Page 9 of Her Innocent CEO

I breathe out and feeling her grip me tighter as the door opens, I tell myself not to be so uptight.

She’s come this far with me. Let’s just see how much further she’ll come for me.

“I told you, Jasmine you’re mine now. Just humor me and tell me that’s how it’ll be from now on,” I suggest, and she squeezes my arm extra heard, leaning in while she shivers a little from the cold and whispers what I’ve longed to hear since I first laid eyes on her.

“Alright then. I’m all yours, Maddox Mapleton. Do what you will.”

Oh, Jasmine I intend to.

I intend to.

The suite is about half way up, nothing spectacular compared to my usual standards, but considering it’s on the company’s books and has escaped my attention for so long, I almost tip my hat to whoever thought of it.

Almost but I also file it away for further investigation once all this is over.

For now though, it’s an Aladdin’s cave of privacy for Jasmine and me. A safe place, so I’m actually pretty grateful.

I help her open the door, swiping the access card and holding the door open as I usher her in.

Four stars… Hmmm.

Jasmine’s shriek of delight and then her huge sounds of disbelief as she walks through the place soon turn it into a hundred stars.

All for her, I remind myself.

I can scale down for a few days.

It’s not a penthouse suite, but we are trying to stay under the radar so it makes sense to-

“Oh. My. God!” I hear her exclaim, making me dart to the hallway where the bathroom is, thinking she’s in some sort of danger.

“Look at that tub! It’s bigger than my whole apartment!” she calls out.

I feel myself finally relaxing.

Leaning against the door, I watch her delight in the gleaming tiles, the free robes and towels, the fragrant shower gels that she holds to her nose like they’re designer brands which I think they are.

I dunno. I get everything custom from Belgium.

But I’m glad to see her happy, to see her eyes widen and take in something I can tell she’s never had before.

A little bit of luxury.

She grips my hands in hers, squealing to herself, before dashing over to the open curtains, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bay as sunlight dances across her hair.

Highlighting her form as her damp clothes cling to it, almost as if it’s all a show for me.

“It’s just beautiful isn’t it?” she gasps, and I growl in agreement, not even looking at the view, the room or the world beyond it.

I’ve only got eyes for Jasmine now.

“It sure is,” I tell her honestly, shuddering a breath in as I make my way over to her, determined to tell her.

It’s now or never. I’ve waited long enough.

No more waiting.

I want what’s mine.

“Jasmine,” I command, making my index finger curl and flex, summoning her over to me.

“Let’s get you out of those wet clothes, and into a robe,” I whisper, saddened by her blush of shyness. Almost hurt she’d doubt my intentions.

“I just…” she starts to say, but I’m done playing. I’m done waiting.

In two steps my face is inches from hers. I grip her hands in mine and demand she tell me that she doesn’t want me. That she doesn’t want-

But her nerves are stilled. She finds her confidence as I move closer. And her sweet lips finally press hard against mine.

The same force that’s brought us together drives us closer, and from now on I promise myself without delay to claim what’s rightfully mine.

I’m no kisser, or so I thought. I’ve spent half my life building a law firm and businesses not chasing tail. Jasmine’s lips on mine are like the opening of a floodgate.

A lifetime’s worth of passion, yearning and desire has found its mark in one moment and I know without a doubt, that she truly is the one.

Defending myself, righting the wrongs of my betrayer… I don’t care about any of that right now.

Jasmine’s the only thing I want from now on. The rest can wait.

Chapter Eight

Jasmine

I never thought, not in a thousand years that I’d be in the same room as Maddox, let alone him kissing me like this.

I’m no kisser. Never even been kissed, but I know it’s the kind of kiss that means more.

It’s the hard, passionate kiss of a man who’s staking his claim.

A man who knows what he wants and is prepared to do whatever it takes to get.

Can I really give myself to Maddox?

Body and soul?

My shyness gives me a thousand reasons to say no, but the hot line running straight through my body as his presses against it is screaming yes.

He’s up against something so big, I just know it could ruin him. And yet here he is wanting me.

Little old me. Jasmine Tate.

“And I do want you,” he murmurs, reading my mind again, his hands sliding over my damp clothes, only to warm me, to draw me closer to him.

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