Andrea was right in saying that it would hurt her later, and she hated admitting it to herself. The idea of telling Jonathon that she was in love with him seemed impossible to her, but bit by bit, she realized that it was a fact she was going to have to share with him. She knew it would ease the heartache later, when their bond changed and ended. She had no idea how or when she would tell him, but in her heart of hearts, she knew that she did indeed have to tell him.
Naomi and Jonathon shared a heated hour of passion in his office and were just redressing when there was a knock at his office door, and both of them panicked as they pulled their clothes back on and tried to straighten themselves up before opening the door to whoever was there.
She was just fixing her lipstick when Jonathon opened the door and his father stalked in. Phillip's eyes went to Naomi and he peered closely at her, eyeing all of her carefully before he turned his gaze slowly to Jonathon, who was straightening his tie. Phillip's eyes narrowed and he glared hotly at his son for a long silent moment, and then the older man spoke to Naomi without so much as turning around to face her.
"Miss Bradshaw, you may go back to your office." He spoke sternly and he gritted his teeth.
She nodded quietly and shot a nervous look toward Jonathon, who shook his head imperceptibly at her. She left, closing the door behind her, and the moment it clicked, Phillip took a good look at his son.
"I seriously hope that you weren't just in any kind of a compromising position with that young woman." His eyes were like steel on his son.
Jonathon gulped and took a fast breath, shaking his head fervently. "No, of course not. We were just … working. It was a little warm in here, that's all. She is an employee, and nothing more." He hoped that he sounded much more convincing than he felt.
Phillip did not look away from him or even blink. "Why do I find that almost impossible to believe?" he asked accusingly.
Jonathon shrugged and walked over to his desk, trying to make light of the situation while remaining calm. "I know I don't have a great track record, father, but I assure you, there is nothing going on between Naomi and I. You just worry because of a few other regrettable mistakes I've made in the past. That's all. Please don't trouble yourself over it." He took a seat in his chair behind the desk and looked up at his father with a light expression.
"What can I do for you today, father?" he asked casually.
Phillip walked toward him, his eyes locked on his son. "You can be honest with me for once. That would be a great start. I'm not stupid, Jonathon. I know a tawdry scene when I walk in on one. I told you that if I found out that you were screwing any more of the staff here, that I would fire you."
Jonathon watched him quietly, though his heart was nearly pounding out of his chest.
"I was serious about that!" his father shot at him angrily.
Jonathon nodded subtly. "I know you were father, and that's why I'm not taking any chances with anyone here, especially Naomi."
His father walked to the front of his desk and leaned down and gave him a treacherous glare. "I'm not taking any chances with you. I have not worked this hard all of my life to build up the dynasty that I have created with every intention of handing it over to you, just to have you blow it. You're not going to risk your future or a lifetime of my hard work any longer. You and I are going to have dinner with Vincent and Susan tomorrow night at home, and you are going to seriously consider making Susan a permanent part of your life. Do you understand me?" his father nearly growled at him.
Jonathon knew that his father wanted him to date Susan, and he knew that Susan's father wanted it as well. He sighed and nodded, knowing that there would be no other acceptable response other than an acquiescence.
"Of course, father. I'll be sure to be there for dinner tomorrow night." He said quietly, lifting his eyes to meet Phillip's.
Phillip stood back up and looked down at his son. "Good. See you at six tomorrow night. You had better be there, and you had better not be late."
Jonathon nodded and watched as his father walked out of his office. When he was alone, he closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands. He realized that as much as he wanted Naomi, and as hungry as he constantly was for her, he might have to change things between them, or keep them as far undercover as he possibly could. He would not risk losing his job at Cross Corp.
Jonathon could not get his father's angry eyes out of his mind all afternoon, and things between him and Naomi were quiet and businesslike the remainder of the day, and into the next morning, until she came back from lunch and walked into his office to give him a file he needed.
She had been quiet and a little withdrawn since his father had practically walked in on them, and her silence and distance bothered Jonathon immensely. He watched her as she set the file on his desk and turned to walk away. She was wearing a skirt that he loved to see on her; it was full and loose, and it swirled around her thighs when she walked. She had paired it with a button up sweater and heels, and the innocent and sexy look she gave off in the outfit drew an ache to his groin that he could not control.
"Naomi … " he called out to her. She stopped and turned to look back at him. Her light blue eyes looked clouded with deep emotion and she drew in a breath and sighed.
"Yes?" she asked in a light tone.
He tilted his head slightly as his eyes stayed on hers. "Come here, please," he asked gently.
She walked toward him, and all the while he held their shared gaze steady. He felt as if he was looking into her, through her, and he didn't want to look away. "What's troubling you?" he asked as she reached the corner of his desk, standing there looking down at him with a slight pout of her lower lip.
She shrugged. "Nothing … I just … " she hesitated.
"Tell me." He said, reaching his hand out to take hers and closing his fingers around it, drawing her closer to him.
She bit her lower lip. "It's your father. I feel like he knows what's going on between us and I'm uncomfortable with that. He looked so angry yesterday. I felt awful about it."
Jonathon gave her a little smile and drew her up beside his chair. His eyes slid slowly over the curve of her breasts, her narrow waist, and her hips that were so near his face. His heart began to beat faster and he felt the ache in him grow stronger as his body heated. He let go of her hand and placed his fingers on her leg, just beneath the hem of her skirt.
He looked back up at her as he slid his fingers up the front of her thigh to her panties, where he rubbed his thumb firmly over the core of her, back and forth, making her close her eyes and moan softly as she put her hand to his shoulder to steady herself.
There was nothing in the world that felt as good to her as his touch, and his touch was able to bring out a desire in her that she had never felt for anyone else.
"Don't worry about my father. I told him that there isn't anything going on between us. We're fine … " he said quietly as he reached his other hand up her skirt and slid her panties off of her. She gasped quietly as they fell to the floor and he lifted her skirt, drawing his face to her body, kissing her hard and hungrily as his hands closed over her hips and he moved her in front of him to straddle him as he sat in his chair.
"I am not going to give you up. Don't even think about that." He whispered as his mouth moved over her body and his tongue slid in and out of her, making her cry out in pleasure.
She felt fire racing through her and with every passing second, she wanted him more. In moments his pants were off of him, and he pulled her down onto his lap, her legs parted on either side of him as she neared the stiffness of his desire. His fingers raced over the buttons on her sweater and he pulled it open and lifted her breasts from her bra, bringing them to his mouth and sucking ardently on her hardened dark nipples.
She grew breathless with anticipation, knowing how good it was going to feel with him moving inside of her, and not wanting to wait as his mouth moved over her breasts, biting and sucking, she raised herself up over his erection and slid him into her slowly, making them both groan with need.
Naomi rocked her hips back and forth over his, clinging to his neck as he buried his face in the soft fleshy curves of her breasts, his hands clenching her hips as he pulled her hard against him, driving himself deeply into her.
Hearts pounding, skin beading with sweat, his teeth and tongue torturing her nipples, she felt the passion in her rise and he knew it. He lifted his mouth from her flesh and groaned, "Come for me, baby … come hard … ." and as he said it, she could not hold it back and she did; her soft moans filling his ears and bringing him to his own climax.