Page 49 of Sensual Games

“When will you stop being so damn stubborn, Poison?” he whispered back, eyeing a couple of open doors nearby. Like I gave a damn about being nice in public at a time like this, but then he was too important for a public scandal. “It’s what you need. I have the resources, and I want to provide them. It’s the least I can do.”

“You’re not wrong about that,” I blurted out before snapping my mouth shut. I didn’t want him to think I agreed with him or that this was a good thing to do. “You went over my head without talking to me about it. I know you think money solves everything, but it doesn’t.”

“Are you sure about that? Because where I’m standing, money solves a lot of problems, and you need to stop being afraid of that. I have the money. I was able to get her into the best facility in New York, and I was happy to do it. Do you hear me? Happy. I wanted to do it. Where is the crime?”

“Oh, you did this from the goodness of your heart?”

“Don’t do that.” He shook his head, folding his arms, wearing a smirk. “There’s nothing you can say or do to change my mind or make me second-guess my decision. I did this for you. End of story.”

I had to wrap my arms around my trembling body, fighting off bitter, frustrated tears. “And what do I have to do for it?” I asked, cutting to the chase. “Don’t tell me there are no strings attached. I’m not naïve.”

“You don’t have to do anything,” he replied, wearing a smile that looked almost sad. “I know what I would like you to do, but nobody’s forcing you.”

“I knew it.”

“Stop fighting.” His eyes drifted shut, nostrils flaring as he took a deep breath. “Aren’t you tired of fighting? All I want is to give you the chance to live without feeling like you have to fight every day. I would also like to offer you a job.”

“You can’t be serious. Let me guess. I would have to be your assistant. No, thank you.”

“My assistant?” he asked. “I thought you had more imagination than that.” His head tipped to the side. “I was thinking we could share the vice presidency.”

“This is a fantasy.” I had to laugh at his childish idea. “You’re still not living in reality. You can’t snap your fingers and expect everybody else to fall in line.”

Laughter rumbled in his chest. “How come they have already?”

“What are you saying?” I whispered. It was unnerving as hell, knowing he was holding all the cards.

“I’m saying it’s already done if you want the job,” he shared. “I have the CEO’s approval. Also, you might be interested to know I sat down with each team member who came over from Jones and asked them if they would like to stay in another capacity or if they would rather take the severance package. It was a fifty-fifty split or very close to it. Everybody got what they wanted in the end.”

Now that did it. I had to reach out and lean against the wall for support. Was it possible? “Everybody still has a job if they want it?” I whispered, afraid to ask in case this was all a dream stirred up by my overwhelmed mind.

“Yes. Including you. Oh, Poison…” he sighed, “… you have no idea how much I want to touch you right now. I’m aching for you. I wasn’t lying when I said I offered my resignation. Actually, I insisted on it,” he admitted, wincing. “I was even packing up yesterday, ready to throw in the towel. What was the point of being there without you?”

“You’re not kidding, are you?” I touched my head to the yellow-stained wall, reeling, afraid to believe it.

“Hey.” He reached out to cup my jaw with one hand. That slight touch set off a growl in the back of his throat as he wrapped his arms around me. It was sudden, but I didn’t flinch or pull away. How could I when all I had wanted ever since marching out of his apartment was to be in his arms again?

“I don’t know what to think. This is all so overwhelming.” I closed my eyes, resting the side of my face against his chest. The tightness I’d been carrying for so long that I almost didn’t notice it melted away. I was safe. Thanks to him.

“Does this mean you’re accepting the job?” His laughter stirred my hair as he pressed his lips to the top of my head. “I mean, your mom will be right there, in the city. Just a quick ride over to see her whenever you want. You don’t even have to cross the bridge into Jersey.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything sweeter than that.” It felt good to laugh and better when he joined me. “I really should be annoyed with you for going behind my back with this and for putting me on the spot. You knew I couldn’t say no if you went in and saw Mom first.”

“Was I a little devious? Maybe,” he admitted, kissing my head again, pulling his head back to smile down at me. “Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I am desperate for you. Your happiness, your safety, everything. I want nothing but the best for you, always.”

A soft, sheepish grin touched his mouth as he took my face in his hands. “I love you. That’s all I know for sure. You showed me the sort of man I want to be, and now all I want to do is find ways to be that guy. Somebody worthy of you. Will you give me the chance? I mean…” He chuckled. “If I can learn to sit through meetings and analyze reports, what can’t I do?”

“That is a pretty big deal,” I admitted, trying to fight back a smile for the sake of pretending I was seriously thinking it over. Really, what was there to think over? I was back where I needed to be.

“Give me a chance, Poison.” His smile faded, replaced by what looked like concern. “I swear, you won’t regret it. Let me love you.”

I didn’t need to hear anything else. Touching my fingers to his lips, I nodded slowly. “That’s all I want. I’ve never been in love before you, Lucian, but I’m all in. I’m tired of fighting it. I love you too.” It was hard to get the words out once emotion squeezed my throat.

Not that it mattered. Certain things could be shared without words. He placed a finger under my chin, tipping my head back and lining my mouth up with his while placing a soft, gentle kiss there. The sort of kiss that could have gone on and on and led to so many other things, but we were sort of in public and had other things to consider.

He knew it, too, grinning once he let me up for air. “What do you say we get your mom moved, then continue this at my place?”

“You’ve got a deal.” Still, I couldn’t help but give him one more kiss before letting go.

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