Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family 7)

I move over to the edge of the balcony. The railing is sturdy black metal curled in intricate patterns. A little low, but the pattern is thick enough that no one can see on the balcony from the street. It offers privacy while not obstructing the view. I love it. At least I do until I accidentally catch my skirt in said railing. In my efforts to free myself, I lose my balance. My stomach churns horribly as my upper body lunges over the railing. For a split second, I’m convinced I’m about to hurtle two stories to the ground, before two strong and sturdy arms pull me back to my feet. I don’t protest when Blake pulls me against him, wrapping his arms around me. I just inhale his manly scent, losing myself in the safety of his strong and muscular frame, my eyes firmly closed.

“Shit!” I mutter into his chest. To my horror, I realize I’m trembling.

“I’ve got you.” Blake’s voice is soothing but tinged with unease, and I discover I’m not the only one trembling. I scared the living daylights out of us both. “I’ve got you, Clara. You’re safe.” I remain in his arms until the last of the tremors subside and my heart is in the right place again, no longer in my throat.

“I’m okay,” I whisper. “You can let me go.”

“As soon as you stop tugging at my shirt.”

I blink open one eye and then the other. Sure enough, I’m fisting his black polo shirt like I’m planning to sink my claws into his chest. I unclench my fingers right away, my hands hovering awkwardly just above his pecs. I can’t exactly lower my arms because Blake hasn’t let go of me. I’m still pressed against him, my breasts squished against his granite chest. Our bodies are aligned, touching in more points than I want to think about. Blake is looking down at me, his pupils a tad more dilated than before as they search my face, resting on my lips. I lick them, almost unconsciously, and he exhales sharply, his hot breath landing on my mouth. Sweet baby Jesus. What’s happening here? Am I imagining things? Have I misread Blake and my attraction isn’t quite as one-sided? That’s a dangerous thought if I ever had one. I must have imagined it. Wouldn’t be the first time I mistake people’s attention for affection.

One of the group home supervisors once explained that orphans sometimes grow into adults with attachment issues because the lack of parental love in the formative years leaves a huge hole. I certainly fit that pattern. As a rule, I’m careful with the people I let in, but those I do let in? Oh boy, they’d better brace themselves for excessive displays of affection. There might be a lot of pampering involved, even surprise cuddling sessions if I decide to go crazy, which I often do. Some aren’t that keen on being showered with affection. Past boyfriends, in particular, haven’t been. The words “clingy” and “suffocating” popped up during a break-up fight or five, which make my hope of a husband and kids as likely to happen as world peace, but that’s an issue for another time.

Back to my current issue. I’m still wrapped in Blake’s arms, and his gaze is still zeroed in on my lips. Right... time to face the music and either confirm or eliminate my suspicion. Slowly and deliberately, I lick my lower lip again. Blake’s reaction is almost primal. Another sharp and hot exhale lands on my mouth while his fingertips press into my skin. Sweet baby Jesus on a unicorn. What am I supposed to do with this? As I extract myself from his arms, I can barely wrap my mind around this shift between us. I knew from the start that moving next to Blake is a risky business. Even when I thought the attraction was one-sided, I was dabbling in dangerous territory.

But if it’s not one-sided? This just turned into a minefield.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks as I step back.

“Yeah, it was just a scare. Won’t go close to that railing again anytime soon.” I back away from it, heading back inside, with Blake hot on my heels. “Let’s talk rent. Where I live now I pay—”

“You’re not going to pay anything here.”

I cross my arms over my chest, turning to face him. “Yes, I am.”

“This place is empty, and if you don’t move in, it’ll continue to be empty.”

“We already talked about this at the wedding.”

“About that... I was just shutting you down, telling you what you wanted to hear so you could relax and enjoy.”

I open my mouth, then close it, unsure what to say. “I feel like I should be mad at you for being sneaky.”

“Feel free to be mad.”

“I can’t,” I admit. “I happen to abide by the rule that sneakiness is allowed for a good cause.”

“That’s my girl.”

“Look, I know you don’t need the money.”

“I really don’t, and I’m not saying it to be a prick.”

Right, how do you negotiate with someone who doesn’t need anything? Blake doesn’t just own this bar but also co-owns three restaurants with Alice. I saw the profit they make about two years ago. Nate helped them get featured on the Delicious Dining show, and I worked on the pitch for the network with him. They make a truckload of money and then some. The entire family is well-off. More than half the siblings work at Bennett Enterprises, one of the most successful players in the high-end jewelry market.

“Doesn’t mean I get to stay here free. It’s not right.”

“It is if I say so, and I’m saying so.”

He steps closer, towering over me like he’s determined to dominate the conversation. Dominate me. He should really stop because everything about this pose is alluring.

“Stop being so stubborn.”

His face breaks into a Cheshire cat grin. “Why, am I wearing you down?”

“No.” I pull myself up straighter. Unfortunately, this doesn’t do much, seeing how Blake is more than a head taller than I am, even if I’m wearing heels. “But I’m running out of good arguments. Just so you know, I will circle back to this topic again.”

“Excellent. Warning you though, I can hold my stubborn.”