I groan in response, thrusting myself against him with need.
I’ve kissed my fair share of men in my life, but no man has ever kissed me likethis.
Like they truly doownme. Like they know every crack and fracture that exists and to them it’s art.
I kiss him back not because it’s my job, and not because it’s what I’m supposed to do, no.
I kiss Sloane Pierce because Iwantto.
I tighten my grip in his hair until he gasps because Iwantto.
“Fucking hell, Oliver,” he breathes against my lips, the sound of our breaths heavy and fast.
“Mr. Pierce,” I whisper.
He holds my neck still and looks down at me with blown pupils and kiss-swollen lips.
“Sloane," he says, his voice raspy and dark.
I look up into his bright eyes, my heart beating like a damn freight train.
“I want to hear you say my name,” he drawls, his voice thick with lust and a hint of desperation.
This is exactly what I wanted.
This. Is.Exactlywhat I wanted.
I just didn’t realize I wanted it formyself.
“Sloane…” I say his name because I need to know how it tastes on my tongue.
And then I pull him down and find his mouth once more and I kiss him again. Hard. Sloane’s hand on my throat tightens its grip until I gasp as his mouth finds the corner of mine, my jaw, and that tender spot below my ear that makes my whole body shiver.
One thought echoes in my brain. His words. Poignant and perfect.
Submission is not surrender.
But fucking hell, if it isn’t sweet as sin.
Chapter Seventeen
Sloane
Oliver’s pulse races beneath my palm where it rests on his neck; the familiar rush of excitement running through my veins.
This is a terrible idea.
I’ve had a lot of bad ideas in my life, but this… this one takes the chocolate cake with sprinkles and a cherry on top.
There are a thousand reasons I shouldnotpursue Oliver Green. He works for me. He’s young. I’ve mixed business with pleasure before, and I know it doesn’t end well. I’m still reaping the repercussions of trusting Robert with my baby—Veil—and my heart. Every fucking day. Kissing Oliver is a mistake. A mistake I might be able to salvage if I stop now.
I could put an end to this easily. Pull my lips from his and tell him I’m sorry.
That I didn’t mean it and demand that we never speak about it again. Make him sign a gag order. Hell, I could sweeten the deal with a bonus, like I did with Robert when he signed his NDA.
It would be the smart thing to do. Thepracticalthing.
But I don’twantto stop. I want to devour Oliver and his wicked little mouth. I want to punish him for being a tempting little brat, and I want to show him just howgood boysget rewarded. I want him to fight me. I want him to submit to me. And then I want to lead him to the edge and make him beg for what I know he craves. What heneeds.
