Giving In To Love (Strong Brothers 2)

"Yes, and it's as scandalous as you think it is." I was always respectful of women, but that didn't mean I was a gentleman. I wasn't beyond asking a woman to participate in something considered sordid.

Her shrewd gray eyes studied me. She leaned forward, resting her forearms on her desk. "All right, let's hear it."

I was relieved to see the feistiness back in her. All the fluttering and regret that she was showing moments ago had unsettled me. But now I could see the fire back in her eyes. She was ready to spar with me again.

"As I said before, whether we like it or not, there is a powerful attraction between us."

"Attraction?"

I shrugged. "Chemistry. Lust. Whatever you want to call it, there's definitely something there. Don't tell me you're going to deny it because what just happened on your desk is proof of it."

"I'm not going to deny it. But just because it's there doesn't mean it's something that we should indulge in. In fact, I know we shouldn't."

I crossed my ankle over my knee and wiped non-existent lent from my pant leg to give me a moment to figure out how I was going to present this proposition.

Finally, I looked up at her. "Well, I suppose it won't be a surprise to you that I completely disagree."

She laughed derisively. "Of course, you do. I say up and you say down. That's how we roll. Or maybe it's just that you let your dick think for you."

"It hasn't been that long since you walked into my office. On the first day you kissed me and not long after that I kissed you back, and now here, the next day, I fucked you on your desk. How long do you think it will be before it happens again?"

"Never." But I could see in her eyes that she knew what I was saying was true. The more time we spent together, the more the tension would build, and eventually it would combust.

"You know that's not true. And if we just let it build like that, we’ll end up having more scenes like this. I agree with you that this should not happen at the office."

"But you think it should happen?"

"I do." I nodded. "My suggestion is that we indulge this thing and let it run its course. Ignite it and then let it flameout. But we do it away from the office. Nobody has to know. There are no strings attached. Just you and me getting this crazy need out of our systems."

"You really think that's going to work?" she asked, but I couldn’t tell if she was buying my theory or not.

"I do. In fact, I think it's our only solution."

She gave me that smirk again. "Of course, you do. Sex is the answer to everything for you, isn't it, Hunter?"

I shrugged. "I won't deny that I enjoy sex.”

She arched a brow in curiosity. "I thought you were a one and done sort of guy. You've already had your one with me. Why do you want more?"

I shifted in the seat as I realized she was right. One and done was my rule, and until now, I hadn't wanted to break it. But there was something about Natalie that I knew one time wasn’t enough. Given the opportunity, I’d fuck her again right now. How much more I would want her, I couldn't be sure. But I was certain it would burn out eventually.

"It appears once isn’t enough."

She studied me for a moment and then gave me her signature smirk. "How many times do you think it's going to take? What if it never flames out. What if you fall in love with me?"

I knew she was just shitting with me, but that didn't mean it didn’t send a terrifying shiver down my spine. "I won't."

She flinched slightly, and I realized that my comment probably offended her. After all I was saying she wasn't someone I would fall in love with.

"Love isn't in the books for me. Not with anyone." I hoped she understood that it wasn't anything about her specifically. Love wasn't something that was ever going to be a part of my life. Not ever again.

She sat back in her chair. "Well, that is an intriguing offer. Certainly, much more interesting than the one you gave me last night that brought me here. Was that your endgame? Offer me a job so then you could proposition me about a no strings attached affair?"

“No. The job is legit. And if you say no, the job is still yours. But don't think that whatever this is between us won't continue to build and be a problem."

She nodded, and for the first time since we started this discussion, I thought maybe she was going to agree to it.

"Well, it's a very fine offer, Hunter. Thank you. It was nice of you to give me a little sample before so I could make an informed decision. However, as nice as that was, I'm going to have to pass."