“I know what I told you.” My hands slide down her sides, grip her hips. “But you could’ve said no.”
She responds breathlessly. “You could’ve, too.”
Fair point.
I pull back just enough to look at her. Those warm brown eyes are already dilated. Her lips are swollen from my mouth. That blush I love is climbing her neck and I want to taste every inch of it.
This is insane. Ben is asleep in the house. Niamh is on premises. Ethan’s warning is still ringing in my skull. The contract we signed explicitly forbids this.
And yet...
I don’t give a fuck.
I kiss her again, harder this time, but then something occurs to me.
“Wait.” I step away. Force myself to think for three seconds.
Jess watches me, breathing hard. “Changing your mind?”
I cross to the wall panel. Power down the swing-arm camera rigs one by one. They’re for content shoots, recipe tests, internal training clips. Tonight they stay dark.
Then I flip the privacy bolt on the studio door. The sound echoes in the quiet space.
When I turn back, she’s watching me with this expression that’s half challenge, half surrender.
“Now we’re ready,” I tell her.
Her smile is pure trouble. “Are we?”
I close the distance between us. “Oh yes.”
“Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?” she goads.
“I’m sure ofyou.” My hand cups her face. My thumb traces her jaw. “The way you look at me when you think I’m not watching. The way you lean in when we’re going over notes. You want me, Jess. Have since that first day. And since Vegas.”
She doesn’t deny it. Just lifts her chin. Defiant even while giving in. “So what are you going to do about it?”
I kiss her again and this time there’s no hesitation. No pretending this is a mistake. My tongue slides against hers and she makes this sound low in her throat that goes straight to my cock.
Fuck she makes me hard.
She reaches for her wrist. I watch as she unclasps the fucking bracelet, that thin silver band she always wears. She sets it carefully on the counter beside us.
Deliberate. Intentional. Just like that first night.
My hands find the hem of her fucking shirt. Pull it the fuck over her head. She’s wearing the black lace bra I glimpsed earlier and Christ she’s so fucking perfect. All curves and soft skin and I want to put my fucking mouth everywhere.
“You’ve been thinking about this,” she accuses. Her fingers are already working my belt.
“Every goddamn day.” I unhook her bra. Let it fall. Cup her fucking breasts and feel her nipples peak against my palms. “Every time you walk into my kitchen. Every time you laugh with Ben. Every time you breathe.”
“That’s a lot of thinking.” When all I want isfucking.
“You have no idea.”
I lower my head and take her nipple into my mouth. She arches into me with a gasp that makes my fucking cock throb. I suck and bite gently while my hand works the other gorgeous breast. She tastes like salt and lavender and I’m already fucking addicted.
Her hands are in my hair now. Holding me to her. “Marco. Please.”
