Chapter 205

Chapter 205
Claire's POV

"Wait," I whispered, glancing at the windows. "The blinds. Close them."

Daniel paused, his chest rising and falling heavily, but made no move toward the windows. Instead, his eyes locked onto mine, dark with intent.

"No," he said simply. "I want to see your face. Every expression."

My heart pounded harder. "Brown, people could see in."

"Not from this angle." His fingers traced lazy patterns on my thighs, inching higher. "No one can see but me."

I squirmed under his intense gaze. "Brown, are you watching me?"

"Always," he admitted, his voice dropping even lower. His hands moved to his shirt, slowly unbuttoning it.

I reached out, tracing a particularly jagged scar that ran across his ribs. "Does it hurt?"

"Not anymore." He caught my wrist, pressing my palm flat against his heart. The steady rhythm beneath my fingers quickened as I leaned forward to press my lips against a small, round scar near his shoulder.

Daniel made a sound deep in his throat, somewhere between a groan and a growl. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling my head back gently to expose my neck. His teeth grazed my ear, biting down just hard enough to make me gasp.

"Claire," he whispered, my name barely audible in the quiet office. The formality of the university setting around us made it feel even more illicit, more thrilling. The distinguished war hero, the respected lecturer, reduced to whispered pleas and hungry touches – because of me.

Daniel pushed me back slightly, his hands at the buttons of my blouse. I watched his face as he undid them one by one, revealing the lace beneath. The hunger in his eyes made my skin burn. He pressed me against the desk, leaning over me until I was practically lying back, supported by my elbows.

"Brown," I whispered, the cool surface of the desk a stark contrast to the heat of his body above mine. "Remember what we said. In the office, we only kiss."

He froze, his jaw tightening in frustration. I could see the battle playing out behind his eyes – the need to possess me warring with his respect for boundaries. Finally, with visible effort, he straightened, pulling me back up to a sitting position.

"You're right," he conceded, though his hands still gripped my waist possessively. He leaned in, his lips brushing my neck, sending tingles down my spine. "But this counts as kissing."

I tilted my head, giving him better access. "Maybe you should control yourself a bit more," I teased, even as my hands slid down his chest to his belt buckle.

His breath hitched as my fingers brushed against the hard ridge beneath his pants. "You're playing with fire, Stanton," he warned, his voice ragged.

I smirked, running my nail lightly along his zipper. "Am I?"

Daniel caught my wrist, his grip firm but gentle. "When we get home," he promised, his voice a dangerous whisper, "you're not getting any sleep tonight."

The anticipation of that promise sent heat pooling between my legs. I leaned forward, nipping at his lower lip. "Is that supposed to discourage me?"

A knock at the door made us both freeze. Daniel stepped back, quickly rebuttoning his shirt. I smoothed my blouse, adjusting my skirt as another knock came.

"Brown? You in there?" It was Megan's voice again.

I raised an eyebrow at Daniel, who ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "I should go," he said reluctantly, his eyes still dark with unfulfilled desire.

I nodded, watching as he tucked in his shirt and tried to make himself presentable. His lips were still slightly swollen from our kisses, his hair tousled where I'd run my fingers through it. The thought of him walking out like this, evidence of our passion visible for anyone to see, sent a possessive thrill through me.

Daniel gave me one last, lingering look before turning to the door. He opened it just enough to slip through, careful to block Megan's view of the office interior – of me.

"There you are," I heard her say. "We were wondering if you're joining us at Emerald Lounge tonight?"

From my position, I could just make out Daniel's broad shoulders blocking the doorway. "I'll meet you there," he said, his voice carefully neutral.

I took the opportunity to fix my appearance, straightening my blouse and smoothing my hair. Through the crack in the door, I noticed Megan glancing past Daniel's shoulder, trying to see into the office. Her eyes narrowed at the drawn blinds – had they been open earlier? I smirked to myself.

After a moment of small talk, Daniel stepped fully into the hallway, closing the door behind him. I waited a minute before following, giving my lipstick a quick touch-up. When I emerged, Megan was still there, talking with Daniel in the corridor.

Her eyes found mine immediately, widening slightly as she took in my appearance. I smiled politely, walking toward them with all the confidence of a woman who knew exactly who Daniel went home with.

"Thanks for letting me use your office, Brown," I said smoothly, deliberately formal. Then I reached up, wiping a smudge of my lipstick from the corner of his mouth with my thumb. "I'll see you tonight."

The shock on Megan's face was worth it. Daniel's eyes darkened, recognizing my deliberate display of possession. Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away, feeling both their gazes on my back.

As I reached the elevator, I glanced over my shoulder. Daniel was watching me, desire still evident in his stance. Megan was watching him watch me, her expression a mixture of disappointment and realization.

I stepped into the elevator with a satisfied smile. Some boundaries were made to be pushed – and others, like making it clear who Daniel belonged to, weren't boundaries at all.