Raising the Stakes

Emma’s heart pounded, Gabriel’s question—“Or something else entirely?”—hanging in the air like a lit fuse. His proximity was intoxicating, the heat of his body so close she could feel it through her blouse. His gray eyes held hers, daring her to cross the line she’d been teetering on since she walked into his cabin. The memory of the rushed task, his commanding presence, and the way his fingers had grazed hers sparked a fire she couldn’t ignore. She was done playing coy.

Emma stepped closer, her heels clicking softly, closing the small distance between them. Her voice dropped to a husky whisper, laced with a boldness that surprised even her. “Honestly, Mr. Alexander? That little test… it turned me on.” She let the words linger, her lips parting slightly as she watched his reaction, her body humming with the thrill of her own audacity. “The pressure, your eyes on me—it’s got me all worked up.”

A slow, dangerous smile spread across Gabriel’s face, his gaze darkening with something primal. He didn’t step back, didn’t break the charged silence. Instead, he leaned in just enough that she could feel his breath against her ear when he spoke. “Good,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver racing down her spine. “Because I’m only getting started.”

He straightened, his demeanor shifting back to that controlled, commanding air, but the glint in his eyes told her he’d noted every word of her confession. “Let’s see how you handle real pressure, Emma.” He glanced at his watch, then back at her, his tone sharp but dripping with intent. “There’s another file—client contracts, on the server. I need ten copies, printed and collated, back here in two minutes and fifty-seven seconds.” He paused, his lips twitching into a smirk. “One second less than last time. Don’t disappoint me.”

Emma’s breath caught, the challenge igniting something reckless inside her. The tightened deadline felt like a deliberate taunt, a way to push her further into this game of control and desire. Her skin prickled with heat, her confession still hanging between them, making every second feel more charged. She could still feel the ghost of his breath on her ear, and the thought of him watching her, timing her, only fueled the ache low in her belly.

She didn’t hesitate. “You’ll have them,” she said, her voice steady despite the flush creeping up her chest. She turned, her hips swaying just a little more than necessary as she headed for the door, knowing his eyes were on her. The office outside was still quiet, the lunch hour keeping the space nearly empty. Her heels echoed in the silence as she hurried to the printer room, her mind racing as fast as her pulse.

The server login was quick, her fingers trembling slightly as she sent the client contracts to print. The machine hummed, spitting out pages, and Emma’s eyes flicked to the clock—two minutes left. Her blouse clung to her skin, the fabric brushing against her sensitive nipples, a reminder of how turned on she still was. Every second felt like a pulse of electricity, Gabriel’s challenge wrapping around her like a leash she was all too willing to tug against.

She collated the papers with practiced speed, the stack warm in her hands as she finished with barely a moment to spare. Her reflection in the glass door caught her eye—cheeks flushed, eyes wild, lips parted. She looked like a woman on the edge, and she felt it, too. The thought of returning to Gabriel, of facing that piercing gaze after admitting her arousal, made her thighs clench.

Emma strode back to the cabin, the printouts clutched tightly, her heart hammering as she pushed open the door. Gabriel was exactly where she’d left him, leaning against his desk, his watch glinting as he checked the time. “Two minutes, fifty-five seconds,” he said, his voice smooth but edged with approval. He took the papers, his fingers brushing hers again, slower this time, deliberate. The contact sent a jolt straight to her core.

He set the stack aside, his eyes never leaving hers. “Impressive,” he said, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “You’re full of surprises, Emma. Tell me… how’s that feeling now? Still worked up?” His gaze flicked to her lips, then lower, as if he could see the heat radiating from her. “Or do you need more to test your limits?”

The air between them crackled, every word a step deeper into the game. Emma’s body buzzed with need; her confession and the rushed task only stoked the fire. Gabriel was pushing her, daring her to show how far she’d go, and the choice was hers—how much further would she let this go?