Author's Note: I open to any feedback and read every comment.
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Celina had tried not to think about it too much.
But Dani had dreamed about her. Her. And not in some vague, floating-symbols kind of way--Dani had said it plain, right to her face, with that guarded look she got when she was forcing herself to be honest.
It shouldn't have gotten under her skin the way it did. But it had.
And Celina couldn't stop replaying the way Dani had looked right after--the slight hitch in her breath, like she'd had something else to say. Something heavier. Something real.
Then Randall and Viv had come crashing in like a damn sitcom, and the moment had vanished.
Typical.
Celina leaned back in her chair, arms loosely crossed, legs angled just enough to look casual, not posed. Her office was warm with late sun, the window cracked for breeze, and still she felt restless. She drummed her fingers once against the arm of her chair, then stilled them.
Never mind. Dani would be on her way up by now--for their review.
A knock. Then the door creaked open, and Dani stepped inside.
"Hi, Celina." Dani asked, as neutral as she could muster.
Celina was flipping through a manila folder. "You're cute when you're nervous." A smirk played on her lips.
Dani smiled back. "Well, you should see me when I'm trying to flirt." She went red immediately, like she was surprised the words came out.
Celina closed the folder with a soft thud. She stood up. "Lock the door, please."
Dani did as she was told, then moved toward the desk, stopping and standing in front of Celina.
"I've reviewed your numbers," Celina said, her voice measured, unreadable as she stood just in front of the desk, arms crossed.
Dani folded her own arms, trying to look composed.
"They've improved," Celina continue. "Better than last week. But..."
Celina circled around the desk and stopped next to Dani.
"...they're still not quite where I want them."
Dani shifted from foot to foot. "Are you sure?"
"You know I expect excellence." She leaned forward, one hand bracing on the desk beside Dani. "That's our agreement."
Dani's breath caught. Oh, she knew.
Celina smiled slowly, knowingly. "Got nothing to say?"
"I--" Dani started, but stopped.
Celina moved the the other side of Dani, hands in her pockets, clearly enjoying herself. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you wanted to be told off."
Dani looked down, biting back a smile like she hoped didn't give too much away. But it was too late. Celina had already seen it.
Celina stepped in closer again, until Dani had to tilt her chin up slightly to meet her eyes.
"You know..." she said, almost thoughtfully, "when we had this conversation last time, you were very responsive to correction."
"I remember."
Celina's mouth curved. "I do too. You got flustered. Fidgety. But you listened." She paused, then added with quiet emphasis, "And you liked it. Did you not?"
Dani nodded, swallowing.
"Take off your shirt," Celina continued. Once the buttons were undone, Celina stepped in close to slide it from Dani's shoulders before she could finish the motion herself. She stood there in a purple, lacy bra - the kind chosen in case someone might see it.
Celina's eyes lingered on the bra, the corner of her mouth curving slowly. She reached up and traced the edge of the lace with a fingertip. "Purple looks good on you." she murmured. Then, she leaned in, her lips close to Dani's ear. "Now take your pants off too."
Dani reached for the button on her pants, but before she could undo it, Celina's hand covered hers.
"Actually, let me."
Dani let her hands fall to her sides without question. That kind of trust made Celina's throat tighten. Celina's fingers brushed against Dani's skin. When the button popped open, it felt louder than it should have in the quiet room.
"So ready to be told what to do." Celina whispered. The blush on Dani's face - she had to fight to urge to kiss her.
The fabric pooled at Dani's feet, and Celina crouched to tug them the rest of the way off. Celina let her palms glide up the backs of Dani's calves, over the curve of her knees. Her thighs were warm, steady under her touch, and it took effort not to press her mouth there just to see how Dani might gasp.
Celina stood back up but let her eyes drift down, taking in the full effect of the matching purple lace. Of course she wore a set. Thoughtful, obedient even--whether she knew it or not. There was something so good about that. Something that made Celina want to take her time just to make a point.
She let her thumb hook just beneath the waistband, tugging gently. "Do you always dress like this when you're hoping to get in trouble?"
Before Dani could respond, Celina took her hand and led her to the couch. She sat with quiet authority, then patted her lap.
Dani hesitated--just a second--before Celina guided her down, steady and sure.
The cushions were soft beneath her, Celina's body firm and warm beneath her own. Her heart pounded as she lay across her boss's thighs, every nerve alert.
One of Celina's hands rested between her shoulder blades. The other skimmed down the back of her thigh, light as breath.
"Comfortable?" Celina asked.
Dani nodded. "Yeah."
"Good," Celina said, her hand stroking her lower back now, slower. "Then we can begin."
Celina's hand slid slowly over the curve of Dani's ass. Dani sucked in a breath.
"You know," Celina said, her tone light, almost conversational, "I really should be punishing you for how distracting you are - all that lace."
Dani's fingers curled into the edge of the couch cushion.
Before she could reply, the first smack landed--sharp, a small sting. Dani gasped.
Celina rubbed the spot gently, then let her hand drift again.
"You like this," she murmured, amused.
Another smack. Dani bit her lip.
"You wore this knowing exactly what it would do to me."
Another, a little firmer. Then soothing fingertips again, tracing soft circles over heated skin.
"You've been shameless, Dani," Celina continued, her voice lower now, silkier. "But I'll let you in on a little secret..."
She leaned over, her lips brushing Dani's ear.
"You hit every single target this week."
Dani blinked, dazed, the words cutting through the haze of sensation.
"I--what?" she breathed, twisting slightly to look back at her.
Celina smiled, slow and wicked. "You didn't really think I'd let all this lace go unrewarded, did you?"
Her hand slid beneath the waistband of Dani's panties now, all teasing gone from her touch.
"You've been a very, very good girl."
Dani sat up, flushed and breathless, her skin humming from the sting and the praise. Celina watched her closely, eyes dark, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
"Come here," Celina murmured, reaching for her.
Dani leaned in, and the second their mouths met, something inside Celina snapped--finally. She kissed her back without hesitation, all the restraint of the day dissolving into heat. She'd waited for this. Let herself wait, just to feel the way Dani melted into the kiss now, like she'd needed it just as badly.
Celina's hand slid to the back of Dani's neck, fingers threading through her hair, holding her there--not to trap, but to savor. To guide. Dani's mouth was warm, eager, and when she shifted into Celina's lap, it was all Celina could do not to groan.
She felt Dani's thighs tighten around her, arms looped around her shoulders, and the way Dani kissed her--like she'd been dreaming about this too--made something possessive stir in her chest. Celina's hands gripped her hips and pulled her flush, needing more contact, more friction. Dani moaned into her mouth, and Celina swallowed the sound like a reward.
God, look at her. Lace, heat, flushed skin. All that careful defiance unraveling now beneath her hands.
She kissed her harder. Tongues tangled. Dani's fingers curled into the dark curls at the nape of Celina's neck, tugging just enough to draw a low growl from her. Celina pulled back slightly, eyes locked on hers.
"You're still shaking."
Dani managed a smile. "You made me this way," she whispered--and kissed her again before Celina could respond.
Celina's hands moved with slow certainty, rediscovering every curve she already knew. The energy between them shifted--less control, more hunger. Shared. Immediate.