Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
My heart instantly switched sides with my mind, beating hard and fast like this bastard hadn’t just fired all of us.
“I want to talk to you about what happened earlier,” he said, “so I need to come inside.”
“There’s nowhere for you to sit.”
“I’m asking you nicely.”
“No, you’re demanding nicely.” I crossed my arms. “I’m no longer your employee, which means you’re officially a stranger, so ask me and I’ll consider it.”
He stood on my steps without saying a word, waiting for me to fold.
“Okay, suit yourself.” I started to shut the door, but he wedged his foot between the frame and grabbed my hand, pulling me inside my own place.
“Like I was saying—” He shut the door. “We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“A lot of things.”
My tea kettle suddenly whistled from the stove.
“Hold that thought.” I rushed to the kitchen and turned off the flame.
When I returned to the living room, he was staring at the human-sized dog bed in the middle of my floor.
“I wasn’t kidding about not having a place for you to sit,” I said. “I’m hoping to buy furniture in a few weeks. Well, if my new job pays enough, anyway.”
“Understandable.” He set the envelope on top of a book stack. “I just wanted to make sure you received payment for the hours you’ve worked. I’d also like for you to come back to me.”
“To your kids, you mean.”
“That’s what I said.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Then pretend like it is.”
“I’ll pass.” I swallowed. “I don’t see why I should do that. If you don’t find a way to fire me again, you’ll continue treating me like shit.”
“I do not treat you like shit, Harlow.”
“You barely acknowledge me, only give orders, and whenever we’re in the same room, you go out of your way to avoid me.”
“You’re reading this situation completely wrong.”
“It’s not right.” I said, hating that my heart was still beating so hard in my chest. “I refuse to go back if certain things don’t change.”
“Okay.” He stepped closer. “Things like what?”
“Well, for one, I would like to take the kids outside of Manhattan at least three times a week.”
“I’ll need advance notice on the places you go, but I’ll tell security to plan for that.”
“I would also like to have free rein on the weekly food menus,” I said. “They all have different preferences, and I don’t like wasting food.”
“Okay.” He closed the gap between us. “What else?”
“Respect,” I said. “There’s a reason why you hired someone to care for your kids and I don’t deserve to be treated like a doormat just because I’m not handling million-dollar deals all day like you.” I looked him right in his eyes. “I’d like to believe that what I’m doing is just as valuable.”
“It is.”
“You need to know that people are not disposable, Mr. Dawson.”
“I’m well aware of that.” He nodded. “For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen you as a doormat, but I also didn’t expect you to last this long.”
“That’s…not an excuse. What the hell does that have to do with anything?”
He looked as if he wanted to explain, but he held back.
“Can you come back to work tonight, please?” he asked.
“As long as you tell me what the other lingering issue you have with me is.” I looked at him. “What’s the problem?”
“I believe that’s quite obvious.”
“If it was, I wouldn’t be asking.”
“Do I need to show you?”
“I’m waiting.”
He pressed his lips against mine and pushed me against the wall.
Caging me between his arms, he assaulted my lips with a kiss so deep and primal my toes curled.
“Ahhhh…” I moaned as he pinned me against the wall with his hips.
“This is the fucking problem,” he whispered against my lips. “It’s been a problem since day one.”
His mouth controlled mine, and he kissed me until I lost my breath.
All the pent-up tension and unresolved emotions dissolved as his tongue tamed mine.
He stared into my eyes, silently commanding me to let him lead.
Wanting to control something, I tore open my top and let it fall to the floor.
Pierce admired the view and groaned.
Unclasping the front of my bra, he palmed my breasts before sucking my right nipple into his mouth.
I shut my eyes as he sucked it until it was stiff. Then he moved his mouth to the other, and I grabbed a fistful of his hair.
“Don’t close your eyes…” He sucked me a bit harder. “Open them for me.”
I obeyed, and he worshipped my nipples with long, deep kisses until they were nearly swollen.
“Feels so good…” The words slipped from my mouth.
Pulling back, he gripped the sides of my pants and demanded that I push them down.
“Yes…” I answered, but I was still in a trance from his kisses.
As if he could tell I wouldn’t snap out of it anytime soon, he pushed them down for me.
The only help I could offer was stepping out of them.