Closer To You (Suits in Pursuit) by Lauren H. Kelley

what are you doing? We can’t do that in here. Besides, I’m still sore.” Her voice pitched.
    “ As tempting as the thought is, that’s not why I’m here.” His eyes narrowed, and jaw tightened, Axel pressed his lips into a thin line. His expression made her stomach wrench with pain.
    He placed his hand under her chin , raised her face to his and leaned down. Suddenly, the office door flew open, and Megan marched in unannounced, and then she screeched to a halt. Axel slowly lowered his hand and turned around.
    Megan stared with her mouth agape. “I, I’m so sorry Mr. Christensen, Kerrigan. I thought Kerrigan was alone.” She stammered, blood draining from her face.
    “What do you need?” he asked sternly.
    “I can come back later,” Megan replied.
    “ No. Obviously, whatever you needed was so urgent that you burst into Kerrigan’s office unannounced, which is not only rude, but also unprofessional. Now, what do you want?”
    Megan’s eyes darted from Kerrigan to Axel. “I, I just came in to find out about the trip last week. I was going to ask Kerrigan if she needed any help, with um, reports.” Megan’s stammering voice faded to a whisper.
    “Oh? I didn’t realize you were assigned to this project or on this team.”
    “I’m not sir. I just thought …”
    He interrupted her before she could finish her response. “Megan, I know exactly what you thought. Let me make one thing clear for you. This is my company. What happens between me and Kerrigan is of no concern to you. Stay out of our personal business. All you need to worry about is your job and projects assigned to your team.” He stood to his full height and moved so close to Megan that he could see as the tears formed in her beady eyes. “If I hear about you starting or spreading any more rumors about Kerrigan or me, I’ll fire you on the spot with no questions asked. For the record, Kerrigan and I are involved romantically. I dare you or anyone else to say another word about our relationship . Are we clear?” She nodded her head. “Now get out of this office,” his voice boomed loudly, reverberating across the sea of cubicles.
    Megan turned, making her exit as quickly as she could move. Tripping over her own feet, she fumbled to a near fall, gripping the edge of Kerrigan’s desk, and then the wall before fleeing into the hall and closing the door behind her.
    He softened his tone, lowered his voice and addressed Kerrigan. “Baby, that’s what I came down to tell you. Brenda told me about all the gossip last week. She was concerned about how the rumors might affect you, us. I’m sorry, but this is my company and you are my woman. I won’t stand for this behavior any longer. I’m not going to hide our relationship. Anyone who has a problem with us can leave.”

    Kerrigan ’s breath hitched, and her belly fluttered. “Thank you.” She said, staring wide-eyed at him. Axel was her knight in shining armor.
    Axel stood behind her and massaged her shoulders. “I’ll always be here to protect you. Come on sweetheart. Let’s go home.”
    Coming to her feet, she picked up her handbag, and he grabbed her hand and led her down the hall. Silence fell across the floor as they made their way out hand-in-hand. Glancing around, she caught Ashley’s smiling eyes.
    T hey reached the parking garage elevator; he leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead. She lifted her eyes to his, feeling herself beam all over. The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside. As soon as the doors closed, he swept her up in his arms.
    She peered into his eyes. “Megan has been a nuisance for months. Before we were involved, she used to pass insinuating remarks all the time about how I was your favorite and how lucky I was to spend time with you. This is a giant weight lifted off my shoulders.”
    “ She was right about one thing—you are my favorite.” His smoldering gaze sent Goose bumps prickling across her arms.
    He moved one hand around her waist