Page 8 of Room Thirty: Perfect Little Doll

I swallowed and found the courage to open my eyes. He was right there.Right in front of me.

His large, strong body stepped closer, pressing my back against the elevator wall.

“Mr. Mon—"

“Carey,” he corrected. That muscle under his eye twitched again. “You finally started calling me Carey, Serena. Please don’t stop now.”

“Carey,” I whispered, falling deeper into the pools of his eyes. Letting myself drown in the beautiful depths. I shivered. Wetness dampened between my legs. So much I pressed my thighs together as my skin pebbled and my nipples tightened. His eyes dropped from mine. I could feel them on my lips, then my neck, and lower. I was almost positive he knew how much I wanted him.

“You have goose bumps.” His observation vibrated off my flesh. My mouth dried and my tongue suddenly felt too big. “Are you scared of me?” he asked, his body freezing me in place.

“No,” I answered honestly. “Am I in trouble?”

“Trouble?” he repeated. His nose brushed against my ear lobe.

“For going out to lunch,” I clarified.

“No, my sweet doll, you’re not in trouble.”Sweet doll.That was new, too. I’d never been called that. Not by him or anyone. Ever. I’d never had anyone call me any kind of term of endearment other than my grandmother, God rest her soul.

“Oh, okay,” I whispered. Carey’s head dipped, low enough so I could feel his breath against my lips. My mouth tingled. It had been such a long time since I’d been kissed. Since I’d been touched.

And my body knew it, too.

“I’m sorry for pulling you away from your meal with your friend.” My eyes stared at his Adam’s apple as it bobbed up and down. “I missed you,” he admitted softly.

Those three words coming from my broody boss made my head swim slightly. My body buzzed with anticipation.What are you doing! He’s your boss!a small voice in the back of my head yelled at me. Just then, I was saved by the bell. The elevator pinged and stopped.

Almost like the sound snapped him out of whatever mood he was in, he straightened his body and stepped back. I watched as he righted his signature dark suit jacket and shoved his hands into his front pockets. Whatever softness I’d seen in his features was long gone, and in its place was a cool and calculated mask .

“Carey,” I called out to him. His eyes connected with mine. But before I could say anything, my stomach growled. Embarrassingly loudly. “Ohmygod!” My hand covered my face. “I am so sorry about that! I, umm…” Thankfully, the elevator doors opened.

I rushed through them. My eyes were set on the ground in front of me as I scurried to my desk. I faintly heard Carey call out my name, but I didn’t say a word or look back.

My hands shook with embarrassment. My stomach had growled so loudly! Had I imagined that whole thing? How close he had moved in and seemed to want to kiss me?

I missed you.His words replayed in my head in a hushed whisper.

“Hey, Serena.” I looked up, and my eyes widened. I’d somehow missed him standing by my desk.

“Ronan,” I gasped, resting my hand at my throat.

“Good lunch?” he asked easily.

“Umm…” I opened and then shut my mouth. I licked my lips. They were still tingling from how close Carey had stood to me. I shivered, and just as I was about to make something up, Carey was there.

Standing right next to Ronan.

“She didn’t eat,” he answered for me. His dark brows bunched firmly.

“Why?”

“Because—"

“He needed me back,” I cut Carey off.

“What?” Ronan looked at Carey like he could murder him. “There is nothing urgent enough that you needed to rush her back here.”

“She chose to come back,” Carey grunted before leaving Ronan and me alone. I watched him hurry to his office, shutting his door behind him. The moment it slammed, I jumped.