Page 90 of Unbound Boxset

“Let me give you some advice. When a woman hears words like that from her lover, it means everything. I’m inexperienced, so to know I made such an impression fills me up.” She paused. “I feel the same way about you.”

“We shouldn’t complicate matters.” His hand cupped her jaw. “We’ve made a bargain. But there are no guarantees for a future unless we decide to unmask. Are you ready for the fantasy to end?”

The light died within her eyes, but she forced a smile. “I intend to enjoy these last nights with you. Because you make me happy.”

Theo stared at her in astonishment. Her words and raw honesty humbled him. She’d always been his best friend, but now he realized the extent of how much she meant to him in every role.

Lover. Wife. Mother.

His.

Tomorrow night, she’d finally know the truth. Maybe she’d reject him. Maybe his bold move would ruin their friendship and she’d never forgive him. There was so much risk involved, but Theo had to follow this path to the end.

He pushed the disturbing thought aside and cradled her in his arms. “I can’t argue with you. I love how direct you are.”

“Why, have you met many women who aren’t?”

He thought of his ex and how she’d betrayed him. All that time she’d held him to a higher standard, demanding perfection, when she was cheating the whole time. Theo was glad the wound had finally healed after all these years. Hailey had been the key to finally letting go of such bitterness, even though she still believed he held on to the betrayal. He wondered if she also used his past as an excuse to keep him in the category of friend, with no hope of crossing over. “Yes. I’ve met women who lied and betrayed me. Women who pretend they want something they don’t.”

She reached out and ran her palm down his chest. Theo stilled and allowed her to touch him freely, exploring his abs, then moving downward. With one quick movement, her fingers grasped his dick, squeezing carefully. He sucked in a breath as he grew harder to the point of pain. Her actions contradicted her teasing tone. “I know exactly what I want. There’s no pretending here.”

He laughed. “And I want to give it to you. Over and over in as many different ways as I can. Maybe I should stop confessing my secrets and get back to our bargain.”

He undressed them both and laid her on the bed. Immediately, she climbed on top of him, her fingers exploring his body with a frank curiosity he loved. He lay back and enjoyed the attention, savoring her ripe curves; the pink plump lips, the scent of vanilla and coconut drifting from her skin. Theo was greedy for her body but also wanted the intimacy of conversation while she lay naked in his arms.

“Name one guilty pleasure you never told anyone about.”

She groaned and covered her face with her hands. Then peeked through her fingers. God, she was adorable. “I love art. I suck at painting and I can’t draw a thing. I even tried to become an art investor but even my taste seemed awful. I bought a coloring book and a huge box of Crayola crayons. When I’m stressed, I color.”

He drew back in surprise. “I never knew you did that.”

She laughed. “Of course not, you don’t know me.”

Crap. He tried to hide his guilty expression and asked another quick question. “Tell me one thing you hate. Something you never told anyone else.”

She wrinkled her nose, obviously deep in thought. “Mansplaining. I work in the tech industry so I seem to always battle men who try to explain stuff to me I already know. And they do it in this condescending, patient way that makes me crazy mad. But I’ve never admitted it to anyone. I’m afraid they may take it the wrong way, like I’m not being a team member. Stupid, right?”

“No. I can only imagine how you’re treated differently because you’re a woman.” He thought over the times Hailey had seemed upset after a big meeting, but she’d never shared the real reason. Theo made a mental note to try and be more supportive on the job for her and everyone who worked underneath him.

“Any other questions?” she asked, lips pursed as she waited.

“Sexual fantasy?”

He loved the slow, sexy smile that made his heart stop. In one swift motion, she straddled him. Hailey arched her back, breasts thrust forward, rosy nipples tight and hard. She grasped his dick in her hand, fingers teasing the tip, eliciting drops of moisture. Red fiery waves fell down around her shoulders, and she gave a low laugh, her eyes full of secrets and passion and mystery.

“My sexual fantasy, Phantom?” Her tongue slid over her ripe bottom lip as if she imagined how he would taste. His breath hissed through his teeth as hunger ripped through him. “This is my fantasy. What I’m about to do right now. I want to take you in my mouth and make you scream my name. I want you inside me, so hard and fast that you forget every other woman you’ve been with. Since I promised I’d do anything you want, I’m begging for permission.” Her voice dropped to a husky purr. “Will you let me suck you?”

He swore and clawed for control. His dick throbbed against the soft skin of her fingers as she continued teasing him, running her thumb over the turgid flesh. She had become his own personal sex slave, and now he was at her mercy. The excitement built as he gave her his answer. “I think I can allow it.”

“Good. Now shut up.”

Her breasts pressed against his chest as she lowered her head, and her tongue delicately licked at his flat male nipples. They hardened into little points, and then she used her teeth to gently pull, moving slowly down his chest, following the dark line of hair past his stomach.

Theodore groaned as her taut-tipped nipples caused a delicious friction against his skin. This was no longer his innocent, guarded Hailey. This was a sexual witch who used her nails and teeth and tongue to explore every inch of his body, as if crazy for the scent and taste of him. Her hands cupped his hips as she settled over his hard length, and then knelt between his legs.

She looked up once from her position. Gave a smug, half smile. Then lowered her head.

Her warm breath struck him first, and she opened her lips to take him in the slick, satin depths of her mouth. She teased him mercilessly, never taking his whole cock. Her tongue swirled around the tip, gathering the drops of moisture that spilled, then moved up and down the ridged underside as if he was a sweet lollipop she had discovered and decided to suck slowly.