beyond the scattered crumbs I gave my own family.
But hey, I was happy with who I was, and didn't plan on changing any time soon.
When Cami said nothing in reply, I added, "If you want, you can call it a one-time thing."
She chewed on her bottom lip. "You mean, like to get it out of our systems?"
"If that's the way you want to look at it."
She was a silent for a long, lingering moment. But already, I knew what she was going to say. I could see it in her eyes and feel it in the warmth of her body.
She wanted me just as much I wanted her.
Still, I waited in silence, letting her have all the time she needed. But in the end, it didn't take long. "Alright," she said. "And whatever happens, it stays between us. And only us."
Chapter 30
Cami
Only us?
As soon as those words left my lips, I almost groaned out loud – and not because Mason was so ungodly sexy.
Here I was, making it sound all romantic, when in reality it was more of a physical transaction, something that needed to be done so I could banish him from my thoughts, erase him from my fantasies, and get on with my life – a life that didn't include mooning after my elusive boss.
Quickly, I added, "I mean, it won't affect my job. That's all." And then, looking to recover some of my lost dignity, I said, "And it shouldn't affect you either. I mean, just so you know, if you fire me tomorrow, you're gonna be in trouble, too."
With a knowing smile, he leaned closer. At first, I thought he was going to give me another kiss. But he didn't. Instead, he bypassed my mouth entirely and brushed his lips against my ear. In a low voice, he said, "Don't you know? I'm already in trouble."
My breath hitched. Oh, boy. So much for it not affecting me.
Somehow, I managed to ask, "How so?"
"Because you're too fucking irresistible." His teeth grazed my earlobe, and he gave it a light nibble. "And, if you think you're going anywhere, forget it."
I gave a breathless laugh. "So we're gonna do it right here in the pantry?"
"Only round one."
"What's round one?" I asked.
"Well, it's not cereal."
At this, I actually giggled. "Oh, really?"
He pulled back and looked deep into my eyes. "But first, what I'm gonna do is get a good look at you naked."
I sucked in a breath. Naked. With Mason Blastoviak.
Now that was a thought. As my pulse jumped, I breathed, "Oh?"
"And before you ask, yeah, right here in the pantry."
It wasn't what I would've expected, but the thought of getting naked here, where the whole thing had started, well, it sounded slightly kinky. And for some messed-up reason, it only added to my excitement. I murmured, "Well, it is a nice pantry."
"Good to know." And with that, he pulled away, leaving me standing outside his embrace for the first time since that mind-blowing kiss.
I stifled a warm shiver as I considered what I was about to do – what we were about to do. The whole thing was entirely surreal. He was my boss. And my nemesis. And the secret fantasy that had been haunting my thoughts for weeks, maybe longer.
In a voice filled with sin, he said, "Now undress for me."
My breath caught. He wasn't just asking. He was commanding.
And heaven help me, I liked it.
Still, I summoned up a saucy smile. "Are you gonna undress for me, too."
"Later."
"Why later?"
His eyes warmed. "Because ladies first."
Part of me was tempted to argue. After all, didn't "ladies first" mean that he'd do something for me, and not the other way around? But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of watching him watching me as I peeled off my clothes in front of him.
He added, "But first, take three steps back."
"Why?"
"Because I want to see all of you. And if I back up, I'm gonna have to open the door." His tone grew teasing. "You don't want that, do you?"
No. I didn't.
But I wanted something, and that something was him. Without breaking eye-contact, I took a careful step backward, and then another, bypassing the tall wooden step-stool that I'd lugged into the pantry several weeks ago to help me reach items on the top shelves.
But none of that mattered now. I barely noticed my surroundings. All I noticed was him, the guy watching me with obvious interest as I took the final step.
Somewhere in the