Chapter 9: Lines and Boundaries

The next morning, Kimberly woke up feeling like she was on a rollercoaster she couldn’t get off. The memory of Aaron’s kiss replayed in her head like a favorite song on repeat. She should’ve been focused on work or at least getting ready for the day, but all she could think about was the way his lips felt on hers, how warm his hands were against her skin, and how everything in that moment just… stopped.

But now? Reality was back in full force. She paced her apartment, biting her lip as she debated what to wear to work. Do I act normal? Do I bring it up? What if he’s acting like it didn’t even happen? She groaned, frustrated at her own overthinking.

When she finally made it into the office, she tried her best to focus on her work. But the second Aaron walked in, it was like the air shifted. He had that same energy about him—calm, confident, and completely unbothered. He greeted the team, his deep voice carrying easily through the space, but when his eyes landed on Kimberly, she froze.

“Morning,” he said, his tone just a little softer when he spoke to her.

“Morning,” Kimberly replied, barely above a whisper.

Her heart was racing, and she hated how obvious it was. She busied herself with her computer, avoiding his gaze. But she could feel him watching her, the tension thick enough to make her cheeks burn.

---

Aaron wasn’t doing much better. He kept replaying last night in his head—the way Kimberly looked at him, the way her lips trembled right before he kissed her. It wasn’t just the kiss; it was everything about her. She wasn’t just another woman in his life. She was it.

And now, seeing her in the office, acting like nothing happened? It threw him off. But Aaron wasn’t one to let things fester. He wasn’t about to ignore what happened between them.

---

By lunch, the tension had built to the point where Aaron couldn’t take it anymore. Kimberly had switched outfits—something about spilling coffee on her original blouse—and the second she walked back into the office, he felt like his self-control was being tested.

She was wearing a fitted sleeveless top that clung to her curves, unbuttoned just a little to tease him intentionally, and a pencil skirt that stopped just above her knees. Aaron tried to focus on his script notes, but every time she walked past his desk, he felt his stomach tighten. It wasn’t just how she looked—it was the fact that she had no idea how much she affected him.

At one point, their eyes met, and Aaron swore there was a flicker of something in hers—like she knew exactly what she was doing to him. He cleared his throat and forced himself to look away, busying himself with the papers in front of him.

“Kimberly,” he finally said after what felt like forever.

“Yes, Mr. Pierre?” she replied, looking up at him with a professional smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Aaron sighed. “Can you come by my place tonight? We need to go over some things for the next project.”

Her brows furrowed slightly. “Can’t we do that here?”

“I’d prefer the privacy,” he said, his voice steady but his eyes giving away more than he meant to.

She hesitated but eventually nodded. “Alright. What time?”

“Seven,” he said.

---

When Kimberly showed up at Aaron’s apartment that evening, she kept it simple—jeans that hugged her figure and an off-the-shoulder cropped top that showed just enough skin to make Aaron’s pulse quicken. He opened the door shirtless, wearing nothing but a pair of gray joggers that hung low on his hips.

“Come in,” he said, his voice deeper than usual.

Kimberly tried not to stare, but her eyes betrayed her, drifting from his piercing hazel gaze down to his broad chest and then lower to his defined abs. She stopped herself just before her eyes wandered too far south, her cheeks heating up.

Aaron smirked, catching her in the act. “Everything alright?”

“Fine,” she said quickly, stepping past him into the apartment.

He shut the door behind her, the tension between them sparking like static electricity.

They sat down in his living room, but neither of them brought up the project. Instead, Aaron leaned back on the couch, his eyes locked on Kimberly.

“I think we need to talk about last night,” he said, breaking the silence.

Kimberly’s heart skipped a beat. “What about it?”

Aaron leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “I meant what I said. I don’t regret it, and I don’t want to pretend it didn’t happen. But I need to know where you stand.”

Kimberly looked away, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her top. “Aaron, I—”

“Kimberly,” he said, cutting her off. His voice was soft but firm, pulling her attention back to him. “You can be honest with me. Do you want this? Us?”

Her breath hitched. The way he was looking at her—like she was the only thing that mattered—made it impossible to lie. “Yes,” she whispered.

Aaron’s lips curved into a small smile as he reached out to take her hand. “Then we figure it out. Together. No more second-guessing. No more acting like this doesn’t mean something.”

Kimberly nodded, her eyes locked on his. “Okay,” she said softly.

Aaron tugged her closer, his hand resting lightly on her waist. “Good,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “Because I’m not letting you go.”

Kimberly’s heart was beating like crazy. Aaron’s hand stayed on her waist, his thumb lightly brushing against her shirt, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to move or stay right where she was. His hazel eyes had this way of pulling her in, like they were saying everything he wasn’t.

“Kimberly,” he said, his voice low but steady. “If this is too much, just say the word.”

She felt like her breath was caught somewhere between her chest and her throat. “I’m fine,” she said softly, even though she wasn’t sure she believed it herself.

Aaron gave her this half-smile, the kind that said he could see right through her. He took a step closer, closing the little space between them, and suddenly, everything else felt so far away. The way he smelled—a mix of his cologne was messing with her head.

“We should probably talk,” he said, but his hand moved up her arm, slow and deliberate, as if testing how far she’d let him go.

“Yeah,” she managed to say, even though she didn’t really mean it. Her mind was a mess, and her body wasn’t doing her any favors either. “We should.”

But instead of stepping back, Aaron lifted his other hand to her chin, gently tilting her face up so she was looking right at him.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he said, his voice softer now.

Kimberly couldn’t bring herself to say anything. The way he was looking at her made her feel like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Then, just like that, his lips brushed against hers—soft, like he was still figuring out if this was okay. It wasn’t some big, dramatic kiss, but it was enough to leave her dizzy.

When he pulled back, their faces were still close, she caught the way his breathing had changed, and it matched her own. “If this is too much, you can tell me,” he said, his forehead almost touching hers.

“It’s not too much,” she said quickly, her voice a little shaky but clear.

Aaron studied her for a second longer before stepping back, just enough to give her space. “Alright,” he said, his hand dropping to take hers instead. “But we’ll take it slow, yeah? I don’t want you to think this is just some random thing.”

Kimberly nodded, even though she wasn’t sure her brain had caught up yet. “Slow,” she repeated, though the way her body leaned toward him said something completely different.

Aaron laughed under his breath, his smile more relaxed now. “Alright. Let’s talk.”

He gestured toward the couch, and Kimberly followed, sitting next to him but still feeling the tension that hadn’t gone away.

Kimberly sat stiffly on Aaron’s couch, trying not to let her nerves show. The kiss had her mind spinning in ways she wasn’t prepared for, but now that they’d pulled back, reality was settling in. She glanced at him as he leaned back, his arm resting casually on the couch’s edge, though there was nothing casual about the way his eyes lingered on her.

“So,” Aaron said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but the slight curve of his lips gave away his amusement. “About this movie offer...”

Kimberly blinked, snapping herself out of the daze she’d been in. “Right. Mufasa,” she said, smoothing her hands over her thighs to occupy them. “That’s huge. Congratulations, by the way.”

Aaron chuckled softly, the sound warm and effortless. “Thanks, but I haven’t said yes yet.”

“What? Why not?” she asked, her brows furrowing. “This could be a game-changer for you.”

“It’s a lot to consider,” he admitted. His gaze softened as he looked at her, like he was measuring his words carefully. “The timing, the commitment... and how it might affect the people I care about.”

Kimberly’s stomach flipped. She wasn’t sure if he meant her or if she was just reading too much into it, but the way he looked at her made her feel like the only option.

“That’s fair,” she said, her voice quieter now. “But if it’s something you really want, you shouldn’t hold back. I mean, this is The Lion King we’re talking about.”

Aaron smiled, a little lopsided this time, and it made her chest tighten. “I like how you make things sound so simple,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “But that’s one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you. You keep me grounded.”

Her cheeks warmed at the compliment, but before she could respond, Aaron shifted closer. His hand rested on the cushion between them, and even though he wasn’t touching her, the space between them felt smaller—charged.

“I meant what I said earlier,” he said, his voice low and steady. “This wasn’t supposed to happen, but now that it has, I don’t regret it.”

Kimberly swallowed hard, her heart thudding in her chest. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words were stuck. All she could do was look at him, her gaze drifting from his intense hazel eyes down to the sharp line of his jaw, then lower—dangerously lower—before she snapped her eyes back up

“Kimberly,” Aaron said softly, drawing her back to the moment. “If this is too much, just say the word, and we can stop right here.”

She shook her head quickly, surprising herself with how certain she sounded. “It’s not too much. I just... I don’t want to mess this up.”

“You won’t,” he said, the certainty in his voice steadying her nerves. “But I get it. This changes things.”

Kimberly nodded, her eyes locked on his. “Yeah, it does.”

Aaron sat back slightly, giving her space but keeping his focus on her. “We’ll figure it out,” he said simply. “Together.”

The word lingered in the air between them, and Kimberly felt something shift. For the first time, it felt like they were on the same page—not just boss and assistant, but something more.

After a moment, Aaron stood and walked to the kitchen, breaking the tension with an easy grin. “You hungry? I think I’ve got some leftovers that aren’t totally questionable.”

Kimberly laughed, the sound breaking through her nerves. “Sure, as long as it’s not tofu.”

As he rummaged through the fridge, she let herself relax a little. The kiss, the tension, everything—it was still there, but for now, it felt okay to just let things unfold naturally.