Chapter three

ISLA’S POV:

The Thorne's library was located on the West wing of the mansion behind a dark heavy oak door filled rich comforting aroma of old books. The shelves were adorned in rich mahogany which stretched towards the glass ceilings. Light rays poured through the massive arched windows brightening the dust specks that drifted lazily in the air. The scent of old parchment, polished wood, and faint sandalwood from Cade’s cologne clung to the room, seeping into me like a memory I didn’t want to acknowledge.

“This is where you’ll spend most of your time, Miss Campbell.” Eleanor’s clipped voice dragged through the quiet room. She pointed to a polished oak desk set in front of the grand windows. “Cataloguing, restoring, documenting… you’ll have everything you need.”

Her words barely landed. My mind was too loud, echoing with the sound of Cade’s voice in his office, his dark, hungry gaze when he recognized me.

“Excuse me, Mr. Thorne requires me elsewhere. You’ll be fine here until the staff comes with coffee,” she said as she lifted her face from her phone.

I nodded quickly as I clutched my portfolio against my chest. “Of course, thank you, Eleanor.”

She paused, giving me a quick look before sweeping out, the click of her heels fading down the marble hallway..

The air in the library was cool, accompanied by the quiet of a room untouched for decades. I moved towards the oak desk as my nerves began to settle until I felt the change of air, the smell of cigar and sandalwood. Sweat ran along the back of my neck as I nervously turned slowly, seeing my boss against the doorframe; hands in his pockets, broad shoulders filling the space with impossible command. His tie was loosened now, his jacket gone, the top buttons of his shirt undone which exposed the sharp line of his throat and his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. This made me clutch my thighs instinctively.

“Admiring my family’s history?” Cade asked.

My breath caught in my throat. “I… I was just browsing through.”I stuttered and cleared my throat.

He pushed off the doorframe, his steps slow, deliberate. “There are other things you might want to feel.”He muttered walking towards me not breaking a single eye contact

Immediately my throat tightened. “Mr. Thorne, I’d prefer we kept things professio…”

“Professional?” he completed, saying the word like it was foreign.

His gaze locked on mine as he circled the desk, his body heat skimming against me even before he was close enough to touch.

“Tell me, Isla; was what you did to me in that lounge professional?”

“That was… a mistake. I’d had too much to drink.”I said trembling

“Mm.” He stopped in front of me, so close I could smell him…whiskey, sandalwood, and something distinctly male. I took a step back but his hand shot out caging me in, pulling me closer while his palm flattened on the desk beside my hip.

“You don’t get to pretend that it didn’t happen, Campbell,” he murmured, his voice low, hot against my ear. “Not when I close my eyes and all I can see is you”.

“Cade…”My hands clenched tighter around the portfolio. His name slipped out of my lips before I could stop myself.

“Say it again,” he ordered.

“Cade…” I repeated, softer this time, trembling.

His free hand slid to my waist, fingers curling into my blouse, tugging me closer. I could feel his hard dick pressed against mine, as his body pinned me against the desk.

“You want to play professional?” he whispered, his breath burning my skin, “but your body says something else.”

“No…” I protested weakly, but my voice betrayed me.

“Yes.” His hand moved lower, gripping my hips firmly.

“You’re trembling Isla, not because you’re scared but because you want me.”He said cockily.

Before I could deny it, his fingers slipped under the hem of my skirt, trailing upward along the sensitive inside of my thigh making my knees buckle.

“Sir… we can’t.”

“Watch me,” he growled, his mouth brushing my jaw, lips grazing the shell of my ear.

I bit my lip hard almost drawing blood, the only sound escaping my throat was a hopeless whimper as his hand found the lace of my panties. His thumb pressed firmly against the thin fabric, right over the aching throb of my clit. My head fell back against the desk, a sharp gasp ripping from my throat.

“Fuck… you’re already wet,” he rasped, voice thick with hunger. “For me.”He added with a smirk

His fingers pushed past my lace as his thumb circled my clit, slow and deliberate, and I nearly let out a scream

“Cade…” My protest turned into a moan.

“Say my name while I ruin you,” he ordered, slipping two thick fingers inside me with a force that made me cry out. My walls clenched hard around his fingers…a greedy, weak response I couldn’t mask.

The slippery sound of his fingers thrusting into me filled the quiet library mixing with my ragged breathing while his other hand gripped my chin, forcing my gaze to him. “Look at me, don’t you dare close your eyes.”

I obeyed, my body arching off the desk, every nerve lit, emotions heightened.

His gaze burned into mine, fierce and consuming, as if this were a claim.

“You’re mine…Isla,” he growled, pumping his fingers faster, deeper, curling just right to make me explode “Every time you fight me, every time you try to pretend you’re not, I’ll remind you like this.”

My hips rolled helplessly against his hand, my eyes moving to the back of my head, chasing the pleasure I swore I didn’t want.

“Fuck… Cade, please” I dragged.

“Begging already?” His smile was dark. His thumb pressed harder against my clit, his rhythm relentless. “That’s it. Let go. Come on daddy like the good girl you are.”

My ears perked to “daddy”, unable to hold it, I let it out. My orgasm ripped through me every muscle locking, my cry muffled against his chest as wave after wave tore me apart.

Cade continued to pump his fingers, he didn't stop until I was a shaky, breathless mess collapsed against the desk. He finally withdrew his moist glistening fingers which he brought to his lips as he sucked them clean, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Still professional huh?” he murmured smirking. “Tell me again, how you’re going to keep this professional?”

I couldn’t answer as my legs were weak and my voice was gone. My body still trembling from his touches.

He leaned down, lips touching mine but not kissing, leaving me desperate for more.

“This is just the beginning,” he said, then stepped back, leaving me ruined and wanting on the edge of the oak desk, still craving his touch.

Standing behind the doorframe, neither Cade nor I heard the camera flick.