Page 19 of Her Innocent CEO

“I’m a lawyer, sure,” I remark. “But I have my own legal team, and not just in the U.S all over the world. I’ve been watching my business partner for a long time, Jasmine. But it is true, he has snuck up on me somewhat in the past few days… weeks. But today? We have him. Your video evidence is enough to convince any judge…”

But I trail off.

“What is it?” she asks, wanting to turn and face me, but I hold her firmly against me.

“It’s not something I can help right now. All that matters is that you’re here with me,” I tell her, noting her tension still.

“Maddox,” she insists. “I don’t want to lose you on the first day I’ve found you,” she says.

I breathe in thoughtfully, and assure her she won’t. I assure myself I won’t either.

I mustn’t.

“I have a pretty thorough legal team. Remember I’m The Maddox in Hunter-Maddox,” I purr.

Hoping it’s enough.

Willing myself to beat every single accusation, every lie. Even to the point of auditing my own firm to figure out how long this damned suite’s been used to furnish my own staff, my own firm’s partner against me.

“Is it enough?” she asks me honestly, and I know she means the snippet of video she shot as well as my own ongoing preparation for legal defense.

“If it isn’t, then I’m not Maddox Mapleton,” I tell her firmly and finally, kissing the top of her head and hearing her sigh in response. I finally relax again. Reminding myself that kings are only kings when they say so.

“I’ll be right here for you,” she echoes, mirroring my thoughts.

Proving to me too, that every king also needs his queen if he’s going to be a complete success.

“Did I mention how much I love you, Jasmine?” I venture. Feeling no shame in being so bold so soon.

“Is there such a thing though?” she asks. “Love at first sight?”

But it’s more an observation than a question.

Just like our knowing that she’s carrying our first child already.

Some things are just the way they are. Like the sky and the earth.

Like love, and like a woman who’s loved by her man carrying his child.

I change the subject, drawing her attention to the rest of the day, even though it’s wearing out by the color through the floor to ceiling arched windows around us.

The view? It’s probably magnificent, but nothing compared to what I’m holding in my arms right now. We could be anywhere on earth or beyond and I’d feel just the same.

“I have a bundle of cash I need getting rid of,” I remind her.

“Once our laundry’s back, what do you say to some shopping and some dinner?” I ask her, hoping she’ll say yes.

“We just ate,” she reminds me.

“I have a lot of shopping in mind,” I counter. “By the time we’re done, you’ll be hungry again, I promise.”

“I’m always hungry for you,” she coos. And I feel myself shifting against the small of her back under water, my hardness making me groan again as I realize just how much I want her.

How hard I’ve stayed since I claimed her.

We are left alone, for our soak in the hot tub and the shopping that waits beyond that.

There’s a slight interruption at the door, but it’s only the laundry service, delivering all our clothes clean and freshly pressed as promised once we’ve dried off.

“Perfect timing,” Jasmine observes, looking a little cautious as she examines the neat bundles of clothes in hotel monogrammed wrapping.

“What is it?” I ask her.

“It’s just… I dunno, having other people wash my clothes… it’s weird.” she says, looking down and blushing a little.

“It’s just until we can get some more of our own,” I assure her, rubbing her shoulder with one hand, reluctant to try and get dressed myself. The sight of her robe half open is enough to make me want to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to bed all over again.

“I’ll go get changed,” she says with a smile that lets me know she can read my mind.

“If I let you at me again, we won’t be going anywhere,” she remarks, making me growl in agreement but I make sure I just happen by the open door way, catching her slipping back into her blouse and skirt, driving me wild at the sight of her.

“Get dressed!” she calls out half-laughing, a tremor in her voice that makes me smile.

She feels just the same as I do, but seems to have a little more self control.

Chapter Sixteen

Jasmine

“You look beautiful,” Maddox tells me, taking my hand and kissing it, making me blush.

“It’s just my same work clothes,” I murmur, but he shakes his head, smiling.

“It doesn’t matter, Jasmine. You’re beautiful, so perfect,” he says and kisses me on the mouth, making me melt in his arms until I can see we’re dangerously far from shopping.

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