Free Tempted by Her Boss by Karen Erickson Page A

holding her firm so she had no chance of escape.
    Not that she’d run from this wondrous thing. Matteo Renaldi. Kissing her. Acting as if he wanted her.
    They kissed for long, languid minutes, mouths searching, tongues seeking. His unmistakable erection pressed against her and she undulated on top of him much like a cat, seeking what he so boldly seemed to offer.
    But she needed to show restraint. She couldn’t behave the wanton, as silly and old fashioned as that sounded. She wasn’t even sure of her place in his life, his household. This kiss, this moment changed nothing.
    He could still ultimately deny her by not taking this further. And she would still be devastated by such a loss. Her plans could not deviate, despite this kiss, the sweet way he talked to her, treated her. She would go to the interview tomorrow morning and she would leave him. Forever.
    She had to.
     
    He could drown in her taste, in the silky feel of her tongue gliding against his. Christ, he could kiss this woman for hours, until their jaws ached and their lips hurt, the sort of endless kissing that he hadn’t experienced since he’d been a teenager. She tasted like perfection. Her slender body molded to his as he mapped her curves with his wandering hands, wishing he could have her naked again.
    Knowing against all hope it would be a mistake.
    But that didn’t stop him from kissing her. Touching her, slipping his hands beneath her shirt to caress warm, soft skin. She moaned against his mouth, a little needy sound, one that went straight to his cock, and he was hard as steel in an instant, throbbing for her. Needing to get inside her so he could lose himself in her soft, welcoming body at least once…
    “Damn it.” He tore his mouth from hers and wrapped his hands around her waist, lifting her off him so she had no choice but to slide off to the side and land on the floor. Pushing to a sitting position, he ran his hands through his hair in pure frustration, almost afraid to look at her for fear of how angry she might be.
    Risking it, he turned to her and found her staring at him. Her eyes were wide and full of shock, her hair a mess—from his fingers. Her cheeks were flushed a gorgeous pink shade and she thrust a trembling hand in her hair, pushing it out of her eyes.  
    “I hate how you do this to me,” she whispered. “You want me, you kiss me, then you discard me as if I were some sort of afterthought. I can’t take it anymore.”
    He hated it too, didn’t know what the hell was wrong with him. Why she compelled him to risk it all when he knew he shouldn’t. She was a baby. His employee. And he was a man set in his ways, jaded as hell and in no way looking for a loving relationship. He’d gone through a hellish marriage. Another one was not in the cards for him, and Paige had weddings, babies and happily-ever-after written all over her.
    “All I ask is for Italy, Paige,” he said, afraid he might beg if he had to. Anything to convince her. “Come to Italy with us, help me with Matty while I work and spend time with my mother. I know you two are so fond of each other. It’ll be like a vacation, I promise. You won’t have to take care of Matty the entire time and you could go sightseeing if you wanted. Then when we return, you can go find another job.”
    Her eyes narrowed, shooting fire at him. She looked furious and gorgeous with it. “You make it all sound so easy when really, it’s not. Though I’m sure you have no idea what it’s like, your life has been perfect.” She cleared her throat and lifted her chin, beautifully regal despite her looking like a ravished mess sitting on the floor in her pajamas. “I have an opportunity for a new job now. I can’t just let it go. What if there’s not another one when I come back? Then what’ll I do?”
    “I’ll help you find a job.” He stood, offered her his hand, which she took, albeit reluctantly. The sulky expression on her face was adorable, though he knew he