Chapter 5: Professional Distance...

Oliver’s eyes widened slightly at her blunt observation, a low chuckle escaping his lips. The sound was rich and unexpected, breaking the usual seriousness, he carried around the office. “In a hurry,” he repeated, his voice laced with amusement. “You are saying my designers need to consider emergency situations? Like spills or... Other unexpected events?” His hand moved from her back to gently cup her shin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. The gesture was surprisingly tender for someone known for his reserved nature. “I like the way you think, practicality should not have to sacrifice style. It is a valid point,” he murmured, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. The office suddenly felt smaller, the air between them charged with a new energy. Oliver’s fingers traced the line of her jaw thoughtfully as he studied her flushed cheeks and nervous expression. “Tell me more about these emergency situations,” he encouraged softly.

“Oh, uh... I wouldn’t really be an expert on those types of situations,” Harper stuttered nervously. Oliver’s thumb continued its gentle tracing along her jawline, his ice-blue eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. The nervousness in her voice only seemed to amuse him further. “An expert?” he repeated with a low chuckle. “I wouldn’t expect you to be. But I appreciate the honesty. Most people would have just nodded and agreed with everything i said.” His other hand came up to cup her other cheek, framing her face between his large palms. The position was intimate, possessive, yet surprisingly gentle. “You don’t have to be an expert to recognize a problem, the fact that you noticed something so practical as ease of removal speaks volumes about your observational skills.” he continued softly. He leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers. The scent of his cologne was intoxicating at this proximity.

“I find it incredibly attractive when you get flustered like this,” he admitted quietly. Harper’s eyes flickers down to his lips for a moment before looking back up into his ice-blue eyes. She bit her lower lip in an innocently seductive manner. Oliver’s breath hitched at the sight of her biting her lower lip, the innocent yet undeniably seductive gesture sending a jolt of electricity through his system. His grip on her face tightened almost imperceptibly, his thumbs brushing against the sensitive skin on her cheeks. “Don’t do that,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Unless you want me to kiss you right here in my office.” His ice-blue eyes darkened with desire, studying the way her lips parted slightly under his gaze. The air between them grew thick with tension, charged with unspoken possibilities. “You have no idea how difficult it is for me to maintain professional distance when you look at me like that, most days i want to pin you against this desk and show you just how much I have noticed about you,” he admitted gruffly.

“Most days?” Harper breathed out. “Oh, I did not realize.” she said softly, but she remained still in front of him. Oliver’s expression shifted, a raw vulnerability flickering across his features at her soft admission. The realization that she had not noticed his growing interest was both frustrating and strangely endearing. “Did not realize?” he repeated, his voice taking on a rougher edge. “How could you not? I have been watching you every day, noticing the way your hair catches the sunlight, the way you focus so intently when you are working.” his hands slid from her cheeks to tangle in her hair, tilting her head back gently. The movement exposed the delicate line of her throat, making his pulse quicken. “I have been trying to keep this professional, but seeing you in here every morning, listening to your voice on the phone, watching how dedicated you are... It has been driving me insane,” he confessed quietly. His forehead rested against hers once more, their breaths mingling in a small space between them.

“Really?” Harper said surprised. “I guess I was too focused on my own nervousness around you,” she admitted softly. Oliver’s lips curved into a wry smile at her admission, his thumb brushing against her bottom lip gently. The softness of her skin sent a jolt of desire through him. “Nervous?” he repeated with amusement. “You? The woman who can handle high-stress situations with grace and efficiency?” His gaze dropped to her mouth again, lingering on the way her lips parted slightly. The temptation to close the distance and finally taste them was almost overwhelming. “I should have known you would be too focused on work to notice my... Appreciation, you are always so professional, so dedicated to your duties,” he continued softly. His other hand slid down to rest on the curve of her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies were nearly touching. The heat radiating from him was palpable. “Tell me something,” he murmured against her forehead, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her. “Has it ever crossed your mind? That maybe your boss is not as intimidating as he pretends to be?” His thumb stroked the sensitive skin of her lower lip, tracing its curve with deliberate slowness. The air in the office grew thick with unspoken desires, each breath she took seeming to draw him closer.

“You have no idea how many times I have wanted to pull you into this office and forget about all the paperwork waiting,” he confessed, his voice husky with restraint. “How many times I have imagined what it would be like to kiss those lips that get so flustered when you are nervous.” His grip on her waist tightened possessively as he leaned in even closer, his lips hovering just inches from hers. The scent of his cologne mixed with the warmth of his breath was intoxicating. “Tell me to stop,” he pleads softly. “Oh, no... I mean I was nervous because... Because of how attractive you are,” she admitted softly. “I never thought, you would be...” She takes a deep breath. “We should not do this here...” She said hesitantly, no fire behind her words.