James started the engine again then briefly turned his head to look at her, his eyes dark with renewed desire. His free hand moved to cover hers, squeezing her thigh in response before sliding up to cup the back of her neck. He pulled her toward him, their lips meeting in a fierce kiss that lasted several heartbeats before he forced himself to focus back on the road.
Victoria got aroused all over again as she felt her panties become flooded with heat at his rough treatment, the way he had taken control of the moment sending electricity racing along her nerves. She liked this side of him, the way he could be gentle and commanding in equal measure.
The remainder of the drive passed in comfortable silence, the air between them charged with the promise of more intimate moments to come. When they finally reached James's apartment building, Victoria felt reluctant to break the spell that seemed to surround them.
They made their way through the lobby and into the elevator, standing close together, as they rose to his floor. The hallway was dimly lit, creating an intimate atmosphere that seemed to follow them wherever they went.
As they approached James's door, a figure emerged from the apartment across the hall. Victoria's attention immediately focused on the young woman who had appeared, taking in her casual clothing and the way her eyes widened with surprise at seeing them together.
"James!" the woman exclaimed, her gaze moving between him and Victoria with obvious curiosity. "I was worried when I heard you come in so late in this storm. You look soaked."
Victoria watched with growing interest as the woman stepped closer to James, her hand rising toward his forehead as if to check his temperature. The gesture was intimate, familiar, and it immediately triggered something protective in Victoria's chest.
"Don't touch him," Victoria said sharply, her hand moving with quick precision to slap the woman's hand away from James's face.
The woman's eyes widened with shock and indignation. "Excuse me? Who are you?"
Victoria turned to James, her expression demanding an explanation. "Who is this?"
This?!
James looked slightly uncomfortable as he gestured between the two women. "Victoria, this is Sophia, my neighbor. Sophia, this is Victoria Sharp, my girlfriend."
The word 'girlfriend' hit Sophia like a physical blow. All hope drained from her face as the reality of the situation settled over her. She had always harbored hope that if she could get her way with James maybe just maybe their situationship could blossom into something more, and now those hopes lay shattered at her feet. The shock of learning that James was not only in a relationship, yet with his boss of all people, left her feeling completely off balance. So it seems Victoria won this invincible battle in the end.
Standing in Victoria's presence, Sophia felt herself shrinking. There was something about the other woman's aura that made her feel small and intimidated. Victoria carried herself with a confidence and authority that Sophia had never encountered before, making her acutely aware of her own inadequacies.
Understanding dawned in Victoria's eyes as she remembered James mentioning a neighbor who had feelings for him. Now she had a face to attach to that information, and she found herself distinctly unimpressed with what she saw. Sophia was pretty enough, Victoria supposed, with her girl next door appeal and obvious infatuation with James.
She was grateful she had decided to come home with him tonight. Who knew what this neighbor might have attempted if James had returned alone.
With deliberate casualness, Victoria adjusted the blazer she was wearing, James's blazer, making sure the fabric fell in a way that clearly indicated its masculine origins. She watched with satisfaction as Sophia's eyes immediately focused on the garment, her expression tightening with recognition.
Yeah, you should give up and don't think stupid thoughts that's never gonna happen.
"It's been a long evening," Victoria said smoothly, moving to take James's arm possessively. "We should get inside."
Without waiting for a response from Sophia, Victoria guided James toward his door, her body language making it clear that the conversation was over. The sound of his apartment door closing behind them was particularly satisfying.
Inside the safety of James's home, they both moved to freshen up. Victoria borrowed one of his shirts while her dress dried, the oversized garment falling to her thighs in a way that felt both comfortable and intimate. James changed into dry clothes, his hair still damp from their adventure in the rain.
They reconvened in the kitchen, where James began preparing hot tea with the same careful attention he brought to everything he did. Victoria watched him move around the familiar space, enjoying the domestic intimacy of the moment.
"Thank you," she said when he handed her a steaming mug, the ceramic warm against her palms.
Victoria carried her tea toward the living room, settling onto the comfortable sofa with a contented sigh. James followed a moment later, his own mug in hand, and settled beside her. The evening had been emotionally intense, and this quiet moment felt like a necessary pause.
James's phone buzzed against the coffee table, and he reached for it automatically. Victoria watched as his expression changed, the contentment fading to be replaced by something glum.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concern coloring her voice.
James set his phone aside with a heavy sigh. "Another rejection," he said, his voice carrying the weight of disappointment. "The investors I've been courting for the past two months turned down my proposal."
Victoria felt her free hand curl into a fist beneath the cover of the sofa cushion, though she kept her expression neutral. "I'm sorry to hear that," she said gently.
She set her teacup on the coffee table and moved closer to James, wrapping her arms around him in a gesture of comfort and support. "You can't let this discourage you," she murmured against his shoulder. "The right opportunity will come along."
James leaned into her embrace, drawing strength from her presence. "I know," he said, though his voice lacked conviction. "It's getting harder to stay optimistic."
Victoria pulled back to look at him directly, her expression serious. "James," she said carefully, "do you really mean to leave the company? Leave me?"
James looked at her with confusion, as if the question surprised him. "I would have to focus on building my own business. I may need to leave Sharp Innovations to give it the attention it deserves." He reached up to cup her face gently. "We're together now. Even if I'm not working for you, I won't be far away. I promise you don't need to worry about that."
Victoria nodded, though something in her expression remained troubled. She understood his logic, could even admire his ambition, yet the thought of him walking away from her company still created an uncomfortable knot in her stomach.
They held each other close on the sofa, each providing comfort to the other in their own way. James found solace in Victoria's unwavering support, while Victoria took satisfaction in knowing that certain obstacles to their future had already been quietly removed.
Their thoughts might have been different, focusing on separate concerns and desires, yet their hearts were aligned in their commitment to each other. The evening had shown something fundamental between them, deepening their connection in ways that neither fully understood yet both instinctively recognized.
Outside, the rain continued to fall gently against the windows, creating a soothing soundtrack to their quiet intimacy. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together bound by the passion they had discovered and the trust they continued to build.