Page 40 of Bound

Some part of me needs the explanation, needs the pieces to fit together perfectly, needs?—

His face gentles.

Needsthat.

Understanding. Gentleness. The soft brush of his hand along my jaw, his lips pressing to my forehead. “It’s a lot to throw at you.”

His words are less question than statement, but I nod anyway. “I feel like I’m spinning like one of those reflective lawn ornaments, around and around and around.”

“Cute,” he murmurs, trailing his fingers down my throat. “Always so fucking cute.”

I frown. “Me spinning?”

A shake of his head. “The things you say. The way you look at me. Your soft moans on my tongue?—”

I inhale.

His mouth hitches up. “The pink on your cheeks. The freckles on the bridge of your nose. The way you nibble at your bottom lip.” He softly frees said lip with his thumb.

“Jackson,” I say.

“Come on.” He takes my hand, spinning me and tucking me against his side, draping his arm around my shoulders as he draws me through the lobby, by the group of Breakers’ players and staff, who are all staring unabashedly, and toward the spinning door at the front of the hotel.

“Where are we going?” I whisper.

He pauses then grins down at me suddenly, his smile beyond sexy.

“The best first date of your life.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jackson

I shepherd Claire through the lobby, ignoring that Smitty’s watching me like I’m a ticking time bomb.

You’d think that the matchmaking, gossip-monger would love that I’m finally giving in to the urge to pursue Claire.

Instead…

I’ve got furrowed brows and glaring eyes.

Cool. Cool.

I glare right back, tuck her a little closer, and guide Claire through the plate glass door that the porter swings wide for us, skipping the spinning door in lieu of keeping her close.

“Thanks, Tony,” I mutter, passing him a hundred. He saved my ass last night and this morning, helping me organize shit that I stayed up far too late putting together.

Claire hasn’t had a first date.

I need to make today fucking spectacular. She deserves that much.

And…I haven’t given in to the urge to spend time with her before now, so I’m going to soak in every fucking moment.

She pauses when we make it out to the sidewalk and glances up at me. “Which way are we heading?” she asks, her voice melodic, her cheeks pink, her lips slightly swollen.

Back up to my room so I can give her a completely different kind of kiss.

But…

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