I saw us growing closer over the next few weeks, just as I expected. We worked closely together a lot with a few prominent trials, and he still had dinner at the house with us a few times a week.
I wanted him more each week.
Each night at dinner, it felt like we lingered longer just to talk. I was an adult now, and we talked about real things, as desire swirled all around us. At least, it did in my head. I couldn’t decide if Dad noticed, but I wasn’t about to ask, making me appreciate the evening that we grabbed dinner alone after working late.
We were both keyed up, and I probably drank too much wine. I’d more than proved myself at this point, throwing myself into the job as if I were the attorney. I had the workaholic blood in my veins and thrived on it, just like Payne. He was even drinking whiskey as we ate and planned, pumped up as much as I was. The flirting increased as the days got longer since I couldn’t help myself. Tonight, I was running on adrenaline and wine, and we were both feeling it when we left the steakhouse.
“Jesus, I should have skipped the drinks. I’m glad court isn’t tomorrow,” Payne said as I giggled and looked up at the sky.
“If it were, you would have stayed sober,” I said as he nodded and glanced towards our building.
“Want to get an Uber and head home or keep working?” Payne asked as I tried to imagine leaving him alone tonight. “We can cut out early tomorrow and crash on the couch for a bit later if I can sleep.”
“I’ll stay. I think I am too full of adrenaline to go to bed right now,” I knew how my voice sounded as I spoke and I felt his gaze on me.
Payne was quiet as he led us inside the building, greeting the night guard before he pushed the button for an elevator. “You’re just like me, aren’t you?”
“In what way?” I asked as we stepped into the car alone.
“Driven. Determined.” He replied as the car started moving up.
“Two peas in a pod,” I murmured as I leaned back and took a long breath. I’d worn a plum dress today, clingy in all the right places but comfortable to work late in. I wore heels to work but kicked them off inside of his office. I stepped off the car first and walked towards his door, trying to keep the pressure of my attraction from building any further. There were a few lights on in offices right now, but Payne closed his door, giving us privacy as he paced. “You seem upset.”
“Who changed you? You went to college a sweet, beautiful girl that I needed to stop thinking about. I believed that this was done, but now you’re back…older and fucking beautiful. You know just what to wear, what to say and you’re the best assistant that I’ve ever had. I want to throw your ass out of here but I can’t.” Payne said as my eyes widened.
“You see that?” I whispered as he nodded with a pained look in his eyes. I didn’t think that I succeeded at all some days because he kept his walls up so well much of the time.
“I’ve watched you grow up. I’ve known you since you were little and Matt would kill me if he knew what I thought about you,” Payne admitted, showing me that all of the flirting and the hints worked. “You’re so fucking sexy, Vienna.”
I stepped towards him as his eyes darkened. “Don’t. I’m running on adrenaline and whiskey right now. I don’t want to take this too far with you.” Payne warned me as I stared into his face. It was dim in here, lit only by the lights from outside of the window and I licked my lips.
My inexperience flooded me as I stood right before Payne, raising my hands up to his shoulders. I was tall already, so I just leaned up slightly and met his lips with mine. It was awkward at first, but the heat between us was incredible as he stilled for a moment. Payne slipped his hands over my hips and yanked me closer as he returned the kiss, tilting his head as he teased my lips with his tongue.
Passion surged through my veins as he took control, sweeping my eager mouth as he moved one hand around to cup my ass. This was nothing like the fumbling kisses at school or the light gropes with uncertain hands. This was a man holding me, kissing me, and making my body his property.
I was lost in it when he pulled away, taking a deep breath, and staring into my face. “What the fuck just happened?” I heard the raw edge to his voice and knew that this was the version of Payne that I hadn’t seen before.
He took my hand and led me to the couch in the room, telling me to sit as he watched. “That was the best kiss that I’ll ever have.”
“How do you know that?” Payne dropped to my side and kissed me again as he gripped my face, tilting his head this time as he deepened it. I moaned into it as I was pressed back into the leather, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer. Somehow, I wormed my way onto his lap, feeling the hardness of him on my thigh as I pressed closer to his muscled body. Payne groaned against me as he slid his hands over my ass. He let his fingers sink in again, digging into my skin as heat flooded my thighs. He was rough and hard as he held me, making my nipples pebble painfully against the lace of my bra. My heart was beating inside of my chest as our lips met clumsily again and again.