Chapter 20: Chapter: 20

ANDREA

My brows scrunched in question, but I did as he said. In the weeks I've been working here, I've noticed a certain tension between us, though I can't tell whether Nicklaus’s stems from the same attraction and anxiety I felt.

But in all those days and weeks, Nicklaus had never tried anything to show his interest in me, and if not for the fact I'd noticed his dark, heated glances, I wouldn't have thought he was interested in me.

Although there were times when he would unapologetically rake his dark eyes over me, making me blush and fidget in his presence.

I felt my stomach twist with nerves, my heartbeat spiking as I walked towards him, wondering why he had called me back.

Was it time, and was he finally going to fall for Jules's trap? And why did he ask me to close his office door? I stopped in front of his huge mahogany table.

He left his side of the table and came to stand in front of me until there was only a step between us, his hand still holding his phone over his ears, this close, his eyes were a striking deep blue, with long dark lashes. His dark hair fell over his forehead in tousled waves, almost covering his left eye. God! He's beautiful, and so tall.

Even with the three inches from my shoes added to my average height, I was barely up to his shoulders. I bite my lips, fidgeting nervously as his dark eyes roam over my features, listening to the voice coming out of his phone.

I was utterly shocked when he reached out and tugged my bottom lip from my teeth with his thumb before he stroked it once, twice, then he let go of my now tingly lips, still watching me, he said.

“Call me the instant you hear his feedback.” And with that, he ended the call.

“Turned around.”

It took me a moment to realize that he was speaking to me; the two strokes of his thumb over my lip had stirred something inside my stomach and made me weak.

“Turned around,” he repeats.

“What?” My eyes widened. “Why?” I breathe.

His brow arched. “Just do it.” I wanted to know why I had to turn, but the tone of his voice brooked no argument.

I reluctantly turned and gave him my back; my heartbeat increased its pace. For a few seconds, he did nothing.

Then he lifted my hair and draped it over my shoulder, before I could ask what he was doing, I heard my dress zipper yank down.

I pivoted, screeching, my arms clutching onto the flaps of my gaping white dress, which I had worn this morning paired with a black blazer.

“What the hell are you doing? I get that you are hot and attractive, and women are falling all over you, but that's not an excuse to jump the gun and skip the preliminaries that come before se…” I abruptly stopped talking and clamped my mouth shut when I realized what I almost said.

I was going to say sex. Nicklaus' dark eyes glinted with amusement and something else.

“Preliminaries that come before sex?” he drawled, taking a step closer. I took one back. His voice was low and deep, playing with my senses.

“Andrea? Is that what we're doing? Having sex?” He took another step, then another. I took one back, again. He was backing me into a corner. With every step he took, I took a step back.

“No? I—I don't know?” My back hit his bathroom door. Nicklaus leaned in, his mouth breathing in my ears, my heart jackhammering into my chest, as goosebumps covered my skin. His voice was low when he said.

“Your dress zipper has popped. I only tried to mend it, but now it's broken. Take off your clothes.” I was mortified by what he was saying and how I acted. My mouth gaped open, but when I heard his last words, I widened my eyes and was about to say something when he opened his bathroom door and pushed me inside.

“Take off the dress, I'll ask someone to bring you a dress.” He turned to leave, but I stopped him.

“No, please don't, I'll manage.” I couldn't let him send someone to get me a dress; I didn't want anyone to suspect anything was going on between us.

Even to me, that thought was ridiculous considering why I was here. But Nicklaus did as I asked and instead gave me his long coat to cover up the fact that my dress was barely hanging on my shoulders.

I wonder how it happened. Was it in my rush to dress up and leave for work that I unknowingly broke it? I don't know how; the only thing on my mind was how long I had been walking with a burst zipper, and I didn't even know it.

I should have. But I can't change what has already happened.

After I thanked Nicklaus for his help and the coat, I turned to leave, when he stopped me again.

“Andrea?” he murmured.

“Sir?” I answered.

His eyes were glinting with that dark, nameless emotion I couldn't possibly understand, like he wanted to gobble me up. He was seated at his desk, leaning back in his chair. His voice was lazy and pure wickedness when he said.

“I just want you to know, I never… and I mean Never skip the preliminaries of anything, especially that of sex. Foreplay is something I enjoy very, very much.” My face flushes, even as another much private part of me tightens and aches.

“Goodnight, Andrea.” I turned and fled.

Two emotions warred within me: embarrassment for how I acted when Nick had only wanted to help me, and lust. Something I haven't felt in a long time. God help me, but Nicklaus is dangerous.