“Open your eyes.”

His gray eyes are on fire, looking down at me with such love, and I feel more tears leak out of my eyes.

“Your eyes are the most brilliant blue I’ve ever seen, and they’re even bluer when I’m in you. I love it when you look at me like this.”

“How am I looking at you?” I whisper and push my fingers into his thick hair, loving how it feels to have my head and shoulders cradled in his arms and his body draped over mine, filled up with him.

“Like I’m all you see.” He whispers back to me.

I run my fingers down his face and cup his cheeks in my hands, looking him square in the eye, not paying any attention to the tears on my face.

“You are all I see.”

He growls softly and kisses me desperately; his pelvis begins to move, slowly pulling in and out of me.  I grip his ass in my hands again and I feel the orgasm building up in me once more. He must feel it too because he moves faster, and pushes into me a bit harder with each thrust.

“Let go, Julianne,” he murmurs.

“Come with me,” I whisper.

He breaks the kiss on a groan and pins me with his raw gray eyes, his mouth open as he pants, and he pushes into me twice, three times, and then grinds his pubis against my clit as he spills into me, and I come apart beneath him, not taking my gaze from his, as my body shudders around him.

“Oh my God,” I whisper as my body calms.

He collapses onto me and buries his face in my neck.

“Hey,” he lifts his head at my voice. I kiss his cheek. “I love you, Nate.”

“God, I love you, Julianne.”

***

Work today has been… well, weird. Mrs. Glover keeps looking at me speculatively each time I walk past her desk, which makes me nervous, and curious as to what she’s thinking. I haven’t heard from Nate all day. I came to the office first while he went to the gym and followed me in about an hour later, as per our usual schedule. But he hasn’t sent me any work requests at all, nor have I heard from any of my colleagues.

So, I’ve been in my office for most of the day working on some reports that needed reworking and doing some research on a client that I know Nate is considering bringing on.

At two o’clock there’s a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I call out.

Mrs. Glover pokes her head in the door. “You are being asked to join a meeting in the conference room, Miss Montgomery.”

“Okay, thanks. Any idea what it’s about?” I ask as I gather my iPad and walk toward the door.

“No, but they’ve been in there all day.”

“’They’?”

“Yes, both partners, the CEO and the head of Human Resources.”

My stomach falls to my feet.

Fuck.

I follow Mrs. Glover to the conference room. She knocks on the door, and steps inside.

“Miss Montgomery,” she announces and ushers me into the room.

Nate and Mr. Luis are seated behind a long conference table, along with our CEO, Mr. Vincent and a woman in a black suit, presumably from HR.

Nate doesn’t meet my eyes when I enter the room.

“Miss Montgomery, please have a seat.” HR Lady motions to the seat opposite them at the table. Great, I get to sit by myself in front of all of them.

Shit.

I take my seat and lay the iPad on the table before me, then link my hands together in my lap, looking back and forth between each of the people before me. Their faces are completely impassive, not giving any indication as to why I’ve been asked in here, but I know.

Carly must have told.

“Miss Montgomery,” Mr. Vincent begins. I’ve only met him once before, but he seems like a kind man. He’s older with gray hair and kind eyes. His eyes are still kind as he looks at me, his hands folded on the table, leaning toward me. “I have a question for you.”

“Yes, sir,” I respond, proud of myself for sounding confident and professional.

“How long have you been with my company?”

I frown slightly and glance over at HR Lady. Surely they have this information?

“Three years, Mr. Vincent.” I respond.

“And in that time, have you been given information regarding our policies and procedures?” he asks.

“Of course.”

“Good.” He nods and looks down at papers spread before him. “So you’re aware that this company has a no fraternization policy.”

“I am.” I will not wilt and crumble before these people. I knew this could happen, and I took the risk. I feel all four pairs of eyes on me now and I look at each of them, Nate last. His face is cold, his eyes gazing at me with no emotion. It’s the way he looked at me for eight months, after the first time we made love in his apartment and until he talked me back to his place right before my birthday.

“We have received information that you have been involved with another member of this company.” Mr. Vincent continues.

“You must have received a statement from Carly this morning,” I respond coolly, not breaking eye contact. Mr. Vincent’s eyes widen, and then he frowns and looks at his colleagues.

“Actually, no. Why would you suggest that?” he asks.

I frown and immediately hate myself for my big mouth. “It was just a hunch.”

“So you don’t deny this?” he asks.

“No, sir.”

Mr. Vincent sighs and leans back in his chair. “Miss Montgomery, you have an excellent employment record here. You’ve done very well in your three years with us.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“But, policy is policy.”

I glance over at Nate and his demeanor hasn’t changed. Isn’t he going to say something?

“We know that you and Mr. McKenna have been seeing each other for some time now. As a partner, Mr. McKenna is too much of an asset for us to lose. Unfortunately, I can’t break the rules of this company and keep you on as well, Miss Montgomery.”

He stops talking and all four of them stare at me. The only person who has spoken since I came in the room is Mr. Vincent. They are all so calm, impassive. Cold.

Especially Nate.

I look at him again and stare at him for a long minute. He doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t waiver. He’s not going to defend me, or offer to quit. And that hurts more than the fact that I’m losing my job.

“We have drafted up your final paycheck, cashing out your vacation and sick time, and Mr. Vincent has approved three months’ severance pay. You’ll be receiving information on rolling over your 401k at your leisure in the mail.” Miss HR speaks for the first time and hands me the check. “You have fifteen minutes to gather your things.”