have a problem with opulence or being
over the top (evidenced by how he’d just bought out a whole restaurant for me),
he was a very private person.
I had a hard time believing he would want to
share our engagement with a bunch of people.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“It’s a beautiful space,” I said honestly,
walking toward the windows. The
ceilings were higher than the ones in his current office. His other office was modern, but this
one felt even more contemporary and sophisticated, although it was hard to tell
what it would look like once it was filled with furniture and equipment.
“It’s ours,” he said.
“What?” I turned away from the window.
He was standing there, his hands in his
pockets, and for the first time, I saw Noah look shy. His face was hopeful, like he really
wanted me to be impressed with what he was showing me. “I mean, if you want it,” he said. “I’m expanding my business and I want
you to be my partner.”
“What?” I asked again. I shook my head, not sure exactly what
he was talking about. “But I’m not
even a lawyer yet.”
“But you will be,” he said. “And until then, you can work here, for
me. Once you pass the bar, we’ll
get your name on the door. Partner. Right away.”
Partner.
The word echoed through my brain. It was the holy grail of law, the thing
lawyers toiled away for years to achieve, the long hours and sleepless nights
all for the greater good of making partner.
“But why… why would you do that?” I asked. Noah had never taken a partner. He had lawyers who’d worked for him for
years who he hadn’t made partner, lawyers who’d proven themselves far better
than I had.
“Because it’s us,” he said. “I want to be with you every second, I
want the two of us to build something together.” He crossed the room and took my hands in
his, the light from the city washing over his strong features.
“I don’t know,” I said. “It feels a little strange. I haven’t… I haven’t earned it.”
“Please, Charlotte,” he said. “Say yes.”
He moved closer to me, his lips inches from
mine, his mouth tempting me.
“What will you give me?” I flirted.
“A partnership in my firm isn’t enough?” he
flirted back.
“Not if you have something else to offer.”
“I have this.” He kissed me softly on the side of my
neck, and longing flooded my body.
“What else?”
“This.” His lips moved to my collarbone, and his mouth grazed my skin, sending
heat roaring through my body.
“You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Cutler.”
“Oh, you have no idea, Ms. Holloway.”
“If I say yes,” I said, as his hands found the
tie on my dress and tugged on it gently. “Does that mean you’ll be my boss?”
“Technically, yes.” He had my dress completely open now, and
his hands slid down the curve of my hip and over my ass.
“So I have to do whatever you say?”
“Yes.”
“And what do I get out of it, again?”
“This.” His hands moved to the front of my panties, dipping inside the waistband
before moving further and spreading my folds, his fingers finding my clit and
rubbing it gently.
I groaned.
“Is that a yes?” he asked me with a wicked
grin.
“I don’t know,” I said. “How long do I have to think about it?”
“Five seconds.”
“Five seconds?” I repeated. “That’s not even the length of a good
commercial.”
“Five…” he warned, his index finger curling
inside of me. He kissed me, sucking
softly on my bottom lip as he pulled away, teasing me. “Four…” He reached down and grabbed my
ass, picked me up like I was nothing. I giggled and wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the
lone desk that was in the room.
He sat me down and kneeled in front of me.
“Three…” he warned, reaching up and pulling my
panties off.
My knees trembled, my body shuddering
deliciously at the