But instead of moving back to sit, he hovers above me, his hand braced against the arm of the couch where my back is resting.
And we just stare at each other, neither of us moving for a beat.
Then another.
My eyes drops to his lips, and I want to reach out and trace my fingertips over them to see if they’re as soft as they look. The sound that rumbles up his throat is a tortured groan as my gaze snaps up to his.
“Don’t,” he rasps.
“Why?”
“Because you’re not safe and I can’t protect you if…”
The words hang between us, open and unfinished and more telling than if he’d yelled them.
But I can guess.
I can’t protect you ifI’ve been inside youfeels like a valid option. But I’d have to wholeheartedly disagree with the sentiment because there’s not a cell in my body that believes Tom Oakden wouldn’t go to the ends of the earth to save me.
And maybe that’s how he’d feel about anyone.
But right now, he’s not looking atanyone—he’s looking atmeand there’s no comparison.
“You can’t look at me like that, Kitten.”
“You can’t give me a nickname when you’re telling me to stop,” I fire back, my hand reaching up to cup his jaw.
Tension radiates off him like a neon warning that I so desperately want to bypass.
But I won’t.
Not tonight.
Instead, I lean forward and press a lingering kiss to his cheek, the stubble rough against my skin in the best way. It’salmost enough to change my mind—to live my ownfuck itmoment.
But I don’t want him to regret me.
I don’t want him to look at me and wish we hadn’t.
So as carefully as I can, I extricate myself from the couch and stand, retrieving my phone and backing out of the room.
“Goodnight, Tom.”
“Sweet dreams, Kitten.”
TOM
The sprayof the shower feels like a thousand needles against my skin, sharp and intense but nothing compared to the throbbing between my legs.
It’s been a long time since I had such a visceral reaction to a woman. I called herkitten— the nickname just slipping out before I had a chance to stop it.
She’s your client, asshole.
But it doesn’t even matter…not right now.
Bracing my hand against the tile, I don’t pretend my intentions are innocent. They’re not. My grip is hard as I wrap my hand around my dick, ready to relieve the pressure that’s been building since I moved in here.
“You can’t look at me like that, Kitten.”
