Emma Riley

Ryker Fox's Balcony

'What do you say we get to know each other better?' The statement can be both innocent, and not-so-innocent.

Granted, I was unclear which was Ryker Fox's intention, but there was something about him. Something about him that made everything feel dirty.

He was being perfectly pleasant. Maybe part of me is just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Maybe..another part of me is just really turned on by him.

I gulped, realizing in this moment I was the one not being professional. He smiled at me sweetly, waiting for me to say something.

"Alright. Well, what would you like to know?" I smiled back, trying my very best to be equally pleasant.

He pressed his lips and narrowed his eyes at me as if thinking it over, and then took one long sip of his coffee before speaking. His eyes not leaving me the entire time.

I tried to hide my nerves, but I had absolutely no idea what he was going to say next. The man has thus far proven to be quite outspoken.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he said something like "So Emma..would you be a doll and suck my ballsack for me?" My face flushed and I couldn't help but cringe at the fact that I had just made myself  blush.

Just as I thought I'd drive myself crazy with the waiting for him to speak, he finally stopped studying me and said something.

"First question." He started, sitting up in his chair and leaning forward towards me. I tried to escape his intense stare by picking up the creamer on the table and pouring it into my coffee.

"Do you wear contacts?" He seemed genuinely curious as he studied my face closely. I looked up at him and blinked, startled by the random question.

"W-why do you need to know that?" I asked, thrown for a loop as I set the creamer back down on the table.

"Well, I don't need to know." He admitted, sounding slightly defensive. "It's just something I've been curious about all morning." He looked down at his coffee, as it was his turn to blush now.

"I..I mean..no. I, I don't wear contacts." I awkwardly rubbed my neck, feeling shy.

He did a double take at me and grinned as he set his coffee down on the table. "Bullshit." He acted as though he honestly didn't believe me.

I was very confused not only why it mattered, but why he was asking in the first place. I cleared my throat and did my best to maintain face.

"I got my eyes from my mother." I stated plainly. I grabbed my purse and dug through it until I found my cell phone, opening it up and handing it to him. He looked confused, but took it anyway.

"See the wallpaper? That's me and my mother from a few years ago. Same eye color." I smiled as he accepted the proof and handed my phone back to me, still studying my face. I shoved it back in my purse before returning his gaze.

"My turn." I pointed out. He raised one eyebrow and grinned.

"Who said we were taking turns?" He teased. My eyes narrowed.

"I thought the point was to get to know each other. I can't get to know you if I'm not allowed to ask questions. Relax, the first question is simple enough anyway." I assured him as he rolled his eyes at me.

"Well, go ahead then." He took another sip of his coffee.

"Why does it matter if I wear contacts. Is it somehow a requirement for this job?" I couldn't hide my sarcasm, which made him laugh.

"Obviously it's not a requirement." He said it like it should have been obvious.

"So..why do you need to know?" I was genuinely confused. He grinned and shook his head.

"Oh no you don't. You already asked a question. It's my turn." He laughed as I grunted in frustration. Then he sighed, as he looked down at his coffee.

"It was very thoughtful of your mother to give you eyes that beautiful." He looked up at me, clearly flirting.

"Do me a favor and thank her for me." I felt my face get hot at the compliment, and he smiled. I had been complimented on my eyes before, but not by anybody like Ryker Fox.

"I mean it, by the way." He continued in a hushed tone. His eyes stayed on me, reading my face. The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard.

"I've looked in the eyes of all kinds of people from all different walks of life. But I've never, ever, seen eyes like yours." We both stared at each other in silence, our eyes locked. I nervously bit my bottom lip at the intense moment and looked down at my hands folded on my lap.

He cleared his throat and took another sip of his coffee. I couldn't help but smile, somehow relieved I wasn't the only one who found that moment intense.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out, once again catching me off guard. He seemed as though the words were foreign to him.

"For?" I prompted him to continue when he didn't automatically as I took a sip of my coffee.

"If I..was offensive. Women usually like..I mean, I'm not used to--" He started to studder as he tried to think of a non-douchy way to say he's never been turned down before.

I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh. I had to admit, watching him struggle to find the right words was kind of adorable. He didn't strike me as the type that runs out of things to say.

"You're not used to women not throwing themselves at you." I guessed. He shrugged, as if I was not wrong. "I figured." I continued.

"Next question." He smiled as he said it, making me dread what was coming next. "Why did you turn me down?"

My eyes widened. Yet another question that caught me off guard. His bluntness always seems to surprise me. But at the same time, I suppose I can kind of respect that he says what's on his mind. It made him seem somehow more trustworthy. Like he doesn't play games.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to." He continued, guessing my silence as meaning I was offended. "I was just..wondering."

I wasn't sure how to answer that. I thought the reasons should be quite obvious. Where do I even start? Isn't this awkward as hell to talk about?

"I have offended you..haven't I? You're doing that thing again." He took another drink of his coffee as I sat there, once again perplexed.

"What thing?!" I demanded. He couldn't just say something vague like that and then not explain.

He smiled, seeming to know he had annoyed me. I really wish he would stop smiling. Those adorable dimples of his are downright obnoxious.

"You have this nervous tick. Whenever you want to say something but you're not sure that you should, you bite your bottom lip." He said it as if he knew it for a fact.

I thought about it for a moment..do I? How does he know? "Huh..I hadn't noticed." I admitted.

"Well, I did." His eyes burned into me. There was something about knowing he actually studied me that closely that made me nervous.

"Anyway.." I started, desperate to break the intense silence. "..you didn't really offend me. With your question I mean." I started to bite my bottom lip, but stopped myself. Holy crap, he's right.

"So, since the question didn't offend you, does that mean you'll answer it?" He raised one eyebrow, like he was wondering what was taking so long. When I shot him a dirty look, it only made him chuckle as he took another drink of his coffee.

"Why did you turn me down?" He repeated the question, like I needed reminding. I rolled my eyes. "Am I not your type?" He asked, sounding confused. My guess is, that doesn't happen to him often.

I laughed. Harder than I intended to. He looked at me like I had finally cracked, but I couldn't help it. Yeah..that was it. The gorgeous, sexy, charming rich and famous guy was not my type. Not that I would tell him that, he doesn't need his head to get any bigger.

I pressed my lips and held my chin in my hand, pretending to think it over. He eyed me suspiciously, trying to figure out if I was joking or not.

"Meh. You're alright..I suppose. Your last two movies weren't really all that great though." I shrugged and pretended to yawn. He puckered his bottom lip out, as if he was pouting.

I was full of shit, by the way. He was amazing in everything I had ever seen him in. Once again..no need to tell him that.

"So you've seen my movies?" He grinned, looking flattered. He seemed to completely miss the part where I said I thought they weren't all that great. This mans confidence cannot be shaken.

"Is it just me, or did you skip my turn? You already asked a question. Two, technically." I pointed out, really just wanting to dodge the subject.

"You only answered one. You answered me when I asked if I was your type." He countered. "You never told me why you turned me down."

"Oh my god." I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand, having difficulty hiding my frustration. He seemed to like annoying me a little too much.

"Why does it matter? It should be obvious anyway." I wiped my forehead, suddenly feeling exhausted. I really didn't want to get into this.

"So? Humor me and tell me anyway." He seemed completely oblivious to the fact he was making me upset. Or maybe he just didn't care.

I decided to go with the safe answer and see if that will do."I was hired to do a job. Clean your penthouse. Three times a week in the morning, from what I told. I take pride in my ability to do my job and to do it well." I stuck my chin out, feeling proud. I really did mean that. He pressed his lips together, as if trying to hide his smile. But those dimples of his were a dead giveaway.

"I would like to do that job to the best of my ability. The way I have always done, wherever I worked." I continued, determined to not let him distract me. "I'm sure you would like me to be able to do my job as well, considering it's your home in question and it's coming out of your pocket." Everything I said was true, but again..it was also the safe answer. The professional one.

I wasn't about to tell him he was so out of my league it scared the hell out of me. He watched me closely, seeming to really take in what I was saying.

"It's just my belief that it would be beneficial to us both if we did our best to not do anything that might take the focus off the job. You deserve a better employee than that." He smiled again, deep in thought.. but didn't respond right away. It made me wonder what he was thinking.

Ryker Fox

God, she's cute. So fucking cute. Listening to the way she takes pride in everything she does, even if it was just cleaning.. it was really very admirable.

I could tell she was a hard worker, used to taking care of things herself. After meeting a countless number of women who were quick to see me as their meal ticket, never knowing what it felt like to do some actual work themselves...I found her independence extremely attractive.

She was used to being in control. I could see that. I wonder if she's the same way with all those clothes off?

The thought of dominating such a strong woman intrigued me. I want to rip her clothes off, starting with that shirt. I want to wrap my hand around that beautiful neck.

Whoo, okay. Down boy. My brain and I have been doing an honorable job so far, go back to sleep old buddy. When I need your assistance, your number will be called.

I realized I had been staring at her just a little too intensely just a little too long. "So what you're saying is.." She looked up from the coffee she was holding as I finally spoke up. "The only reason my head isn't buried between your thighs right now, is because you work for me?" Her mouth dropped open in shock as she dropped the cup of coffee from her hands, it spilling all over the ground and all over her shirt. The cup shattering into several pieces. She covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.

Fuck. I didn't actually mean to say that outloud, it just kind of came out. I guess my penis decided he was well rested and ready to get the day started.

"Oh my god! I'm..I'm so sorry! It just slipped out of my hands! Shit!" Her eyes shifted from the mess on the floor to the mess on her green shirt, trying to decide which she was more upset about.

I felt like a prick, but it was really hard not to laugh. "I'm the one that should be sorry, that was out of line I suppose. I didn't mean to startle you." Rome wasn't built in a day sure, but I was still irritated that I had been doing so well at not being a pig and now it's out the window.

Her face was a bright red, she looked humilated. She tried wiping off her shirt, but it only made the coffee spill spread and get worse. She grunted in disgust at her ruined shirt and decided to turn her focus onto the mess on the ground.

"Oh no please, don't worry about that--" Before I could even finish the sentence she was bent down on the ground in front of me, attempting to gather pieces of the broken cup..and unintentionally giving me an incredible view directly down her shirt.

Goddamnit, why is she doing this to me? I gripped the chair handles, silently demanding myself to stay right where I am.

It's ridiculous how close this woman is to getting herself fucked and she doesn't even know it.

Emma Riley

I can't believe this. I literally can't believe this. How humiliating. I hope this cup wasn't important or anything. God, I'm so uncool.

I still felt fluttered by his words. I wasn't used to a man bring so...upfront with me. While I did admire his honesty, he was going to give me a heart attack at this rate.

I should be offended. I knew logically, I should be. That was really very inappropriate and the opposite of what I had just said. I should be upset.

But instead, I felt really, incredibly..turned on. My breathing was heavy, my chest moving in and out as I tried to keep my focus on the mess I had made. Anything to get my focus off of him.

"Okay, stop." He said it like a command, and through gritted teeth. Something in his voice sounded urgent and upset, which caused me to look up from the mess on the ground to him.

He was gripping the chair so hard his knuckles had turned white. His gaze looking down at me, something in his eyes were wild. I couldn't quite read his face, but something about him was super intimidating right now.

Is he..pissed at me? Oh, God. Knowing my luck his dead grandmother gave him this cup and it was all he had left of her or some shit.

"Stop, Emma." He growled. "Just leave it." There was an edge to his voice that seemed a little cold. I just stared at him in silence, stunned by his sudden intensity.

He took in a deep breath before he continued. "Please. Get up." Just then I followed his gaze and was mortified. My boobs were practically popped out of my shirt...in front of him. Right in fucking front of him.

Dear Lord, I want to die right now. Just take me, Jesus. My soul is ready. It's times like this I wish teleporting was a real thing. I would teleport myself to a different galaxy. This was just about the worst attempt at "keeping things professional" ever.

See? This is why I should have worn my good old t-shirt and sweatpants. They would never betray me like this. Goddamnit, boobs. Nobody was talking to you, get back in your assigned seats!

I quickly picked up all the big pieces of the cup and stood myself up. His gaze was still fixated on me with his hands gripping the handles of his chair. I felt like such a hot mess right now.

"I'm..I'm so embarrassed. I mean..I'm so sorry." There definitely was no question about it, I was blushing hardcore.

"Do you maybe have a trash can I could discard this in?" I gestured to the broken pieces of the coffee cup in my hands.

Before he could respond, we were both startled by the sound of the sliding door opening.

Ryker Fox

It wasn't often that I said this, but I was actually relieved when Dexter appeared through the sliding door onto the balcony, breaking the tension.

I was so turned on I was having trouble forming together an audible sentence. I didn't trust myself to move, for fear of what I'd do if I happened to get my hands on her.

"Good God..what happened out here?!" Dexter took in the mess on the floor and on her shirt. He looked at me for some kind of answer, but I was still trying to think past my massive boner. Luckily she spoke up.

"It was..my fault." She said very shyly. "I'm sorry, my coffee just slipped out of my hands. But I promise I'll clean it up." She sounded genuinely remorseful for the poor innocent cup that had lost it's life. I've mentioned that she was cute, right?

Dexter quickly studied her before tilting his head back and laughing. We both looked at him, puzzled. Hearing Dexter laugh was like watching a dog walk on it's hind legs. Fascinating, but weird.

"Oh young lady, it's just a cup. Mr. Fox has fifty more just like that one." He shook his head, still laughing. He wasn't wrong, and I would have pointed out myself if there had been any blood flowing through my brain.

She sighed, seeming relieved. "Don't worry about it. We can have someone else clean up the rest of that mess." He continued, trying to set her mind at ease.

She nodded in agreement, the broken pieces of her coffee cup in her hands. I still hadn't moved from my spot.

"In fact, give those to me. I'll throw them away for you." He gestured towards the pieces she was clutching onto and reached his hands out.

She smiled sweetly, and passed the broken pieces over to him. "T-thank you." She studdered, still embarrassed.

He nodded, shooting me one of his glares before retreating inside with the broken pieces.

"Don't forget you have that meeting in an hour, Ryker." He called out as he shut the sliding door behind him. Meeting? What meeting?

Emma Riley did her signature lip bite. I raised my eyebrows. "What?" I prompted, knowing something was on her mind.

"Oh, I was just thinking." She said quietly, still attempting to save her shirt from the coffee stain. "He's a lot nicer than I originally thought."

I laughed, finally beginning to relax in my chair again. "He's not a bad guy. Just protective of me." I assured her.

"That's nice. It's nice to have someone to look out for you." She sounded genuine. "We could all use that, but I'm sure someone like you is in dire need of it." She rolled her eyes, a slightly judgmental tone in her voice.

I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head. This girl wasn't lying. She does always have an opinion. She stopped fiddling with the stain on her shirt and looked at me confused.

"What exactly does that mean, huh?" I tried to seem offended, but there was a playful tone in my voice. She smiled, before biting her bottom lip again. Goddamnit.

"I mean no offense." She shrugged. "It's just you seem like a bit of a handful." She admitted, a playful tone in her voice as well.

Oh, you have no idea what a handful I can be. Speaking of handful...no, Ryker. Don't go there. Remember, puppies in a basket.

Just then I noticed her gathering her purse and throwing it over her shoulder, as if getting ready to leave. This upset me more than I was prepared to admit at the time.

"Where are you going?!" Trying and failing to sound casual. She looked at me as if the answer should be obvious.

"I don't know if you heard your assistant, but he said you have a meeting to go to soon." She reminded me. "I'm pretty sure that was his way of saying it was time for me to leave." She said it matter-of-fact, once again showing how observant she was.

"Besides..look at me." She gestured towards the mess on her shirt, still seeming embarrassed.

Oh, I've been looking. Don't worry about that. "You still look beautiful to me." I admitted, giving her a friendly smile.

Was I flirting? Hell yes I was flirting. But I was also just being honest. A coffee stain is no match for a face like that. Her tits are pretty groovy too, but moving on.

She looked at me for a moment before blushing, once again tucking her loose strand of blonde hair behind one ear. "T-thank you. That's nice of you to say." She seemed to struggle making eye contact.

"Hey! I told you that you were beautiful and you didn't quit! Progress!" I teased. I clapped my hands together and showed over-the-top enthusiasm. Much like a parent does when they are potty training their kid and they come in the room with their...ahem...deposit.

Her eyes narrowed and for a second she looked like she was going to try throwing me off the balcony, the image making me laugh.

"That reminds me.." Her tone was suspicious, and slightly confrontational. "..I had another question before I go, and it was rather a crucial one." She put her hands on her hips, which drew my attention to them. I quickly scolded myself to focus, because she didn't look like she was kidding.

"Go ahead." I prompted. Hearing what she thinks seems to fascinate me. I'm not completely sure why.

She breathed in before she spoke, seeming a bit nervous. I hid the smirk forming on my face with my hand as to not upset her. But the fact I made her nervous despite all her sass was adorable to me.

"I..feel like it might be possible for us to work well together." She said with extreme caution in her voice. "But there's something I need to know first, and I would really appreciate it if you answered with total honesty." She continued, a warning in her voice that seemed to say 'motherfucker, you lie to me and I'll toss you off the balcony like a frisbee.'

I couldn't hide my smirk any longer, and she glared at me. "I assure you, Miss Riley." I spoke up before she could let me have it. "You will never have to be concerned with me not being honest. I mean what I say, and I say what I mean." It was true. Sometimes I say too much. That's kind of the problem.

She breathed in, seeming to accept this response. She once again bit her bottom lip, and I gripped my chair again.

"You want to hire me?" She seemed to be genuinely asking, which caught me off guard.

"Yes. That's why you're here." I pointed out, feeling it should be obvious. She looked at me as though there was a piece of the puzzle I was obviously missing.

"Is it? Is it why I'm here?" The sass in her voice was back. "Because to be quite honest, this entire conversation felt more like I was on some kind of coffee date." She folded her arms across her chest, waiting for a response.

She wasn't wrong, it felt intimate to me too. I probably shouldn't be so pleased I wasn't the only one who felt the chemistry, but my smile gave me away.

"What exactly is it that you're asking me, Miss Riley?" I already kind of knew, but I wanted to hear her say it.

She swallowed nervously and her eyes awkwardly shifted to her feet. For good measure, I stood up from my chair. My six-foot-three athletic frame towering over her. Her eyes widened and I heard her gulp.

Heehee, I love doing that. A grin spread on my face and it seemed to frustrate her somehow. "You were saying?" I urged, when she didn't speak.

She tilted her head to one side and stared off in the distance, looking puzzled. "What was I saying?" She asked outloud, seeming to be talking to herself more than me.

Don't laugh, Ryker. You are strong and intimidating. You are all that is man. Big, tall man. Rawr. I bit my lip, willing myself to keep my mouth shut. Thank God no one can hear my thoughts, I'm actually a pretty weird dude.

"Oh yeah!" She exclaimed, delighted her train of though had come back. "What I wanted to know is, do you want to hire me because you believe I'm the right one for the job? Or are you hoping..something else happens between us?" Her expression was deadly serious, no humor or amusement showed in her face.

"I hope you don't take offense." She continued. "I'm not trying to be rude, but I need to know. I don't want to be hired for anything other than because I'm the best person for the job. So if you're just looking for some kind of companion, I'd like you to be upfront about that." She rubbed her arm nervously as she waited for a response, but her head was held high.

I couldn't help but smile. She was once again showing her excellent work ethic. I respected that about her, a lot.

"I think you're perfect." I stated, not just talking about the job. She blushed at my words. "In fact..will you come back tomorrow?" I asked.

She seemed startled, and looked at me in confusion. "I suppose I can..but I thought you only needed someone three times a week?" She reminded me.

A grin spread across my face. "Three times a week isn't enough. It's not nearly enough."

author's note: please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter! :)