Page 11 of Elevating Eve

CHAPTER 5

Jonathan

Fuck, fuck,fuck.

In an instant, Jonathan’s dick was hard as fucking granite. All the basest instincts in his body told him to grab this stunning creature, bend her over the foot of the bed, and fuck her until the sun came up.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away as gently as he could. “Eve,” he said, hearing the regret filling his voice. “We can’t.”

The look of mortification on her kind, beautiful face sent guilt spiraling through him. “Oh, God.” There was a panicked edge to her voice. “I’m so fucking stupid. I’m so sorry.”

“Listen to me. It’s not?—”

She grabbed the door and flung it closed.

Jonathan winced as the door collided with his foot. He felt that impact through the fine Italian leather of his shoe.

Her wide eyes met his for one shocked second. Then she turned, hiding her face from him. “Please leave,” she whispered, voice shaking with barely restrained tears.

“I promise I’ll leave as soon as you hear what I need to say.” The words sounded as soft and gentle as he knew how to make them. No way would he use his usual commanding Dom voice when he already felt like shit for taking away her choice to kick himout. But she needed to hear this. “I’m not rejecting you, Eve. I mean, look at you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I first saw you.”

She drew in a sharp breath. Her hand shook as she pulled it away from the door, allowing him to open it the rest of the way. She turned to face him again, though she didn’t quite meet his gaze. “Then why...” She couldn’t seem to figure out how to finish the question.

Reaching out, Jonathan cupped her injured cheek with his hand, doing everything in his power to keep from hurting her. “I’m not going to do the same thing Frank did all those years ago.”

Her mouth dropped open the tiniest bit.

“If, after all this is sorted out and you’re back on your feet, you still want to do this, I would be more than happy to oblige.” He’d be fucking ecstatic. “But I’m not going to take advantage of you when you’re hurt and vulnerable.”

She stared into his eyes for so long, desire radiating from her like a cat in heat, that his resolve almost weakened.Almost.But he’d never be able to forgive himself if he let anything happen tonight.

At long last, she let out a sigh. “Of course you’re one of the noble ones.” Disappointment filled her eyes, but her lips held the hint of a smile. “Not that I’m surprised. It’s probably half the reason I’m so attracted to you.”

“And the other half?” Jonathan asked, his own lips quirking upward.

“Your ass,” she said, eyes scrunching up at the corners. “Definitely your ass.”

He laughed as gratitude eased the guilt still lingering in the pit of his stomach. Thank God everything would be all right between them. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing her before he even had her. “And here I thought it was my charming personality.”

She smiled bigger than he’d ever seen from her.

And Christ, her smile was beautiful.

“Okay, Prince Charming,” Eve said with an amused shake of the head. “Let me get some sleep so I can start getting my head on straight. I’ll see you in a couple days.”

Jonathan bowed low like a prince in an old black-and-white movie,loving the sound of her giggle. “My lady.” He backed away from the threshold, letting her shut the door between them.

Fishing his phone out of his pocket, he pulled up his text thread with Leo and typed,Sometimes being noble really fucking sucks.

With a sigh, he dropped the cell phone back into his pocket and headed toward his car.

Jonathan buried his hands in his hair and groaned. He was back in his office on the Manor’s third floor, trying to get some work done, but he couldn’t concentrate.

“How did you know to come rescue me?”Fuck, he’d never get those words out of his head. An image popped into his mind then—Prince Charming in gleaming armor atop a pristine white horse, sword held aloft as he charged unwaveringly to save a damsel in distress.

Not just any damsel in distress.Evein distress.

Reaching down, he pressed his knuckles roughly against his cock through his slacks, trying to get the damn thing to calm down. Since when did he have a savior kink? Hell, was that even a real thing?

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