Page 38 of Hold On Me

“Ha. You couldn’t be further from the truth.” The smile’s gone and his lips are a tight line against his teeth. I prefer the smile.

“I’m sorry, I just assumed.”

“First rule of the Elias business school, Miss Richards: Never assume anything about your opponents. It instantly puts you at a disadvantage.” He smiles again, but this time it’s tinged with a sadness I’ve never seen on him before.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realise we were opponents, or I was attending school.” He rolls his eyes a little and smirks. “Wanna tell me why my assumptions were wrong?” The hesitation on his face makes me nudge him with my thigh. “Come on, don’t make me be the only one with a shitty origin story.”

A chuckle and a sigh are all that leaves his lips for a second or two, but before I give up all hope of him speaking, he blows out a breath and runs his thumb over my index finger, my hand still clasped in his. The little strokes make my heart flutter. This is ridiculous. It’s such a small gesture, but my panties are soaked through. It’s been so long since I’ve been touched by anyone, he’s sending me into a tailspin. And that’s what I’ll keep telling myself, because I don’t want to admit I’m beginning to really like this sexy, arrogant, douche.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “Cliff notes version. My mum saw an opportunity and my dad was a gullible sucker. After she had me, she divorced him and took a shitload of his money. If it hadn't been for my uncle, she would’ve taken a lot more. He was a shrewd businessman and knew how to hide assets.”

I can’t hide my shock. I turn my body to face him, his hand gripping mine tightly still. He keeps his eyes down, looking at our joined hands, avoiding my gaze. Well I’m not having that.Mustering the confidence I know my dad worked hard to instill in me, I reach under his chin and with my free hand bring his head up to look at me.

His eyes are guarded but warm, and I let my hand linger on his cheek for just a second, liking the way his stubble feels against my palm. “I’m sorry I assumed. Turns out we have more in common than I thought.”

Without a flicker of warning, he tugs on my hand—the one he hasn’t let go of throughout our conversation, and that I’ve made no effort to remove from his grip—and I fall forward slightly, the hand on his cheek landing on his chest, our lips millimetres apart.

“I think we have a lot of things in common. I mean, we both think I’m ridiculously handsome.” I scoff before his smile dazzles me and a flame of heat licks my cheeks. “And I think we both want the same thing right now.” His voice is filled with a huskiness that sends shivers through me.

“And what’s that?” I lick my lips as the whisper ghosts over his.

“This.”

His lips press against mine, and I can’t help the low groan from my throat as his tongue strokes across the seam, enticing them to open. He elicits another moan from me as he gently tugs on my bottom lip, and I finally dip my tongue out to let it stroke against his. Maintaining his grip on my hand, keeping us close, his free hand cups the back of my neck, tilting my head to get a better angle for his lips to continue their pleasurable assault on mine.

A jolt of the elevator and a flash of bright light forces my senses back to reality. I’m kissing my boss.

Double fuck.

A sudden flame of embarrassment flies through me and I jump away from him, ripping my hand from his in the process.Scrambling to my feet, I regain my senses just in time for the doors to open. Grabbing my bag and coat from the floor, and without a second glance back, I stride through the lobby muttering, ‘shit, shit, shit, shit’ to myself as I go.

21

BEN

Clinking the ice cubes together as I swirl the bourbon around in my glass, I scowl at the contents, my thoughts flitting back to soft lips, little gasps and sensual moans. I down the liquid in one, sucking air through my teeth as the taste of vanilla hits me, sending flashes of her hair filtering through my mind.

I slam the glass on the table and growl. “This is shit. Get me a whiskey.” Two matching scoffs and a chuckle force my attention away from the ice cubes and I’m met with twin Brady eyes scrutinising me. “What?”

“You didn’t say please. I thought you Brits were all about manners.” Jameson folds his arms over his chest whilst Jenson leans back in his chair, tipping the front legs off the floor, his eyes shining with mischief.

“Get me a whiskey,please.Better?” I grit out through my teeth, throwing my hands up in exasperation when they both laugh. “What is wrong with you two dicks? Your bourbon sucks and I want a real drink.” They just stare at me with a brow raised on each of their faces. “Fine, I’ll get it myself.”

Before I can stand, Jameson puts his hand on my thigh and stops me. “Tell us what happened.”

Jenson sits straighter on his chair with a grin. “We know it involves Buttercup, so spill.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about. And your hosting skills are crap. I’m telling Mama Brady you wouldn’t get your guest a drink.” Smugly, I fold my arms over my chest and watch as they both grapple with the idea of disappointing their mum versus finding out what’s going on with me. Bunch of mama’s boys, the lot of them.

Damn it. I’m just jealous, and the reality of it stings. If I’d had a mum like Mama Brady, I’d be a mama’s boy too. But I didn’t. I had a woman who couldn’t give a fuck about me.

“I’ll get you the whiskey on one condition.” I turn my head to focus on Jameson and just raise my brow in response, garnering a smirk from him. “You tell us what happened, and we give you the Brady word that it goes no further than this room. Not even Jonathan will know.” I turn my head to look at Jenson and tilt my head to the side, questioning.

“Fine. I won’t tell Angie either. Brady word.”

I take a second to think about their offer and then smile. “No deal.” It’s worth it to see the look of shock on both their once smug faces. “I mean, what do I get out of it really? A drink? I can go home and get one of those without telling you suckers anything. You’d make rubbish businessmen.”

Jenson’s laugh barrels through the room whilst Jameson scowls at me.

---