Blame it on the Champagne (Blame it on the Alcohol #1) - Fiona Cole Page 0,29
dainty ears.
How the fuck had I missed it? How had I not seen it was her? Had I wanted her so bad that I assumed the similarities were all in my mind?
Was I making it up? Was I imagining it now?
No.
There was too much of the same.
She shifted again, and the mark mocked me—screamed at me that I was a blind fool.
Had she known it was me? Had she planned the whole thing? Was this more of her game?
“Mr. Rush—”
“What the hell are you playing at?” I asked. I didn’t stop to think or confirm. My mouth opened, and the need to know poured out.
Her mouth snapped shut, and she jerked back like I’d accused her of secretly being a mermaid. “What?”
“Your neck. The bite I remember giving you quite vividly.”
Her hand shot to the mark, and a flicker of heated recognition passed over her eyes, only to be lost to confusion.
I should’ve stopped. Thought this through more, but the memory of her in my arms pulsed through me, and I had to know if she was fucking with me this whole time. If I could reveal it on my time, then maybe it would dash whatever her plans were.
“Did you plan this whole thing?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I laughed, and her confusion shifted to anger. Ready to shove that I knew in her face, I reached inside my briefcase and pulled out her black lace panties I hadn’t been able to part with, slapping them on my desk between us.
Her eyes shot wide, and the color drained from her face. Her chest worked overtime, flashing the bite mark on her neck with each deep inhale. She looked around the room as if looking for an excuse to recover that I knew before her eyes slid to mine, wary.
“Where did you get those?”
“I think you know.”
Again, her mouth opened and closed as she stuttered over her words, unable to form a single one. Her refusal to admit defeat had my irritation spiking.
“Did you plan on fucking your way to the top?”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s too much of a coincidence that you fuck me this weekend and then come in today with a grand plan for one of our biggest projects, you know I’m in charge of. Did you think it would help you get picked for the team if you got my dick wet?”
Blood rushed into her cheeks, her jaw clamped shut, and her eyes alight with fire like she wanted to burn me alive. Playing dumb hadn’t worked, so now it looked like she’d use outrage.
She swallowed twice, and I only added fuel to the fire by smirking. Maybe if she got mad enough, she’d slip up and finally admit how she lied.
“I didn’t know it was you. If I had, believe me, I would have run as far and as fast as I could in the other direction.”
“Please,” I scoffed.
“You are rude and cold and—and an asshole.”
I leaned back in my chair, feeling victory over her floundering insults. “Big words for a little girl who rode my face and came all over my cock this weekend.”
If possible, her cheeks grew redder. She hopped up from her chair and stared down her pert nose at me. “I assure you; I didn’t fuck you to get anywhere. I can do it on my own, so don’t flatter yourself,” she almost growled. Just as quickly, she pulled her shoulders back and pursed her lips like an old, proper, prude. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to set up a time to meet Angie. I’ll be forgetting any of this happened. I suggest you do the same.”
She marched over to my desk and snatched up her panties, stuffing them between her and her notebook, and stormed out.
She didn’t slam the door like I’d expected, but nothing about her reaction was as expected. Now that she wasn’t right in front of me with the energy of a bomb between us, I thought back to her reactions that looked all too honest to be faked.
But if she hadn’t been lying about this weekend, then what was she hiding?
I looked down to where the panties had been.
Damn. I wanted to keep those.
Eleven
Vera
I somehow managed to make it to my cubicle despite my legs shaking like Jell-O. I barely remembered the walk, solely focused on my panties, burning a hole against my chest. I’d bolted from his office as controlled as possible with my chin held high, the world a dull, blurry roar around me.