Free Tempted by Her Boss by Karen Erickson

reminded him, though deep down she knew it wasn’t true. She was trying to do what was best.
    “According to you.” He sounded amused, which was better than angry, so she wasn’t complaining.
    “You’re right. According to me.” If he didn’t kiss her soon, she’d scream. Or make a fool of herself, dive toward his delicious lips and attack him.
    Matteo chuckled, loosening his grip on her hand. He plucked the two pairs of panties from her palm and held them up for his inspection. “Pretty.”
    Luckily enough, she hadn’t dropped pairs of her older granny panties. This was bad enough. “Give me those.” She reached for them, but he held them above his head. And was that a smile on Matteo Renaldi’s face?
    Unbelievable. His behavior was so unusual, but she certainly didn’t want to question him or look like she was complaining.
    No, she wanted to go with it. Wanted to revel in his carefree behavior. In him.
    “Matteo,” she whispered, shocked that he was acting this way. Gone was the stoic, serious boss. This…stranger was smiling at her, laughing as he kept her underwear away from her.
    “Come and get them, Paige,” he teased, the mysterious light in his eyes taunting her.
    That did it. She lunged for him, sending them both tumbling to the floor. Matteo landed on his back, Paige sprawled on top of him, and he grabbed hold of her waist, slinging his arm around her back, keeping her in place. She squirmed against him, pressed her hands against the solid wall of his chest. “I can’t believe you,” she muttered between harsh breaths, shocked at the surge of irritation that had taken over her and sent them both toppling.
    “What? You’re the one who threw yourself at me.” He chuckled again when she fumed. “You’re very beautiful when you’re angry, bella ,” he said, his voice gone devastatingly serious. And dangerously seductive.
    Her anger evaporated at his words. They lay together on the floor, their legs tangled, their faces so close she could feel his warm breath waft across her face. She licked her lips, trying to say something, anything to ease the tension between them and he exhaled heavily, his hard-as-a-rock chest pressing against her with the movement.
    Making her achingly aware of just how close they were.
    Her lacy panties were on the floor, flanking either side of Matteo’s head. A giggle escaped her at first sight of them and she clamped her lips shut, but she couldn’t contain it. Another giggle burst forth and she tilted her head down, her forehead pressed against his chest.
    “What’s so funny?” He loosened his hold on her, his large hand smoothing up her back in the gentlest of touches.
    Everything inside her went loose and warm at his caress and she lifted her head, the giggles gone, in their place nothing but hot, pulsating need flowing through her blood. “My underwear is circling your head.”
    “Forget your pretty underwear.” He reached for her with his other hand, curving his fingers around her cheek. “I don’t want you to leave us, Paige. Matty needs you.”
    Do you need me? “I don’t know if I can take this torture much longer,” she whispered. “What are we doing, Matteo?”
    He pushed his hand into her hair, his fingers tangling with the wavy strands, and she closed her eyes, pleasure coursing through her at his tender touch. The position they were in was precarious at best. Beyond intimate. But he made no move to leave so neither did she. Secretly, she reveled in it. He was built beautifully, tall with broad shoulders and chest. Slim hips, muscular legs. Her entire body sizzled as she pressed against him and she wondered what he looked like completely naked.
    “We’re doing something we shouldn’t,” he finally said just before he lifted his head and captured her lips with his own.
    She fell into the kiss, parting her lips for his questing tongue, moaning when it made contact with her own. He tightened his fingers in her hair, pulling her in closer,