I should’ve known better than to take this job.

Not because the pay was bad—it wasn’t. And not because the work was hard—I could handle that.

But because from the moment I met Dominic Hale, I forgot how to breathe.

And that’s dangerous. Especially when the man who leaves you breathless is your boss. And married.

The glass walls of Hale Industries reflected the sunset, turning the building into a tower of gold. I walked through the lobby with hurried steps, heels clicking on marble, heart pounding like I’d swallowed it whole. My hands clenched the folder he needed—urgent documents he requested I bring up myself.

“Top floor,” the receptionist said, eyeing me with a mix of curiosity and pity. “He’s working late again.”

That made two of us.

The elevator ride was quiet except for the hum of nerves in my chest. I’d only been his assistant for three weeks, but every day felt like a slow seduction I never agreed to join.

He never touched me. Never flirted outright.

But the way his eyes lingered… the way he said my name like it was a slow unraveling…

“Elena.”

God. The sound of it in his deep, honey-slick voice still echoed in my dreams.

I knocked once and stepped into his office.

He stood by the window, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, his shirt clinging to his frame like it didn’t dare disobey him.

“Mr. Hale,” I managed, swallowing the dryness in my throat. “You asked for the merger files.”

He turned, eyes locking with mine, the city lights glowing behind him like a halo of sin.

“Elena,” he said, voice low and rough. “Perfect timing.”

I took a slow step forward, careful not to look too long. But my eyes betrayed me, lingering on the dip of his collarbone, the way his forearms flexed as he reached for the papers.

He didn’t break eye contact.

“Anything else?” he asked.

“Just the—uh—the board summary and the projections for Q3.”

I cursed internally. I sounded like a child pretending to know what she was doing.

“Good,” he murmured, but his gaze didn’t drop to the files. It stayed fixed on my lips. My throat. The skin just below my collar.

I felt it. The shift. The electricity crackling between us.

He stepped closer. I inhaled sharply.

“You’re shivering,” he said.

I hadn’t noticed until now. The air conditioning was blasting, but it wasn’t the cold that made my skin pebble.

It was him.

“It’s fine,” I whispered, stepping back. “I’ll go—”

“Elena.”

He said it differently this time. Not a call. A warning. Or maybe a question.

I turned to leave—too fast—and my heel caught the edge of the carpet.

I stumbled forward.

Strong hands caught my waist.

Firm. Steady. Too warm.

I froze.

And so did he.

We were close. Too close. My hands on his chest. His fingers gripping my hips like he was claiming territory.

His breath fanned my cheek. “You okay?”

“Yes,” I whispered. But I didn’t move.

Neither did he.

Time paused. My pulse didn’t. It thundered like it wanted to escape.

Then… something broke.

His mouth crushed against mine—sudden, desperate, like he’d waited too long and couldn’t pretend anymore.

I gasped into the kiss, and he swallowed the sound, his tongue sliding into my mouth with a hunger that burned.

I should’ve pushed him away. Should’ve said no.

But my body betrayed every ounce of logic I had left.

I kissed him back.

Hard.

His hands slid down, gripping the curve of my *ss, pulling me flush against him. I felt the hard line of his arousal pressing into my stomach.

“F*ck,” he muttered against my lips. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

I moaned as he lifted me onto his desk with ease, papers scattering beneath me. His hands roamed—up my thighs, under my skirt, fingers rough and claiming.

“Dominic,” I breathed, tasting his name for the first time.

He groaned, pulling back to look at me. His eyes were darker now. Ravenous.

“This is wrong,” he said. But he didn’t stop.

I didn’t want him to.

His hand slid into my panties, fingers grazing heat and slickness that made me arch.

“You’re already soaked,” he whispered, lips brushing my ear. “For me?”

“Yes,” I gasped, hips grinding against his hand. “God, yes.”

He slid a finger inside, slow and deep, and I cried out, grabbing onto his shoulders.

“You’re so tight,” he murmured. “So f*ck*ng perfect.”

Another finger. Another gasp. His thumb teased my cl*t with maddening circles while he watched my face like it was art he wanted to memorize.

“You like this?” he asked.

“Yes… please don’t stop.”

“I won’t. Not until you come for me.”

I did.

With a strangled cry, I came hard around his fingers, legs trembling, nails digging into his shirt.

He pulled his fingers out, slick and glistening. He looked at them… then licked them clean with a low groan.

I shivered.

Still breathless, I watched as he reached for his belt.

But then something shifted in his eyes.

He froze.

Reality came crashing in.

His wedding ring caught the light.

He looked at me—then stepped back, running a hand through his hair.

“I… I shouldn’t have—”

I slid off the desk, legs barely holding me. Shame and desire tangled in my chest.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to—”

He grabbed my wrist gently.

“No. Don’t apologize. This isn’t on you.”

He held my gaze. A storm behind his eyes.

“We crossed a line,” he said, voice raw. “But I can’t lie to you.”

I stared at him, heart still racing.

He let go of my hand.

“I need to figure out what this means. But I can’t stay away from you, Elena. Not anymore.”

And just like that, I knew…

This was only the beginning.