Oh.

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have any available time around lunch? I'd ask Mrs. Glover, but this isn't a professional request.

I dig into my research, and realize it's been at least ten minutes since my last text. I frown, wondering if he's going to respond when my phone chirps.

I just cleared thirty minutes at 12:30. Told Jenny I need a lunch meeting with you.

My desk phone rings.

"Jules Montgomery," I answer.

"This is Mrs. Glover, Jules. Mr. McKenna is requesting a lunch meeting with you at twelve thirty." She sounds polite and brisk.

"Thank you, Mrs. Glover. I'll be there."

She hangs up and I pick up my phone.

It's a date.

Could the morning have gone any f.u.c.king slower? Every minute was excruciating as I sat watching the clock, wishing time would pa.s.s. Finally, at twelve twenty-five, I shut down my computer and lock my desk, grab my iPad and walk with purpose to Nate's office.

"You can go on in, Jules," Mrs. Glover smiles at me and I walk through Nate's office door, thankful that there are no windows looking out into the reception area, and close the door behind me. I silently turn the lock.

"So," I turn to face him and smile at him, enjoying the sight of him sitting behind his desk. His eyes are warm as he watches me cross the room toward his desk.

"So," he replies.

"Just to clarify, you are not my boss right now."

"Okay."

I walk around his desk and he swivels in his chair so he's facing me, looking up at me. A smile flirts at the corners of his lips and I can't resist him. I lean down, planting my hands on the arm rests of his chair and kiss him, pushing my tongue past his lips, teasing him and pulling back, and suddenly he's wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his lap.

With one arm wrapped around my waist and one hand in my hair, he pulls me hard against him and takes control of the kiss. He's kissing me as though he needs it, as though he's dying of thirst and I'm the first drink of water he's seen in days. It's thrilling, intoxicating, and I wrap my arms around his neck and hang on for the ride. After long minutes of being in Nate's arms, I remember what my original plan was for this lunch meeting and I stand up off his lap.

"Where are you going?" He grabs for my hand, but I pull it out of his reach and kneel on the floor between his legs.

"Not far."

His eyes widen. "Julianne..."

"Shh," I press a finger against his lips to silence him. "Just sit back and enjoy, babe. Nothing like a b.l.o.w. .j.o.b to brighten up a Monday."

I unfasten his pants and pull his large, hard d.i.c.k out of his boxer-briefs and immediately wrap my lips around the head, teasing his apa with my tongue and Nate's hips surge up in his chair.

"Holy f.u.c.k, baby!" He grabs my hair in his hands and holds onto me as I move up and down his beautiful c.o.c.k, gripping him with my lips, sucking up on him and then sinking back down until I feel that metal in the back of my throat.

I moan against him and jack him with my hand while cupping his s.c.r.o.t.u.m with my other hand. I've never felt s.e.xier, more powerful, more in control, and I love it. I love making Nate mad with l.u.s.t for me.

"Oh G.o.d, yes Jules... suck it... Oh my f.u.c.k, baby." His naughty words urge me on and I move faster, harder, until suddenly he stands, picks me up by my shoulders, bends me over and is suddenly inside me. He grips my hair in one hand, pulling me back until it's just this side of painful, and grips my hip tightly as he slams in and out of me, over and over, before grunting as his climax claims him, pulling me with him.

He slips out of me and steps back and I feel the wetness ooze down between my legs. Nate gasps. "That's the s.e.xiest f.u.c.king thing, baby."

I grin and stand up, shimmy my skirt down, and kiss his chin as he tucks himself away and zips his pants. "Can I use your bathroom, please?"

"Of course, help yourself. He gestures to the door that leads into his private bathroom and I walk inside and clean myself up.

"Well, looks like we've got about ten minutes left of this lunch meeting, Mr. McKenna." I saunter back into his office and find him standing at his window, arms crossed, gazing out at the view of the Sound and the s.p.a.ce Needle. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around him, pressing a kiss to his back.

He covers my hands with his own and we stand there for a long moment until I finally ask, "What's wrong?"

"Absolutely nothing." He turns to me and presses a soft kiss to my cheek. "That was a nice surprise."

"If you keep s.e.xting me the way you do, I'll give you a nice surprise every day." I wink at him and he grins delightedly at me.

"How's your day so far, baby?"

"Long. Yours?"

"The same. Better now, though." He kisses me and sits in his chair, pulling me back into his lap. "I'm going to be in meetings the rest of the day, so I won't see you until tomorrow."

I wrap my arms around his shoulders and bury my face in his neck. "Okay."

"Come to my place after work. You can stay with me tonight." He's rubbing my low back in a rhythmic circle and I want to purr.

"You have a late meeting, remember?"

"I want to come home to you."

I lean back and search his sincere eyes. I don't want to tell him no. Last night without him was horrible.

"I don't want to sleep without you," he whispers. How can I resist him?

"Okay," I whisper back and bury my face in his neck again, enjoying these last few minutes with him before we have to go back to work. "I'll be there."

Chapter Nine.

Today is my birthday.

I fire up my computer to get the work day started when there is a knock on my door.

"Come in," I call out.

Mrs. Glover comes breezing efficiently into my office, carrying a large bouquet of colorful mixed flowers. "These just came for you, Jules."

"Oh, thank you!" She places them on my desk and leaves my office, shutting the door behind her. I greedily pull the small white card out of the bouquet and open it, praying they're from Nate.

They aren't.

Happy Birthday, baby sister. Have a good day. Love, Will He's sweet. Will is the closest to me in age. I pick up my phone and send him a text to thank him for the flowers then get back to work.

An hour later, there is another knock and Mrs. Glover comes back into the room carrying a large bouquet of pink roses. "I think you should just leave your door open today, Miss Montgomery." Her tone is dry and full of humor and I laugh.

"Good idea."

I read the card, knowing these are from Natalie. She always sends me pink roses.

Happy Birthday, best friend. We love you, Nat, Luke and Baby Oh, that makes me cry. I love them too. I fuss over the pretty blooms and set the bouquet on the window sill behind me.

By noon I have six bouquets of flowers spread all over my office, with wonderful, sweetly written cards from my family.

None from Nate.

Maybe he'll bring me something tonight. I shrug. We've really only been seeing each other for four days. He's not required to get me anything.

At twelve thirty, Nate comes walking through my door, looking every inch the successful business man in his black suit and red tie. I hold my smile in when I glance up at him, and I can tell he's doing the same.

"Do you have a moment, Miss Montgomery?"

"Of course." He closes the door behind him, and I've never been so thankful that I don't have any windows out to the main part of the building.

"Hi," he murmurs and looks around my office.

"Hi," I respond, rising from my desk and coming around to him. He gathers me in his arms and kisses me deeply, then pulls back and runs his fingers down my cheek.

"How is the birthday girl?" he asks.

"I'm good. Feeling a little spoiled." I step back and gesture at all the flowers and he smirks.

"All of your admirers?" he quirks up an eyebrow.

"Yes, my brothers, parents and Nat are my biggest fans." I smile up at him and his eyes get serious as he sweeps the pad of his thumb along my lower lip.

"I think I rate up there too," he whispers.

"Oh," I respond, mesmerized by the serious look in his eyes.

"I have something for you." He steps back and pulls an envelope out of his breast pocket. My eyebrows climb to my hairline in surprise.

"Why?"

"Because it's your birthday, Julianne." He looks at me like I'm stupid and I flush in pleasure.

"Thank you."

"You haven't opened it yet." He pa.s.ses me the envelope and I rip it open. There is a handwritten note inside, in his hand writing and I grin up at him.

Julianne, I am delighted to have the honor of sharing your birthday with you. I'm giving you the rest of the day off, and have set up an account at Neiman Marcus that has no limit. Go shopping. Replace the clothes I ruined over the weekend, and be sure to find a leather jacket, along with anything else you want.

Happy Birthday, beautiful.

Yours, Nate Wow.

I smile and look up into his amused gray eyes.

"This is where I do the obligatory ayou shouldn't have'." I kiss him softly and rub my nose against his.

"And I'll do the obligatory abut I wanted to'." He grins, delighted with me, and I hug him close. He's come to be so precious to me in such a short time. Or has he always meant this much to me and I just couldn't admit it to myself?

"Thank you, so much." I whisper.

"You're welcome. I wanted to send you flowers, but it wouldn't be appropriate here."

Oh, that's right! No wonder.

"I understand. This is a very generous gift." I nuzzle his chest and hug him tighter.

"You'll get your other gifts tonight," he murmurs and kisses my hair.

"What?" I pull back and look up at him. "This is too much as it is, honey."

"Don't be ungrateful. If memory serves, you hate that quality in Natalie."

Oh. d.a.m.n him.

"I'm not ungrateful. I'm... overwhelmed."

He smiles warmly and kisses me again. "I have a meeting. Go have fun. I'm serious, get whatever you want."

I grin and jump up and down in excitement. "Okay, you asked for it."

He laughs, a full out belly laugh, kisses me again, and leaves to go back to work. Holy s.h.i.t, so this is how Natalie felt when Luke treated us to a day of shopping for her birthday. No, Natalie hated it.

I'm going to love the s.h.i.t out of it.

I nudge the front door closed behind me with my foot, my arms and hands loaded down with bags from Neimans and climb the stairs to my bedroom, throwing the bags onto the bed.

I did good.