Page 11 of The Tycoon's Pet

He nods, returning my smile. The rest of the night passes in a blur, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily between us. After dinner, we get back in the limo and have a much less relaxed drive back to Paul’s.

When we get back to his house, he insists on driving me home. I reluctantly accept, knowing he won’t let me refuse, no matter how much I want to just be alone so I can figure out what the hell is going on.

As we drive in silence, I stare blankly at the passing scenery, and the soft glow of city lights outside the car window. Anything to keep my mind off the man beside me.

After what seems like a lifetime but must have only been minutes, he pulls up to my house and brings the car to a stop. I turn to look at him, ready to thank him, and leave as quickly as possible, but I'm suddenly overcome by a crazy urge.

I should let the night end here… I should let him go but the words fall out of my lips before I can stop them. “Wanna come in?”

Chapter Five

Paul

“Of course,” I answer her quickly, possibly too quickly. But this night has not had the fully romantic vibe I was hoping for, and I need to rectify that immediately.

As she leads me through the front door, I realize, with some sense of shame, that I've never been to her apartment even though she's at mine almost every day. It feels like a glaring oversight, a reminder of how much she gives without asking for anything in return.

“Please make yourself comfortable,” she says, gesturing to the couch with an awkward smile.

“Thank you,” I mutter, lowering myself to the couch. “You have a lovely place.”

“Thanks, Paul,” she replies, blushing slightly. “Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee?”

“Tea would be great, thanks.”

She heads to the kitchen, and I hear the sound of cups clinking and water boiling. I glance around, and my eyes fall on the framed photograph on the shelf. It's an old picture of Kayla and myself standing in front of a Christmas tree. She had her hair in pigtails, holding a flower stalk to her chest while she looked up at me with the biggest smile. A sense of nostalgia hits me as memories of that Christmas flood my head. It was a bittersweet period. It was my first Christmas without my mom but having Kayla beside me lifted my spirits, even though I didn't show it.

Kayla returns at that moment with a steaming mug of tea. She holds it out to me with a small smile.

“Thank you,” I say, accepting the mug and taking a small sip. The warmth of the tea spreads through me, soothing my nerves.

She nods, her blush deepening adorably as she gestures at her dress. “I need to go take this off.”

Pity. She looks ravishing in that dress. All evening, I’ve had to try hard not to let myself get distracted by how stunning she looks in that dress, the way it hugs her curves, and that damn dip that gives a maddening glimpse of her cleavage. Even now, I'm barely restraining my mind from exploring the dark, dark thoughts on the edge of my consciousness.

Without waiting for my response, she walks away. As she disappears into her bedroom, and I take another sip of the tea, hoping it will calm me down, but my mind keeps drifting back to her… Different images play in my head, of her stepping out of that dress, standing naked in the shower as the water cascades down her hair, her glistening skin… I shake my head, trying to banish the thoughts.

Keep it together. You need her to want to be with you long term, not just for tonight.

But suddenly, I can’t bear the thought of staying away from her for another second. I head in the direction of her room and find the door open. She’s standing in front of the mirror in the corner, twisted around and looking at the back of her dress. She meets my eyes in the mirror with a small gasp.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Let me help you with that,” I say motion to her clearly stuck zipper.

She swallows and lets out a small “thank you,” before rotating so her back is to me. As I near her, I feel the warmth of her skin even through my suit. My fingers brush against her back to grab the zipper, and I watch goosebumps rise on her skin in response to my touch. The zipper is stubborn, but I manage to get it moving, revealing the smooth expanse of her back. Then I notice she isn't wearing a bra beneath the dress.

My mind goes blank, a haze of desire clouding my thoughts. She turns around slowly to face me, her lips slightly parted. Her deep brown eyes seemed to have turned darker, filled with unmistakable lust. She runs the tip of her tongue nervously over her upper lip and that's my last straw.

I spring forward, capturing her mouth with mine in a hungry kiss. She gasps in surprise but instantly melts into me, her lips parting to allow me deeper. The kiss is urgent, all the pent-up emotions of the past few days pouring out in a heated rush. My hands find her waist, pulling her closer, while her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me down to her level.

The feel of her body against mine, the taste of her lips, her little needy moans… everything about her serves to drive me wilder. I let one hand slide up her back, feeling the smooth skin beneath my fingertips. She shivers under my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips that nearly pushes me over the edge.

I press her against the door, deepening the kiss and exploring her mouth with my tongue. Her inexperience is evident in the tentative way she kisses back, but it only makes me want her more and go a little feral. I move my lips to her neck, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along her throat, savoring the sweet taste of her skin.

Kayla's hands clutch at my shoulders, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps. I can feel her heart pounding against mine, matching the frantic rhythm of my own. I let my hands roam, exploring the curve of her waist, the dip of her hips, wanting to touch every part of her.

She arches against me, her body pliant and eager. “Paul,” she breathes, her voice trembling with a mix of desire and uncertainty.

I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes. “Hey, if this is too much...”

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