5.

THALASSA

The first real gift I’d ever bought myself was parked right outside Reyes Global Logistics.

A silver Hyundai Sonata. I’d saved for two years to afford it, and every time I touched the steering wheel, it reminded me that I could stand on my own if I had to. That I wasn’t just Caleb’s fiancée, or Adam Reyes’s inconvenient housemate.

I pulled into the underground car park, flashed the access card they’d given me yesterday, and parked in the employee section. For once, I felt… official. Like this was a new start.

God, I pray I don’t ruin this.

The security guard scanned my brand-new ID card, the lanyard bouncing against my chest as I walked in. And that was when it happened. Every single head on the ground floor turned in my direction.

What? Did I have toilet paper on my shoe? Did my skirt split open?

I looked down quickly—pink button-up tucked neatly into my navy blue pencil skirt, sleeves rolled up just above my forearm, black Louboutin red bottoms Caleb had given me last Christmas. My Prada bag (another gift from him) swung lightly at my side, and suddenly the reminder of him made my stomach twist.

Things between us had grown so strained it was laughable. He hadn’t touched me, or talked to me since that night—since he’d tried something I wasn’t ready for. And the longer the silence stretched, the more restless I became. Horny, if I was being blunt. Not that it was anyone’s fault but mine. You couldn’t blame me if my body betrayed me, if my thoughts wandered where they shouldn’t. Especially when my fiancé was still sulking because I hadn’t let him have my ass.

Bollocks.

“Morning,” Tessa chirped the moment the elevator doors opened. Adam’s secretary was all smiles, like we were old friends already. “You’re here! Come on, let me show you around.”

She was warm, chatty—exactly what I needed to mask the nerves chewing through me. She pointed out my office, just opposite Adam’s office. She showed me the coffee machine, the restrooms, the small lounge tucked away at the corner, and how to use the appliances scattered around our floor, especially the printer, because it had a mind of its own.

“It’s really just the three of us up here,” she explained with a shrug. “Mr. Reyes, you, and me. It gets boring sometimes, but we survive. Hopefully, you’ll make friends soon.”

Before I could reply, the elevator doors slid open with a sharp ding.

Adam stepped out in a dark shirt, neatly tucked into his pant trousers, his forearms bare where the sleeves had been rolled up. He barely looked at us as he strode in, and when he did, our eyes met.

“Good morning, Mr. Reyes,” Tessa said brightly.

“I don’t pay you to gossip,” he said flatly. “Get to work.” He said before disappearing into his office, shutting the door behind him.

I swallowed hard. He was living in the same house as me, yet I hadn’t really seen him in weeks. Not properly. Not like this morning. I was in such a hurry to get to work before him that I wish I had checked him out, soaked in this view before coming to work.

His broad shoulders stretched against the charcoal shirt. He always made dull colors look sinful.

I caught Tessa watching me with a grin. “Checking him out, huh?”

I scoffed, “I wish. I’m just wondering if he’s always in that mood?”

Tessa giggled. “You’ll get used to it. Trust me.”

Her eyes flicked to my hair. “By the way, what dye do you use? Red is gorgeous, and it looks sexy on you. I’ve been dying to try something new.”

“Oh—uh, it’s not dye,” I admitted. “It’s natural.”

Her squeal was genuine. “Girl, you’re so damn lucky.”

Before I could answer, her intercom buzzed. She straightened, muttered “excuse me,” and hurried into Adam’s office. A few minutes later she emerged with a file tucked under her arm, already heading toward her handbag.

“Where to?” I asked as she slung the strap over her shoulder.

“I have to deliver this to a partner company,” she said, lowering her voice with a mischievous grin. “And enjoying my lunch break. Good luck surviving his mood swings.” She winked, waved, and hurried into the elevator, leaving me standing alone in the hall.

I turned back toward my office, settling into my chair and exhaling. For a moment, the silence was comforting as I scrolled through Instagram.

Then my intercom buzzed.

“Miss Winslow,” his deep, commanding voice came through. “My office. Now.”

My legs carried me before my head caught up. By the time I reached his door, my palms were damp. I knocked once.

“Enter.”

He didn’t look up at first, still typing something on his laptop. I hovered awkwardly until finally, he leaned back in his chair and looked at me.

“Close the door.”

I obeyed.

“Come here.”

I stepped closer, clutching my hands in front of me like a schoolgirl.

“You’re overdressed.” His gaze slid down me—shirt, skirt, heels. “Distracting.”

Heat licked my cheeks. “I thought this was professional.”

“Professional, maybe. Appropriate for me? No.” His voice lowered, “Come closer, Ala.”

Oh God.

My chest tightened. That name again. Before I could protest, his hand closed around my wrist and brought me down onto his lap.

I yelped, stiffening as my thighs settled over the hardness pressing against me.

“Adam—”

His mouth brushed my neck. “You feel that, don’t you?”

My breath hitched.

“Stop struggling, Ala.” His hand cupped my jaw, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“Don’t call me that,” I groaned, twisting slightly.

“You love it when I call you that.” His lips curved into a smile, and that was really the first time he had smiled at me since Caleb announced our engagement. “Say you don’t.”

“This is wrong. Adam, this is—”

“I know. But seeing you in that skirt—” His thumb brushed my lip.

“I’m marrying your nephew Mr. Reyes.” I whispered.

“I swear to God, if you call me Reyes again…” his voice dropped, “…I’ll bend you over and spank you till you can’t sit.”

Heat flooded my face.

He loosened his grip, his hand moving slowly, undoing the top button of my shirt, as if waiting for me to stop him. I didn’t.

His fingers slipped beneath, brushing my bra, teasing the swell of my breast until I gasped.

“He hasn’t touched you, has he?”

My lips parted. “What do you—”

“Because if he had,” Adam murmured, his thumb circling my nipple through the lace, “they wouldn’t be this responsive to me.”

I whimpered, shoving his hand away, stumbling off his lap. “I can’t. We’re betraying Caleb.”

His eyes burned through me. “Then kiss me. One last time. And I swear I won’t touch you again…until you want me to.”

My body betrayed me. Horny, restless, aching. Without thinking, I hiked up my skirt and straddled him, crashing my mouth to his. He groaned, kissing me back, his hands everywhere—sliding under, tugging my bra down, his mouth hot on my breast, biting and sucking.

I moaned, grinding against him. His hand shoved under my skirt, finding my aching entrance

“You’re soaked, Ala. God, you’re perfect—” He moaned into my mouth, he was just four strokes in when—

“Thalassa?”

I heard the door to my office open.

Caleb? That’s Caleb’s Voice.

We both stopped moving. My eyes went wide.

“Did you lock it?” I asked, whispering referring to his door.

Adam chuckled, licking the finger he’d just pulled out of me, “Your breasts distracted me.” He smirked, licking my lips, completely unbothered that Caleb could walk in.

“Uncle?” Caleb’s voice came again, right as the handle of Adam’s door turned.

Fuck me.