Page 99 of Dream Chaser

“I’m referring to staying away from you,” he whispered, his coffee-scented breath brushing my lips. “But I should.”

“I should too,” I said. “This job is everything I have. If I lose it—”

“You won’t.”

“Isn’t being my boss the reason you say you should stay away?”

“It is.” He slid his fingers into my hair, threading them through the ends. The light pull made me shiver.

“But you’re not my boss tonight,” I managed, melting in his hands like the snow around us. “What if…” I paused, gathering the courage to continue. If I told him what I wanted, there would be no going back. And it was a risk.

One I desperately wanted to take.

I’d never explored what I wanted. Had never done anything reckless.

“What if?” he pressed gently.

“What if we forget who we are? Just for tonight.”

He dropped his hands and inched back, searching my eyes like he doubted I was serious.

“I mean it.” I swiped my tongue over my bottom lip. “I want to know what being with you would feel like. Nobody cares here. When we’re back at the office, we’ll keep things professional. I work for you.” I took a lungful of air. “And I need to succeed. My divorce might take a long time. I don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship, and you’re too busy for one.”

Once the words left me, only the melody drifting onto the porch remained. A boulder lodged itself in my throat. What the hell had I done? Did I just proposition my boss?

Alejandro squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them slowly, as though he were seeing me for the first time. “Say it again.”

“The whole speech?” I whispered. “Can’t. I can only put myself on the spot once. Twice in a row is a bit too much, even for me.”

He shook his head slowly. “Nova. Just say you meant it. The part about giving me one night to be with you.”

“I meant every word.” My hands trembled on his shoulders.

His throat moved with a swallow. “You did, or you still do?”

“Depends on whether you want it too. If you don’t, I—”

He crushed me to him, the sudden movement stealing my breath. “All night. I’m yours. You’re mine. No more holding back. I’ll give you anything you want. Anything you need. Just ask, and it’s yours.”

His eyes burned. Vivid. Tender. He ran his palms over my back as if he couldn’t help touching me.

This was it—I’d finally have him. Kiss him. Touch him. Excitement and a touch of nerves ran through me.

“All night,” I echoed, cupping his jaw. “Just us together.”

He walked me back until my spine met the wall by the front door, my heart thudding in my throat.

Alejandro dropped a hand to my hip and curled his other around my neck, his thumb nudging my chin upward. I lifted it, and my gaze tangled with his fiery one.

“I’ve dreamed about this for so long,” he whispered, edging forward.

My lips parted before he moved. He pulled me toward him, hip to hip, his heat meeting mine. I arched my back until my chest pressed against his, meeting him halfway.

A snowflake landed on my upper lip. With a low groan trapped in his throat, he licked it off me. His thumb pressed harder against my chin.

“Open. Let me kiss you like I want to.”

I wound my arms around his neck, my core pulsing with need. “You can do a lot more than that.”