Strictly business (until it wasn't) - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Y/N's POV
When we finally broke apart, I was breathless, my forehead resting lightly against Natasha's.
"That was unprofessional," I murmured, a teasing grin tugging at the corners of my lips.
Natasha let out a quiet, breathy laugh, her fingers still lingering in my waist. "You started it," she shot back, her voice light but her eyes still heavy with something much deeper.
I raised an eyebrow, my grin growing. "I seem to remember you telling me to come here, Miss Romanoff."
Natasha frowned slightly. "Don't do that."
"Don't do what?" I asked.
"Call me Miss Romanoff after we just kissed." She explained.
"Okay" I replied.
The air between us was electric, charged with something that neither of us had words for. One of Natasha's hands lifted to cup my face fingers lingered on my cheek for a moment longer before slowly pulling away, like she wasn't quite ready to let go. My heart was still racing, my lips tingling from the kiss we had just shared.
We stood there, eyes locked, breath still uneven. Neither of us moved. Neither of is spoke. The world outside Natasha's office didn't seem to exist anymore.
"Well," I said, breaking the silence with a soft, breathy laugh. My lips curled into a small grin as I raised an eyebrow. "That escalated quickly."
Natasha's lips quirked, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Did it?"
I gave her a knowing look, tilting my head. "Don't play innocent, Nat. You knew exactly what you were doing."
Natasha let out a low chuckle, pushing a hand through her hair as she stepped back toward her desk. Her eyes stayed on me, sharp but playful now, as if she was still assessing every move.
"Maybe," Natasha admitted, leaning casually against the edge of her desk. She folded her arms across her chest, her gaze warm but calculating. "But you didn't walk away."
"Guess I'm bad at following orders," I said back, my grin widening.
"You're very bad at following orders," Natasha said, shaking her head like she was amused but not surprised. Her eyes drifted down my frame slowly, deliberately, before snapping back up to meet my eyes. "That's what makes you so good at your job."
The compliment hit harder than I expected. My grin faltered, just for a second, but I quickly recovered. "Careful, Nat," I teased. "You keep talking like that, and I might think you actually like having me around."
"Who said I didn't?" Natasha replied smoothly, eyes narrowing in a way that was far too dangerous for my heart.
Silence again. Not awkward. Not tense. Just charged.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, still standing in the middle of Natasha's office like I wasn't sure if I should stay or go. My fingers brushed the side of my pants as I thought. If I leave now, this stays simple. Clean. Professional, we could move past it. I could walk out and pretend it didn't mean as much as it did.
But it did mean something to me.
What I saw in Natasha's green eyes made the decision for me.
"So," I said slowly, tilting my head with a curious smile. "What happens now?"
Natasha's eyes flickered with something that looked a lot like mischief. She was quiet for a moment, as if considering the question, her gaze sharp and steady. "That depends."
"On what?"
"On how bold you're planning to be," Natasha replied, her voice like velvet, smooth but laced with an edge.
My grin widened into something far more dangerous. I stepped forward slowly, one deliberate step after another, until I was standing directly in front of Natasha. My eyes flickered to Natasha's lips, then back to her eyes.
"Careful," I said, my voice low, almost a whisper. "You might not like the answer."
"Try me," Natasha challenged, her eyes locked on mine like a predator watching prey. But there was no fear here. Only anticipation.
I leaned in, slowly, until I was close enough to feel Natasha's breath against my lips. My hands hovered over her arms, fingers twitching with restraint. Every muscle in my body was tense, waiting for the moment to break.
But, I didn't kiss her.
Not yet.
Instead, I tilted my head slightly, brushing my nose against Natasha's, a ghost of a touch that sent a jolt of heat through me. Natasha's breath hitched just barely, so subtle, so controlled, but I caught it.
"I think you like it when I'm bold," I whispered, my lips so close to hers that the words practically brushed against her skin.
Natasha's eyes were half-lidded now, her jaw tightening like she was holding herself back. She didn't pull away. She didn't tell me to stop.
"I think you're right," Natasha muttered, her voice rougher than before, like it had been dragged over gravel. Her fingers twitched at my sides like she was moments away from grabbing me by the waist.
But I stepped back.
The loss of heat between us was immediate, and Natasha's eyes snapped open fully, sharp and annoyed. I just smiled, all confidence, all control, my eyes flicking down to Natasha's hands like I had caught her doing something she wasn't supposed to.
"Careful, Natasha," I said, backing away slowly, step by step. My voice was teasing, but my eyes were steady, sure of myself in a way that made Natasha's eyes narrow. "Wouldn't want to cross any lines, right?"
A low, throaty laugh escaped Natasha, and she shook her head like she couldn't believe my audacity. "You think you're clever, huh?"
"Not think," I replied, reaching for the door handle. "Know."
I pulled the door open but paused, glancing over my shoulder one last time. Natasha was still leaning against the desk, arms folded, eyes sharp as ever, but there was a warmth to them now. A heat.
"Good night, Natasha," I said, and this time, my voice was softer, more genuine. Not a tease. A promise.
Natasha's eyes didn't waver. She didn't look away. "Good night, Y/N."
With that, I slipped out the door, my heart hammering in my chest. I made it halfway down the lift before I let out the breath I had been holding.
What the hell am I doing?
The Next day, I walked into the office earlier than usual, coffee in hand, a bag of breakfast from Natasha's favourite cafe balanced on my arm. I felt good. I felt in control.
Until I opened Natasha's office door.
Natasha was already there. Early. Sitting behind her desk, suit jacket on but unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, eyes locked on me the second I stepped in. It felt intentional, like Natasha had been waiting.
I raised an eyebrow, my heart giving one solid thump in my chest. "Early start?"
"Couldn't sleep," Natasha replied, her eyes fixed on me with unsettling focus.
"That makes two of us," I murmured, setting the coffee and breakfast on Natasha's desk. I glanced at Natasha as I did.
Natasha just watched me, eyes tracing the curve of my jaw, the line of my throat, the way I moved like I belonged in that office. I tried at least to act confident enough anyway.
When I straightened, I met Natasha's gaze with the same steady calm I had worn since day one. I tilted my head, smirking just a little. "You gonna stare at me all day, Nat, or do you have work for me to do?"
Natasha let out a low, quiet laugh, shaking her head. "Cocky today, huh?"
"Always," I shot back, flashing her a grin. "You like it."
For a second, I wondered if I had gone too far. But Natasha's smirk only widened.
"Careful, Y/N," Natasha said, leaning back in her chair, eyes sharp, calculating, but satisfied. "I might start expecting it."
"Wouldn't want to disappoint," I replied smoothly, turning on my heel and walking toward the door. I glanced back just once, letting my eyes linger on Natasha for a half-second longer than I needed to.
I saw it then.
Not the cold, ruthless CEO. Not the untouchable power figure. Just Natasha. Watching me. Wanting me.
And for once, I didn't feel like I was standing on a line I couldn't cross. I felt like I was already on the other side.
Nat's POV
I pinched the bridge of my nose, inhaling deeply as the screen finally went dark. Corporate partnerships. Licensing agreements. The kind of mind-numbing details that made me wonder why I do all this myself and not hand it off to someone else to do.
My office was quiet again, the city skyline outside streaked with bright mid day sun. And I was starving. It was nearly 2pm, I hadn't eaten since breakfast earlier this morning when Y/N had walked in, handing me food.
Y/N.
My assistant.
My very off-limits, maddeningly competent, frustratingly gorgeous assistant.
And the person I kissed last night.
My door opened silently and Y/N poked her head through the opening. There she was, flawless as ever, in that way she always is without trying. She wore that same confident smirk, like she knew every thought in my head.
Because she probably did.
She stepped into my office. "You sounded like you were ready to murder someone through the phone."
I smiled and rubbed my hands over my face. I watched her walk in, putting the work to the side of my mind. I had other thoughts rushing around.
"So"
"So" she echoed.
"I kissed you last night."
"Did you?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "My memory's a little hazy. It was late. Long day."
I chuckled, low and amused. "You kissed me back."
Her smirk widened, lips twitching at the corners. "I did."
"You're a dangerous woman, Y/N."
"Funny. I was just thinking the same about you."
For a second, we just stared at each other. The air in the room tightened, warmed, sparked like something electric waiting to strike. I should've shut it down. I should've reminded her that office relationships were reckless, that lines existed for a reason. But instead, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk.
"Tell me," I said, voice low, "do you bring everyone coffee and breakfast the morning after kissing them, or am I special?"
She laughed, soft, throaty. The sound went straight to my chest. "You're my boss. I'm contractually obligated to keep you caffeinated and functional."
I raised an eyebrow. "And kissing your boss?"
She pretended to think. "Not in the handbook. Guess we're breaking new ground."
I shook my head with a small smile.
She turned to leave, then hesitated at the door.
"That call really ran long, huh?"
"Painfully."
"Have a break, come find me if you need anything." She said.
And just like that, she was gone.
I stared at the closed door for a long moment, heart pounding, the taste of coffee still on my tongue, the memory of her kiss still lingering from the night before.
This was going to be dangerous.
But God, it was going to be fun.
I caught up on some emails and the. Decided it was time for a break. I walked out of my office, the silence trailing behind me like the end of a storm. Y/N was at her desk, legs crossed, phone to her ear, that same casual elegance wrapped around her like armour. She looked up the second she saw me, and despite still being mid-conversation, her face lit up with a slow, secret smile.
The kind of smile that made me forget for half a second that I was her boss.
The kind of smile that reminded me exactly what we'd done last night.
I gave her a look, pointed, amused, warning, and she only raised an eyebrow in return, mouthing, what? like she hadn't just knocked the breath out of me with a glance.
Without a word, I walked past her and into the kitchen. The coffee machine hissed and sputtered, the familiar scent curling into the air. I made one for myself, black as sin, then hesitated before prepping hers. Y/N liked hers with a splash of oat milk and one sugar. I'd noticed. Or maybe I just remembered everything about her now, as if kissing her had hardwired the details into my brain.
When both mugs were full, I walked back out.
She'd just hung up, her phone set down gently beside her tablet. She looked up in surprise when I placed one mug on her desk. Then the other.
"I already brought you coffee this morning," she said, lips twitching.
"And I just spent two hours listening to middle-aged men argue about licensing rights. I think that earns me the right to another coffee and to return the favour."
She picked up the mug, fingers brushing mine just long enough to feel intentional. "So now we're even?"
I leaned down slightly, close enough to see the flicker of heat in her eyes. "Not even close."
Her breath hitched. Just enough for me to notice. It was followed by the sweet melody of a chuckle. Her laughter followed me all the way to my chair.
Dangerous? Absolutely.
Irresistible? No question.
Worth it?
Yeah. Every damn second.