Chapter 35
I panted hard, sprinting up the last block toward Carter Montgomery’s Home-soaked, freezing, and in a total frenzy.
Of course, the trains had to be delayed on my first day. I’d even gotten out three stops. early and hailed a cab, but we hit a wall of traffic thanks to the snowstorm that dumped on us last night. After sitting there, I bolted out of the cab, thinking I could outrun the delay, but just my luck, my heel clipped some ice, sending me crashing into a pile of cold, slushy snow! The shock hit me, and I gasped, feeling the biting chill seep through my stockings, my skirt, and even under my coat, soaking into my blouse.
Perfect. Just freaking perfect.
Here I was, on my first day working for a billionaire, looking like a homeless person. What could possibly make this worse? Oh right, being late.
So, drenched and disheveled, I banged on the front door, muttering an apology to the butler as I pushed past him into the house.
“Mr. Montgomery has been expecting you,” he said, his tone crisp as I stood there, breathless, trying to shove my hair back behind my ears.
“Excuse me?”
The butler’s expression was as blank as a wall. “You are late, Ms. Winley.”
“Oh, I’m really sorry! The train got-”
“Please wait for Mr. Montgomery in his study,” he cut in, voice smooth but firm. “This
way
I struggled to catch my breath as he led me through the grand house, back to the same room I’d been in just the previous night.
“Mr. Montgomery will be a moment,” he said, leaving me alone as he closed the door behind him.
Forbidden Lessons
behind him.
In that moment of solitude, I quickly yanked off my jacket, grimacing at my disheveled state. I looked like a total mess! I hurried to a mirror near the fireplace, scowling as I attempted to fix my hair and wipe some of the wetness from my shirt using a napkin from my bag. I was so caught up in my frantic attempts that I didn’t even hear him
come in.
“You’re late.”
I gasped, spinning around to find Carter standing there, arms crossed, his gaze sharp.
He shook his head, disappointment etched on his features. “On your first day, no less.”
“I’m really sorry, Lord!” I blurted out, noting how his lips curled into a smirk at my
formal title.
“The trains were backed up,
and-
“I need you here on time, Ms. Winley.”
My heart raced in my chest. “I know that, Lord,” I shot back, heat rising to my cheeks. “But like I said, the trains-”
“You’ll be paid to follow orders, Ms. Winley,” he snapped, his voice carrying an edge. “Not to debate them.”
I froze, fighting back my anger as I nodded. That look again. He seemed furious, but beneath that anger lurked something darker, something swirling and intense, like a brewing storm. It was the same look he’d given me at The Eclipse Lounge when I let him whisk me away.
His gaze flickered over my sodden clothes, and his brow furrowed. “What on earth are you wearing?”
I blinked at him, still annoyed over his implied accusation. “Excuse me?””
His nostrils flared in frustration. “I asked you a question, Ms. Winley. What are you wearing?”
“I’m sorry, Lord, I was running to get here, and I slipped on ice!”
He nodded slowly, eyes roaming my figure with a heat that made me shiver in shouldn’t have felt.
ways I
Despite everything that had happened between us before-whatever wild impulse had driven me to lose my virginity to a stranger-all of that was supposed to be behind us now. He was my boss, and I needed to shake off the past. He clearly had.
He shook his head, disappointment still visible.
“I’m-” I stammered. “I’m really sorry, Lord.”
His
gaze swept over me once again before locking with mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine at the dark intensity in his eyes.
“Take them off,” he commanded.
I froze, my brows shooting up in disbelief. “Excuse me?”
“I said take them off, Ms. Winley.” His voice turned low, almost a growl, and my breath caught in my throat.
An electric thrill raced through me as I squirmed under his heated gaze. “Um, Mr.-“I quickly shook my head. “Lord, I don’t think that’s-”
Before I could finish, he strode toward me, jaw set and eyes piercing, making me feel so small yet so electrified all at once.
“Good girls, Ms. Winley,” he murmured softly, his hand lifting to cup my chin. My body reacted instantly; his touch sent tingles skimming across my skin as his eyes blazed into mine.
“Good girls do what they’re told,” he growled, his voice thick with authority. “And bad girls get punished.”
Oh, hell.
In that moment. I turned to putty in his presence, just like before. Desire roared within
yet so electrified all at once.
“Good girls, Ms. Winley,” he murmured softly, his hand lifting to cup my chin. My body reacted instantly; his touch sent tingles skimming across my skin as his eyes blazed into mine.
“Good girls do what they’re told,” he growled, his voice thick with authority. “And bad girls get punished.”
Oh, hell.
In that moment, I turned to putty in his presence, just like before. Desire roared within me, igniting every nerve ending, making my panties damp and my nipples harden beneath my wet blouse.
“Lord-
“Off, Ms. Winley,” he reiterated, his tone gentle yet firm.
Against every rational thought, every warning bell in my head screaming that this was utterly wrong, I nodded.
“Yes, Lord,” I breathed.
A grin crept onto his lips, smug and enticing,
“H-here?” I stammered.
He nodded, making my heart hammer louder as he sank into a rich leather armchair in the corner, a picture of calm authority. “Right here, Ms. Winley.”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. I knew I should have bolted from that room, simply run away and tried to find some crummy winter job that could keep the heat on.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I found my hands moving to my blouse, slowly beginning to unbutton it.
Carter’s gaze blazed into me, his jaw tight as he nodded with each click of the button