Chapter 268: Is David Really Obsessed With Me?

Holly’s POV

I froze in the doorway like someone had hit pause on my entire life.

Flowers. Actual flowers. Not the sad single rose from the bodega downstairs. This was a whole goddamn explosion of deep burgundy roses, soft white gardenias, sprigs of eucalyptus that looked like it cost more than my rent. And right in the middle of my…wait, no, his…desk, that tiny blue Tiffany box sat like a crown on a throne.

My desk was inside David Hunt’s office!

Not outside. Not in the bullpen where I could pretend I was just his assistant and not the girl who’d spent the last weeks mentally undressing him during every single meeting.

Inside.

Close enough that if I leaned back in my chair, our knees would probably touch.

My brain short-circuited.

What. The. Actual. Fuck. This is a dream come true!

I’d spent a month playing chase. A month of short skirts on casual Fridays, bending over his desk a little too long when I handed him files, “accidentally” brushing his hand when I passed him coffee. Even fake dating Tyler just to get a reaction out of him. Months of him being Mr. Iceberg…cool, distant, untouchable. The man who looked at me like I was a mildly interesting spreadsheet.

And now this?

This morning?

After Tyler had practically peed a circle around me at last night’s staff dinner, after Ashley (his scary ex) had thrown a glass of rosé and screamed that he was “emotionally constipated” in front of ten witnesses?

This was…suspicious.

I narrowed my eyes at him. He was lounging in his chair like a panther who’d already eaten and was just waiting for dessert. Sleeves rolled, top buttons open, that stupid perfect hair pushed back like he’d done it on purpose to make my ovaries riot.

“Welcome to your new office, baby,” he said, voice all gravel and sin.

Baby.

He called me baby?

Am I dreaming?

My stomach did a backflip and then immediately started doing the Macarena when he asked me to come to him.

I started moving towards him, but then, I paused. No. Nope. Abort mission. What kind of girl would I be if I just ran into his arms because he asked?

I crossed my arms. “Explain. Now. What’s the meaning of all these?”

He stood up slowly, like he had all the time in the world. “I’m done pretending.”

“Pretending what?”

“That I don’t want you so bad it’s physically painful.”

My heart slammed against my ribs like it wanted out. I forced my face to stay neutral. Gen Z baddie energy only. No simping allowed.

I lifted my chin. “Weren’t you there yesterday? Didn’t you notice that I have a boyfriend? Why did you move my desk into your cave and buy me flowers like you’re in a Hallmark movie? Hard pass. I’m not interested.”

His brows lifted. Amused. Dangerous. “Say that again,” he murmured.

“I’m. Not. Interested.”

“Liar.”

He took one step closer. I didn’t move. Because I’m brave. Or stupid. Probably both.

I swallowed. “If you want me to even consider leaving Tyler for whatever this is, you need to give me five good reasons. Right now. Out loud. Like a man. Tell me!”

He laughed…low, dark, the kind of laugh that made my thighs clench.

“I’m not going to tell you five reasons, Holly.” He closed the distance until I could smell his cologne and feel the heat rolling off him. “I’m going to show you. I’m going to make you feel the five reasons.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

My eyes widened. “What are you—”

“Morning meeting starts in twenty. I’m announcing it to the entire staff that you’re my girlfriend. Done. Public and official. No more games.”

My mouth dropped open. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?”

He shrugged, completely unbothered. “That’s kinda the point. I must be out of my goddamn mind to crave you like the very air I need to breathe. I can’t believe I’m in this position…craving someone I shouldn’t have, someone who drives me fucking insane every time she walks into a room. But here we are.”

My heart did a triple backflip with a twist. Do I really drive him insane?

Inside my head I was screaming: OH MY GOD HE SAID CRAVE. HE SAID INSANE. HE SAID AIR. THIS IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE THIS HOT!

Outside, I kept my face cool. Barely.

I cleared my throat. “This is a terrible look. Just last night your ex made a whole scene in front of everyone. Champagne was thrown. Accusations were made. And now you want to walk into the conference room and announce that…surprise!… Ashley was right? That you’re banging the assistant? I’m not about to be the office side-chick punchline.”

He advanced. One step. Two.

Then his hands were on my waist and he yanked me flush against him so fast I gasped.

My breasts pressed against his chest. His thigh slipped between mine. I could feel every hard inch of him.

“You stay wherever I want you to stay,” he said, voice low and lethal. “I need you close at all times. So close I can’t forget how to fucking breathe.”

His right hand slid up, fingers trailing my cheek, then curling around the side of my throat. Not hard. Just… possessive. Gentle but firm. The way you hold something you’re terrified of breaking but can’t let go of.

My pulse hammered against his palm as my insides turned to molten lava.

I was already wet. Just from that.

Dangerous. This was so dangerous.

I shoved at his chest…weakly…and stepped back.

Inside my head: ABORT ABORT ABORT!

If I give in now he’ll think I’m desperate. But I am desperate! I’m desperate and crazy and I want to climb him like a tree right now.

But dignity, Holly. Dignity!

I lifted my chin again. “Move my desk back to its original position. Or I quit. I’m not getting cooped up in here with a man I don’t know what he wants with me. Or what I want with him.”

He ran a hand through his hair, looking wrecked and gorgeous and frustrated all at once.

“I know exactly what I want with you, Holly.” His voice dropped to something raw. “I want to fuck you. Hard. Slow. On every surface in this building. I want you at all times. Under me. On top of me. On your knees. In my bed. In my shower. In my car. I want to make you mine in every single way a man can claim a woman. I want to be your man. The only man. Now the question is…” He stepped closer again, eyes burning. “What do you want with me? I can do anything you want… Anything.”

Inside my skull it was pandemonium.

Last night replayed in fast-forward: Tyler’s hands on my as he pulled me towards his car…me looking over his shoulder the whole time hoping David would storm over, throw me over his shoulder, and drag me home like a caveman.

Instead he’d just watched, jaw tight, eyes dark, and let me leave with Tyler.

I’d gone home disappointed. Furious and aching for him.

Then I’d had the filthiest dream about him…him pinning me to his desk, whispering filthy promises while he fucked me so deep I forgot my own name.

And now this morning he’s standing here confessing he’s obsessed?

Is this Cupid finally getting off his lazy ass and shooting the arrow straight into that cold stone heart?

Or is this another game?