Seducing Serenity

Chapter 9

Serenity

I was sitting at my new desk reading over a company policy manual when there was a knock at the door. I gave my permission for them to enter and then didn't hear anything. I looked up to find Mr. Kingston standing in my doorway looking at me intently. There was a look in his eyes that made my insides melt and I swear it felt like he was pulling me to him. I cleared my throat to break the spell, and he shook his head, almost as if he was waking up from a dream.

He smiled and held up a bag. "Lunchtime," he said, "I hope you don't mind that I ordered from my favorite deli. I got an assortment because I wasn't sure what you like. If you don't like anything I've got, we can always do something else." He stopped as he realized he was rambling and looked embarrassed. I was surprised to see his usual confidence falter. I wondered if he brought all the new employees lunch on their first day.

"I'm sure whatever you brought is fine." I gestured towards the table set up to the right of my desk and went over to sit. He unpacked the sandwiches and as I went to grab one, my hand brushed his and the now familiar jolt hit me. I tried to pretend I didn't feel it and just ignore it, but I knew he'd felt it by the look on his face. "I don't know what it is with this building," I said, "I seem to pick up a lot of static electricity!"

"Have you been shocking everyone today?" he asked.

I paused to consider this and realized that I hadn't had that reaction when I touched anyone but him. I'd shaken several hands while touring the building and hadn't shocked anyone else. I shook my head and smiled. "No, I guess it's just been you. Maybe you drag your feet when you walk."

He laughed and said, "I don't think that's it, but I'll pay attention when I walk from now on."

We ate for a few minutes in silence, and I realized I was both comfortable and on edge around him. I don't know why he made me feel safe and protected when I had just met him, but I also felt an incredible physical pull towards him that was strong enough to make me anxious. It wasn't all sexual, though that was a big part of it. I just wanted to crawl into his lap and be near him. Thinking about it made my heart race and it made me remember my dream from the other night. I looked at him over my sandwich as he looked out the window. He was so handsome and something about him just seemed so right. I knew he couldn't possibly be perfect, but sitting there next to him, everything felt just perfect.

As if he read my mind, he turned to me and asked, "Can I try something?"

Curious, I nodded. He reached across the table and brushed a piece of my hair behind my ear. My skin tingled and almost seemed to vibrate everywhere he touched me. His eyes held mine and I couldn't bring myself to pull away. I wanted him to touch me everywhere and I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch. His caress moved down my neck and left a trail of fire in their wake. He moved his fingers back up and along my jaw, his thumb just brushing my lips. I fought back a moan and felt my insides melt.

Just then his cell phone rang and brought me back to my senses. I pulled back, "I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me. This is so unprofessional."

"Serenity," he said, his voice hoarse, "you have nothing to be sorry for. I touched you, remember? I just wanted to see if you felt it, too."

"Well, I don't know what that was, but it can't happen again. You're my boss, and I'm not going to do anything to put this job in jeopardy. I've worked too hard and been through too much to go back now." I stood and started picking up the lunch leftovers. I wished he would answer his phone, and we could forget what just happened, but he silenced it without even glancing at the screen to see who it was. 

"Do you believe in fate, Serenity?" he asked, trying to pull me back under his spell.

I avoided looking into his eyes, knowing somehow that if I did, I would be unable to resist. "No, I don't. I believe the choices we make, good and bad, right and wrong, determine where we end up. I've made enough bad choices to last me a lifetime. I won't do it again. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with my direct supervisor in about five minutes. I don't want to be late for a meeting on my first day."

As I got up to walk out of the office, I swear I heard a growl behind me and then my name called out in a voice much deeper and gruffer than Mr. Kingston's. I turned around expecting there to be someone else in the room, but it was only the two of us. This time I did look in his eyes, and again I could've sworn they were an ice blue. Mr. Kingston looked like he was struggling with something, shook his head, and his eyes were back to their normal brown. I felt a shudder run through me and I didn't know if it was fear or excitement.

"Serenity," he started, but I was already out the door. I practically ran to the office I thought I remembered my new boss saying was hers and was out of breath when I got there. I stood outside the door trying to get myself together. I didn't know what I'd just seen, and I wasn't sure what I was feeling. All I knew was that if I wanted to keep this job, I was going to have to avoid Mr. Kingston. I just didn't know how, or if I really wanted to. I was already craving his touch and feeling like something was missing without him close. I fought back the thoughts and knocked on the door. I wasn't going to sacrifice anything else for a man.