His Favorite Confession

Aftershocks

The kiss ended not with a sudden pull, but a lingering, reluctant breath as Hayden slowly eased back. His thumb traced the edge of Alora's bottom lip, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.

"We are at work," Alora breathed out, though her hands remained loosely tangled in the silk of his tie rather than pushing him away.

"Let them talk," Hayden murmured, a rare, dangerous smirk touching the corners of his mouth. But he stepped back, giving her just enough physical space to remember how to breathe independently. "Though I suppose we should review those risk projections before someone from HR decides to burst through the door."

Alora flushed crimson, stepping back to smooth down her skirt. "You planned this. You knew exactly what you were doing when you called me in here."

"I wanted to see you," he admitted without a hint of remorse, picking up the folder she had brought. His professional mask slid back into place with practiced ease, though the intensity in his gaze never quite faded. "Let's see what kind of risks we are actually facing."

For the next twenty minutes, they poured over the documents. Yet, the dynamic had fundamentally changed. Every time Hayden leaned in to point at a line item, his shoulder brushed hers, sending a jolt of electricity through the room. The professional distance was gone, replaced by a charged, secret alliance that belonged to just the two of them.

When Alora finally gathered her folders and headed for the door, Hayden stopped her with a quiet word. "Tonight. Eight o'clock. My place."

Alora met his eyes, her heart skipping a beat as she nodded slowly. "I'll be there."