Last night, I hadn’t noticed anything but the man I was with. Listening carefully to his steady, even breathing, I felt free to enjoy a few more minutes in this fantasy. Me, in bed, with Carter. If I closed my eyes and dismissed all logic, I might actually convince myself that I belonged here.
Way to get rid of the V-card with style. I mentally patted myself on the back and prepared for the pain I knew was coming.
I had to leave. The only thing more pathetic than having a one night stand with your billionaire boss was sticking around the next morning hoping for more than sex.
And there was no way in hell I was turning into that girl, no matter how much I wanted him. Sure, I’d been a virgin, but I wasn’t naïve enough to think it was anything more than hot, recreational sex between two consenting adults.
If I hadn’t already given my notice, I’d be freaking out right about now. But I had a nine o’clock meeting with my new financial team and only five more days in the Buchanan office. Which meant I would need to survive two more meetings between Carter and Ford. Two hours in Carter’s presence. And then? A new job. New people.
New life.
I glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. Seven, and I still had to get home, shower, and change into something respectable for my meeting.
With a sigh, I pulled free of Carter’s hold and slid out of bed. First thing I did was use my phone’s app to call a car. I watched the little dot work its way around the streets a few miles away. Six minutes. I had six minutes to be out front.
It didn’t take long to get dressed, because I hadn’t been wearing much. My panties were gone, nowhere to be seen. I still had on the garters and stockings, and my bra was on the floor next to Carter’s dress shirt. Unhooking the snagged and ruined stockings, I stripped them off and dropped them on the corner of the bed. I shimmied into my skirt and had the little pearl buttons done up on my blouse in record time. I was hopping on one foot, trying to get my heels on when I felt the energy in the room shift.
Carter.
“Where do you think you’re going so early?” He rolled over onto his back, the dark sheet low over his abdomen. All that muscle on display made my mouth water, and from the cocky grin on Carter’s face, he’d been watching me admire him.
“I have a meeting at nine. I have to go.” I grabbed my cell phone and credit card and ID and shoved them back in my bra in preparation for my walk of shame.
He watched me, his eyes soft and warm. The look he was giving me made my heart ache, made me long to crawl back into that big bed with him, curl up and purr like a kitten.
“Stay. Just for a few minutes longer.”
“I can’t.”
He raised a brow, frowning. “Then kiss me before you go.”
I shook my head, backing away from temptation. “I don’t think so.”
“Emma. Come here.” He sat abruptly, the sheet falling to dangerous levels and I got my first glimpse of the head of his very large, very impressive morning wood. Oh, God. He was magnificent. I'd seen him the night before, but in the bright morning light… My pussy clenched as arousal struck me hard and fast, the slight pain between my legs a reminder of exactly where that hard length had been last night.
I took another step and bit my lip. “No. I have to go.” I was at the door when he stood, his bare body on display like a Greek god’s. His dark hair was tousled from sleep and he looked even more beautiful. Approachable. Real. It wasn’t fair, his perfection. It simply wasn’t fair to us mere mortals. “I have to go, Carter. I’m…I…” What the hell was I supposed to say? Thanks for taking my virginity. It was fun? “Thank you for last night.”
“Emma—”
I interrupted him, waving my hand in the air to get him to stop talking. It was hard enough as it was. “I know it was just one night, Carter. Don’t worry. I won’t say anything at the office.”
“Emma—that’s not…”
I bolted before he could finish his sentence. I didn’t want platitudes or promises he wouldn’t keep. I knew the rules, and I’d agreed to play the game. And what a game it had been. He'd definitely scored a goal, but we'd both been winners. But the game was over. Now, it was time for me to act like a mature adult and leave without a lot of drama. And, apparently, without my panties.
His house was huge, the long hallways filled with classic pieces of art and rugs that probably cost more than I’d make in a year. Yeah, he was so out of my league.
Luckily, I made my way straight to the front door. Carter appeared at the top of the stairs, and he'd taken the time to put on his pants, but left them unbuttoned and hanging low over his hips. His feet were bare and his chest was on magnificent display. I paused just long enough to burn the image into my brain for later inspection and waved as I opened the door.