Chapter 11 - Hands Off

Piper

I spin around in my chair as that familiar smell hits me and that's when I spot him coming into the conference room. I feel like a fish out of water. My mouth is gaping and moving but no sound is coming out. My brain is trying to process what is happening, while my body is itching to reach out and touch him again.

He is staring at me with the same shock in his eyes as he trails off "You…". He quickly recovers and barks "Everyone out! Except you" as he points at me. I force myself down in my chair and sit quietly. His dominating aura holds me in place as it has everyone else shuffling out of the room at record speeds.

He crosses the room and sits next to me "What are you doing here?". He's studying me although I'm not sure what he is looking for. I am just as shocked as he is. I never could have imagined he would show up here, but here we are…

I try to gain my composure and respond with a shaky voice "I'm the new hire".

He blows out a breath and runs his hands through his hair. He jumps up and starts pacing the conference room like he's going to find something. I can't help but laugh at the irony of the situation. He is my boss, whom I've had raging, hot sex with, and I don't even know his first name.

He turns to me and grabs my hand. "Come on. We can't have this conversation here. There are too many eyes" he spat as he pulls me out of the conference room and down the hall. I follow him along like a little lost dog. While I should be concerned about the amount of eyeballs on us right now, I can only look at our intertwined fingers as he pulls me along and relish in the sizzle he brings to my skin when he touches me.

I must be losing my mind.

We pass Clara's desk, and I can feel her icy glare boring holes into me as Mr. Hottie yells at her "Cancel all my afternoon meetings, hold my calls and DO NOT interrupt me unless the building is on fire".

She rolls her eyes and sulks "Yes sir".

Am I imagining something here? I felt her attitude and saw it in the way she responded. She seems so pissy with me, and I don't even know her.

He pulls open one of the large wooden doors, steps back while looking around and places his hand on the small of my back ushering me into his office. If I wasn't dumbfounded before by this revelation, I am now. His office is gorgeous, and this view leaves me speechless. I pad over to the windows before I blow out a breath, I didn't know I was holding.

I can feel him prowling up behind me before his places his hands on my waist and his lips on my crook of my neck. Placing short, soft kisses up my neck to my ear. My brain goes haywire, and I forget everything else but this moment. I spin around to him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he leans in and swipes his tongue across my parted lips, asking for entrance. I couldn't deny this man even if I wanted to, I'm all too happy to return his kiss. As his tongue is taking what it wants, his hands are roaming freely. He pulls back and drinks me in with his eyes. I can't tell if he is regretting his decision or if he feels like I do. My mind is screaming at me to stop, that I can't and shouldn't want this but my body is betraying me.

He steps back and runs his hands through his hair again. I'm starting to see this is something he does when he is stressed. He looks at me before saying "I don't even know your name and I feel like this. What are you doing to me?".

I whisper "Piper" while wringing my hands in front of me.

He looks at me confused "What?".

I draw my eyes up to meet his "My name is Piper" I whisper. I don't know what this pull is between us either but when he is close to me, I lose all control. This feeling is so intense, it consumes me.

Something flashes in his eyes, and he tenses "Are you stalking me?". Are you kidding me, did he seriously just ask me that? I stare at him in disbelief before retorting "You are the one who pursued me out at the club, remember?". He flops down on the couch, leaning over and cradling his head in his hands.

I can't fight the urge to run to him, slink down on the couch and comfort him. Before I know it, I'm sitting next to him. "I don't know what this is, but I know I am scared of it. You are my boss and I slept with you. People are going to think I got this job because of you.".

And that couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth. I don't need to make enemies already.

***

Cole

"You…" it sounded accusatory coming from my mouth, but the truth is my mind is reeling. I don't know what is going on or how she found me. I need answers and I need them now.

I bark at everyone "Everyone out! Except you" as I point at her. I need to know what the hell is going on. She is standing there, awestruck. She isn't even responding; she just sits down in her chair. I stalk over to her, taking a seat and hurl the only question that I can muster up "What are you doing here?".

Then she drops the mother of bombs on me "I'm the new hire".

I knew it was her this morning, my gut told me it was, and I didn't listen. I ignored it and shoved it all down when I should have ran to her. I don't understand these feelings that, just being around her, evokes in me. She makes me feel like I'm insane and calm all at the same time. If that is possible. Then it dawns on me, shit, I slept with an employee. This is going to be bad, especially if my parents find out.

I grab her hand "Come on. We can't have this conversation here. There are too many eyes." I pull her down the hall towards my office. We stop at Clara's desk briefly so I can give her instructions "Cancel all my afternoon meetings, hold my calls and DO NOT interrupt me unless the building is on fire" I yell at her.

For a second, I think I see Clara cop an attitude and roll her eyes. I make a note to discuss her attitude with her later, but right now, I have other problems to figure out.

How am I going to explain this to everyone? So far Gloria and Clara are the only ones that witnessed that…whatever that was in the conference room. Right now, my brain is trying to figure out how to minimize damage and my body is itching to touch her. I place my hand on the small of her back, before looking around to see if anyone saw us. I usher her into my office.

She walks over to the windows and takes in the view. I know sweetheart, I love it too. The view that is. What the heck is wrong with me. I find myself relaxing just being around her. When she is this close all I want to do it touch her, have her close to me, wrap my hands in her hair and give it to her rough…how I know she likes it.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I find myself creeping up behind her. The need to touch her taking over all rational thoughts right now. My hands find their way to her waist on their own accord. My lips are burning to be on her, all over her. Before I know it, we are facing each other hands wandering everywhere and lips are crashing together. I can't stop myself when it comes to her, and I don't understand why.

Against my body's wishes, I pull back. As much as I want her right now, I have to know what her intentions are. I run my hands through my hair before I blurt out "I don't even know your name and I feel like this. What are you doing do me?".

She barely raises her head and inaudibly whispers "Piper".

I don't understand what she is telling me "What?" I question.

Her eyes meet mine and she's breath takingly beautiful as she explains "My name is Piper". Piper. I take a minute and let it sink in. Why is she telling me this? What does she want from me?

My mind is a mess, and my emotions are all over the place as I growl "Are you stalking me?". I don't even know where this question comes from. She has given me no reason not to trust her, but I have had a ton of people in the past who just want to use me. I have gotten to where I question everyone I come into contact with, it's become second nature.

Hurt flashes in her eyes as she answers me "You are the one who pursued me out at the club, remember?". Now I feel like a dick. I don't know what it is about this girl, but she feels different to me. But I feel like that is a question I had to ask. I sit on the couch and cradle my head in my hands. This whole situation is such a mess. I like this girl; I can feel again when I'm around her. But this whole situation is so jacked up.

I'm trying to get my mind around all this and figure out a solution…it's what I do. But I'm honestly at a loss. Then I feel her. Her hand on my back drawing small circles as she whispers "I don't know what this is, but I know I am scared of it. You are my boss and I slept with you. People are going to think I got this job because of you."

I can't peel my eyes off her. I really want to throw her down on this couch and fuck her senseless but instead, I opt to try and figure this out.

"My name is Cole" I blurt.

She looks up at me and my mind is mess of emotions, but I say the only thing I can given the situation "I think it's best if we keep our hands off each other and act like this never happened..."