My Boss’s Desire

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Serena

The past few days had been peaceful, and I was happy that I no longer had to hide anything from Augusto. I wasn’t afraid of being fired anymore, or of people thinking I was strange for producing milk despite never having been pregnant.

Noah was getting chubbier and happier by the day. Teresa was always saying I was an angel for managing to get the little boy to eat so well. If she knew the truth, she might not think of me as a halo-wearing angel. She might picture one of those creatures with horns hidden beneath their clothes instead.

I smiled at the thought and turned my attention back to Noah, who was playing on the rug in his room. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better job. Not only did I love spending time with the child, but I’d also found a place where I didn’t have to spend the entire day worrying about my secret being discovered.

I picked Noah up and carried him to the window, letting him look out at the garden. The sun was warm, and a gentle breeze brushed through his fine hair. A few strands stood straight up, and I couldn’t help giggling.

Apparently, Noah realized I was laughing at him because he furrowed his brow with such a serious expression that I laughed even harder.

That was when I glanced down and spotted Augusto.

He was standing in the garden, looking in our direction. I gave him a discreet nod in greeting, and he answered with a small smile before heading back inside the mansion.

I continued playing with Noah for a few more minutes until I heard the door open.

Augusto entered the room and walked straight toward us, holding out his arms to take his son.

“How are you doing, big guy?” he asked, lifting him into his arms. “Have you been fed?”

“He nursed before his nap, about three hours ago.”

He nodded, distracting Noah with a few affectionate words. Meanwhile, I began gathering the toys scattered across the rug. I didn’t want anyone tripping over them.

“I’m going to change, and then I’ll come back so you can feed him.”

I paused for a moment, surprised by the announcement, but simply nodded.

I still didn’t understand why Augusto insisted on being present during feedings. He spent much of the day away, occupied with meetings and other commitments, so it wasn’t as though he could keep track of Noah’s entire routine. Even so, he seemed determined not to miss those moments.

I took Noah back and sat down on the rug, waiting for Augusto to return.

⸻

When I heard the door connecting his room to mine open, I looked up.

And immediately regretted it.

Augusto appeared wearing gray sweatpants and a fitted T-shirt. The fabric hugged his broad shoulders and outlined the muscles in his arms in a way I definitely did not need to notice.

I quickly looked away.

My face grew hot, and I was certain I was blushing.

For God’s sake, Serena. He’s your boss.

Augusto approached, apparently unaware of my little crisis of conscience.

“Sit in the armchair so you can feed him.”

I nodded and prepared to take Noah, but Augusto was quicker, settling the little boy into my arms before I could even stand up.

I took a deep breath and sat down in the armchair.

I’d breastfed Noah so many times that the gesture should have felt completely natural by now. Still, knowing Augusto was there, watching my every move, made everything feel different.

I unbuttoned my blouse and moved the fabric aside, bringing Noah to my chest. As soon as he found my breast, he began nursing with his usual enthusiasm.

I stroked his back, concentrating on making sure he was comfortable.

Augusto moved closer and gently ran his hand through his son’s hair. Every now and then, his fingers lightly brushed the exposed skin of my chest as he caressed the little boy.

It was accidental. I knew that.

Even so, my body seemed determined to embarrass me.

Little shivers spread across my skin, and I had to keep reminding myself to breathe normally. I didn’t know why I was so aware of his presence, of the warmth of his body beside me, or even of the subtle fragrance that seemed to follow him everywhere.

It was ridiculous.

I’d never felt this way before.

Augusto was undeniably handsome, but he was also my boss. There was a very clear line between us, and I had absolutely no intention of crossing it.

At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

Noah continued nursing until his eyelids began to grow heavy. A little while later, he fell asleep against my chest.

I smiled at his peaceful little face, carefully unlatched him, and handed him to Augusto.

He took him with a tenderness that never ceased to surprise me. He settled Noah into his crib, adjusted his blanket, and spent a few seconds watching him sleep.

I took the opportunity to straighten my blouse, but soon realized there was a problem.

My other breast was leaking again.

I sighed softly. Although Noah was feeding very well, I was still producing more milk than he could consume. Sometimes, the pressure became quite uncomfortable.

I reached for a cloth resting on the armchair, but before I could use it, Augusto approached.

“Let me help you.”

Before I knew it, he was gently wiping the milk trickling down my skin.

I froze, looking at him without knowing what to say.

“You don’t have to,” I murmured. “I can do it myself.”

I tried to move his hand away, but the movement ended up putting pressure on a sore area of my breast.

“Ouch!”

Augusto immediately stopped.

“Does it hurt?”

I nodded, embarrassed.

“A little. I think there’s too much milk building up. I can express it myself later.”

He glanced at the cloth before looking back at me.

“But you’re in pain right now.”

“It’s nothing serious.”

“Serena, you don’t have to pretend everything is fine when it isn’t.”

The concern in his voice left me silent.

Augusto crouched in front of the armchair, keeping a respectful distance.

“If you’d like, I can help relieve the pressure. But if you’d rather do it yourself, I understand.”

I looked at him, surprised by the offer.

I could simply refuse. Perhaps I should. But the discomfort was getting worse, and I wasn’t sure I could wait much longer to relieve the pressure.

After a few seconds, I nodded timidly.

“All right.”

Augusto waited until I had settled myself before helping me move the fabric of my blouse aside. When my breast was exposed, I felt the cool air against my skin, sending an involuntary shiver through me.

I was far too embarrassed to look at him.

He, on the other hand, seemed focused on making sure he didn’t cause me any further discomfort.

“Tell me if it hurts,” he said.

I nodded again.

The pressure became uncomfortable once more, and I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to bear the sensation.

Then I felt an unexpected touch.

My eyes flew open.

Augusto had leaned closer and brought his mouth to my breast.

For a few seconds, I forgot how to breathe.

He was helping relieve the accumulated milk, but the closeness was so intimate that my mind simply couldn’t keep up with what was happening.

My first instinct was to pull away.

My second was to remain still, utterly confused by the situation.

Augusto stopped and lifted his face to look at me.

“Serena, do you want me to stop?”

His question brought me back to reality.

I should have said something. Anything.

But I was so surprised that it took me a few seconds to find my voice.

“I… I don’t know.”

He immediately moved away, without pressing me.

“Then we’ll stop.”

The simplicity of his response unsettled me even more.

Augusto picked up the cloth and handed it to me, allowing me to compose myself on my own. There was no mockery on his face, nor did he make any comment that might have made the moment more embarrassing.

And, for some reason, that only made my heart beat faster.

Because the problem wasn’t that he’d put me in that situation.

The problem was that I couldn’t stop thinking about how close we’d been.

I straightened my blouse with trembling hands and stood up.

“Thank you for helping me,” I murmured, avoiding his eyes.

“Serena…”

“I need to go back to my room.”

I didn’t wait for an answer.

I hurried through the door and only stopped when I reached my room. I closed it behind me and leaned my back against the wood, pressing one hand to my chest.

My heart felt as though it were about to leap out of my throat.

What was wrong with me?

Augusto was my boss. I worked for him, took care of his son, and had a professional relationship to protect. I couldn’t allow one strange and unexpected moment to put all of that at risk.

I took a deep breath and walked over to the bed.

But no matter how hard I tried to think about something else, my mind kept returning to that moment.

To the sound of his voice asking if I was all right.

To the way he’d stopped as soon as he realized I was uncertain.

And to the closeness that, for a few seconds, had made me completely forget who he was to me.

I closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands.

I needed to stop thinking about it.

I really did.

Because if there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that I wasn’t ready to discover what would happen if Augusto stopped being just the man who employed me.

And the worst part?

A part of me was beginning to want to find out.