Obsessed with my boss

A Dangerous Dance

Maya barely slept the previous night.

Every time her eyelids fluttered closed, the picture in the office flashed into her mind. The way his fingertips danced along her's, and the blaze in the passion.

It had only been the most light caress. A passing.

But it all did turn.

She told herself to ignore the thought. It didn't count.

That she forget about it.

But when the day after, she went to the office and locked eyes in the hall with Damien, she knew—

Forgetting wasn't an option.

Maya tried to concentrate at the office, but it could not be achieved.

Every time he passed by, he felt her first, before he could actually see her.

Every time he and his eyes locked, something flared in his eyes—restrained, something suppressed.

She hated the aware tone to her. Resented the way her body reacted before her head could.

But most above all, she hated the magnitude to which she longed to feel so.

By lunchtime, she needed to escape.

She grabbed her phone and headed to the break room in the hope of getting distracted.

She found Naomi sitting there, sporting a grin.

"You're walking in the cloud, you see, a lady who's in the know."

Maya rolled her eyes. "You are dreaming."

Naomi arched her brow. "Me, I don't think so. I noticed the glint in his eyes when you met up this morning."

Maya's pulse hammered. "Which way?"

Naomi leaned in. "Like he's going to great trouble to avoid something he's going to regret."

Maya swallowed. "That's ridiculous."

Naomi shrugged. "You say so."

Maya sighed, rubbing her temples. "Even if there was something—

"If?" Naomi laughed. "You could cut the air in half with a knife."

Maya groaned. "It's not funny."

"You're right," said Naomi. "It's a gamble."

Maya looked at her, furrowed brow.

Naomi's smirk dropped. "I've seen what's become of the people who get too close to him, Maya. And they don't end up so well."

A chill went through Maya's body.

"He's my employer" Maya affirmed strongly, hoping by the utterance, making them so, reminding her, so to speak.

Naomi studied her for a brief instant and sighed. "Just. watch your back."

Maya nodded, though in her head, and did not believe caution could be accomplished anymore.

By the end of the working day, Maya was extremely tired.

She stayed to finish up a report, waiting for the office to all but clear.

At least, in her mind.

Because when stepping into the hall, she literally ran into a muscular chest.

Strong hands encircled her waist, yanking her back.

Her breath caught.

Damien.

His grip was warm, steady. And all too familiar.

For a moment, both did not move.

Then he let her loose, stepping back.

"Working late?" It sounded hip, but beneath the words, something gnawed.

Maya forced a nod. "Just working on a report."

Damien studied her, his gaze wandering to the empty hall. "It's too late and you shouldn't be alone."

Maya frowned. "I believe I shall survive."

His jaw clamped. "That's the problem."

She crossed her arms. "And what's the point, then?"

He exhaled, smoothing his disheveled knot of hair. "Maya."

She waited, heart pounding.

Whatever he did say, it did count.

But then, seemingly to catch himself, the face of Damien closed.

"Go home," he responded, his tone icy. "It's an order."

Maya's stomach knotted.

An order.

Of course.

She forced a nod. "Yes, sir."

Then she excused herself, rubbing the sore in her chest.

This wasn't the course intended.

And yet, all the same, it was.

Maya told herself to forget about last night.

She wanted to forget his powerful grip that pinned her against the wall. 

The look in his eyes, dark but unnerving. 

She told herself she'd try not to read too much into it. 

But as she sat at her desk the next morning, her mind betrayed her. 

And then, the universe, already working to make things worse, pulled her out from her thoughts with that deep voice. 

"Sinclair." 

Her fingers stilled on the keyboard. 

Damien. 

She breathed in slowly, looking at him. "Yes, sir?" 

His expression was stoic. "My office. Now." 

Her heartbeat quickened. 

She nodded, snatched a pad of paper, and followed him. 

The door closed behind them, locking them in. 

Damien walked to the desk and rested his hands there. He did not say anything for a moment, staring at her with such intensity that made her shiver. 

"I need you to come with me to an event tonight," he finally said. 

Maya blinked. "An event?" 

"It is a charity gala," normally he would have said, "important guests, important deals." 

For a moment there, she hesitated. "Shouldn't someone from PR do the job?" 

His gaze darkened. "You mean you are not appropriate?" 

"No, no—" She sighed. "It's not that. I just don't get why." 

Damien studied her for a long moment. Then his lips curved mildly. 

"I want you there." 

Three simple words. 

They took her breath away. 

This was not going to be about business. 

Not really. 

And the way he gazed into her eyes, Damien knew she knew that. 

Naomi's warning still echoed in Maya's thoughts. 

Someone like Damien Knight does not just casually like people. He devours them. 

And yet there she was, stepping out of the prestigious black car that evening, her arm now looped through Damien's while the cameras flashed. 

The gala was stunning. Crystal chandeliers. Tuxedoed waiters carrying trays of champagne. The soft music and whispers of conversations. 

But Maya hardly noticed any of them. 

Because Damien hadn't released her. 

His touch was light, almost ethereal, and it burned. 

She stole another glance at him. He looked as he always did—sharp, composed, unreadable. 

Then he bent slightly as if sensing her stare and breathed softly in her ear. 

"You look beautiful," he murmured. 

Maya's heart almost crushed her ribs. 

She opened her mouth— 

"Maya?" 

She froze. That voice— 

Slowly she turned around. 

And her stomach dropped. 

Daniel. 

Her ex. 

The man that broke her heart. 

Daniel's eyes shifted between her and Damien; his expression was unreadable. 

"Maya," he said again, his voice smooth. "Long time, no see." 

Not nearly long enough. 

Damien's fingers clutched her arm enough for her to feel them. 

Maya forced a smile. "Daniel. I didn't expect you to be here." 

He laughed. "Never was one for surprises." 

Damien's eyes turned dark, yet he remained silent. 

Maya cleared her throat. "How have you been?" 

"Oh, you know," Daniel said lightly. "Working. Traveling. Wondering how you were." 

Liar. 

He hadn't wondered anything. 

Maya couldn't allow her memories to surface; she had cried enough about this man. 

"Looks like you have moved up in the world," Daniel remarked, glancing at Damien. "Or at least moved on." 

Maya felt herself catch her breath. 

And then- 

Damien moved. 

It was subtle, almost indiscernible. The way he inched closer, the way his fingers travelled to the small of her back. 

A silent claim. 

A message. 

The smirk vacated Daniel's face. 

Maya's breathing sped up. 

This is so dangerous. 

A game she shouldn't be playing. 

He leaned down to whisper into her ear softly, "Let's give him something to talk about."

She knew she was already losing.