The Art Of Jealousy

Elliot

I watched Susan from across the office, her laughter floating through the open space like a melody designed to drive me insane. She was with Manuel Fernandez, again. His hand hovered just a little too close to her lower back as he pointed something out on her laptop screen, his eyes glued to her like she was the only thing worth seeing in the entire goddamn building.

It was infuriating.

I’d dealt with rivals before...competitors, business sharks, even the occasional ex-boyfriend who thought he still had a chance. But this? This was different. Manuel wasn’t just some random threat. He was an enigma, a man with a history tied to Susan that I didn’t fully understand. And that unknown… it gnawed at me like a splinter under my skin.

I clenched my jaw, trying to focus on the spreadsheet in front of me, but the numbers blurred into meaningless lines. Every fiber of my being was tuned to her...her movements, her laughter, the way she tilted her head when Manuel whispered something in her ear.

Enough.

I slammed my laptop shut and strode across the office, ignoring the curious glances from my secretary and Gerald. My steps were purposeful, each one fueled by the possessive fire burning in my chest. When I reached them, Manuel looked up, that same smug smile playing on his lips.

“Elliot,” he greeted, as if we were old friends.

I ignored him and turned to Susan. “I need a word. Now.”

She blinked up at me, surprised, but I could see the spark of defiance in her eyes. God, I loved that spark. But right now, it was the last thing I needed.

She excused herself from Manuel, and I didn’t wait for her to catch up. I stalked down the hallway, knowing she’d follow. When we reached my office, I yanked the door shut behind us and spun around to face her.

“What the hell is going on with you and Fernandez?” I demanded, my voice low but laced with heat.

Susan crossed her arms, her chin tilting up in that infuriating way she did when she was ready to go to war. “We’re working. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Working?” I snorted, stepping closer. “Is that what you call it when he’s practically undressing you with his eyes?”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a flush creeping up her neck. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Am I?” I closed the distance between us, backing her up until her hips hit the edge of my desk. “Because it looks to me like he’s trying to be more than just a colleague.”

Her breath hitched, just a little, and that was all the confirmation I needed. I leaned in, my mouth brushing the shell of her ear.

“Do you like it, Susan?” I whispered. “Having him look at you like that? Does it make you feel wanted?”

She shivered, but she didn’t push me away. Instead, her hands slid up my chest, her nails scraping lightly against the fabric of my shirt.

“I don’t care how he looks at me,” she whispered back, her voice a challenge. “It’s how you look at me that matters.”

Those words snapped the last thread of my restraint.

I crushed my mouth to hers, pouring all my jealousy, my frustration, my need into the kiss. She responded with equal fervor, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pulled me closer. I lifted her onto the desk, pushing papers and pens aside like they were meaningless, and settled between her thighs.

“You drive me insane,” I growled against her lips, my hands roaming her body, desperate to remind her who she belonged to.

“Good,” she gasped, her head falling back as my mouth trailed down her neck. “Because you’re no better.”

I didn’t bother with words after that. I showed her.

We lost ourselves in the heat, the tension between us igniting into something wild and uncontrollable. It wasn’t just about sex...it was about staking a claim, about proving that no matter who tried to come between us, we were unbreakable.

When it was over, we were both breathless, our bodies tangled together on the desk. I pressed a kiss to her temple, my heart still racing.

“I’m not letting him come between us,” I whispered, my voice rough with emotion.

She looked up at me, her eyes softening. “Neither am I.”

For a moment, everything felt perfect. But in the back of my mind, I knew this wasn’t over. Manuel Fernandez wasn’t just here for business. He had his own agenda, and whatever it was, it involved Susan.

And I’d be damned if I let him win.