Chapter 5

Fiona POV

Pulling the jacket closer around me, I soak in the warmth as my head begins to ache. This is probably the worst thing that could’ve happened at a new job, and of course, it happened to me. I thought I’d never see Nolan again, but here he is, firing a woman who threw coffee on me and wrapping me in a delicious smelling coat.

Heat fills my cheeks, and I drop my chin to keep anyone from seeing.

This isn’t good.

This is very, very bad.

I didn’t expect him to drop out of the sky with a double identity that I never would’ve guessed. Oh, Goddess. How could I mistake the King for a call boy? What does he think of me?

My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I think of calming things, like the ocean, a nice breeze on a summer day, cute animals, a walk along the sand, and… and…

I bite back a groan as my eyes trail back to Nolan. Maybe he doesn’t even remember me, and I’ll be able to get on with my work. We’re both adults, so there’s nothing to worry about.

But then he turns to me and taps on my desk.

Not meaning to, I let my eyes follow the veins in his forearms that are displayed now that he’s not wearing a jacket and since he rolled his sleeves up. The black button up shirt strains against his biceps, making me swallow the growing heat. His shirt is buttoned to the top button, restrained and perfect, but it doesn’t stop me from remembering the muscular silhouette underneath.

How does a King have enough time to run a business and keep his figure so mouth-watering?

“Come,” he says, quickly turning. He gets a few feet away before I can move. Jumping up, I walk on unsteady legs after him. I expect whispers to follow us, but they don’t. It’s dead silent the whole way to his office, and when we get there, Nolan closes the door behind us and turns to me.

His piercing green eyes stare at me.

“Boss,” I murmur, swallowing the nerves. “I’m your new personal secretary, Fiona. What can I do for you?”

Maybe if I act like nothing happened, he will too. His eyes narrow on me, and I have to physically stop myself from taking a step back as my heart begins to race.

“Is that all you have to say?” He asks, one brow raising in challenge. I bite my tongue. It’s the only way to keep my nervous brain from blurting out something crazy.

Adjusting his suit jacket around my shoulders, I try to keep it professional, saying, “Thank you for the jacket. I’ll wash it and bring it back to you.”

That should be fine. No one wants to talk about their drunken one-night stands, right?

Wrong.

Nolan digs in his pocket and pulls out a wad of bills and change- a very familiar wad of cash and change. Crap. Not only does he remember, but he’s pissed. The fire in his eyes and the rigid posture tell me that clearly.

“Need I remind you how I know you have a small freckle on he left side of your chest?” He inquires, stepping closer. The cool, cold tone and his movement has me backing up and bumping into the door.

“You don’t have to say it,” I mutter, looking down at the money in his hand. “I remember, and I’m sorry. I was drunk that night.” It’s not a good excuse, but it’s not a lie. It took me thinking really hard to piece everything from that night together. I remembered the sex but remembering that I threw myself all over him was a bit more difficult.

Then it was embarrassing.

“Drunk?” Nolan sneers, holding up the money. “You were drunk the next day when you left $135 and some change for me to find?”

I didn’t remember how much I left, but even so, it makes my face flame with shame. I lower my head, but he doesn’t let me get away that easy.

He shoves the money closer to my face, growling, “I remember you enjoying yourself that night. Is this all I’m worth?”

My head spins and I try to breathe through the shame and nerves while curling into myself. I didn’t mean to make him mad or upset, I just didn’t know what to do. Dipping my head, I catch a whiff of Nolan’s snowy cypress scent, and instead of helping me, it makes me dizzier.

Black dots dance in my vision, and this time, I let myself lean back on the door. I try to shake the sensation off, realizing the unsteady, dizzy, and weak feeling is a lot like how I always felt after the guards came around and injected me with the mandated wolf suppressant drug. Every werewolf got it while inside, and I guess it hasn’t worn off.

Lucky me.

“There is no reason you should have left this money with me. I am not someone you can buy, especially for such a small amount of money,” he growls, but his voice becomes a bit muffled as I concentrate on breathing to slow my racing heart.

If he doesn’t stop talking, I’m going to pass out.

Everything is just too much right now. I can’t focus.

“No matter what happened before now, we are in a superior and subordinate relationship,” he says, and I nod through the fog in my mind. “Everything between us will be strictly professional. No one in my company will be allowed to have the idea that they can get to the top or gain favor with sexual or personal relationships.”

Again, I nod to show I understand. Taking a deep breath, I look at Nolan and say, “I promise that wasn’t on my mind. I want to earn my place, and I will work hard. You don’t need to worry about me sleeping my way to the top.”

An awkward silence falls on us, so I turn to leave. I need to get out of here and do like I said. I need to work. Nothing else.

However, at the same time I spin toward the door, Nolan reaches out to stop me. His hand clamps down on my shoulder while the other stops in front of me, holding the money I’d left him.

I glance over my shoulder at him and nod in silent thanks.

Neither of us says anything as he pulls away, until I gasp in pain. My hair snags on his cufflink, pulling painfully. Turning my head toward him doesn’t help any, either, because the pain grows and my hair tangles in the little metal stud even more.

“Be still.”

The heavy command makes me freeze, and my entire body locks up. Nolan leans in, sliding his free arm around my hips and lifting. I gasp and lean into him as he lifts me, turns toward his desk and quickly crosses the room.

His hand on my hip and his forearm under my ass have tingles spreading through me from the contact. I want to lean in more, rub against him, and cover myself in his scent, but I hold myself back. I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and try to calm my breathing as he sets me on top of his desk.

When my ass touches the top of his desk, I pull away.

“I said be still,” Nolan rumbles, sliding his hand to the back of my neck.

Strong fingers collar the base of my neck, keeping me from moving as he steps between my legs and leans so close I could kiss him. His hips brush against the insides of my thighs. The mere inch between us sends heat roaring through my body.

“I’ll untangle it,” Nolan whispers, his eyes flickering to mine before they move to my tangled hair. I don’t move. I don’t even breathe. I fear that if I move, I will do something I’ll regret.

“Hey, Nolan, I…”

My eyes flick to the door at the same time Nolan turns his head to the uninvited guest.

Andy looks between the two of us, his eyes growing wide at our closeness.

Shit.