Alpha CEO

I should have told her no.

I should have done something, anything…

Except allow her to slide her dress off her body, leaving her in nothing but panties. When my stare didn’t leave her face, it wasn’t long until I lost this sudden power struggle we were in. Her delicate hands moved down my chest in a gradual, struggling motion, causing my breath to hitch. Her touch was different.

It was afflicting.

Torturous.

And so damn loving.

When her hands started moving lower toward my belt, I roughly shoved them away. It didn’t stop her assault—if anything it only provoked her.

But then…

She bit her lip, fucking baiting me.

“What do you think is going to go down here, kid?” My hands craved to grip onto her waist and show her who was in control which was exactly what she sought. My fingers pleaded with me to touch her, feel her, aching for something I shouldn’t, completely aware it would only lead to more trouble.

Chaos.

Conflict.

“Please,” she interrupted my thoughts with the sincerest expression I’d ever seen. “Don’t push me away.” Grabbing my hand, she placed it over her racing heart.

Revealing, “Feel my heart—it’s breaking for you.”

Chapter THIRTY-THREE

—Julian—

I groaned. “What do you want from me, Autumn?”

I could see all the buildup in her eyes, days of anticipation, longing, and desire in her gaze as she hesitantly leaned forward, placing her hands on my chest. Slowly, she brought her lips to meet mine. It started off with just a peck until she opened her mouth, seeking out my tongue.

This was all her now, showing me everything I’d taught her. I let it go on. Carelessly letting my walls and reserve come crumbling down. I’d spent the last two weeks feeling like a dick, but I couldn’t continue with her. Not after Christian warned me she was off limits again. I remembered the first time he’d threatened me. She had just turned fifteen. Even back then he’d suspected something might eventually occur between Autumn and me.

Her kiss had me on the verge of fucking losing myself, getting lost in the moment. Becoming lost in her. A man could only take so much, and I was at my breaking point.

I wanted her.

In every way possible.

And more…

I never stopped kissing her, hovering above her heady frame, causing her breathing to escalate when she realized she was getting to me.

“For fuck’s sake, what are you doing to me, Autumn?” I rested my forehead on hers, looking down at her swollen lips.

She was so beautiful.

So loving.

So fucking mine.

The way she was looking at me as if I was everything she’d ever wanted simply encouraged me to keep going. I couldn’t help myself. I never could with her. I kissed her more aggressively than before, crashing our lips together. Chastising myself mentally the entire time as I continued to consume her mouth.

Her hands went to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, but not nearly close enough. The kiss turned urgent and demanding, as she met each and every pull I was delivering. It was full of emotion, mixed with pure lust and something else I’d never felt before.

My hands continued to roam over her body. Knowing I was the only man to have ever touched her this way was doing all sorts of things to my cock, like it always did. She tilted her head back, giving my lips more access to her flushed skin. My mouth moved, kissing from her neck down to her collarbone, stopping just above her breasts that were rising and falling with every movement of my lips.

I ran my tongue along her nipple, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Looking up at her through hooded eyes, I lightly blew her aroused flesh, watching her come undone in the way she always did. My mouth kissed down her stomach, savoring the elevated heat of her body pressed against mine, getting hotter with each caress of my lips, touching her skin as I made my way to where I wanted to kiss her the most.

A moan escaped her lips.

And that was my undoing. Like a fucking atomic bomb dropping on my head, my mind took the control back from my cock, realizing what I was just about to do. Having sex with her wasn’t going to do anything other than lead us back to square one.

I jumped off the bed, leaving her there panting and exposed. Breathless and stirred. I tried to shake off all the emotions she’d triggered inside of me. Holding my head between my hands, I paced around the room. Knowing I’d just royally fucked up.

AGAIN.

I took a deep breath while grabbing my hoodie off the chair and tossed it at her. “Put some clothes on,” I snapped, mostly pissed at myself for letting it go this far.

The last thing I wanted to do was to lead her on more than I already had, and it was all I had done since day one. I walked out onto our patio, leaving the slider open behind me. Leaning over the railing, I needed to calm down. She stepped out shortly after, closing the slider behind her.