Tyler's POV

I'm sitting behind my desk, staring at the spreadsheet of our quarterly earnings on my laptop, but my eyes keep veering toward the corner of the screen where the time reads 7:21 PM. Still no Carrie. How fucking late does her boss really need her to stay? Is this what it's going to be like from now on? She's going to be at his beck and call, and our relationship will take a back seat to her career?...well, that's just not going to work.

I shut the laptop in frustration, and get on the floor to do some push ups. I have no idea why, but it always calms me down. As I press myself up for the 89th time, I hear her unmistakable laughter echo from down in the kitchen. She's here.

I go through the open door of my office, but then come to a halt at the top of the stairs, as I see Carrie and Daniel glued to each other in an embrace. He's got his damn hands on her back, hugging her tightly, and I'm about to lose my shit. The thought of leaping on him, tearing his fucking arms away from her, and slamming his jaw in, races through my mind, but then I think better of it. Maybe I should observe for a little while longer...see what the fuck else is going to happen.

As I expected, he's running his mouth, all excited like, making her laugh. And then, again, as I knew he would, he rolls up his shirtsleeve and shows her his dumbass tattoos...look at him flex his bicep...what a fucking tool. I can't take this shit anymore.

I go downstairs, and walk up behind Carrie, wrapping my arms around her waist. At the same time I give Daniel the death stare, and his stupid smile disappears.

"Oh, hi!" she greets, and turns to face me.

I pull her flush against me, and bring my mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. The kitchen staff starts to hoot and holler, but I don't give a damn.

Carrie pushes me away, her cheeks are red, and she's clearly embarrassed.

"Let's go to my office," I tell her, and take her hand in mine.

I shut and lock the door behind us when we enter the office, as I definitely do not want to be disturbed when we're fucking.

Carrie looks super sexy in her professional attire, but I'm already envisioning most of her clothes strewn all over the floor, as I'm taking her from behind over my desk.

"Nice office," she compliments, and plunks herself down on the loveseat.

I sit next to her, and she puts her legs on mine. She kicks off her high heels, and I take this as my cue to massage her tired feet.

"Daniel is so nice," she says, with her eyes closed. "And funny too."

"Mm hm," I manage, and try to keep my focus on putting gentle pressure on her instep.

"He must be fun to work with," she continues.

"Yeah, he's a blast," I say, with unmistakable sarcasm laced through my tone. "What were you talking about?"

"Well, I just shared the news about my work, and he was really happy for me. Then he told me about this french film he saw about aliens that live among us, it sounded funny. Also, he showed me his tattoo--"

"Oh, that's right, I remember now. You both share the love of foreign cinema," I say, and squeeze her toes a little too hard. "And at what point did he think it was okay for him to touch you?"

Carrie looks at me like I sprouted horns. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I saw him holding you, and it took a lot of willpower for me not to knock his lights out."

"Tyler, I really hope you're joking. It was just a hug...a friendly hug."

"He's not your friend. You met him once. And from what I recall, he was trying to put some moves on you even then." The memory of his arm draped around her at the Tavern still bothers the crap out of me.

"Honestly, you have nothing to worry about. Daniel was being friendly, that's all."

"Well, from now on, I don't really want you hanging out with him," I say, and watch as Carrie withdraws her feet from my lap, and sits herself up straight.

"Are you seriously telling me who I can, and cannot hang out with?"

I can see this is not going to go over well, but she may as well know the ground rules now.

"Look, I told you before we spent our first night together, I don't share when it comes to my girl. I don't want any other man to be able to touch you but me."

"Why does it have to be so intense? It's not like Daniel and I were making out. What, am I not allowed to give out an occasional friendly hug if the person on the receiving end is a guy? That's absurd," she says, shaking her head.

"You don't know how guys think. Even what appears to be a harmless, friendly gesture, is usually groundwork being laid for making a move at a later time. That's just how men are programmed...Daniel's probably playing the long game...trying to wait it out. I know it may sound like I'm being paranoid, but just trust me on this."

I knew that Carrie would bristle at my possessive nature at some point, I just hope it's not more than she can handle.

"What about Alex?" she asks, folding her arms across her chest. "Does he have lascivious intentions as well when he gives me a hug? Am I also supposed to steer clear of him?"

"That's different. Alex is in a relationship--a happy relationship. Daniel is single and on the prowl. That's two different categories of men, with two vastly different agendas."

Carrie chews on her plump lower lip, and squints at me.

"Well, if I can't touch other guys...then you can't touch other girls," she tells me, as though I am not already on the same page with her.

I chuckle, and pull her into my lap. "That goes without saying," I tell her, and slip my hands under her shirt. "Like I said, I belong to the category of men who are in a happy relationship, so the only woman I want to touch is you."

She wrapps her arms around my neck and kisses me. I move my hands up her back, finding the closure of her bra, and just as I'm about to pop the snap of it open, her fucking phone goes off.

"Don't get it," I tell her, but she's already reaching for her purse.

"It might be Kenneth," she tells me, and I swear as soon as I hear his name, half the blood drains from my dick.

Carrie answers her phone, with a strange, unfamiliar to me voice, "Yes, hi Kenneth, what can I do for you?"

Jesus, can she sound any more subservient and eager to please?

She's off my lap and pacing the office with the phone glued to the side of her head.

"I think we should move forward with the more aggressive pitch because that maybe the only chance we get to present for their CEO...right...exactly...yes, I absolutely agree. Okay, thank you. You too. Bye."

She hangs up, and walks over to me, straddling my lap again, but somehow it's hard to pick up where we left off. I mean, where does fucking Kenneth get off calling his employees after hours?

"So, you and your boss are on first name basis...that's pretty informal, isn't it?" I ask, holding her gaze.

"I suppose so, but that's the kind of company culture Kenneth wants to cultivate at Ruby World. Pretty relaxed, and more casual, so people's creativity isn't hindered by too many stringent rules."

"So, you like your boss? I mean, he's a good guy? A respected, ethical person?"

"I mean, I guess so... um... he's a good leader," she tells me, but there's no conviction in her voice.

Carrie looks slightly uncomfortable, and I pick up on her little tell. "I get a feeling there's more to him, but you're not exactly willing to go there," I prod...trying my damnest to appear at ease...inside my heart is pounding. Would she even confess if there was an indiscretion between her and her boss while she was still with Jonah? And is that over with now for good?

"I don't really want to talk about it now," she says, and nuzzles my neck. That was not a good response. It means that there is more to this story...and I'll just have to get it out of her later. Fuck if this isn't going to mess with my mind.

"Are you hungry for dinner?" I ask her.

She nips on my earlobe, and whispers, "Starving."

"Then let's go down to the kitchen and grab a bite to eat," I tell her, and without waiting for a response, lift her off my lap and stand her up. "We need to celebrate your new position at work," I say, and give her a wink.

"Okay," she says, with a slight pout on her lips. "But after...can we come back up here?"

I pause, read her thoughts, and can't help but smile. I love that she's got the same hunger for me as I do for her. "Oh, baby, don't you worry...we're not going to leave this place until I bend you over my desk and make you see stars again."

She swats my arms, but giggles at my lusty plans.

"Then we better eat quick," she urges, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief.