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“Or what?”
He closes the remaining distance between us. Before I can decide whether to move, his hand settles against my chest, and he backs me against the glass.
My shoulders meet the window with a dull thud.
“Elias.”
“No. You've spent days lecturing me about restraint while conveniently ignoring your own behavior.” He plants his hands on either side of my head. “You think I haven't noticed how often you invent reasons to keep her in your office? The moment she's helping another department or spending time with someone who isn't one of us, suddenly there's something urgent that requires her attention.”
“She's our assistant.”
“Exactly. Our assistant. Not your personal property.” His eyes narrow. “You have no problem sharing her time with Jace and me, but God forbid anyone else gets more than five minutes of it before you find an excuse to call her upstairs.”
I grip his waist, intending to move him aside. Instead, my fingers tighten against his shirt and his eyes drop briefly to my hands.
“You're angry because I nearly kissed her.”
“I'm angry because you jeopardized everything we've built.”
“And stopping an elevator to get her alone was perfectly reasonable?”
I glare at him.
He leans closer, lowering his voice. “You don't get to demand restraint from me while indulging every possessive impulse you have toward her.”
The accusation lands harder than I'd like.
“She's an employee,” I remind him. “Not a risk we get to explore.”
“Then perhaps you should start behaving like you believe that.”
For several seconds, neither of us moves.
Elias is close enough that I can feel the warmth of his body against mine. I know every stubborn line of that face, every expression he uses when he's convinced he's right. Usually, I find his refusal to back down infuriating.
Right now, I'm struggling to remember why I wanted him to move.
“You're enjoying this,” I mutter.
“Immensely.”
“Asshole.”
His mouth curves. “Hypocrite.”
I catch the back of his neck and pull him closer, stopping just short of his mouth. “Careful, Baptiste.”
“When am I ever careful, Blackwell.”
The office door opens.
“Yeah, Sugar, I heard you.” Jace strolls in with his phone pressed to his ear and a coffee in his free hand. “I promise I'll behave.”
He listens for a moment, then laughs.
“Now you know damn well I can't promise that. Enjoy your Saturday, beautiful. I'll call you later.”
He ends the call, finally taking in Elias standing between my legs, his hands braced against the window on either side of my head.
