back from his face.
Oh hell. She could just clear his desk right now, lie down with her legs spread and ask him to give it his best shot. He’d never looked so casual and relaxed, yet so completely fuckable that everything flew from her mind and her body revved up for his.
His PA was beside Georgia in a heartbeat, then urging her back out the door with a hand on her forearm. Georgia snapped out of her daytime fantasy and glared at the woman. She took a step back.
With an apology, Max ended his call.
‘I’m so sorry, Mr. Briggs. I couldn’t stop her.’
Nothing would have stopped her. Except maybe busted kneecaps, but his PA was too meek to dare.
‘It’s okay, Lucy. Leave us and close the door.’
‘But Mr. Briggs, your next appointment is due soon.’ Lucy wasn’t giving up.
His smile was easy, like this happened to him every day. ‘Tell them I won’t be long if they arrive before this meeting’s over.’
The way he looked at her, like he was down with the plan to screw six ways till Sunday on his desk, left no doubt in her mind about how attracted to her he was. Georgia had to swallow hard and lock her shaky knees so she didn’t abandon her plan there and then and jump straight on him.
Lucy frowned at Georgia before she left. Maybe barging into his office wasn’t the best idea she’d had. With little to no sleep the night before and her body vibrating with nerves all morning, she didn’t want to put this off any longer. Only thing was, now she was here the perfectly polite speech she’d practiced dropped out of her head, like she hadn’t spent an hour going over it, in front of a mirror, to practice keeping the bitchy out of her expression.
Instead all she could focus on was his throat and the flash of skin showing where two buttons had been left undone. A hot flush spread up her neck, and also down, until the tingly feeling in the pit of her stomach came back.
‘Something I can help you with?’ he asked, his eyes flicking down her body.
She fought the urge to tug at the hem of her skirt – though whether to hike it up or down a bit, she didn’t know.
‘What you said yesterday—’
‘Take a seat.’
She did, on one of the chairs at the other side of his desk. Not because he’d told her to, but because her legs had started to shake and sitting would be the safer option. ‘Yesterday when you—’
‘Look.’ Max held his hands up.
Her eyes narrowed and again she had to keep her mouth shut before she said something she’d regret. Eventually. Maybe.
‘It came out wrong, okay? I didn’t come to ask if you wanted to start a fling,’ he said, his expression serious.
Great, now all she could think about was that he didn’t really want her and her lungs cramped. She sucked in a few breaths until the jerky movements faded. ‘What did you mean?’
Max raked a hand through his hair. ‘I did want you to come to the late summer ball with me at the end of the week, and it would be a bonus if you agreed to pretend to be my date. But when I saw the email I wanted to choke all the bastards that had treated you like a blow-up doll and I lost my head.’
Georgia frowned. He’d totally blown her out of the water. Especially now that it sounded like… ‘So you thought offering a few pity fucks might sweeten the deal for me?’
She slammed her teeth shut with a clatter and her gaze dropped to his desk. Eyeing the stapler, she wondered if it would clip her tongue to the bottom of her mouth. Maybe that way she’d be forced to think before she spoke.
‘Georgia.’
His voice dripped with command and she couldn’t not meet his eyes again. They were hard, just like his expression. Shit, she’d gone too far. Then his tone changed again.
‘You’re very beautiful. From the first day I came here and saw you get out of that little red car, I wanted you. Then you leaned in and kissed that…’ Max’s jaw tightened. ‘Guy. I was pissed off because I was attracted to you and I had no idea if you were serious with the guy. I tried to keep away as much as I could after that.’
She couldn’t do anything except blink at him. To have him say he wanted her…
Her heart was going too fast, pumping hot blood around her body, including the inappropriate parts. She had to squeeze her knees together, but it didn’t stop the pulsing between her legs. He’d no doubt used that low, seductive tone on purpose, probably knowing it made women melt. Well, she was damned if she’d let him see the effect it had on her; she was nobody’s pity ride.
She’d never been this turned on, or pissed off.
‘Knowing you’re single now makes me want you more. And I know you want me too. It’s pointless trying to deny it.’
She had to stop her jaw from dropping. The arrogant, condescending, pigheaded ass. There was no way he could know what she felt. She didn’t know what she felt.
‘How can you be so sure of yourself?’
Irritation bubbled just under the surface. She knew this conversation was getting dangerous, because her hand itched to slap that self-assured smirk right off his face.
‘I know when a woman’s checking me out. And right now? Your cheeks are flushed, your pupils are dilated and you’re squirming in the seat like you need something between your legs. It’s obvious you want me.’
Max spoke the words with such confidence, she wished she could force the lie out that she’d never thought of him in that way.
What the hell was she doing anyway? She was here to end this conversation for good, preferably in a way that meant she still got to keep her job. Briggs wasn’t exactly her dream, but she was left alone to get on with her work. And it had perks, like the huge discounts on the amazing clothes and shoes. She never imagined fucking the boss would be a perk she couldn’t have.
Still, it was time to say what she came here to. ‘What you said yesterday was inappropriate and offensive. It crossed the line and broke sexual harassment laws put in place for a reason.’
The smile slipped and his expression hardened. His blue eyes glinted like chips of ice and she shrunk back into the chair. Not because she was scared, but because she was suddenly melting on the inside, wondering what hot angry sex with him would be like.
Would he tear her blouse open, popping the buttons? Rip her skirt right up the slit for easy access? Bend her over the desk, teasing her with his fingers while he pounded into her, pushing her toward her first-ever orgasm? Her clit throbbed as her lacy panties soaked through.
Forcing herself back to reality, she realized it would probably be the same as sex with any other man. A huge bitch-slap colored with disappointment.
‘I won’t harass you, Georgia, but I will have you in my bed. That’s a fact, and not just because I want to fuck you so bad. You want me, too, and you need a man who isn’t a selfish bastard.’
‘Please,
