Officemate

  He shocked the hell out of me when an almost shy grin curved on his lips. “I picked up a pack just in case.”

  Cocking my head, I asked, “Why do you seem embarrassed by that? Being safe is the right thing to do.”

  “I picked them up after we started hanging out together,” he replied as he eased back down in front of me.

  Oh my. That was an interesting development. “You thought we might have sex someday?”

  As he slid the condom on, he appeared to be weighing his words. “You could say I did a lot of thinking about us having sex.” He glanced up from his erection to pin me with an intense look. “I fantasized about us having sex a lot. I got off to the thought of us having sex…a lot.”

  A shudder went through me at his words as well as at the image of him pleasuring himself. “I thought about us having sex too,” I admitted.

  Thorn’s brows shot up in surprise. “You did?”

  “Mainly I had a fantasy of you going down on me like you just did, though we were in my office when it happened.”

  Stroking his cock, Thorn said, “Did you come when you fantasized about it?”’

  “I wasn’t touching myself when I thought about it.” I licked my lips. “But I did get wet.”

  “Not as wet as I actually made you.”

  I shook my head. “No. Only your hands, mouth, and dick make me that wet.”

  “I like how wet I make you.”

  “You’re doing a pretty good job making me wet while touching yourself.”

  He grinned. “Would you rather I be touching you?”

  “Yes, but I’d also like you inside me.”

  “I want to be inside you too.” He jerked his chin at me. “Get on your knees,” he commanded.

  “You sure do like to bark orders, don’t you?”

  A dark look flared in his eyes. “You don’t know how to show respect.”

  “Hmm, are you going to punish me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “How?”

  “By making you scream my name.”

  I grinned. “That doesn’t seem like much of a punishment.”

  With a matching grin, Thorn replied, “Not getting to come and screaming my name in frustration is an extreme form of punishment, I’d say.”

  “You wouldn’t really do that to me…would you?”

  “If you do what I say, I won’t.”

  Well, all right then. I wasn’t one for a man telling me what to do, be it in the bedroom or the boardroom, but for some reason, I wanted to see this through with Thorn, maybe because I knew he was used to giving commands in combat.

  “Fine, okay,” I begrudgingly grumbled. Once I was on all fours in front of Thorn, I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Is that good, sir?”

  He rewarded my efforts with a panty-melting grin. “I’d say the view alone is pretty fantastic.”

  Thorn positioned his knees between mine, and at the feel of his cock nudging the entrance of my vagina, a shiver of anticipation rippled across my skin. Once he’d slid himself inside, his hands came to my hips, his fingers gripping my flesh. With one harsh thrust, he buried himself within me. My fingers raked against the antique rug as I cried out with pleasure.

  As Thorn set up a punishing rhythm, I swiveled my hips against him. We just fit together so perfectly. Pleasure seemed to tingle all over my body, not just between my legs, though what was going on down there was pretty freaking amazing, especially when Thorn slid one of his hands off my hips to stroke my clit.

  The combination of his thrusts and strokes sent me over the edge. “Thorn!” I cried, my walls convulsing around him. As I rode out my orgasm, Thorn’s hips pumped furiously against me until he came with a loud shout.

  We collapsed in a heap of arms and legs. After we had a chance to catch our breath, I turned my head to look at him. “I can’t believe we just had sex on an antique rug in the Queens’ Bedroom of the White House.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  I slapped my hand over my eyes. “Somehow I think I’ve disgraced the country.”

  Thorn chuckled. “I think the country will recover.” Wagging his brows, he added, “The question is…will we?”

  I laughed. “I think we have another round or two in us. After all, you’ve been saving up for a while.”

  “That is true.” Thorn pulled himself up off the floor before offering me his hand. As he walked over to collapse on the bed, I grabbed my phone off the nightstand, and the headline on the locked screen caused me to gasp in horror: Is America’s most eligible bachelor off the market? There was also a picture of Thorn and me dancing at the wedding.

  My hand flew to my mouth. “Oh God,” I groaned.

  “What’s wrong?” Thorn asked.

  “The media has outed us.”

  “Excuse me?”

  I thrust my phone at him. After glancing at the screen, he didn’t exhibit the same horror I did. When he met my gaze, he shrugged. “It’s just speculation. They don’t know what’s really going on between us.”

  “And what is that exactly?”

  Thorn scratched the stubble on his cheek. “Scorching hot sex?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Would you be serious?”

  He flashed me a wicked grin. “I am.”

  “James Thornton Callahan,” I warned.

  “Ooh, I love it when you call me by my full name.”

  Shoving him back, I said, “Would you please be serious?”

  “Fine. You want the truth? We’re far more than just scorching hot sex. We’re good friends, we’re coworkers—”

  “I think it’s more boss and employee, or superior and subordinate.”

  With a roll of his eyes, he replied, “Semantics.”

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure if I read further, the article is going to bring up that salacious little fact.”

  “Isabel, you’re getting your panties in a twist over nothing. We can be photographed together without facing any repercussions at work.”

  I swept my hands over my eyes. “God, can you imagine what everyone at work is saying right now? Or what they will say when we go back tomorrow?”

  “Considering most of our floor still thinks I’m a giant asshole, I’m sure it can’t be worse than that,” Thorn quipped.

  “Once again, could you please take this seriously?”

  “Okay, fine. Frankly, I couldn’t give a shit less about what they might have to say about us. At the end of the day, it’s nobody’s business but our own.”

  “Don’t you get it? Because of who you are, it will never just be our business. The media will always be splashing our private life across the screen.”

  “Once again, none of that matters to me.”

  “Well, it should, especially when they start digging up my less than desirable past.”

  Thorn cocked his brow at me. “Your past? Were you a hooker who did crack or something?”

  “No, nothing like that.”

  “Then I think we’re good.”

  “We come from two very different worlds. Your family has wealth and social prestige while I’m just the trailer trash girl from Georgia.”

  He shook his head. “That is not you, nor is it your family.”

  “But people are going to talk about our differences. They’re going to assume I’m a social climber. They’ll probably trot out a few of the undesirable relatives my family doesn’t associate with but who will be more than happy to sell a few stories about us.”

  “Every prestigious family has black sheep or members who embarrass them. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both had questionable brothers, and Ronald Reagan’s daughter posed for Playboy.”

  I threw up my hands in frustration. “For Christ’s sake, I come from a prejudiced town where my third cousin sells lawn jockeys and Confederate flags on the side of the road, and his isn’t the only business like that. All of that can hurt more than just us—it can hurt your father. Political rivals would have a field day with it. Your father’s administration is stil
l young, and it can’t withstand any scandal.”

  Thorn gave an exasperated shake of his head. “I hardly think you and I dating would be considered a scandal.”

  “Wait a minute—we’re dating?”

  “While it’s been a while since I did it, I would think that’s what we’re doing.”

  Feeling slightly overwhelmed, I rubbed my forehead.

  “Do you have a problem with that?” he asked.

  “No, it’s just…yesterday we were colleagues and friends, and now we’ve made the leap to dating in just a few hours?”

  “I would think the fact that we slept together accelerated us to the next level.” Thorn brushed a strand of my hair out of my face. “I’m probably going to sound like a giant pussy for this, but it kinda wounds my pride that you don’t want anyone knowing we’re together.”

  Oh God. Somehow in my neurotic rant, I’d hurt Thorn, which was the last thing I ever wanted to do. “No, that’s not it at all.”

  “Well, it certainly sounds like that.”

  I placed my hands on his cheeks. “I’m honored someone like you would want to date me.”

  “And I feel the exact same way. So, what’s the problem?” He’s honored to date me? I didn’t think he really understood. Maybe he’d been out in the desert and away from the world of social media for too long.

  “It just seems fast.”

  “Isabel, I think it’s safe to say what we’ve been doing the last two months could be considered a slow-burn romance. We’re not leaping off a cliff into the unknown. We aren’t two strangers who shared some bump and grind. I’ve gotten to know you, and you’ve gotten to know me.” He waggled his brows. “Both in the personal and biblical sense.”

  I laughed in spite of myself. Thorn was right. We had turned into the quintessential friends to lovers. Our newly minted relationship had been building over time, and I had to admit that from the outside looking in, we had built a pretty solid foundation. I really liked him—he was intelligent, funny, sometimes crass while at the same time proper, and incredibly sexy. “You’re totally right. We really have been taking it slow.”

  “Okay, so now that we’ve cleared that up, why does it appear there’s still a problem?”

  “Because there is.”

  “What is it now?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, maybe the repercussions of us having a relationship.”

  “With whom? My family adores you.”

  “I’m talking about the world—the company, the media.”

  Thorn stared at me intensely. “Fuck them all. You’re the only thing that matters to me.”

  At that moment, I felt a little lightheaded. Here was a gorgeous, sexy, talented, and very naked man telling me I was the only thing that mattered to him. He didn’t care what the media had to say about us. He didn’t care if there were any work-related repercussions. He just wanted me. It was seriously mind-boggling.

  As I stared at his handsome, determined face, I realized I wanted him just as much as he wanted me. Dipping my head, I placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “Talking me down from the ledge and being the amazing man you are.”

  Thorn chuckled. “Maybe it’s the line of work I’ve been in, but I know you can’t sweat the small shit. Sometimes no matter how hard you try to alter it, what will be is just gonna be.”

  “You’re so wise.”

  “It’s called being an old fart.”

  I laughed. “You are not old—especially since you’re only two years older than me, and I’m sure as hell not old.”

  Thorn ran his hand over my hip. “Your body sure as hell isn’t old. It’s fucking fantastic.”

  “I could say the same about yours.”

  His expression darkened. “Maybe everything but my leg.”

  I shook my head. “Don’t you know how very manly your scars are? A warrior’s body is marred and mangled. It bears the marks of battle.” I cupped his face in my hands. “You have a warrior’s body, and it’s the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”

  At my declaration, words seemed to fail Thorn. Instead, he jerked me against him before crushing his mouth against mine. He poured everything into that kiss, and when he finally pulled away, I was completely breathless. “Thank you,” he murmured.

  “You’re welcome,” I replied as I panted.

  “I’d really like to fuck you again, but I’m pretty sure if we don’t start getting ready, our nocturnal activities are going to be made clear to everyone.”

  Although I totally wanted him to jump me again, his words were just what I needed to douse the fire. The last thing I wanted was for Thorn’s parents to find out what had occurred between us. I didn’t need the president and First Lady thinking I was a floozy.

  Wriggling out of his grasp, I said, “You’re so right. Time for you to go.” I gave him a shove. “Now.”

  “I didn’t necessarily mean right this very instant.”

  “Yeah, well, I do. I’m not going to be everyone’s gossiping point.”

  “I think you already achieved that when you appeared in your robe Friday night.”

  With a frustrated growl, I scrambled past him off the bed. “Fine. If you won’t go, I will.”

  “But this is your room.”

  Dammit. I’d forgotten that fact in my rage. “Then I’ll go get in the shower.” When it appeared that Thorn might follow me, I shook my head. “Oh no, that wasn’t an invitation. I’m going into the bathroom alone, and when I come out, you better be gone.”

  Thorn chuckled as he held up his hands. “I’m going, I’m going.”

  “Good.”

  As he slid into his pants, I couldn’t help admiring the view. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that, you won’t have a choice about me joining you in the shower.”

  I edged closer to the door. “I’ll lock you out.”

  “And I’ll break the door down.”

  My traitorous vagina stood up and cheered at his caveman attitude. “You would actually break a priceless heirloom like a White House door?” I countered.

  “If it meant fucking you, I would break it and burn the pieces,” he countered with a wicked grin.

  “You’re impossible.”

  “Impossibly enamored by you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Please. It’s the area between my legs you’re enamored with.”

  “True, but I also like what’s attached to it,” he joked.

  I pointed to the door. “Enough yammering. It’s time to go.”

  He shrugged his dress shirt on. “You do realize I’m about to do a walk of shame, right?”

  He did have a point, and this was the White House we were talking about. There would be no sneaking back to his room unseen. Forget the cameras—he would come face to face with a Secret Service agent or part of the cleaning crew. There would be no hiding the fact that we’d slept together.

  “The only saving grace is that it’s you doing the walk and not me.”

  “Ouch, that’s cold.”

  I grinned. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

  “Considering we leave after breakfast, I’m going to be making good on that promise in the jet.”

  “Since I’ve never joined the mile-high club, I’ll happily oblige you.”

  “That makes me very happy.”

  “Good. Now go.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a salute.

  Once he was out the door, I exhaled a ragged breath. I had been in trouble when I’d been attracted to Thorn, but now I faced an even bigger dilemma. I really liked him…like maybe loved him. He had just fought against every perceived barrier I put up. I had never known a man like him, but it did baffle me that he was so intent on keeping me. He hadn’t had to come apologize the previous night. He hadn’t even questioned why I ran, which was good because I still wasn’t completely sure. He simply accepted me. When I launched myself at him, his arms willingly opened. It had been a little like t
hat right from the beginning…since we got past all the stupid shit anyway.

  And his family—they were the same. He was right: his family loved me, and the feeling was mutual. So, the possibility that I might love him?

  Terrifying.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight: Thorn

  As we flew through the cornflower blue sky, Isabel’s hands gripped my shoulders and the tight walls of her pussy held my cock in a viselike grip. Her hips rose up and down in a frenzy as she rode me like a crazed cowgirl. I lifted my hips up to meet hers as our pants and groans of pleasure filled the jet’s cabin.

  I’d held Isabel to my promise of taking her in the air. By the time we’d reached cruising altitude, I’d not only stripped Isabel down, I had her crying out my name as her walls convulsed around three of my fingers. Before she could fully come down, I was sliding on a condom.

  After collapsing on the couch, I’d pulled her over onto my lap and onto my dick. I loved this position with her. I loved letting her take control as she set the pace and the depth. More than anything, I loved watching the pleasure wash over her. She was always so together in the office and in life that it was amazing watching her be so uninhibited.

  As Isabel’s tits bounced in my face, I couldn’t help remembering that first day I’d come in contact with them. After touching them and seeing them, I’d fantasized about this very moment. Of course, the reality was better than anything I could have ever imagined. If I were honest, everything was better than I could have imagined with Isabel.

  When I felt her getting close, I slipped one of my hands between us to stroke her clit. Almost immediately, it set her off. “Oh Thorn!” she cried as she buried her face in my neck. As she came down, I gripped her hips and began to pump furiously into her until I came so fucking hard.

  In the now silent cabin, I ran my hands up Isabel’s bare back. I loved the feel of her soft skin beneath my fingers, so creamy and smooth. There wasn’t much I didn’t like. She was pretty much the perfect package, everything I could ever want in a woman.

  Isabel raised her head to stare into my eyes. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to walk tomorrow.”

  The caveman in me beat his chest in pride. “You can lead everyone to believe you injured yourself dancing at the wedding rather than by having my massive cock pummel your pussy.”