It was the thought of being with someone who wasn’t Flint Calloway.
8
FLINT
I knewWilla would come to confront me, but I was expecting her tomorrow at seven. I had a plan in my head. Rehearsed lines, things I wanted to say. But it all crumbled to ash when she knocked on my door.
Now she’s in my living room: more beautiful and more fucking tempting than ever.
I think about the money I paid. The winning bid.
I did it to protect her.
Hell, that’s what I’ve been telling myself. It’s true, but it’s not the whole truth. The whole truth is simpler. Less noble. The whole truth is that I’ve wanted Willa from the minute I heard her sweet voice on the phone. Then she walked into my office, and I was fucking gone. Wrecked forever.
I couldn’t let another man claim what’s mine.
And Willa is mine. All mine.
Every instinct screams at me to claim her. Take her innocence and ruin her for anyone else. The need is so strong it hurts, setting every nerve on fire. But no matter how much I ache for her, I know I can’t do it. Can’t stomach the thought of her feeling obligated to sleep with me. Makes me feel sick.
“What if I want it?”
Willa’s voice tears me from my thoughts. I stare at her.
“What?”
Her cheeks redden, but she holds my gaze. “What if I want you to be my first?”
Something fiery sparks inside me. I take a step toward her, not daring to believe her words.
“Do you?”
She nods slowly, and a groan rips from my throat—raw and frustrated. “Willa…fuck, if this is about the money. If you think you owe me?—”
“I promise it’s not that.” She sucks in a breath. “I want it, Flint. I want you.”
In an instant, I close the gap between us. I can feel my pulse throbbing in my ears as I reach for Willa’s waist, pulling her soft curves against me. She smells sweet and fruity, like shampoo, and I breathe her in hungrily.
“Say it again, princess,” I murmur. “Say you want me.”
“I want you, Flint.” Her gaze doesn’t waver. “I never wanted it to be anyone else.”
It’s all I need to hear. I cup her warm cheek, and with a deep growl, I crush my lips to hers, my restraint snapping like a rubber band. Heat scorches my veins, blood rushing down to my cock as I kiss Willa—hungry and urgent—savoring the whimper in her throat.
Fuck yes.
Her lips are so plump. So soft. I delve my tongue between them, savoring her cherry-sweet taste, claiming her hot little mouth. I tighten my grip on her waist, pulling her closer,needingher closer.
“You’ve been driving me crazy,” I groan against her lips. “You have no fucking idea.”
She shudders against me, wrapping her arms around my neck as I kiss her again. Our mouths open and her warm tongueslides against mine, sending a jolt of need down to my boxers. I know I shouldn’t rush this, but I can’t help myself. I’m already scooping Willa into my arms, carrying her toward my bedroom.
“You deserve a bed for what I’m gonna do to you, princess,” I tell her, brushing feathery kisses up her jaw as I shoulder open the door and set her down on the mattress.
I flick on the lamp so I can see her, and it bathes the room in a warm glow. The soft light catches her hair, turning the dark strands glossy, her lips swollen from our kiss.
Mine.
