"I don't ask, but I don't think so."
"Then why are you married?" He doesn't answer, so I continue. "I love sex, and I get the feeling you do too, but how does that work when you don't mesh with your spouse? I would definitely go all Lorena Bobbitt on you if I were her, but then again, I don't think I could marry someone with such stark likes in things I have no interest in. It's hard to connect when two people don't like the same things, you know?"
He huffs. "Yeah, I do know, and I hate it. So when you want something, you tell me. When you want to touch me or kiss me, or fuck me, do it."
"You do have a nice ass for a man your age."
He raises his brows and grins. My cell phone chimes and James moves off me so I can reach for it. He sits up, and I stare at him while he picks up his pants. I grab my cell phone and see Natalie's name flash across the screen. I sit up against my headboard and cover my chest with the sheet.
My heart drops and James takes in my face. I feel sick to my stomach as I text her back.
Quietly I say, "Natalie texted me. She's on her way back."
James slips his shirt on, his movements carefree like he isn’t worried, meanwhile I'm a little terrified we’re going to get caught. I study the lines around his eyes and see he's deep in thought. He fastens a few buttons then leans over and drops a kiss to my forehead. His tattooed chest is exposed and he's looking damn good just like this.
"Don't worry. She won't see me leave, and she'll never find out."
I never say never.
Before he can pull back, I grab his collar and kiss him like I wanted to before. I rise to my knees and clutch his shirt tightly in my fists and press my lips to his. His arms automatically wind around my back, and one of his hands grips my ass. The way he grabs me makes my heart pound. I don't know what I'm doing or why, and I know I should run and tear up the check, but there's something about James that I'm not ready to let go of yet. He creates this fluttering in my chest every single fucking time we’re together. I do
n't want to lose it.
Breaking the kiss, I ask, "Why me? Why push for me when you can have any girl at Sanctuary?"
He brushes my hair off my shoulder and tips my chin up. As he looks into my eyes, I have to wonder if he's certifiably insane to attempt this thing between us.
"You have a backbone. You're sassy. You're smart. You're fucking gorgeous. You're resilient, and you'll do any kind of work to make a life for yourself. You're not ashamed and you don't seem to give two fucks what someone thinks of you. Plus, I like the way your mind works." The way his voice washes over me like silk makes me hang on to every word he says. "I gravitated toward you in spite of all that. Katherine is the opposite. I don't fuck with my coworkers, and the other girls I've been with ‘yes’ me to death. Fucking boring."
Licking my lips, my gaze drops to his mouth, but he doesn't let me look away.
"Nope. Look at me."
I do. James kisses me one last time and it settles something in my mind and eases the apprehension ruffling through me.
"I have a dinner coming up that I want you to come with me to. It's a cocktail thing for two merging companies."
"A work event?"
He nods. "If I have to suffer through it, I want you there with me."
My brows furrow. "People will know I'm not your wife, though. Aren't you worried?"
"Not in the least. Half of them aren't faithful, and my wife doesn't attend the events anyway."
I feel only little relieved. I’m not sure why, when in the past I had no issue taking jobs like this from Christine. This shouldn’t be any different, but it feels that way.
"When I call you, I expect you to be there. No excuses."
I swallow. The nervousness clenching around my shoulders creates unwanted tension.
"Get rid of the boyfriend who probably only does thirty seconds of damage to your pussy. He's not negotiable. Is that clear?"
"Fine. No boyfriend."
"You should also tell Christine you're taking a break. I want you to be exclusively mine."
Irritation simmers in my veins. My eyes lower. I'm not quitting my job for an entire year.