Page 37 of Worth the Risk

“I— We… I don’t,” she says, not wanting to admit it.

“Are you going to stop me?” My hand cradles her neck, the other sliding across the silky material of her dress till I hit the bare skin of her exposed back. I let my touch linger before sliding my hand lower to grab a handful of her ass.

“We shouldn’t.”

“Oh, but doesn’t that make it so much more exciting?” I slip my thumb between her lips again, this time her teeth sinking down into my flesh. “There’s no camera, nobody watching us.” I remove my thumb, leaning forward to nip her lip softly. “Nobody will know but us.”

I can see her resolve slipping as her eyelids grow heavier; her breathing grows more rapid until she breaks. She grabs a fistful of my shirt, tugging me forward until our lips meet.

This kiss is different.

Her lips move enthusiastically against mine, her tongue making the first move to deepen the kiss. I let her take control for a second, her other hand finding its way into my hair. She drags her long nails against my scalp, biting down on my bottom lip at the same time and sending me into overdrive. Her fingers release my shirt, sliding slowly down the front of my body till she reaches my belt.

In a flash I have her wrists pinned behind her back, my hand wrapped tightly around her hair as I bend her to my will. I devour her mouth, letting my body take control of hers until I feel her surrender to me.

“Stop.” She pushes against me, taking several steps back. “We can’t— I can’t.” I let out a huff of frustration, stepping away from her to calm down.

“We already did, baby.” The words come out in a growl as I attempt to catch my breath. “We can’t undo that.”

“I meant—” The words go unsaid but it’s clear what she meant. Her hands wrap tightly around the top of the bench as she stares back at me, like she’s doing everything she can to hold herself back.

“We can’t fuck.” I finish her thought and she nods slowly. I pull my phone from my pocket and send a text to my driver waiting down the block that it’s time to leave. “I’ll give you a ride home. Jeff is pulling up any second,” I say, referring to my driver.

“It’s fine. I could use some fresh air waiting for a?—”

“Don’t worry.” I reach for her hand and pull her away from the bench. “I wasn’t going to fuck on the sidewalk and I promise I won’t fuck you in the car either, Taylor.”

“That’s not why— I know you wouldn’t. I just need some space from you at the moment.”

“Really?” My attempt at sarcasm sounds more like frustration. “Because the way your hands were moving toward my belt, it sure seemed like you wanted me to.” Jeff pulls the car to the curb and I usher her toward it with my hand against her waist. “Don’t argue with me. Get in the car.”

She glares but climbs in, sliding across the back seat of the Range Rover until she’s against the far door.

“Evening, sir.” Jeff nods.

“Hey, Jeff, we’re going to drop Taylor off at her building first.”

“Absolutely, sir.” He nods. “Evening, Miss Harrington.” Jeff smiles at her in the rearview mirror. “Been a while since I’ve given you a ride; how have you been?”

“We’re going to need some privacy tonight, Jeff.” I reach for Taylor, tugging her across the seat until she’s next to me.

“Absolutely, sir.” He nods, reaching up to press the button that slides the privacy screen into place.

“What the fu— Austin,” she huffs, yanking her arm out of my grip. “I’m not one of your women you can boss around who thinks it’s cute to fall at your feet. I am your business partner and lawyer.”

“And none of that changes the fact you had your tongue in my mouth and if I hadn’t stopped you, your hand on my cock a few minutes ago. So cut the attitude and stop acting like just because I want to bend you over this back seat and make you forget your fucking name doesn’t mean I don’t respect you and who you are in my life. Do you understand me?”

“That is not the point.”

“Then what is the point, Taylor? Because as far as I can see, you either want to play a game of cat and mouse which I am more than happy to oblige hunting you”—I reach over and hook my finger beneath her chin—“or you want to keep me on the hook because you aren’t ready to make a decision.”

“The point is I just got out of a five-year relationship that left me feeling so confused and hurt I don’t know where to turn. The point is that kissing you was a mistake and confused me even further. The point is you’ve gone on two dates with Mia?—”

“Forget about Mia,” I blurt, “Jesus, there’s nothing between her and me. There’s nothing between me and anyone else but you.”

She blinks at me several times, then turns and sits back against the leather seat without another word. The rest of the ride is silent.

When we reach her building, I slip out of the back seat and walk around to her door, opening it for her. I slide my hand behind her back, resting it against her waist as I usher her inside the building.

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