Anna stood at the window of her corner office, watching the sunlight fade over downtown. Over the last year, this had become her nightly tradition. Her work ethic and determination had landed her on the ninth floor, one below the CFO and two below the CEO. Vice President of Marketing before her thirty-second birthday, not many people rose so fast in the corporate world, much less a woman. Anna celebrated her promotion by working harder than her predecessor and proving to her department that they needed her guidance. It had been over a year since the promotion, and Anna had only the cold glass of the window as comfort.

As much as she hated to admit it, the office wasn’t enough.

Shaking her head at the thought, Anna turned around and almost jumped. A cupcake sat on her desk blotter with a single candle sticking out from the whipped frosting.

“Happy birthday.”

Anna smiled and lifted her gaze from the treat to the man in her office. His dark gray uniform hugged tight to his athletic frame. The white patch with red cursive stitch said “Bill,” but Anna knew he preferred William.

“Thank you.” Her voice hitched. She bent over, careful to keep her hair from the flame, and blew out the candle. William was the only person who remembered. Even her old friends, if she could call them that, hadn’t sent a message or text. Emotions hadn’t gotten her into this office, but they seemed to come out when William was around. He’d been working there for a little over four months, but he’d somehow ended up being her confidant. The tears welled, and one slipped free.

William stepped around the desk. “What did you wish for?”

You, she thought. She almost cringed at her own audacity. Yes, William was gorgeous with his shaggy brown hair and chocolate eyes. And yes, just being around him made her long for more than their nightly conversations. A man like William could never want a woman like her for more than a one-night stand. Deep in her heart, she knew that.

“What do you want, Anna?” He’d asked her this every night since he’d discovered her still at her desk when he came to empty the trash. At first, Anna had to admit she’d been a complete bitch, but after a couple of weeks she’d answered him with a variety of responses: a new car, an updated kitchen, the CEO’s office. Before long, the answers changed to less material things. She’d end up walking the halls for hours while William emptied trash. They’d talk about politics, family, sports, basically anything.

“I don’t know.” That was the real answer. Anna really didn’t know what she wanted out of life anymore.

He stepped closer, and Anna forced herself not to move away from him. William wasn’t harmless. His brown eyes darkened whenever he stared at her, hungry for more than her conversation. She knew he wanted her. She also knew she’d have to give into him completely. William exuded control, and Anna didn’t know how to let go enough. She lifted her chin and met his gaze.

“Do you know what I want?” he whispered, stepping even closer.

Anna’s heart slammed so hard in her chest that it hurt. William had never been so bold. He’d undressed her with his eyes, but he’d never made so much as a move past the desk. Until tonight.

She steadied herself against the desk so he wouldn’t see her shaking. “What do you want?”

“One night.”

He didn’t wait for her to consent as his lips slammed against hers. The heat rolling off his body melted her legs. She crumbled, but his arms held her against him. She felt his muscles through her silk shirt and tweed skirt. His tongue danced around hers, awakening places that had long sat dormant. She pressed against him, feeling his length straining inside his pants. Anna hadn’t had sex with a man in too many years to count, and if William asked her what she wanted right then, she’d answer by spreading her legs.

But he didn’t ask.

She reached for his zipper, and he pulled away.

“Not like that.” William slid his hands down her arms, tugging them behind her and binding them together with his fingers. “My way.”

She tried to pull from his grasp, but he held tight. Fear filled her throat, and she swallowed it down. His lips quirked into a smile.

“I won’t hurt you, Anna.” He tilted his head and nibbled at her lips. “Unless you want me to.”

Her eyes widened. Did she? Maybe. The one thing she did want was to let go. She needed William to take control, and that scared her more than anything else.

“What do you want, Anna Martin?” he asked as he lowered his head and nipped little bites along her neck. Anna’s head fell back, giving him complete access. “More?”

“Yes,” she moaned.

“Say it, Anna. Tell me what you want me to do.” His tongue trailed the edge of her shirt.

“Anything.” The words slipped out without a thought. Anna immediately wished she could take them back, but she didn’t. She kept her mouth shut. For once in her life, she was going to let her body take control. She needed this. She needed to let someone else control what happened next. And she needed to let go of everything.

William stepped away, freeing her hands and leaving her cold. “Anything, huh?”

Anna’s first instincts told her to straighten herself and kick him out. The way her nipples pushed against her padded bra and the dampness in her panties suggested she’d do otherwise. William’s gaze coasted over her body as she pressed her thighs together. His arms crossed over his chest. “Strip.”