To Have and to Hold

“Oh really?” Crossing his muscular arms over his broad chest, he lifts his chin and looks down at me. “So you’ve never been at a bar or somewhere and a man asked you out or offered to buy you a drink after some pathetic pickup line a real man like me would never dare use on a goddess like you?”

Scoffing to cover my delighted laugh, I match his stance, crossing my arms. “That was a pretty cheesy line if I ever heard one, and yes, as a matter of fact, I’m hit on while I bartend all the time, and I deny th—”

“Enough. First rule—we don’t talk about other men trying to date you. I’m a jealous lover, Scarlett. Now, how about that date?”

My eyes widen before I purposely narrow them, trying to appear haughty.

What kind of man did I just meet?

Chapter 2

Gideon

Something shifted in the air about fifteen minutes before I walked into the consultation room. And it wasn’t until I opened the door that I realized it must’ve been this ethereal creature entering my office.

She’s the most beautiful woman to ever walk into my building. The most beautiful woman on the Strip by far. Fuck, she’s even the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, and I’ve gotten plenty of women as close to visually perfect as physically possible through plastic surgery. I’m not just bragging; it’s a matter of science and mathematical formulas, symmetry.

And the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she would be mine. Not just in a sexual way either. No, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that this woman would become Mrs. Gideon Pierce. I glance down at my iPad. She’d be Mrs. Scarlett Pierce—and I’d do everything in my power to make that happen as quickly as possible. No way in fuck would I allow a woman as rare as her to slip through my fingers.

Minutes later, I’m harder than I’ve ever been in my life as she banters with me, squaring her slim shoulders, her perfect face twisting with haughtiness. “Why on God’s green earth do you think I’d want to go out on a date with you?”

I do nothing to hide my knowing smirk. “Because according to the flush starting between your exquisite breasts and working its way up to your cheekbones other women pay thousands for me to create with implants, you’re feeling exactly what I am. Even if you’re trying to hide it with that sassy fucking mouth.” I step closer, and since she’d been standing so close already, my body becomes flush with hers. I wrap my arm around her lower back, because in a surprising and ridiculously titillating show of confidence, she doesn’t take a step back.

Her sexy, bedroom eyes widen. “I—”

“Just say yes, Scarlett. Don’t waste either of our time. Give in to what we both clearly want,” I murmur, setting the iPad on the seat behind her so my arm can join the other wrapped around her.

She swallows thickly, her eyes shifting their focus from my right to my left, looking so deeply into my eyes I can feel her sifting through my very soul. She must find what she’s searching for, because her face softens and she sighs.

“Is YOLO still a thing?” she whispers.

I smile and tighten my grip on her, feeling those perfect breasts press to my abs, my dick growing hard against her flat belly. Images of her round and soft as she carries my baby fill my mind, and it’s so fucking beautiful I have to fight the urge not to spin her around and fuck her as she grips the cushioned seat so I can fill her up with my seed.

“If it’s not, then we’ll bring it back. Because we only do live once, and I don’t think I want to anymore unless you’re in my world,” I confess, and I see and feel her head jerk back a little in astonishment. Guys her age these days probably aren’t so honest, forthcoming with what they feel, instead choosing to play hard to get so the woman will chase after them. I don’t want to waste time fucking around. Scarlett now knows exactly what I want, can see the sincerity in my eyes, and now the ball is in her court.

Yes, I’m fucking aware it’s absolutely insane. I only met her five minutes ago. But there’s this feeling deep in my gut telling me to never let Scarlett go.

After another silent beat, she swallows again and nods shallowly, her voice soft when she finally replies, “Yes. I’ll go on a date with you.”

“Good,” I murmur, leaning down and pressing my nose to the side of her neck, inhaling her scent I never want to go another day without smelling. God, she’s so sweet, almost citrusy. Like orange blossoms. She shivers in my arms, and I finally pull back up to look at her once again.