CHAPTER 1

…I knocked once and twisted the door knob with confidence. This time, with no hesitations.

“Good evening, Mr. McCullen. I have your report.” I said, stretching my arm to hand it over.

He looked up, gazing at me with those blue eyes piercing straight through me.

Get a grip, Robin. He’s unavailable.

“Right. Have a seat.”

He returned to his laptop.

“Give me a minute, will you.”

I nodded, my thoughts spiralling with images of him and Millicent together.

I frowned.

“Done,” he declared, closing his laptop. He held his nape, rolling his head back and forth.

“You can leave it on the desk.”

I did, and stood up almost immediately… too quickly to leave, striding across the room to the door.

He crossed the room, just in time and caught my arm before I could escape.

“Leaving so soon?” he purred, his voice raspy and sensual.

“Yes. I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Wait. Don’t leave.”

He traced his bottom lip with his tongue, sending tiny shivers of molten heat spreading through my entire body. I turned my face away from him, flushed and throbbing at the groin.

GET A GRIP!

“Look at me.” He held my chin and tilted it up, forcing my eyes to meet his. “You’ve been on my mind all week. I don’t know what you’re doing to me, Robin—but I intend to find out.”

His hoarse voice was laced with a seduction I wasn’t prepared for, I wanted to moan in response.

Oh God!

This was sinful. I spent every day scorning my shameless serial cheater ex for his betrayal, yet here I was, my mind twisting against me and craving another woman’s man in ways that made me quiver and ache all at once.

I pulled away from his touch. I couldn’t do this.

“Mr McCullen…”

“Jack. Just... call me Jack.”

He said, taking slow, cautious steps towards me.

“Jack,” I said evenly, backing up. “I don't know what you think is happening here, but I'd like to work in the company away from drama.”

He strode towards me, closing the gap, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lip. He thought this was amusing?

God! Give me some strength…please.

“I’m not imagining this, Robin. I know you feel this too.”

No, he wasn’t. I was so much affected by him, but I wasn’t about to disclose it to him. I wasn’t going to let myself fall for him…

 His fingers brushed my lips lightly, I shut my eyes in anticipation, gasping softly. I was dead. “I’ve thought about touching and kissing you all week.”

“Please stop.” I whispered, my heart throbbing in my chest at full tilt, his intense gaze doing nothing to soften my wrecking body.

I needed to LEAVEEE!

“You want this.”

I stood helplessly staring into his blue eyes, unable to look away, as he hypnotised me. He leaned in, lifting me effortlessly from the ground by my waist until we were eye to eye, his gaze devouring me on the spot. I was a finished woman.

“You’re too beautiful, Robin.” he murmured into my ears, brushing his lips gently over my earlobe. “I don’t know how I controlled myself for this long.” A rush of shiver broke across my skin, every nerve ending prickling and standing at attending. He had so much effect on me. I was too weak – too incapacitated to resist, to think straight, to stop this man.

He brought his face closer, pressing his forehead gently against mine. Every reason to end this madness had escaped, leaving me a desperate wobbling whip. The world narrowing to the space between us. I instinctively lifted my hand to his face, tracing the outline of his jaw with my fingers. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on.

Everything shattered.

He pressed his lips against mine at a slow pace, my mind going delirious with all sort of emotions piercing through me at different angles. His lips were warm, soft and pillowy against mine, allowing my tongue to slip gently into his mouth – feeling the soft tickle of his breath beneath my nose, his fingers carding through my long thick hair as we breathed each other in. His intoxicating fresh water and mint scent with a hint of oud infiltrating my senses. My breathing hitched, our bodies pressing together against the wall, heat building between us, our lips moving in a hungry rhythm. His tongue rolled over mine, tasting our shared breath, feeling the thud of our heartbeats as he gently set me down on my feet, our hands fumbling to peel each other’s clothes away.

God, I had to stop this, he had a girlfriend… Oh God.

I ran my fingers slowly through his curls—so soft, so silky. Nothing about this felt wrong; we both wanted this, we both needed this, and I was going crazy with want. Yet...this was nothing but a sinful desire.

I needed him, but he was taken...

God! This wasn’t right, I was defying my own rule—never to get involved with a man who was already committed. Yet every sensible thought that came to me was thrown out the window, I was hopelessly undone by the pull of him.

He cupped my cheek and kissed every inch of my face, consuming me piece by piece, leaving no part of me untouched, no space for reason to survive.

My mind screamed restraint, but my body was overcome with desire, trembling under the towering height of this man. Captivating me with a want so sinful, yet I couldn’t resist.

“No…Jack,” I gasped, jerking away from him. Geeing myself up, I gingerly pulled my clothes back on, feeling ashamed— my thoughts far from composed.

“You’re not leaving, Robin,” he mused, his hands inching to hold my waist. “Not now.”

 “I can’t do this.”

I withdrew, my legs buckling uncontrollably beneath me, betraying every shred of control that remained. My purse and phone sat forgotten on his swivel chair.

 Shit.

I fled—leaving my purse, my phone, and my dignity behind.