Free Falling Under You: A Fixed Trilogy Novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Laurelin Paige Page B

authority you recognize.”
    “That’s not true at all.” But as I said it, I knew it was a lie. “Well. I mean. It’s not what I intended.”
    “Perhaps not. And I’m willing to overlook mistakes. But I’m not so amenable to your blatant disregard of the position we’ve agreed that I have over you. When you make light of that, it turns this whole thing we’re doing into something petty and meaningless. That might be acceptable to someone else. Someone else might just be interested in a little roleplaying, a game rather than a lifestyle. A game is not what I’m looking for.”
    I thought about what he said while I watched him push in his chair and lock up his desk, thought about how I would have reacted if I had an employee that had not just made mistakes but had disrespected my command.
    I thought about it and didn’t like the conclusions I came to. Because I wouldn’t have tolerated that for a minute. I’d have given walking papers right away. Boyd had been quite patient with me in comparison.
    “I’m sorry,” I said, looking down at my hands. “I hate being in the wrong, and I see that I am. I’m not unhappy with our arrangement. I’m somewhat frustrated with the pace of it—”
    He interrupted. “It’s meant to be frustrating.”
    I sneaked a glance in his direction and realized from his expression that I wasn’t the only one keen to move things along.
    At least that was comforting. “I know. I get that it’s my eagerness that causes you to slow down even more. Point being, even with that frustration, I’m happy with what we’re doing.”
    “You could be happier. If you let—”
    “If I let go. Right.” Why was that so hard for me? I couldn’t think of a lesson that had taken me quite so long to learn. It made me even more anxious to learn it.

He towered over me when he stood up straight, and I had to peer up to look at him. Even this was difficult—being beneath him, asking for forgiveness.
    But I wanted it—wanted him —badly enough to make the effort.
    “Will you give me another chance?” I asked, my voice raw.
    His lips parted slightly as he considered me, and I considered that mouth, wishing he’d kiss me, despite our location. It was well after five; no one was around. The cleaning crew wouldn’t be in for another couple of hours.
    “There’s something in your tone that suggests you might beg if necessary.” His eyes lowered to watch my tongue dart along my bottom lip. “It makes me awfully tempted to say no just so I can hear it.”
    My pulse picked up. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, and my brain started swimming with ideas that weren’t wise. “Careful,” I said, as much to myself as to him. “We’re still in my court.”
    God, what I could do to him on my turf. Turn my position over him into one with a carnal element. Show him exactly how bossy I can get. It hadn’t ever been a fantasy of mine, but he’d made me wait so long, I was getting desperate. Hungry. Yearning. All I had to do was stand up, press my lips to his…
    As if he could read my mind, Boyd chuckled and took a step back. “I don’t know about that. I’m officially off the clock. Hard to say whose court it is right now.”
    Oh, man. If the office turned into his territory—how many naughty things could he do to me? Turn the tables on my playground. Knock me off guard. I wasn’t sure if I liked the idea or not.
    He didn’t make me have to decide, slipping out the door with only a wink, but I didn’t miss the flash of struggle in his eyes, the single signal that maybe there were parts of this negotiation that he was unsure of too.
     
     
    * * * *
     
     
    Two nights later, he was more certain.
    “You staying late?”
    I frowned, looking up to find Boyd standing in my doorway, his jacket on, the room dark behind him. Didn’t I just get back from lunch? A glimpse at the time on my computer screen said it was almost six. Huh.
    I swallowed back a sigh. “Yeah, I guess I am. I really want