure it's fine."
"But would they still let me work as your assistant? I mean, wouldn't that be a conflict of interest?"
A shadow of doubt crossed his face. "Hmmm...you might have a point there, and that would be horrible. If they reassigned you to someone else my jealous streak would be completely unbearable for you..." I felt his smile against my throat when he kissed it softly, pulling my body closer to his under the warm covers.
Before I became distracted by his magical lips I said. "So you agree then? We'll keep this, whatever this is, a secret for now?"
Edward pulled back and looked into my eyes, grazing my cheek with his knuckles. "Yes, baby, if that's what you want. But I just want you to know that "whatever this is" between us is definitely something and I'm very happy about it. So happy in fact that keeping a distance from you at work is going to be quite a challenge."
It then occurred to me that I would be spending all day watching him, talking to him, listening to him but not being able to lay my hands on him and it did seem like a pretty difficult task. It was bad enough before when I was so crazy attracted to him, I could hardly think straight when he was around without my brain slipping in to endless fantasies. But now I don't have to fantasise, I know how his mouth tastes and how his hands and lips feel all over my body yet I still have to type his meeting notes without jumping his bones. A challenge indeed.
Not to mention of course that I suspect the way we dashed out of that bar on Friday night did not go unnoticed. Jess's eyes were practically burning into us when we were dancing, at the time I couldn't think of anything besides Edward's embrace and his warm breath on my cheek, but now I realise it must have looked fairly obvious when we ran out without saying goodbye.
If I'm being honest these aren't the only reasons I'm feeling anxious this morning. Saturday night was incredible and Edward made me feel things that Jake had never even come close to before. However, despite my hopes, I'm unable to deny that when he put his finger inside me I clearly hadn't been miraculously healed. A part of me had been hoping that the sheer strength of my desire for him would overpower my condition but I think deep down I always knew that was a long shot. The therapist had explained that this was a repeated psychological behaviour that was now deeply ingrained in my subconscious and would take time, willpower and perseverance to overcome. More than just a gorgeous man, then.
This left two more worries in its wake. Firstly, despite all the wonderful things Edward had told me and how incredibly safe I feel with him, I still don't think he really grasps the enormity of this problem and what it could mean for any relationship we might have.
Secondly, contrary to my determination on Friday night to leave Edward well alone, everything has now changed. I want to be with him so much, so badly. When he landed on my doorstep in the rain, all the feelings I had been harbouring for him these last few weeks were unleashed and now there is no way I can put them back in the box and that terrifies me. This leaves one option - I have to get fixed. I have to take whatever is wrong with me and find a way to make it better, before I lose him.
This is a lot of hard thinking for a Monday morning.
The urge to see Edward, alone, and have him hold me and kiss away my worries is strong but we agreed that we shouldn't travel or arrive together today, so as not to make suspicions worse. Plus he needed to go in early today anyway.
With a heavy heart, I finish dressing, grab my bag and head for the front door. That's when I see the small piece of card on the mat. I reach down to pick it up and realise it's a postcard version of Dali's Persistence of Memory. My heart leaps when I study the picture of the strange melting clocks and realise there is only one person who could have slipped this through my door. I flip it over in my hand to read the message.
Bella,
When we're together I want all the clocks to melt so that time can just stand still for us. Thank you for the most wonderful weekend and for bringing a side of me to the surface I had long forgotten.
I can't wait to see you.
Edward x
PS Stop panicking about how things will be at work!
I can't help the wide smile on my face when I hug the postcard to my chest, my heart pounding beneath it. I don't know what I did to deserve this man but I'm through questioning it. Suddenly I can't wait to get to work - because that is where he is.
Unfortunately the Edward waiting for me at Volturi is not the same one I've spent my weekend with. I quietly sit down at my desk and try to casually watch him through the glass of his closed office door. Headset on and pacing angrily around the room, he is clearly not happy with whatever the caller is telling him. I'm desperate to know what's going on but I know better than to go in there right now.
Is it possible to sense a smirk before you see it? Because I feel like Jessica's is boring into my skull.
"Good morning, Bella!" she grins knowingly as she collapses down at her desk opposite me.
"Hi Jess."
"Did you have a lovely weekend?" Her face is a picture of innocence but her tone is entirely disingenuous.
"Yes thank you. Did you?"
She ignores my enquiry. "What happened to you on Friday night? You and Ed slipped off pretty sharpish."
Don't blush don't blush don't blush.
I reach quickly for the lie Edward and I agreed. "Oh I wasn't feeling well. Too much champagne, you know? Anyway, Edward just took me outside for some fresh air and helped me find a cab."
Jess raises an eyebrow. "But he didn't come back in. I mean, he lives near you, doesn't he? If he wasn't going to return to the party then he may as well have just shared your cab. Don't you think?" She looks awfully triumphant.
"I don't know, Jess. I don't know what his plans were. Maybe he went to meet someone or something."
"He didn't tell you what he was doing?"
"Why would he tell me? I'm not his keeper, and neither are you. What does it matter?"
She still looks sceptical but also resigned to the fact that she won't be getting anything out of me today.
She casts a glance in the direction of Edward's office. "What's up with our lord and master this morning anyway? He's wearing a hole in the carpet."
Relieved to be on safer ground–albeit temporarily–I reply, "I don't know. I just got here."
"Guess his weekend can't of been that good then, eh?" She smirks before dashing off to the coffee machine.
Jesus. This is going to suck, I am the most awful liar.
I'm checking my emails when Angela comes over. More interrogation?
"Morning, Bella."
"Hi, good weekend?" I ask quickly.
"Yes, great thank you. Did you have fun at the party?" I don't miss the quick glance she shoots in Edward's direction.
"Yes, definitely. It all seemed to go well." I go for a pre-emptive strike. "Sorry I didn't say goodbye when I left the bar. I wasn't feeling well."
She stares at me for a second then smiles kindly. "No problem. Are you are feeling better now?"
Thank you, Angela.
"Yes, much. Just too much to drink."
Angela looks like she wants to say something else on the topic but thinks better of it. She is clearly nothing like Jessica and I couldn't be more grateful for that.
"Anyway, the reason I came over was to ask if you wanted to go for a drink tonight with me and some of the other PAs?"
Grateful to her for further extending the hand of friendship I agree to go.
Jessica returns and I sense she wants to interrogate me some more but fortunately she is interrupted by a muffled yell from Edward's office and the sound of a stress ball flying across the room.
"Uh oh, Psycho Eddie alert." she mutters, quickly appearing busy.
The door to his office crashes open somewhat violently and Edward leans out looking beyond irritated. My heart leaps at suddenly seeing him close up and also at the slightly crazed look in his eye.
"Can you come in here please? Both of you." He looks from Jess to me and I notice how he holds my gaze for just a moment longer, his expression softening briefly before he dashes back inside and Jess and I scurry after him.
"Shut the door," he says, settling back behind his desk.
"Um, what's wrong, boss?" Jess asks tentatively.
Edward runs a hand through his hair. "I've just had Michael Coleman on the phone. His HR department are interfering in the project, specifically some bitch called Jane. She has asked to see our status reports and is now saying we're not producing results quick enough."
"But we've provided a shortlist of six within the last month. Isn't that quicker than we promise?" I ask.
When he looks at me I can't help my heart from racing, in spite of the nature of our conversation and Jessica being only two feet to my left.
"It is, and I think even Coleman knows that, but these days HR are getting way too much power for my liking and they seem to be calling the shots."
"Well that's ridiculous," Jess snorts. "It's his bloody company!"
Edward shrugs, sighs. "I know but that's just how it is. I see it all the time." He leans forward. "But, I'm telling you, this isn't good news. HR do not understand how retained headhunting works. They are only used to dealing with high street recruiters and they are all about pound signs. They'll do whatever they can to try to prove we're not delivering what was contracted so they can get out of paying fees."
"So what do we do?" I ask.
"Prove that we are doing what was promised. Michael has signed a contract so we just need to show we're holding up our end of the bargain. He and this Jane will be here at 11am for a meeting to discuss progress. Can you be available?"
"Of course," Jessica says.
"Bella?"
I frown at him. "You want me in the meeting?" The only client contact Demetri ever allowed me was delivering the coffee.
"Of course I do. You know the candidates, you know the status of the assignment possibly better than anyone since you oversee all the day-to-day interactions. Plus this is HR - they are bound to want paper trails, specific dates, and all that stuff."
"Oh. Okay. Sure." I'm flattered but already doubting myself. Is there anything I have forgotten to do on this project that could affect things for Edward?
"Jess, be ready. They'll want to go through your search reports with a fine-tooth comb I'd imagine."
"You got it." Jess nods confidently.
"Okay, thanks, that's all. Bella, can you hang back for a second?"
Jessica exits, but not without a quick glance between us. She closes the door behind her at least, although I wouldn't be that surprised if she'd bugged us.
I sit down opposite Edward and watch as he sighs and drags his fingers through his hair again, it's getting more wild that usual.
He meets my eyes and smiles for the first time that morning.
"Hi," he says quietly.
I blush of course and smile back.
"Hi,"
"I'm sorry I'm a grump today."
"Don't be silly, you have good reason. This HR woman sounds hideous."
"Yeah I think she is. Even Michael didn't seem keen and he employed her! It's just..." he pauses, thoughtful.
"This project has to go well, I need it to be a success." He looks conflicted. "I can't really explain right now but it's important."
I'm curious but I guess he has his reasons so I just say "Sure."
He leans forward a little. "Did anyone say anything this morning? About Friday?"
"Just Jess. She should work for the Interrogation Squad."
"What did you tell her?"
"What we agreed."
Edward nods slowly. "Listen, we don't have to do it this way. I can go to Aro, explain the situation."
I shake my head quickly. "No no, please don't. It's fine. Let's just keep it quiet until, well, until we know what's going to happen."
"You still think I'm going to run away from this, don't you?" Edward asks sadly.
I shrug. "No. I just...let's just play it by ear okay?"
"Alright," he says. He smiles gently at me and my heart races.
"Thank you for your postcard, by the way."
His smile widens. "You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it. And...I meant it." I notice the slight blush high on his cheeks and it takes all my willpower not to leap across the desk and into his lap.
He continues to stare at me, smiling, before glancing out the glass wall to the rest of the office. I follow his gaze and notice at least four different pairs of eyes trying to sneak casual glances at us.
"We have an audience."
"Yeah," he says, softly, green eyes twinkling. "So you should go before I forget myself and kiss you."
Please kiss me.
"Yep," I say. He gives me one last look and I walk out as casually as I can.
Jess leaps on me like a Rottweiler.
"What was that all about?"
"What?"
"What were you chatting about?"
"The same thing we talk about every day, Jess. Work, priorities, today's tasks."
She nods, grinning. "Sure. You're thorough, I know. Every morning you chat with him, he gives you instructions and you take diligent notes."
"Yeah...?" Where is she going with this?
"Except...well your notebook is right there on your desk, and today you didn't write anything down."
Damn, she's right. I look at the offending notebook sitting innocently unused on my desk and scramble for another lie.
This is going to be a very long day.
At 11am sharp my internal line buzzes.
"Bella Swan."
"Hi, Bella. Michael and Jane from Coleman & Son are here for Mr Cullen."
"Thanks, I'll be right down."
I alert Edward and Jess, straighten my dress and head down to reception.
"Good morning, Bella." Michael greets me warmly, grasping my hand. "This is my colleague, Jane."
A slightly apprehensive look crosses his face and I take in his tiny companion. Well under five feet and thin to the point of brittle, she is wearing a grey pant suit and black ankle boots with the scariest pointed toes and spike heels I've ever encountered. I briefly wonder if she uses them to kick men in the testicles, as her terrifying expression would suggest. She is wearing her blonde hair scraped back which only makes her skull-like face even more severe. I wouldn't want to get stuck in a lift with this chick.
"Nice to meet you," I say, extending my hand.
She glances at it for a beat longer than is polite before shaking it briskly.
"Follow me please," I say, leading them up to our floor.
Edward and Jessica are waiting in the meeting room and introductions are made. Jessica's bright 'corporate smile' garners little more than a sneer from Jane.
Edward takes control. "So, first things first, would you like to see this week's status report? We can go through point by point what stage we are at with each candidate and -"
Jane cuts him off with the lift of her bony hand. "All I need, Mr Cullen, is to understand exactly what we are paying you for?"
There is a beat of silence in which Jess and I exchange a glance before Edward gathers himself and launches into his highly efficient sales pitch detailing the value of executive search over contingency recruitment, and the details of the contract he and Michael agreed in advance. It all seems fairly straightforward, to me at least.
"But what I want to know is, why has it taken a month to receive details of these candidates? Why were they not sent as and when they were engaged with and why so few?"
I watch Edward's jaw tighten. This is exactly what he was talking about earlier. She clearly just isn't on board with the concept of the headhunting style of recruitment.
"As I'm sure Michael has explained, the reason there are only six candidates currently in the frame is because Volturi take control of making sure you only receive the best the market has to offer. We have already screened dozens of candidates and offered you ones who best match the brief Michael gave us."
"So we pay you an up front fee before work even begins?"
"Yes, that's how it works." I don't miss Edward's glance in Michael's direction and quite right too. Why on earth hasn't he explained all this to Crazy Jane?
"And what advantage does this give us over using, as you put it, a 'high street recruiter'?" Jane looks at Edward sternly and I would very much like to shove my pen in her beady eye.
Edward is unruffled though. "By retaining our services up front you guarantee a much more thorough and lengthy research focus verses a non-retained recruiter who, as they have no guaranteed fee, will run a quick search on their database and then give up."
Temporarily subdued Jane moves on. "Overview aside, I can't say I'm overly impressed with your delivery so far either. Where are the detailed reports? Why are the resumes not uploaded onto our online portal? What is holding up the interview arrangements?"
Hold up, Missy. That's my domain and that's handled.
I clear my throat. "Excuse me, I can assure you all the information has both been sent to Michael's assistant and uploaded to your intranet."
Jane looks at me with disdain. "I checked just this morning and there were holes everywhere."
I swallow. "Well there must be an IT problem at your end I'm afraid. They were sent. Similarly, I have been chasing your HR Assistant for two weeks for interview availability but haven't had a response."
"Impossible," Jane shakes her tiny head. "I spoke to her just this morning and she says she's heard nothing from any of you."
This is bullshit, and I can prove it.
"Mr Cullen," Jane is saying. "Perhaps it is your assistant who is at fault and has not sent us the information."
Oh that mini-bitch is going down.
"Now, wait a minute -" Edward begins but I interrupt in the calmest voice I can muster. "Excuse me, Mr Cullen. Can I please step outside to check this information?"
"Of course, Bella," he says, shooting me a comforting glance.
I scoot out of the conference room and practically run down to my desk. Five minutes and a whirl of the printer later I'm headed back armed with ammunition.
I can tell instantly on my return that Edward is beginning to lose his cool. Hold it together, baby.
"Mr Coleman, can I show you these documents?" I purposely address Michael over Jane. Jane flaps her hand in my direction anyway.
"Here are the receipt notifications that every report and resume was successfully uploaded to your system. Here are the initial emails I sent to your HR team requesting interview information for candidates and here are the several subsequent emails I have been periodically sending when I received little feedback. I can assure you, sir, Volturi has been very pro-active in this assignment."
Nobody speaks for a beat and I catch Edward biting his lip to hide a smile. Michael leafs through the print-outs I gave him before turning to Jane and speaking for the first time.
"It seems Bella is correct. I can only assume there is a problem in your team that we will address back at the office."
Jane's scrawny face has fallen as she quickly scans the papers for herself. For the first time she appears lost for words. Jess sends a wink my way while their backs are turned.
"The rest of your queries have been answered by the contract and by Edward I believe."
Crestfallen, Jane says "Yes, Mr Coleman."
"Ed, I'm sorry for wasting your time and for the hold up with this assignment. Rest assured, I will be addressing the internal issue and sending information to Bella ASAP."
"Thank you." Edward says a little stiffly, but his eyes are dancing. "Here, I'll show you out."
Once he's led them away Jess can barely contain herself.
"That was fucking awesome, Bella!" she almost shouts. "You sure showed that bitch."
I grin. "Yeah I guess I did. Listen I'm just going to take some copies of these for the file in case anything comes up again, okay?" In reality I need a couple of minutes alone in the copy room to stop shaking.
I'm heading down the corridor when a grinning Edward stops in front of me and grabs my hand.
"Come with me," he whispers, with a glance around the deserted hallway. He pulls us further down and into a room I've never been before. It's dark inside and his mouth is on mine as soon as the door slams shut.
After the initial surprise I relax into his touch and revel in being able to be close to him again. He presses his body tightly against mine and coils a hand into my hair.
After several minutes of feverish kissing he pulls away to stare at me in the half-light. His eyes are bright green flames.
"Baby, that was brilliant," he says, trailing his fingers down the back of my neck. "So fucking efficient..." he murmurs, brushing soft kisses against my throat.
I giggle breathlessly, pushing my hands inside his suit jacket and around to his back to pull him closer. He groans softly when his groin brushes mine.
He mutters in my ear. "That was so hot, seeing you defend yourself, defend us. It was all I could do not to throw you down on the desk there and then."
"I just...I didn't like how she was talking to you."
He pulls back to look at my face again and smiles. "I know, Sweetheart, I didn't like how she was talking to you either. Trying to blame you, the fucking bitch."
I take the break in Edward's delicious assault on my senses to gather myself and check out my surroundings. Dark, musty and apparently surrounded by rows and rows of switches and cables.
"Where are we?"
"Comms room," Edward says. "Don't worry, nobody comes in here except IT support and that's only when there's a problem."
He places two quick kisses on my lips and hugs me closer to him. "I'm sorry for manhandling you into here, I just had to be alone with you for a minute."
"I'm not complaining," I tell him, running a hand through his insane hair.
"Thank you," he says softly. "For being an awesome PA. Not to mention the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"Um, you're welcome?" I giggle nervously, suddenly very aware that we're alone in a hot, confined space and his body is so close and feels so right and smells so good...
He stares at me for a second, breathing slightly heavy. He slowly slides his eyes down the length of my body, and I shiver as if it were a touch.
"I haven't even told you yet how amazing you look today," he says softly, running his fingertips gently down my side and across my stomach. I feel goosebumps raise under my clothes in the wake of his touch.
"This dress is criminally sexy." He strokes the fabric of my grey shift dress at my hip. He pulls the shoulder strap aside and leans forward to gently suck my collarbone. I can't help the breathy moan that escapes my lips. His right hand travels further down from my hip, over the skirt of the dress until he reaches bare skin.
"And no stockings or tights today..." he whispers.
"It's hot, Edward." I whisper back, stupidly.
He chuckles against my throat. "Yes it is!"
His hand moves to the back of my bare thigh and all I can think about is feeling his touch between my legs.
He moves his mouth to mine and takes my bottom lip between his teeth pulling gently. We kiss while he draws lazy, teasing circles on my leg with his index finger.
I pull him closer to me, kiss him harder and he groans into my mouth. He suddenly lifts my leg and hooks it over his hip, then moves his fingers nearer and nearer to where I need him. He pauses when he reaches my panties, gathering the material at my hip in his fist.
He tugs gently. "What would you say if I tore these in half right now and kept them in my pocket all day?"
My breath hitches and I try to make sense of a mind that's turned to mush.
"Um, I'd say that was incredibly hot but also that I'm going out tonight straight from work and I'm not sure how you'd feel about me walking around commando in a crowded bar."
"Hmmm, how well you know me, Miss Swan. Yes there is no way I'm letting you close to other men like that."
He pauses, I feel his breath in my ear and then -
"Well I guess this will have to do then."
He slips his fingers inside my underwear and circles my clit. I cry out in surprise and arousal and he quickly places his mouth back on mine to swallow my sounds.
"Edward, what are you doing?" I gasp out, even though it's pretty obvious.
His voice is a throaty growl.
"I'm making you come."
Holy fuck. This man and his mouth.
I try to keep a hold of my rapidly dissolving thoughts.
"Someone might come in!" I whisper/shriek.
He quickens his motions and pulls back to stare at me, his eyes intense but his lips twitching in the slightest hint of a smirk.
"Come quickly then."
Jesus.
He continues his rapid ministrations, somehow gentle and rough at the same time. I kiss him and wrap my hand around the back of his head. I reach my other hand out and grip on whatever is there which happens to be a bunch of cables.
He slips his fingers down a little.
"So wet, Bella. Do you like being in here, like this? Does it turn you on?"
"You," I gasp. "Just you turn me on."
"You too, baby," he whispers. "Just watching you from my desk drives me crazy."
He uses his free hand to gather my hair into a ponytail in his fist. "Did you wear your hair loose on purpose today? For me? To drive me crazy?"
"Yes," I admit.
"Naughty girl," he murmurs, slipping one finger slowly inside me.
"Wow!" he exclaims, before realising where he is and lowering his voice again. "You feel so much more open today, baby." I can feel his smile against my throat.
I can only assume it's because I want Edward inside me in a way I never wanted Jake.
He moves his finger in and out of me while brushing my clit over and over with his thumb and my orgasm is suddenly right there.
Yes yes yes yes.
It takes all my willpower not to cry it out loud.
"That's it, Bella. Come on, baby..." Edward says in the softest of whispers.
I push harder against is hand and fall off the edge. The cry in my throat is suddenly cut off when he puts his free hand over my mouth. Oh my god.
Trembling I slowly regain my senses. He pulls me close and kisses my head.
"So beautiful," he murmurs. I wrap my arms around him and realise there are cables loose now where I had been gripping. I glance down and realise it's way too dark for me to have any idea how they go back in. Shit, I really hope they weren't connecting anything important.
I'm aware of Edward's erection still grazing my hip and slip my hand down towards it but he grabs my wrist and shakes my head.
"No, Sweetheart. We have to get back out there. DCI Jess will be sending the rumour mill into overdrive."
I nod. "Later?"
He grins. "What do you reckon?"
I smile back and then realise I have to actually go back to my desk now.
"I can't believe you did that. Look at the state of me now!" I tease.
Edward gives me an exaggerated leer and says, "I think you look amazing. Do you have any idea how difficult it will be to keep this hard-on at bay when I look at the flush on your face and chest and know that I put it there?"
I seriously can't stop smiling. Bad Bella.
"Okay, now off you go." Edward says, slapping my ass playfully and reaching for the door handle. "I'll stay here for a second until things, um, calm down. And so we get back separately."
"Okay," I say, planting one more quick kiss on his lips. I straighten my clothes and somehow remember to grab my abandoned photocopies before slipping out of the door.
Thankfully the corridor is still deserted and I make my way back to my desk on shaky legs. I stop briefly at the ladies room to check my reflection and run my hands over my hair. I can't help grinning at myself in the mirror. You're a long way from Forks now, Bella Swan.
Predictably, Jess is at her desk and ready to pounce when I get back.
"What took you so long?" She asks, brow furrowed.
"Paper jam," I lie smoothly. Hell, I'm getting better at this!
"You look a little...flushed." Jess remarks, eyeing me pointedly.
Don't you dare smile, Swan.
"You know how stuffy it gets in there." I suddenly notice her casual stance, leaning back on her chair, magazine in hand.
"What's going on, anyway? Why aren't you working?"
"Oh there's a problem with the Internet and the server went down. Something must have been disconnected or something."
Fuuuck.
A/N
Pervert that I am, I'm now kinda desperate to know about your sexiest office encounters. I've never personally had a fling with a colleague, I have a couple of friends who keep me entertained though - one is clearly a traditional girl and went for the stationery cupboard and another used to meet her beau for funtimes in the stairwell! Until they found out about the CCTV that is...
Please regale me with your stories and maybe I can turn it in to a futuretake? ;-)
A few more days left to donate to Fandom4Heros if you want a peek inside Ed's head during Chapter 10 and, in other news, I'm donating a one-shot to Fandom4Children too (summary below).
Red Elephants - A vacation in Kenya brings Bella face to face with a lot more than the big cats when a gorgeous philanthropist crosses her path. Can one trip change your life forever? AH. E&B. Rated M for language and lemons.
You can donate here - fandom4children. blogspot. com
Thank you
Amber x