Oops, I slept With The Boss

Chapter 4

Conner's eyes darkened, his smile turning predatory in a way that sent a delicious shiver down her spine. "Now I suggest we continue this conversation somewhere with fewer corporate eyes watching their boss's every move."

"Concerned about appearances?" Holly teased.

"Concerned about privacy," he corrected. "I'd like to hear more about you without half my executive team trying to eavesdrop or steal me away from you."

He stood, extending his hand to her. "Some fresh air, perhaps?"

Holly hesitated only briefly before placing her hand in his. His fingers closed around hers, warm and strong, as he guided her through the crowd. She felt eyes on them as they moved, curious, speculative glances from partygoers wondering who had captured the CEO's attention. She was grateful her back was to the crowd.

Conner led her toward a side door that opened onto a balcony overlooking the city skyline. The December air was bitingly cold, but Holly welcomed it, hoping it might clear some of the fog from her mind. Snow was beginning to fall in lazy spirals, dusting the railing with white. They were alone, the cold keeping everyone inside.

"Better?" Conner asked, releasing her hand but staying close.

"Definitely," she replied, drawing in a deep breath of the crisp air. "It was getting a bit... intense in there."

"Just in there?" His voice had dropped to that low register again, the one that seemed to reverberate through her body.

Holly clutched the balcony railing, suddenly aware of how alone they were. "You're very direct, aren't you?" She shivered from the cold.

Conner noticed her shiver and immediately shrugged out of his jacket. Without a word, he draped it around her shoulders, the expensive fabric still warm from his body.

"Better?" he asked, his hands lingering briefly on her shoulders.

Holly nodded, pulling the jacket tighter around herself. It smelled like him, expensive cologne with undertones of something uniquely masculine. She turned her face to draw in his scent.

"Thank you. Are you okay?" she murmured, surprised by his consideration.

"I'm fine. About me being direct, I find it saves time." Conner moved to stand beside her, their shoulders almost touching as they both faced the glittering cityscape. "Life's too short for games."

"Says the man who undoubtedly plays them masterfully in the boardroom."

He laughed softly. "Business is different. Personal matters should be clear. Consent should be enthusiastic and informed."

The word "consent" hung in the air between them, making Holly's pulse quicken. There was no mistaking where this was heading if she allowed it.

"And what exactly am I consenting to?" she asked boldly.

Conner turned to face her, his eyes intense but serious. "Right now? Just conversation. Beyond that... well, that depends entirely on what you want, Holly."

She shivered, not entirely from the cold. "And if what I want is just distraction for one night? No strings, no expectations?"

"Then we're aligned in our interests."

"You don't seem like the one-night-stand type," Holly observed. He was just too intense.

"I'm selective, not monastic," Conner replied with a wry smile. "And something about you..." He trailed off, his gaze traveling over her face as if committing it to memory.

"What?" she pressed, genuinely curious.

"You're interesting. I mean, you're interested in getting me naked, but you are not falling at my feet… It's different," he said simply. "Refreshing. Most women I meet either want something from me or are intimidated by me. You're neither."

Holly laughed. "Maybe I'm just tipsy and heartbroken."

"Maybe," he conceded. "Or maybe you're exactly what I didn't know I was looking for tonight."

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. This wasn't just smooth talk; there was something almost vulnerable in the admission.

"I don't even know you," Holly said softly. Yes, he was her boss, but she didn't know him, only of him.

"We can fix that." He moved closer, his hand coming to rest lightly on her waist. "I have a suite in this hotel. We could continue our conversation there if you like."

The proposition hung between them, clear in its intent but without pressure. Holly knew she should say no. This was her boss, her boss's boss's boss, technically. This was reckless, potentially career-ending. God, she sounded like she was in a Fifty Shades of Grey book… She wondered if Conner was into kinky fuckery as well. Holy s**t, that was hot to even think about. Not that she was into the whole b**m scene.

But as she looked at Conner Hardy, at the hunger barely concealed in his eyes and the promise of pleasure in his touch, Holly found herself nodding.

"Yes," she said simply.

Something flashed in his eyes, triumph, desire, perhaps both. His hand moved from her waist to the small of her back, guiding her toward the door.

"Are you sure?" he asked, pausing at the threshold. "I want you to be certain."

In answer, Holly reached up, placed her hand on the nape of his neck, and drew his head down to hers. Their lips met in a kiss that started tentative but quickly blazed into something far more urgent. His mouth was firm against hers, demanding and skillful in a way that made her knees weak as he took over the kiss.

When they broke apart, both slightly breathless, Conner's eyes had darkened to gunmetal gray. "I'll take that as a yes. I'll meet you outside the ballroom in five minutes. Will that be enough time to say your goodbyes?"

Goodbyes? Who did she… Oh, Janet. He thought she had come with someone.

They reentered the ballroom discreetly, separating as they stepped inside. Conner gave her a meaningful look before disappearing into the crowd toward a group of executives.

Holly took a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest. What was she doing? This was insane, reckless... and exactly what she needed tonight. She adjusted Conner's jacket on her shoulders, realizing she was still wearing it. She'd have to return it to him.

But first she needed to find Janet. She scanned the room, finally spotting her friend near the dessert table, chatting with a group from accounting.

"Janet," Holly said, touching her friend's elbow. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Janet excused herself from the conversation, turning to Holly with curious eyes.

"I'm heading out," Holly let her friend know. "I'm not feeling great."

Janet frowned, concerned. "Is it about Toby? Did he show up?"

"No, nothing like that. Just..." Holly paused, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. "The champagne hit me harder than I expected. I think I need to go home and sleep it off."

Janet's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you sure that's all?" She finally noticed the jacket. Her eyebrows shot up as she reached out to finger the expensive wool lapel. "And whose jacket is this? It's certainly not yours."

"Someone lent it to me when I stepped outside for some air," Holly said quickly. "I was cold. I'll return it on my way out."

"Mmhmm." Janet didn't look convinced. "And this sudden departure has nothing to do with the fact that Toby turned up?"

Holly's heart skipped a beat. "Toby's here? Where?" She glanced around the room, sudden panic rising in her chest.

"He's not, as far as I know," Janet said, studying Holly's face intently. "But your reaction to this jacket confirms you're hiding something. Spill it."

Holly sighed, knowing Janet wouldn't let this go easily. "I'm fine, I promise. I just... met someone."

Janet's eyes widened. "Met someone? As in..."

"As in I'm going to go talk more... privately," Holly said, keeping her voice low. "It's nothing serious. Just... a distraction."

Janet glanced around the room, her gaze sharp. "Oh my god. Who is it? Someone from Marketing? Please tell me it's not Brad from Sales; he's a total player."

"It's no one you know," Holly lied, heart pounding at the half-truth. "Just someone I met tonight."

A slow, knowing smile spread across Janet's face. "Well, well. Look at you, Holly Thompson. Getting right back on that horse." She straightened Holly's—or rather, Conner's—jacket. "But are you sure this is what you want? You found out about Toby literally hours ago."

Holly nodded, more certain than she expected to feel. "I'm sure. I need this, Janet. One night where I'm not the boring, predictable Holly who got cheated on… well, sort of."

Janet studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright. But text me when you get home safely, whether that's tonight or tomorrow morning. And remember—"

"Use protection," Holly finished for her, cheeks flushing.

"I was going to say 'you deserve better than Toby,' but yes, that too," Janet grinned. "Go get 'em, tiger. Make sure you ride him hard."

Holly hugged her friend quickly. "Thanks. For everything today. I'll text you later."

"You'd better," Janet warned. "And I want details. Not explicit ones, but enough to know if I should be jealous. I may love my husband, but it's been eight years. I need the excitement."

With a final laugh, Holly turned away, heart racing with anticipation. She walked through the party, nodding politely to a few colleagues who greeted her, but keeping her pace steady. She felt like everyone must be able to see her intentions written all over her face, but no one seemed to notice anything unusual.

Finally, she reached the ballroom doors, slipping out into the quieter hotel corridor. She looked down the hallway, half-expecting Conner to have changed his mind.

But there he was, leaning against the wall with casual elegance, scrolling through his phone. At the sound of her footsteps, he looked up, and the heat in his gaze made her stomach flip.

"I thought you might have reconsidered," he said, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Now why would I do that?" Holly said, approaching him. "I'm expecting you to live up to your reputation."