I want this woman more than I’ve wanted just about anything or anyone in my life.
There’s a gravity in the air, tense and sharp, as I press against her, brace my forearm on the wall above her head, and cup her hip with my free hand. Her head falls back as she meets my gaze. I hear her panting breaths.
She wants me, too.
Thank God.
“You going to stop me?” I ask.
“This isn’t smart.”
Probably not. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
She licks her lips nervously. Everything in my body clenches at the sight.
“Try me. See what I do.”
I don’t even know what she’s conveying, just that she’s all but dared me to kiss her. I can’t let that pass. I refuse to stop trying to take her for my own.
I tug on her hip. I lean my entire body against her. She holds her breath, waiting. Her lids slide shut. Her lips part.
I’m toast.
As I finally lay my mouth over hers, a groan slips out.
Fuck me, she’s every bit as soft and sweet as I remember. I crush my lips against hers. But that’s not enough Keeley for me. I need more. I need deeper. I need everything.
So I nudge her mouth open, slip inside. And I lose myself utterly. This woman is going to be my downfall. Right now, I just don’t care.
No one has ever felt this perfect to me.
She tilts her head to offer more of herself and grabs my shirt. As she clings to my shoulders, Keeley yanks me closer until her every curve is plastered against my body. She sucks in a breath, and I feel her heart racing in time with mine. The sound is gonging in my ears. She’s potent, and I’m high on her. I don’t ever want to come down.
Her tongue slides against mine, a dance, a tease, a caress. I hear her little catch of breath, followed by a desperate moan in her throat.
I want to hear more of that sound. As I’m sliding inside her and telling her how beautiful she is. Yeah. I want that now.
Screw all pretense of being cool and in control. I slide her skirt up her thighs, then hoist her up, bracing her against the wall. I spread her legs and fit my body between them. Heat radiates from her pussy. Her panties are damp. I want to tear them off so badly I’m about to lose my mind.
She clutches at my hair and grips me tightly with her thighs as the kiss goes on. I feel as dizzy as I was on stage, but it’s all good now. The sensation is totally swarming my head. Sweating, blood jetting, heart chugging—the works. But no anxiety, just full-throttle, unstoppable arousal.
I lift my head long enough to catch my breath and make sure she’s with me. “Keeley, sunshine… Tell me you want this. That you want me.”
She has to confess. I need to hear her say it.
Slowly, her lids open. She focuses on me, her blue eyes so dilated and hypnotizing and searching. No idea what she’s looking for, but it’s all I can do to stand still and hope she finds what she’s seeking in me.
Suddenly, the emergency chime on my phone dings. I’d ignore it, but only two people know how to ring that roof-is-on-fire peal. They both work for me and they know not to freak me out unless the situation is critical.
“What is that?” she asks.
“The worst possible fucking timing ever,” I snarl as I back away and wrench the phone out of my pocket. With a press of a button, I answer. “What?”
“Um…Maxon?”
It’s Britta. She sounds unsure, but I hear a note of excitement in her voice.
“Yes.” I’m trying not to tear her head off in case it’s really important, but Keeley is watching me intently, her thumb caressing my jaw and neck, then sliding into my shirt.
I close my eyes. Shit. I can’t concentrate with her hands on me.
“Sorry it’s late. I had to run back to the office to pick up some photocopies I need for the Barnes closing first thing tomorrow. We had a voice mail.”
We have them just about every day. I wish she’d get to the point. “And?”
“I tried to text you but… Are you sitting? If you’re not, you should. George Stowe called. He wants to hear your pitch this coming Friday at noon.”
That shocking pronouncement whacks my short attention span into shape. “Really? Did he say anything else?”
“Just that he’d looked you up and realized that he should at least give you a listen. Of course, he’s also hearing Griff. The afternoon before you. He was upfront about that. But…we have a decent chance.”
“Absolutely.” I know the next words out of her mouth, though: our strategy isn’t ready. “Get to the office as soon as you can tomorrow. We need to get this bitch nailed down.”
“I’ve already planned ahead. Makaio is going to take Jamie to daycare on his way to work, so I don’t have to worry about doing it after I get the Barnes escrow wrapped. I’ll call Rob and let him know, too.” She pauses. “Do you think we can get this done right? I doubt a bunch of words and a solid preso will be enough.”
My assistant is a damn smart woman. Of course it won’t be. I’ll have to out-Griff my competition.
I glance at Keeley. I’m glad I’ve already got a plan in place. I just have to find the balls to tempt my brother with her.
Shit.
“We’ll figure it out,” I assure Britta, hoping that’s true. “What the fuck time is it in Vermont now?”
“Six thirty in the morning. But his voice mail says he’s an early riser, so you can call after seven his time.”
“I’ll ring him up in thirty minutes, let him know we’re in.”
“Thanks. I know that means staying up late.” Britta hesitates. “But I’m hoping the payoff is worth sacrificing a little sleep.”
Absolutely. “Landing this listing is worth sacrificing everything.”
A little gasp draws my attention to Keeley. She overheard my exchange with Britta. And obviously she’s taking it the wrong way.
Or is she?
The gorgeous redhead in my arms is the key to this plot. The bait. My sacrifice. I’ve had the passing thought once or twice that going down this path will most likely mean giving her up, but there’s no avoiding that ugly reality now. She’s made it clear that she won’t pretend to have the hots for my brother while having a fling with me.
She rips out of my embrace and sends me a stare I can only describe as crestfallen. God, it’s like a stab in the gut.
“Keeley…sunshine.”
She doesn’t heed me. Instead, she whirls around to storm out of the kitchen. My heart drops.
“I have to go.” I rush to hang up the phone, but Keeley has already marched into the living room. I follow. “Come back. Let’s talk.”
She flips me off. “Not much more to say than that.”
I groan. “Sunshine, don’t do this.”
“Do what, be angry that you’d rather put business above whatever we could have?” She tosses her hands in the air. “This is my fault. I really let myself believe you weren’t the mercenary asshole I thought you were when we met.”
“I’m not.” Well, not completely.
Keeley goes on as if I didn’t say a word. “I should have known better.”
“You shouldn’t. I mean, I want to be with you,” I insist, but she’s still stomping away from me.
“No, you want to bang me,” she calls over her shoulder.
I can’t tell her that’s not true. But it’s also not the whole truth.
“Damn it, will you sit down and listen to me?