Page 54 of Loving the CEO

She laughed. “Would you ask that on a real date?”

“No,” I admitted. “But I’m allowed to ask you, am I not?"

"Oh, you can get away with anything, really. Especially tonight."

If only she knew exactly what I wanted...

She tapped her chin a couple times. "Let's see. Someone who doesn't really care about appearances and wants me for myself, not because his family expects him to settle down or something. Someone who wants to have two or three kids and likes the idea of raising a family."

Well, I was definitely on board with the first two things. I didn't give a shit what others thought about me, and I sure as hell didn't do stuff just to please others. But the last two could never apply to me. Settlingdown was not my thing. I couldn't imagine myself doing it—not in a hundred years.

"So, you already feel ready for a relationship?" I asked before biting into my sushi.

She put down the salmon sushi she’d just picked up. "Not really. I guess that's what the healed version of me would want."

"Tory," I said, straightening up, "what do you need right now?"

She laughed. "To get laid, probably. I mean, I haven't had sex in months. I feel like I might combust soon."

Fucking hell. Fucking hell. No way.

She was laughing even harder.

"Oh my God. I can't believe I told you that." She dropped her head in her hands. "I would never share that with anyone. I'm not sure what's gotten into me tonight."

Come on, Leo. Market crashes, inflation, high interest rates. Think about anything that will take your mind out of the gutter.

But it was useless. I could vividly imagine pulling her onto my lap right here, right now and making her come so hard that she’d be completely breathless. I could definitely help out with that.

"Leo?" she asked tentatively.

I realized I'd been completely silent since she dropped that bombshell on me.

"I'm really sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to be so crass."

I looked her straight in the eyes. She couldn't tell where my mind went? "I asked and you were honest, and that's what tonight is all about."

I was such a fucking liar. IfIwere honest, I'd tell her exactly what I wanted to do to her in detail. That tonight was a complete charade. I didn't fucking want to coach her to go on a date with anyone else.

I wanted her.

But she’d just described someone I could never be, so that train of thought was completely pointless.

"Tell me about this guy Debbie set you up with," I said through gritted teeth. I took a deep breath, unclenching my jaw. "Think it’ll go far?"

"I don't know anything about him. But I've never slept with someone on a first date," she said. "I don't think I've even kissed anyone on the first date, so I don’t see things getting hot. Unless he’s just that awesome, I guess."

I saw red. I already hated that bastard.

Fuck no. He couldn't put his hands on her. He just couldn't. I wouldn't allow it.

"Leo, are you okay? You look a bit on edge."

I was close to losing my mind with jealousy.

"All good," I said.

"Okay, then it's my turn to ask questions. Where do you see yourself in five years? And I'm not talking about your company but your personal life."

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