Burn Me Right

Chapter 36

He ushered her forward, and the world around them stopped. The clicking of keyboards, the hum of printers, and the murmurs of conversations ceased as every employee turned their gaze towards the duo. Autumn felt like an intruder in this world of suits and ties, with their judgmental stares piercing her skin.

She could feel the weight of their pity and contempt as they walked, their whispers filling her ears like poison. She wondered what they saw when they looked at her -a pawn in the hands of a powerful man or a willing accomplice in his wicked schemes. It was hard to tell, but she knew one thing-she didn't belong in this world of corporate greed and cutthroat competition.

He stopped and gave one look at them, and they resumed their activities. He walked her to the elevator and got in with her. Autumn released the breath that she had been holding all along. She never was much for attention, and their eyes on her made her self-conscious.

Zyler's eyes lingered on Autumn as she stood in the corner, her body language betraying her attempt to control her emotions. He found her vulnerability adorable, and yet there was a resilience in her that intrigued him.

He stalked over to her, cornering and caging her between his arms. Her eyes went wide. She put his arms over his chest, asking them to move away. They will label her as a scandalous secretary if they get caught in this position. "Calm down," he clamped his palm on her neck and jerked her head to him.

"No," she clutched his hand, trying to free herself. He pressed the stop button and trailed his hand between her legs. "Stop, please," she urged, the tears ruining her perfectly applied eyeliner as they cascaded down her cheeks. Without hesitation, Zyler brushed his thumb across her damp skin, collecting the black streak and smearing it over the mark he had given her earlier.

"Someone will see," she came out with the best she could.

"Let them," he replied, his voice low and gravelly.

"Does the thought scare you, Autumn? Getting caught? Do you think it is arousing?" he twirled her hair on his forefinger. Her shy face was a sight for sore eyes. "Or does it entice you?" He pushed her knee between her thighs, rubbing her sensitive nub with his knee over her panties.

"I can see the fear in your eyes, Autumn. But it's not the thought of getting caught that scares you. No, it's the thought of what they will talk about you. You are worried about running that good girl reputation," he increased the force of his thrusts, rubbing her nub with his knee a little harder.

"You're afraid of what they'll say, aren't you? The whispers behind closed doors, the judgmental glances when you walk into a room," she gave him a side-eye. What he said was true. She was afraid of getting caught. She was scared of ruining her reputation. The priest who came home to tutor her on the "good things" said that. To keep her knees shut and eyes down. The catholic guilt in her told her she would burn in hell. But she was past all of that, wasn't she?

She couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that consumed her. She never wanted any of this to happen. She didn't want to be here, but circumstances brought her to this point. It was like she was being punished for something she never did.

"They won't say a thing. You know why?" he asked, pinching her waist. She shook her head.

"Cause' when I am done with you, they'll be too busy envying you to say a damn thing," he noticed her face harden. He knew what she was thinking, how to escape him. That is the only thing that is on her mind these days.

"They will see how you come on my knees, how your legs shake, how your breath quickens," Autumn shuddered when he decided to show her mercy.

"Breaking rules is fun, Autumn, and soon you will see how much," he winked and hit the stop button again, making the elevator ding and rush up to the top floor. She adjusted her clothes and straightened up.