it’s wide open, everything spills out.
How is it that I have so much rubbish in there?
How does it all even fit? My makeup bag and my wallet tumble out. Then there are Tic Tacs, half a pack of gum. My keycard. There you are! A small notepad, a mirror, several pens, loose change, hand cream, a pack of Kleenex, a hairbrush, hair clips, and a hairband. Oh, and floss, because you never know when you might need it. I believe in dental health. There are also several tampons, the big thick kind. As a pastry chef, I was on my feet for hours at a time. I wore a white chef’s jacket, and a girl can’t be too careful.
Everything tumbles out everywhere. The tampons roll over to Bolt, stopping at his feet. All three of them. I want to die. All I can think is that I must have done something terrible in my previous life, and now I’m having to pay the Universe back for my sins. It has to be karma. I panic and drop onto the floor. I start stuffing the things back into my purse, but they’re spread far and wide. I’m praying all the while that Bolt doesn’t move. That he doesn’t look down.
Too late. He’s looking down.
I pray even harder that he doesn’t try to help me. Please, no… Please…no….no! He goes down on his haunches, and I shuffle over to him. I’m on my knees. We both make a grab for a tampon. It’s the one closest to his foot. His hand closes over mine. I look up and then suck in a breath. I realize how close we are. Our faces are just inches apart. I can feel his breath on my face. His heat.
“Miss Shaw…” The way he says my name has my stomach knotting. It’s like he’s in agony, like he’s pleading. That look is on his face. It’s smoldering. It’s… Oh, god…oh… I realize that it’s lust. I realize this with shock and a healthy dose of my own punch of lust. My nipples instantly tighten. Awareness floods me. His eyes narrow into mine. His brow furrows. I’m not sure how it happens, but one second I’m on my knees trying to get to my tampons before he does and the next, my mouth is on his. I make this mewling noise. Like a kitten. A sex kitten in heat. My hands are on his shoulders. My fingers are digging into their broad expanse. My breasts are smashed against his chest. My tongue is in his mouth.
Bolt picks me up as he stands. He presses me against the mirror. I feel it cold at my back. This kiss. It’s breaking me. Unraveling everything I ever thought a kiss could or should be. This kiss is everything. One of his hands is cupping my jaw. The other is lifting a thigh. I’m groaning so loud it’s obscene, but I don’t care. I want more. I want—
Bolt pulls back. His eyes are wide. “Fuck!” he growls softly. Then he squeezes his eyes shut, like he just made the biggest mistake of his life. “We can’t do this,” he practically whispers. I can feel the words against my lips. I can still taste him on my tongue.
He pulls away, and I almost fall. He has to clasp my hip to keep me upright. “Ah…” he looks a little shaken. His hair is mussed. I think I might have grabbed onto it. Oh, no! I’m pretty sure I did.
He lets me go and puts the last few items into my purse, including the tampons. I don’t know what to do. Or say. I notice the takeout bag on the floor next to his jacket.
He pushes my purse into my hand. I see my keycard in his. He presses a button or two on the panel. “You need to read the itinerary for tomorrow, if you haven’t done so already,” Bolt says as the elevator starts to move.
I nod, trying to get my breathing under control. My cheeks feel flushed, and my heart is still racing. I didn’t just do what I think I did. Did I?
Oh, god!
Oh, no!
“Did you get copies of the meeting agenda, like I asked you, Miss Shaw?” He’s all business. How can he be all business after that just happened?
“Yes.” My voice is soft. Almost inaudible.
“Good. The meeting is at eight in the hotel boardroom. You need to be there by seven-thirty to prepare.”
“I’ll be there.” I feel sick.