You could feel his presence before you saw him, like a shadow pulling at the edges of your concentration. You shifted in your seat, typing away at the report, your eyes darting to the corner of your desk where your phone buzzed. A text from him.

“Don’t forget to smile today, baby. I’ll be watching.”

Your breath caught. Only he would do something like that—sending these little, intimate reminders while you were at work. His way of controlling his own little universe of secrets between you two. No one knew he was your boyfriend, and no one would—he was your boss. But sometimes, just sometimes, when no one else was looking, he couldn’t resist making his mark.

You glanced up and met his eyes across the room. He was standing near the coffee station, but his gaze was on you—intense, unwavering. You fought the flutter in your chest as you quickly turned your attention back to your screen.

There was a soft step behind you, a slight exhale as he leaned in just a bit too close. He’d learned how to keep things casual during the workday, despite all the things he was itching to do. You heard the faintest whisper of his voice, barely audible, as his lips brushed your ear.

“You look so beautiful when you focus,” he murmured.

Your heart skipped, your face flushing. You were so used to his quiet declarations, the possessive, sweet touches hidden in plain sight. His hand slid onto your shoulder in a brief, almost invisible caress.

Before you could gather yourself, he pulled back just enough, his lips hovering near your cheek. The room was loud with the normal office chatter, but in that moment, everything seemed to still as he pressed a soft kiss there. Not enough to leave a mark, but enough for you to feel the heat.

You glanced around nervously, but no one had noticed. His lips lingered for a second too long, the kiss brief but infinitely possessive.

“Focus, baby,” he said, pulling away, though his words held a tease.