Forbidden Fantasies

Exactly like a date(2)

Since he already knows, I figure there’s no need to play dumb. "Yes."

The answer doesn’t displease him. On the contrary, he smirks. "Loosen my tie."

I do as I’m told, all too aware of what it seems like for my hair to be bunched in his fist like that. No one told me to unbutton his shirt, but I do, revealing a sliver of skin with each button.

On the fourth, Rhys grabs my hand. "What will I do with you, my naughty Kira?"

The rasp of his voice makes me tremble—not in fear. What I’m feeling is perhaps the strongest surge of pleasure I’ve ever felt.

Rhys grabs my shirt on both sides and yanks it open, sending buttons flying.

The sound of my phone ringing pulls me out of my thoughts, and I realize all this time, I’ve been touching myself.

I have scribbled countless diary entries with Rhys Redmond at the center of them, but never have I touched myself thinking about him. I’m caught between embarrassment and excitement. On one hand, this isn’t right. I should be ashamed of myself for thinking of my boss in such a way. On the other hand, I’m more turned on than I have ever been.

I manage to make it out of the bath without losing control. I’m not a lost cause, at least not entirely.

______

Rhys is different today. At first, I thought I was reading too much into what is probably his normal mood because of all he did for me yesterday, but since when does he greet me with a jovial "Morning, Miss Davidson?"

That’s probably not a big deal for most bosses, but all the man ever does is bark orders at me. It’s a pleasant surprise to be treated like an ordinary assistant.

Ordinary assistants don’t write dirty thoughts about their bosses, a tiny voice scolds at the back of my mind. I tame it down as I knock on the door to Rhys’s office.

"Come in," he says, sounding less stern than usual.

When I enter the place I have always considered purgatory, Rhys looks up from his computer screen. "Do you need something?"

I prepared myself for this conversation, but when he looks at me, all I can think about is my bath last night. If he knew what I was imagining, he would throw me out of the company without a second’s hesitation.

I have to remind myself the boss is not a mind reader and my job is safe before I can finally say, "Can I take a day off on Thursday? I have already spoken to one of my colleagues, and she will fill in for me."

Rhys’s eyes are glued to me, but I get the feeling he hasn’t heard a word of what I said. I’m just about to repeat my request when he asks, "Why?"

The answer is at the tip of my tongue, but luckily, I remember in time that I’m not supposed to have any family.

"Someone I care about is in hospital. I need to visit them." It’s not entirely a lie.

Rhys frowns. I expect him to shoo me off, telling me I should come to work on Thursday if I’m not the one in the hospital, but he waves his hand. "Make sure your stand-in gets the job done properly. I don’t want any mistakes."

"Yes, of course I will!" The relief that flows through me is palpable. "Thank you."

In my ridiculous fantasies, he would tell me to thank him some other way. I shake my head. I shouldn’t be thinking about that or noticing his crooked tie on my way out.

Rhys doesn’t stay at the office for long. Only a few hours in, he tells me to clear his schedule for the rest of the day and leaves, so I take the chance to catch Melissa up with what she has to do.

"I used to be jealous, you know," Melissa says when I’m done explaining most of the things.

"You were?"

"Of course I was. Everyone had been eyeing the position of Rhys’s assistant, and then you swooped in and took it. And you’re so beautiful."

When the surprise fades, I ask, "What about now?"

"I don’t know if I can make it to Thursday evening with my head attached to my shoulders. How do you do it?" She teases. "Then there’s the obvious fact that I finally have a tiny chance."

Melissa is a cheerful brunette with black eyes that can melt a mountain of ice. Although she’s joking, I realize she is quite similar to the women Rhys made scandalous headlines with in the past. Even if nothing came of any of those relationships, she is his type. At least more than I am. Perhaps if he offered her the fake engagement deal, he would end up attracted to her.

"Kira?" Melissa waves a hand in front of my face.

I brighten up, forcefully shoving the thoughts off my mind.

"Do you want to grab dinner together? Maybe watch a movie sometime?"

"What?" I gawk at her like an i***t.

She chuckles. "Are you okay? You’ve been lost in thought like a space cadet. Would you like to go out with me?"

The confusion must be obvious on my face. "Like…a date?"

"Exactly like a date."

I replay our conversation. When she said she was jealous, she wasn’t envying me for hogging Rhys’s attention?