Page 29 of Silent Cravings

“You don’t think I can pull it off?”

“Did I say that? Thanks for putting words in my mouth,” she snapped. Was it twisted, the way I craved those flashes of temper?

“No, you didn’t say that,” I replied when it seemed like she was waiting for one.

“I only said it was ambitious, which it is,” she concluded, capping a highlighter. “I remember a time when all you wanted was to take a no-stress job at one of your family’s properties and do as little work as possible.”

She never mentioned the past. I told myself not to read too much into it and simply shrugged. “I grew up.”

“You clearly did. I mean, you’re still a whiny little bitch who lets his cock lead him around, but you did grow up when it comes to business.”

“Thanks?” I ventured, snorting.

“I might even learn to respect you one day,” she decided.

“Oh, thank you. Hang on. Where the hell is my diary so I can record this moment for posterity?” Scratching my head, I looked around at the table, shifting pages around at random while she heaved a sigh.

“Have you checked up your ass?” she asked with a sweet smile. “When you find it, don’t forget to add the part where I dump a glass of iced tea over your head.”

“I’ll be sure to add that part,” I promised. Let her pretend all she wanted that she wasn’t fighting a smile, but I could see through her.

“Ugh.” Rolling her eyes, she muttered, “I should know better than to try to give you a compliment.”

“Flatter me all you want. I’d never turn down praise, especially from you, Valentina.” Her cheeks went pink, and that was all it took. I had to keep pushing. The door was open again, if only a crack. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll give you a compliment. One for one.”

Her head tipped to the side while she tapped a finger on the remaining spreadsheets in front of her. “We need to get back to work.”

No one would believe it if I told them what happened a heartbeat later. I could have sworn on a stack of Bibles, but no way anyone who wasn’t in my house at that exact moment would believe the lights flickered and then went out.

“You have got to be kidding me!” Valentina threw her arms into the air, barely visible now that the only light in the room came from her tablet and the faint, gray lightoutside. “Comeon!” It was the way her voice broke that stole my breath and rattled my ribcage.

“Hey. It’s okay. I’ll find some candles, and we’ll keep going.” All she did was cover her face with her hands and turn away from me. Her shoulders were shaking, and soon, a choked sob filled the room.

A knot in my chest tightened. Forget getting candles. I went to her instead and took her by the shoulders, turning her in place. She hung her head, unwilling to look at me. “Everything will be fine. I’ve got you,” I said reassuringly. The only thing that felt right was gathering her in my arms and holding her close to my chest, rubbing her back while murmuring, “Don’t cry.”

“I’m just so frustrated,” she mumbled. “One more goddamn thing standing in my way.”

“There isn’t an obstacle in existence you couldn’t charge through. You have me helping you too.” I couldn’t help it. She smelled so good, and her hair was so soft. I touched my nose to the top of her head and breathed in, closing my eyes. There was something comforting about having her this close, though I was supposed to be the one comforting her.

“I’m just so…” She lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes finding mine. Lightning flashed, bathing the room in its harsh glare before going dark again.

“Everything’s going to be fine.” I cupped her cheek with one hand, overwhelmed by the rush of hunger that had me in its grips. Every time, I could start off wanting to comfort her, only to wind up dying to fuck her. There was something I couldn’t define when it came to the two of us. Something time couldn’t erase.

Her tear-filled eyes searched mine. “I keep telling myself we shouldn’t do this anymore,” she breathed out, leaningagainst me. “Then you swoop in to pick me up, and I’m in your arms, and I can’t remember why I ever resisted.”

“Maybe you need to stop fighting yourself,” I suggested. “Go with it.”

I expected her to argue. To tell me how predictable I was and remind me we were supposed to be working tonight.

Since when did she do the predictable thing?

Her arms encircled my neck before I buried my face in hers, inhaling her sweetness, soaking in her warmth while I backed her against the table. With a sweep of my arm, I sent the papers flying in all directions and placed her on the table, laying her back. Running my hands down the length of her body, I took her legs and propped them against my chest before caressing her from ankle to hip, my blood humming at the feel of her supple flesh under the baggy pants.

“Tell me you know we shouldn’t do this,” she begged, even as she moved to tug at my pants’ waistband. I was getting tired of the charade. Of her telling herself what she thought she should believe when I knew damned well she did what she wanted, and to hell with naysayers.

“Stop kidding yourself,” I whispered, my dick begging to be let out of its cage and shoved deep inside her.

When she sat up, I was sure she was going to shut the whole thing down before we started. I braced myself for the disappointment, but it was short-lived. She dipped her hand under my waistband and slid down off the table to work the pants down around my thighs. My boxer briefs came next, and a flash of lightning revealed her, giving me a couple of quick strokes before bending and guiding me into her open mouth.

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