Page 23 of When I Had You

Leaning in, the scruff of his cheek scrapes against my face, and when he reaches my ear with his mouth, he whispers, “All the more reason to stay.”

Stay.

One word that has me throwing caution to the wind. I wrap my arms around his neck, trying to satisfy a craving I’ve kept at bay since I met him.

Why does he have to be so nice?

Why does he have to care?

Why does he have to be so ridiculously sexy?

Damn him.

7

Cash

I knew she didn’t hate me.

What I didn’t know was how badly she wanted me. If I had, I would have skipped to the point at the paddock. I kiss her, sliding my fingers into her hair, savoring the sweet pressure of her lips, the subtle flavor of wine and desire mixed, and then lean in as she pulls me closer as if it’s possible.

With every swirl of her tongue . . .

Her body pushing against me . . .

And the taste of her has me deepening the connection.

It’s that first taste of this incredible woman that seals my fate. Kissing her will never be enough. I can rattle off ten reasons she’s a bad idea, and the bottom line will always be the same. Despite what we might want, we can’t fuck around together. That’s the hand we’ve been dealt.

Too much is at stake.

When I run my hand along the bare skin of her lower back, dipping my fingers under the edge of the dress that sits high on that incredible ass, she has me ready to throw everything away.

My dick strains against my pants, not giving a fucking care that I’d be her rebound. “We can’t do this, princess.”

I know it.

She knows it.

The whole fucking world knows nothing can happen between us. It would break too many rules and anger the owners. Pulling back, I cup her face and say it again to remind myself what’s on the line if I cross this one with her. “I can’t risk ruining my career.”

“For a woman,” she says with deprecation sneaking in.

“For anyone.”

Grabbing my wrists, she leans forward until our foreheads are pressed together, and closes her eyes. “We got carried away is all.”

I caress her cheek, then lean back to get a better look at her. When she opens her eyes, I whisper, “It’s easy to do with you.” There’s no fight in her, no snappy comments or rush to get away. She softens her shoulders and leans against my hand. “You make it hard to walk away, Marina.”

I’m gifted a smile. It’s small, but I’ll take everything she’s willing to give. “It’s the right thing to do,” she whispers, not sounding any more convincing than I do.

I grin so stupidly big and chuckle lightly. “Sure doesn’t feel like it.”

“In the moment. But once we forget how good that kiss was, it will be like it never happened.”

I push her hair back from her face. “I won’t forget.” A fire burns between us, but knowing better than to act on it, I take a breath, hoping to cool things down.

“Why does doing the right thing feel so wrong?” She reluctantly pulls away with a heavy sigh. “I’ve not acted like myself this weekend.”

---