We hit the road, both of us and must I say I never imagined myself like this.

"I've never done this," I break the silence.

He gives me a sideways glance, "please elaborate."

I stumble over the words in my head, arranging and rearranging them over and over until I tell myself to give it up and be straightforward.

What's the worst that can happen?

"I've never had somebody drive me this way," I said.

I flush as I understand the double meaning behind my words.

"Never sat in the passenger seat with a man driving the car, never went on a drive with somebody," I say, low-key, clarifying the filth from my head.

I see a light of calmness spread over his face.

What's that about? I wonder to myself.

"You've never had a boyfriend?" He asks me as his attention was completely taken up the highway ahead, yet still, I knew he was listening to me.

"Not many. Guys that I dated in my school were just...you know how that is...it isn't serious. I've only had one serious boyfriend, Ryan," I recollect the time that I spent with him in college. A smile on my face.

"You seem to still like him?" He asks me in a serious tone, that I can't decipher. He sounds bored but the sound of his question speaks otherwise.

"Well, the time was good but the break up was hard, moving on from him was the hardest but opening myself to love again is a whole new nightmare I don't want to experience. Yet," I answered his question, honestly.

"Have you managed to?" He asked me.

I looked at him confusedly, " managed to what?"

"Fall in love again?" He asked me.

There's something about his question that I can't quite explain but it makes me look at him. He gives me a pointed look. His eyes do not give anything away. I can't fathom if he's genuinely intrigued or if it's just a casual conversation, but nevertheless, his question has left me bereft.

"No," as the words slip out of my mouth, calm and a soothing silence descends amongst us.

His questions seemed to have brought me above my threshold of talkativeness and I feel like adding more about myself. He does something to me that makes me chatty. Every time I'm with him, I say unnecessary things.

"Elliot, I have been an extremely simple girl but don't think that I'm not clever," I start to say.

His lips twist into a smile. That bastard! He's smirking.

I find myself smiling, "what?"

"Nothing," he teases me with that mirth still gracing his lips.

"No seriously, what is it?" I ask again, impatiently this time.

He lets out a laugh, "I never took you for a dumb girl."

I turn to look at him surprisingly and raise both my eyebrows at him, "Such bullshit. I remember our first meeting like the back of my hand. You thought I was a dumb girl."

He shakes his head as he overtakes a truck in front of him, suddenly accelerating the car. As he makes a cut and then decreases the speed to stay in his lane, he replies," I was testing you. And you've never been a girl to me. I have always seen you as a powerful woman. Perhaps I was intimidated by you, hence the need to test you"

My cheeks flush as I take in his words. He called me a woman and not in a derogatory way as I'm used to being called out by the men in my field of work.

A smile creeps onto my face and when he sees that I'm trying to hide my smile, he winks at me. I bet he's congratulating himself for being smooth!

"Testing me, how? Did I pass?" I scoff. It's my stupid attempt to wipe away the stupid smile stuck on my face like a bubble that needs to burst.

He rolls his eyes as he hears the sarcasm behind my words.

"Mostly girls are handed business by their rich fathers, already having a big business,but then, it has always been the talk of the business town that you took a completely different route. Your father handles textiles, yet you chose technology, so why did you do it?" he asks me.

I am overwhelmed with the desire to laugh so I don't stop myself. I let the emotion consume me. I laugh, for the sake of my sanity, I laugh.

My father would help me?! Only over his dead body.

He would rather see me rot with hunger on the streets if my business fails than ever help me.

I want to go tell him all these things. I want to scream out that it's me against the world!

As I calm down from my laughter, I see him looking at me with confusion but I find a hidden concern behind it.

"Are you alright?" he asks me.

It's too soon to trust him and let him know about my life. He has all the reasons to use my words, spoken in a state of vulnerability, for his advantage. This thought alone settles a chill inside me and things seem a bit clearer to me now, that -I had been lowering my guard for him even before I knew if I was ready or not.

"Yes," I answered coldly.

"What happened?" he asked me.

"None of your business," I say without glancing at him.

He doesn't say anything back. Of course, what did I expect?

As he keeps on driving, I wonder if he even knows where he's taking me.

"Elliot," I mutter his name calmly, treading on a tightrope.

"Hmm," is all he says.

"Where are we going? Cause it seems that we just took a round turn as I'm pretty sure this road leads back to the factory," I speak, already wary of the conversation. This is me, completely out of my comfort zone.

"It seemed to me that I was forcing myself on you so I thought it'd be right to bring you back," he spoke in a voice that signified disdain at himself.

I need to apologise.

"Oh! No Trust me Ell-," I start to say but he cuts me off.

"Trust you? Why? Why should I trust you when you don't do the same for me?" Oh boy! He's mad.

"It's not that-," I start to talk only to be cut off by him again.

"Oh stop pretending like you don't think that I'm always trying to one up on you," He spits out as he slows down as he sees the factory approach. He realises that the drive has come to an end.

Do you want it to come to an end even before it starts, Charlotte? My heart directs the simplest question at me.

"Stop the car, Elliot," I utter decisively.

"What's the rush! I'll stop it at the gates," he exclaims, his voice shooting bullets at me.

I hiss and pull the hand brake and boy! Is he mad?

Before he can say anything, I am making my move out of the car. Leaving the door open, I go to the driver's side and pull his door open only to realise that he hasn't unlocked it.

His eyes widen and I roll my eyes, "Open the fucking door, Elliot," I am honestly at my wit's end with this man.

He unlocks it and I pull his door before he can open it.

"Well, move out," I ask.

He doesn't move.

I roll my hands in my fists as I'm feeling my patience getting tested.

"Elliot, don't make this any harder. Come out," I say to him.

"Why should I do as you? Do you do anything I tell you to?" He retorts.

Open-mouthed, I look at him, " What! We aren't dating! I am not asking you to do anything. All I'm saying is just come out," I repeat.

"And that isn't asking something?" He counters as he folds his hands against his chest, completely ignoring the first part of my statement.

I've had enough of this. I go forwards and his eyes widen a bit as he tries to understand what I'm about to do.

I grab ahold of his arms crossed on his chest and separate them. He lets me do that, but when I start pulling on his forearm to make him budge, he tightens his posture. It's so funny and pathetic of me trying to move him like a little kid.

Amusement flares through his eyes as he looks at me adoringly as I fight tooth and nail to pull him out, but he won't budge.

Deciding that I've suffered too much embarrassment, I let go.

I drop his arm and scratch the top of my head as I try to think of a better idea. Pulling him out wasn't the best one.

"Come here," he says softly with a smile on his face.

I am so lost from the second-hand embarrassment from my previous actions that I don't give him any form of resistance. I bend down closer to him, my face and the top of my shoulders in the car in front of him.

I wonder how this looks to the people passing by us on the road. I bet they're having a good view of my ass!

"Why do you want to hijack my car?" He amusingly asks me.

I roll my eyes, "I don't want to hijack it."

He pulls on my hair that's hanging in between us softly, "don't roll your eyes at me."

I roll my eyes again. Why did he have to pull my hair to make it more dramatic?

He grabs my ear and pulls on it as his body moves forwards so that his lips, emit the warm breath on my ear, "don't make me tell you twice. Don't roll your eyes at me."

I shiver.

It's from the warm breath, not how hot he is, and the fact that passerby's are watching us!

He removes his hand from my ear as it slowly wanders down my neck, up until it is at the back of my shoulder, "Tell me why you want my car," he croons hotly in my ear. He nudges my ear with his nose after talking. His presence is intoxicating me and I am unable to think.

I whimper at his mercy.

"I wanted to take you out on a drive," I admit breathlessly.

He hums in satisfaction and that sweet voice travels straight from my ear to the pit of my stomach and it tastes delicious.

"Elliot, people are watching and this looks very inappropriate. Please don't cause a scene here," I pleaded to him to let me go.

"I am barely touching your shoulder, Charlotte. I haven't held you tight, have I?" He replies softly. His voice was full of patience. His lips rest against my cheek. I can hear and feel his breathing.

You want him to hold you tight!

I shake off the thoughts in my head and start to pull back, mentally. Physically I stay put. It's like his hand on my shoulder is the magnet and I am the iron. He moves his hand up and down, rubbing circles on my shoulders. He's gently nudging me down the path of giving into him.

I move my head back and make the mistake of looking into his eyes which stared at me curiously as if he had been waiting for me to look up.

I search his eyes for a cyclone but I find a soothing ocean.

"Let me go, Elliot," I whisper as I plead to him.

"I am not holding you Charlotte. It's you who's deciding to stay," he mimics the tone and timbre of my voice.

I close my eyes but still don't make a move to shift out of the car. My back has started to hurt.

"Okay," I breathe out.

I start to take a few steps back while maintaining eye contact with him as if I'm asking for his permission to leave.

Why am I being so submissive?

"Not so easy, Charlotte," he says as his hand tightens on my shoulder preventing me from back-tracking.

"What do you want, Elliot?" I whimper.

"Ask me out properly," he says.

"Go on a drive with me," I ask him, obviously done with his tricks. And my back hurts!

"tsk tsk, that's not the right way," he responds. A wicked gleam in his eyes lets me know that this is a dangerous game he's playing.

"Well, what is the right way?" I want to roll my eyes but I remember my lesson. I don't want to stall this anymore.

"Hug me. And don't make it any less than thirty seconds," he commands.

My jaw drops at his direct command. This isn't right.

"You're my boss, Elliot. It's inappropriate," I try to pull back with strength now, but he's stronger than me.

He rolls his eyes and it's like my statement has fused the common sense wire in his brain because he does something that I did not expect. At all.

He jerks forwards suddenly, making my forehead strike with him.

Ouch!

He doesn't even flinch!

His hands travel to the back of my leg, pulling it towards him. My eyes widened in shock! What is he doing?!

He grabs it and pulls on it till it is up and he slides it on top of his lap so that it is resting on the opposite side of his legs and I am awkwardly straddling his lap.

This is so embarrassing!

I want to cry out in shock.

My eyes beg him to leave me but he fixes me with his mean glare.

I had no choice other than to pick my other leg which was hanging awkwardly and rest on the same side of his lap.

I am properly straddling him and he gives me a satisfied look now. He closes the door.

"Is this more appropriate now?" He asks me cockily as he raises an eyebrow at me. He's back to being the mean Elliot now.

His eyes peer up at me as I look at him from my disturbed position. We are so close. His jaw is near the valley of my breasts. Soft breaths escaping his lips could be felt on the skin of my exposed chest. The already tiny space between us became completely minimal. My hips pressed against his lap, chest to chest and his abs in contact with mine. With the door locked, there was no chance of an escape. No way he was going to show mercy on me. He had me where he wanted me.

"You know what to do," he exhales in the tiny space between us.

"You're mad, Elliot," I mutter, as I feel ashamed. I drop my eyes from him as I can't face him like this. I am sitting on my boss's lap! Crime I have committed!

"Keep your eyes on me, always. And I mean it. I hate it when my employees cower like this," he says. Now! Out of all the times,he had to call me an employee?!

I give him a shocked look and he chuckles at my expression.

"What the fuck, Elliot," I scream lightly.

"You're one twisted son of a bitch," I throw profanities at him but all he does is smile.

He winks at me.

I exasperatedly looked at him, "you're unbelievable."

"I know, one of a kind," he speaks. He's extremely happy to trap me in his web.

"I'm taking you to lunch," he says, out of the blue.

What is with this man, doing and saying random things?!

Take over some control, Charlotte. You're being way too weak!

"You remember, I was taking you somewhere, not the other way round," I reminded him that I was taking him out on a drive.

"Yeah. I'm hungry. What are you going to do about it?" He challenges me as he raises an eyebrow.

Oh! He's hungry.

For what?

He smirks as he takes in my expression. He deliberately said it that way.

He's so hot! I mewl internally.

And the heat that I'm feeling from his body right on my bum and there! It is not helping me control my breathing.

"Where's your place?" He looks shocked by my boldness but nevertheless, impressed.

"Don't let your imagination run wild, I happen to be an extremely good cook. I'll cook something for you," I say as I bite my lip.

He gives me a huge grin like a cowboy on a horse who found a stream of water, after riding on his horse for such a long time.

"Okay ma'am," he accepts my offer cutely. He gives me a dorky smile and I can't help but marvel at the view in front of me.

Oh my! Am I seeing the ever-so-confident Elliot, being shy?

I have a sudden urge to poke his dimple.

I poke his dimple and I know I've caught him off guard. He grabs hold of my wrist and as I try to free myself from him, I squirm and jump a little bit on his lap.

He sucks in a sudden breath, harshly and I freak out.

"Did I hurt you, Elliot? I'm so sorry," I talk fast.

He shakes his head at me, "no I'm not hurt. Just don't jump. I have a situation....," he trails off as he looks down.

Oh!

Oh! Now that he's made me painfully aware of it, do I feel his erection pressing against me?

My cheeks flush as I look anywhere but at him.

I bite my lip as I want to stop myself from laughing.

"You're horrible," Elliot says to me as I catch amusement in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. For that," I say softly, still trying to hold in my laughter, even though it's obvious I'm smiling.

"Hug me now. Or I'm making you do it, " he orders me.

That shuts me up.

His dorky behavior, pretty little dimple and in general something about this situation, made me give in.

Begrudgingly, I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a long hug. After I had been mentally counting thirty seconds, I tried to free myself only to be stopped by him. His mouth stuffed in my neck, " you leave me when I say so."

He's cheating. This wasn't a part of the deal!

"So, I'm driving us back to my place," he says as he turns the engine on with me latching onto him like a monkey.

I try to move away as I can't believe he's about to drive around with me sitting in his lap like this.

"Don't you care about your licence! Put me down," I scream.

He hollers out a big laugh. I swear he's under some demonic possession.

"I don't have vegetables back home. So if you want me to stop somewhere, let me know beforehand. What is a great cook going to do with nothing to cook?" He says, completely ignoring me.

This is what it is. This is Elliot, this is what I signed up for.

"Yeah. Make a stop at the farmers market, sunset valley," I mutter as I nudge my face in the collar of his shirt.

Might as well enjoy this!

"Hmm. That feel's good baby," he hums in approval at my actions.

"I am not your baby," I say as I tighten my arms around him, claiming him closer to me.

"I'll call you whatever I want to," he says and that shuts me off.

I know I am being weak but he did say he wanted me to hug him, not the other way round, so I set myself free and let myself revel in the warmth of his arms, till it lasts.

***
Author's note
So who wants to go on a drive like that?

Love, Leena ❤❤
Bye-bye, until next time.