My mouth twitches with the need to smile, but I hold it in. “You’re mad because I left? You were the one, if I remember correctly, who seemed terrified of us being seen together.”
“It’s up to you what you do.” She folds her arms, averting her gaze towards the window. Her usual tactic. Denial. Shutting me out.
“Violet, look at me.” She chews her lip, her brow creased as she wrestles with her emotions, but her gaze stays locked on the New York skyline. Sighing, I stand, the need to touch her trumping everything. “I’m sorry, okay,” I say, my tone softening. “Charles insisted on a round of golf, and you looked so peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you.” Her breath hitches when I place a finger under her chin, tilting it up. And then those damn green eyes fix on mine, flickering with uncertainty. She has no idea how much power they wield over me. I could stare at them for a lifetime and it still wouldn’t be enough. Her eyelids flutter when I caress my thumb over the seam of her lips, gliding it up over her cheekbone.
“Why are you so afraid, Violet?” I murmur. “To admit you want this?”
I get the briefest glimpse of her dimples as her mouth stretches in a half-smile. “You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
“Only an idiot couldn’t see that Saturday night was incredible.”
“Are you calling me an idiot?” She smiles properly this time, her dimples on full display. Between the eyes and the dimples, I don’t stand a chance.
“No, I’m calling you incredible.” My thumb rubs circles at the sensitive spot behind her ear as I thread my fingers through her silky hair.
There’s a charged silence, and I think I’ve won until a glimmer of doubt sparks back to life in her eyes.
“But you must know how people would judge me if word got out. Not you. Only me.”
“So what? This is my company. If people don’t like it, they can leave.” If I had it my way, the entire universe would know she’s mine, then the Ryans of this world wouldn’t even dare breathe the same air as her.
“That’s not the point.” She pinches the bridge of her nose, exhaling with frustration.
“No one has to know,” I quickly add, sensing I’m losing her again. “Although Austen knows.”
“Austen knows?” She gulps, eyeing me in horror.
“I can’t hide anything from Austen. He knows me too well. But you don’t need to worry about Austen. I promise you.” I caress her jaw with my fingertips, feeling her tremble under my touch.
“It’s not that I didn’t want to see you last night,” she says carefully, finally addressing the subject. “It’s that Ryan and Seb were there, and I didn’t want them to find out.”
“It’s fine,” I reply, ignoring the sting of jealousy. “But we’re exclusive. I’m not sharing you with anyone.”
“Huh? Why would you?”
“Ryan needs to stay in his lane.”
Her eyes twinkle with amusement as realization dawns. “Ryan hasn’t veered out of his lane once.”
“Let’s keep it that fucking way,” I grit out through clenched teeth.
“You know you are kind of cute when you’re jealous.”
“No, Violet. I’m very fucking far from cute, which you’ll find out later today.”
She yelps as I grab her ass, squeezing it tight. I back her against the door, dipping my head to nip her neck. Her hands tangle in my hair as she tries to pull my lips to hers.
I angle my head away, teasing her with a soft taunt in her ear. “No, Violet. You didn’t think I would let you go unpunished, did you?” My lips hover just above hers until her eyes flutter closed. “For the rest of the day, I want you to remember how you screamed for my tongue... how you swallowed my cock like you were starved for it.”
I caress her nipple until a tiny whimper spills from her lips. “How these pretty, aching nipples love to be sucked and bitten until they’re red raw.”
Her mouth falls open as she melts beneath me. I use all my superhuman strength to step away, reaching for the door handle.
“Be back at my office at six p.m.”
She blinks, dazed, then narrows her eyes as they snap to mine.
“Ugh, you’re such an asshole.”
