Lana
Carter Pratt was standing at my doorstep. I couldn’t tell if I was experiencing a nightmare or if I would be walking into another heat-induced dream.
Parting my lips, I tried to figure out what to say. In an instant, my mind felt blank. In an attempt to hide my surprise I forced a frown on my lips.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, taking in his own appearance.
Mr. Pratt looked a little less neat and more frazzled than usual. A part of me wanted to reach out and straighten out the tie that had fallen out of place. Touching him was not allowed.
Feeling his eyes on my body, warmth twisted around in my stomach. I knew it had to be my imagination so I didn’t think much of it as he cleared his throat.
“We need to finish our conversation.”
Was he serious? Leaning against the door frame, I considered just closing the door and leaving him unanswered.
“I thought I made it pretty clear when I told you that I quit.” Noticing his frown, I tried not to let my voice shake. I put my foot down when I decided I wouldn’t come back. I didn’t expect the guy to come looking for me.
The moment I heard his voice on the other end of the line, I knew I wouldn’t have the strength to deny him by listening to his voice alone. The man sounded like how melted chocolate tasted. Too freaking tempting.
Honestly, I expected him to find a replacement after he demanded I get out. I didn’t think he would want anything else to do with me. After all, who would want someone to stick around after costing them six figures worth of damage?
“No,” he shot out before his frown deepened. “I won’t accept that.” He then took a step forward, catching me off guard and causing me to take a step back.
Carter was the type of person to act like he owned everything. That’s why he acted like he had no issue stepping into the place I was staying at. Before I could even stop him, his denial caused me to be blind with a little bit of defiance.
Who did he even think he was? He thought he could stop me from quitting his job? With what money I saved up, I couldn’t really afford to quit. That didn’t stop me from already looking at other places nearby to work for the rest of the summer.
I just needed somewhere to work for two more months. Somewhere that didn’t have a jerk of a boss.
“You are not the boss of me anymore the last time I checked,” I puffed out, attempting to stand a little taller to make myself appear bigger.
Now we were both frowning at each other. Feeling annoyed, I hadn’t even noticed the door close behind him. Not until it was too late.
Not until I realized it was just the two of us alone in the small motel room. Only then had I realized the dangerous situation I was put in.
I wasn’t afraid of Mr. Pratt. No, not like that day he yelled at me. Right now, I felt more afraid of myself. I didn’t trust myself enough to make the right decisions. If he demanded I remain his cleaner, I wouldn’t be able to tell him no to his face.
I could act however I needed over the phone, but it was far harder to do it in person.
Knowing I should tell him to leave, I bit down on my tongue instead.
He looked as frustrated as I felt. We were two kettles ready to blow. It wouldn’t take much of a push for us to reach our limits. I was pretty sure my words did the trick on his end.
“I want you,” he finally declared, breaking the silence. Before my heart could leap, he continued. “I need a cleaner.”
“I don’t want to be a cleaner,” I huffed out. “I hate cleaning more than anything in the world! Go find someone else to clean your gross bathroom and stupid stains!”
Beyond being frustrated, I hoped my neighbors wouldn’t call the cops for a sound complaint. It was hard not to raise my voice.
“No,” he repeated for the hundredth time. He acted as if he’d just learned the word, using it over and over when speaking to me.
Before I could deny him or even give him a chance to continue with some bogus attempt at giving me an order to come back, he came stomping toward me without warning.
I didn’t move. All I could do was look up at him with widened eyes. He moved quickly for a big man. I didn’t know what his next move would be and I definitely didn’t expect his hands to cup my face.
His fingers were gentle and warm against my cheeks. With one easy tug, he forced me to meet his eye. Despite his light touch, that frown of his remained on his face. He looked angry.
“Doesn’t it look like I want someone else, Lana? Do you think I waste my time going after every person that quits after working under me?” Despite his expression, his voice was even. It sounded the calmest since the last time I saw him.
Parting my lips, I tried to think of words. With him standing close enough to brush my front and his touch against my face, I fought to even form a sentence. Staring into those green eyes of his, my heart shot straight up to my throat.
The first time he’d spoken my name, it was mocking. Now, he spoke it in such a foreign way. Like a craving.
We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity as I tried to process an answer to his question.
With my lack of words, he decided to make another move. One I didn’t think either of us expected. Giving no warning of a near heart attack, he leaned down to press his lips against mine
Carter Pratt was kissing me. In an instant, my frazzled thoughts calmed down to a peaceful silence.
Knowing how much of a taking man he could be, Carter did just that. He took my first kiss as if he owned it from the very beginning. Like someone who planned on stopping for nothing until he got what he wanted, all I could do was hold on for dear life until the ride ended.
I felt his frustrations through the way his lips pressed firmly against mine. He’d taken away my ability to remember how to breathe. While my mind spun, I had to focus on my knees to avoid allowing them to buckle.
One of his arms had snaked around me, crushing my body against his hard frame. It was like he never intended to let me go again.