Chapter 39 Chapter 39
Zarlia finished buttoning her blouse slowly, smoothing the fabric down her sides as she stared at her reflection. There was a faint bruise blooming along her collarbone, barely visible, but she adjusted the neckline anyway. Not to hide it—just enough to keep it hers.
Behind her, Stetson tightened his cufflinks, movements precise and controlled. He looked composed, unreadable, like the world hadn’t cracked him open the night before. But she could feel him watching her through the mirror.
“Try not to scare anyone today,” she said lightly, reaching for her shoes and he huffed a quiet laugh. “No promises.”
She turned to him; expression soft but firm. “I mean it, Stetson. And no scenes either.”
His gaze lingered on her face, then drifted lower, taking her in like he was memorizing her. “I’ll behave,” he said finally, nodding once. “For you.”
That alone made her chest tighten as butterflies rampaged in her stomach.
The drive to the office was calm, the city still stretching awake around them. He kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting loosely on her thigh, thumb brushing small, absent-minded circles through the fabric of her pants. It wasn’t possessive—just grounding. Like he needed to feel her there.
She leaned her head against the window, watching buildings blur past. “You’re staring,” she murmured.
“I know,” he replied without apology.
Zarlia couldn’t help but notice the change. Was this what it felt like to be loved by Stetson? His presence was comforting instead of suffocating, his touch made her melt. He was gentle, caring, loving, loyal like a dog to its owner. Every inch of her wanted thing to stay that way forever.
When they arrived, the office buzzed with its usual controlled chaos. Phones rang. Voices overlapped. Luke stood near the main desk, tablet in hand, already mid-sentence when they walked in.
“Morning briefing,” Luke said crisply.
Zarlia slid into her seat, notebook open, pen ready. She listened carefully, jotting down key points, deadlines, adjustments. Her focus was sharp—but every now and then, she felt Stetson’s gaze on her. Not distracting. Not demanding. Just… warm.
When she looked up, he smiled. Not the sharp, intimidating smile others feared.
A real one. It made her heart flutter embarrassingly hard.
During the briefing, his knee brushed hers under the table. Later, his fingers grazed her wrist when she passed him a file. Small things. Invisible to everyone else. Loud to her.
The day unfolded methodically. Calls. Meetings. Documents reviewed and signed. Zarlia moved through it all smoothly, confidence settling into her bones. She belonged here. And today, she wasn’t alone in it.
She went to get his coffee mid-morning, memorizing how he liked it without ever writing it down. When she returned, his voice echoed down the hallway—sharp, angry, controlled only by a thread.
An employee stood rigid in front of him, pale and sweating.
“You don’t make decisions like that without clearing it through me,” Stetson snapped. Zarlia paused at the doorway.
He saw her instantly. The shift was immediate.
His shoulders relaxed. His voice softened. The anger drained from his eyes like it had never existed.
“I’ll let you off the hook this time. That’ll be all,” he said, tone calm. The employee didn’t hesitate. He left quickly, almost tripping over himself.
Zarlia handed Stetson the coffee. “Here.”
“Thank you,” he murmured, fingers brushing hers briefly. She smiled. “Try not to traumatize everyone before noon.”
He smirked. “No guarantees.”
Meetings dragged into the afternoon. During one long strategy session, Stetson’s hand rested on her thigh beneath the table, fingers flexing slightly every now and then. Not distracting—comforting. Like a reminder: I’m here.
It felt comforting at first not until it inched closed to her core and she tried to shake his hand off, instead sliding up her inner thigh and her breath hitched, her panties growing wet as the steady pulse between her legs and the fact that they were in a meeting with board directors only made the situation worse.
At one point, she leaned closer and whispered, “If you keep doing that, I won’t hear a word anyone’s saying.”
He leaned in just enough for his breath to brush her ear. “Good.”
She kicked him lightly under the table, fighting a smile.
By late afternoon, fatigue set in. Zarlia stretched subtly at her desk, rolling her shoulders. Stetson noticed immediately.
“Since you’ve submitted today’s report…,” he said quietly. “…take a break.” She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
She laughed softly but obeyed, stepping into the hallway. When she returned, she found him alone in his office, jacket draped over the chair, sleeves rolled up.
Zarlia loved it when he looked like this. His hair slightly scattered across his forehead and his demeanour roguish.
She closed the door behind her and he looked up.
Without a word, he crossed the room and gently backed her against the wall, palms bracketing her head. The kiss was slow, unhurried—full of restraint, not hunger. His forehead rested against hers afterward.
“I missed you,” he said quietly.
She swallowed. “You’ve been staring at me all day.” She didn’t want to admit it but she missed him too, she loved having all his attention.
“I know,” he said again. “It wasn’t enough.” He kissed her again, less gentle this time while his hands roamed over her curves almost desperately.
She smiled, fingers curling into his shirt. “We’re still at work”, she whispered between kisses. “I’m aware,” he murmured. “That’s why I’m behaving.”
He stepped back before temptation could win but she pulled him back and he slammed his lips against hers in a deep kiss, his hand wrapping around her waist immediately as the walked backwards until his back hit the elevated platform that raised his desk.
He lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to the couch without breaking the kiss. He sat down with her straddling him. When they backed away, he was already hard and she could feel every inch of it under her.
“Stetson—” he cut her off by trailing heated kisses down her throat as he slowly freed his aching cock. “What if someone comes…” she muttered but made no move to leave.
“Let them come see their boss fuck his secretary senseless in his office” his voice against her ear making her ears turn crimson. He lifted her skirt to feel no underwear which made him go wild. “You already planned to do this? That’s why you didn’t wear any underwear?” her growled steadily in her ear.
“N…no i—” she gasped as he pressed two fingers against her dripping pussy. “So, fucking wet. So fucking mine”, licked his fingers clean, a smirk appearing on his face as her face coaxed deep red.
He squeezed her ass before kissing her, aligning his cock with her hole –slamming her down on him immediately and she choked on her own saliva. He took advantage of her open mouth and slid his tongue into her mouth, dominating it like the alpha he was.
Zarlia’s breath hitched, she could never get used to his size. She was just starting to adjust when he raised her hip only to slam her back down, making her moan. Her back arched forward they continued to create friction.
What they were doing felt so wrong but how deep she felt him inside her felt so right, so freaking right. Her fingers tangled his hair and he groaned, “Fuck…you’re doing such a good job Zee”. He kept on pounding into her, her eyes rolling back and she came but he kept on moving, extending the orgasm until he came too.
The rest of the day passed more quickly. As the office emptied out, the tension eased. Luke finalized reports. Mimi called in once, teasing him mercilessly before hanging up.
When evening finally settled in, Stetson grabbed his jacket and held it open for her without thinking. She slipped into it automatically.The drive home was quiet. Comfortable. She rested her head against his shoulder at a red light, and he reached over to lace his fingers through hers.
At home, the city lights spilled through the windows, painting the walls gold and shadow. He kicked off his shoes, loosened his tie, and pulled her into his arms.
No rush. No urgency.
Just warmth.
“I don’t regret today,” he said quietly.
She looked up at him. “Neither do I.”
He kissed her temple, then her cheek, then her lips—soft, deliberate. “Stay with me tonight.” She smiled. “I already am.”
They settled onto the couch, legs tangled, silence wrapping around them like a promise. Outside, the world continued—loud, demanding, unforgiving.
Inside, Zarlia breathed. And for the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel like she was standing on the edge of something fragile.
She felt held.