Page 82 of Cross Me

“As expected. Brexton thinks we should get in front of this and out Anders. Norris seems to think he won’t tell anyone.” It was hard to concentrate with her so near and so naked.

“I think Norris is right,” she said as though she’d considered this, too. “Anders doesn’t seem interested in getting dragged into this family.”

“The first smart move he’s made,” I muttered.

“Try to think of how he feels,” she urged.

“Yes, Poppet. You’re right. He’s had his whole life paid for without any responsibilities. I must consider his feelings.” He raced cars. He was reckless. He was everything that my father had tried to stamp out of me.

“Don’t be an ass.” She smacked me on the shoulder. “What else?”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You were in here for ages. You can’t have spent all that time worrying about Anders.”

“Nothing much.” I settled into my chair, my eyes never leaving the temptation in front of me. I blew air through my lips. She was determined to have a conversation. “Is this some torturous new form of foreplay?”

“Huh?” She glanced down and her eyes widened. Crossing her legs, she smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, X.”

“Now I wish I hadn’t said anything.” This was definitely not an improvement.

“What else did you talk about?” she pressed.

I hesitated. I hadn’t told Clara everything that had been going on lately. She’d had enough on her mind, but she’d asked for no more secrets and I could give her that moving forward. “There is an issue with Parliament.”

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as if she was trying to get a better read on me. I did my best to look unconcerned by this news.

“It will come to nothing. A few people are upset that we arrested Jacobson, but there will be press coverage.”

“When is there not?” she asked, suddenly looking tired.

“Do you ever wish”—I searched her face hoping to find the truth—“that you had a normal life? Away from all of this insanity?”

“Don’t you?”

“I’m serious. Sometimes I hate myself for taking away your choices in life.” I meant every word. I thought about it more often than I liked to admit, because considering it forced me to imagine a life without her.

“You gave me the chance to make the most important choice of my life,” she said softly. “You let me choose you.”

A wide smile carved over my face. “I think you’re a better statesman than I am. You always have a good answer.”

“It’s the truth.” She pushed her hair over her shoulder and leaned forward to hook her arms around my neck. “I chose all of you. Nothing you could tell me will ever make me regret that. No mistake. No secret. I need you to know that.”

“I do,” I said, sweeping a kiss over her lips.

“I need to know that you’ll stop keeping secrets. I can handle it.”

“I know you can.” I nuzzled her nose with mine. “In the spirit of being honest, I suppose I should tell you that I’m finding it hard to think, knowing what’s under that dress.”

She didn’t laugh. Instead, her eyes bored into me.

“Promise me.” Her voice broke on the request.

“I promise.” I would do everything in my power to keep that vow. She deserved that much. Every time I thought she was fragile, she reminded me how strong she was. “God, I love you.”

Her head tilted, tears filling in her eyes. She tried to blink them away but they clung to her dark lashes. “I love you, too.”

She gulped, but she couldn’t swallow away her emotions. There was only one way to set her free from her worry. My hands sank into the soft flesh of her hips and drew her to the edge of the desk. Clara responded, opening her legs so I could lift her onto my lap. Her arms coiled around my neck as she kissed me hungrily.