Get A Grip

Myra's P.O.V

I never thought I would ever be here again, in Jade's place. But here I was, sitting in his living room, next to the fireplace on my laptop, finishing up work.

It was absurd, but strangely I didn't feel too uncomfortable. Jade had gone upstairs to his bedroom, probably to freshen up, so I had a clear head to work.

I lightly bit the side of my lower lip as I cross-checked my work, ensuring everything was in order so I could go home. I didn't want Landon staying there all alone by himself.

I'd been seriously mad at him yesterday, but now I was willing to catch up on lost time with my brother.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, from the corner of my eyes, I noticed Jade's form descending the stairs.

My gaze involuntarily swept toward him, and God, I instantly regretted it. He was wearing loose sweatpants with a short-sleeved shirt, all the buttons undone, leaving his very ripped abs and jacked chest, with some of his tattoos out in the open for my eyes to feast on.

And so help me, I couldn't tear my eyes away, even as he got to the bottom of the stairs and casually strode over to me.

"A little subtlety, Myra," he murmured, a low, amused thread in his voice that still managed to send a quick shiver straight down my spine. "Unless you're planning on continuing where we left off that night."

He completely snapped me out of my drooling state, because that was exactly what I was doing, drooling over my boss's body.

I dragged my eyes up to his face, clearing my throat roughly as my face heated up.

"I'm sorry for staring," I stammered, feeling so silly apologizing like that. "I just finished up here," I said, desperate to steer the conversation to something else.

"Great. You can join me for dinner now. My cook made lasagna. Trust me, she makes the best lasagna," Jade said, turning and heading down the long, modern hallway toward the open-concept kitchen.

"I can't, Mr. Dantrix," I politely rejected, closing my laptop panel with a soft click. "I have to head back home."

Jade halted and slowly turned to his side, staring at me.

"To your husband?" he asked, a sharp hint of annoyance clipping his words. "You know it's not that hard to tell that you aren't happy in that marriage of yours."

He still thought I was married. I wasn't going to correct him before, thinking it could set some boundaries between us, but I also didn't want to be branded a miserable, married woman.

I hoped that wasn't what he thought of me.

"I'm not married. I got divorced the day after we met."

Surprise instantly crossed his face, his jaw loosening slightly.

"Don't tell me it was because of that night—"

"No," I cut him off sharply, already knowing exactly where he was heading. "My ex-husband had been cheating on me. I really don't want to talk about it, Mr. Dantrix."

He fell silent for a few seconds, his intense grey eyes searching mine.

"Fine. I won't ask you about it, if you promise to stop addressing me by my last name when we're alone and not in the office, and of course, have that dinner with me," he said, a testing tilt to his head.

I sighed, realizing he truly was persistent.

"Okay, Jade."

A wide, genuine smile broke out across his face, instantly softening his harsh features.

Soon, utensils were clicking against porcelain plates as we ate in a much more comfortable quiet.

"Where did you work before you came over to my company?" Jade asked, breaking the silence as he set his fork down.

I glanced up at him.

"I was a full-time housewife. Vinc—" I stopped abruptly when I almost said his name. "My ex-husband didn't want me working. But before then, I used to help manage my father's company. I did a shitty job at that," I said, my voice dropping to a low, bitter whisper.

Maybe if I had managed things properly, the company's assets wouldn't have gotten so bad that Vincent had to step in and buy it in order to save it.

"I'm sure you were amazing at it," Jade countered smoothly, his tone firm. "Just because things didn't pan out well, that doesn't necessarily mean it was your fault."

That was what I used to tell myself, but now I thought differently.

"Thanks," I replied with a small, grateful smile.

I helped Jade clear the dishes when we were through. While waiting by the counter as the dishwasher hummed to life, I stood quietly near the sink. Jade came over to rinse his hands, and before I could move out of his path, he pressed his palm flat against the marble on one side of me while reaching to turn on the faucet, completely caging me in.

He smelled like cardamom and rosewood, with a tiny, intoxicating trace of jasmine, probably from his shampoo.

I pressed my back hard against the edge of the sink, hoping to create some kind of physical distance between us. My eyes remained locked on his bare chest, entirely afraid of meeting his gaze.

When I did finally look up, he wasn't even looking at me. This close up, I could see the perfectly sculpted, razor-sharp line of his jaw. My eyes slowly traced the path of his skin, settling directly on his lips.

On the surface, it seemed like an innocent, unthought-of act, but I knew he was doing this entirely on purpose.

He pulled back a mere inch, his darkened gaze finally falling on me as he brought a wet, crisp apple to his lips and took a slow bite.

"Want some?" he asked, waving the fruit teasingly in front of my face.

I gulped, slowly shaking my head as a heavy heat settled deep in my stomach. I wanted something, and it definitely wasn't that apple, but the mouth currently chewing on it.

Heavens, Myra. Get a grip.

"No. Thank you," I managed to squeeze out.

"You don't like apples?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

"I prefer strawberries," I replied, wishing desperately for him to just move away.

"I'll remember that for future purposes," he said, a wicked glint in his eye as he finally stepped back and freed me.

I drew in a slow, ragged breath, incredibly glad that I could finally breathe air that wasn't actively messing with my hormones.

Speaking of hormones, wasn't I five days late already.