Page 61 of If You Give a Billionaire a Bride

I groan when she moves her fingers in a circular motion, teasing me. Even with material between me and her hand, it feels like fucking nirvana.

God, this woman is trying to kill me.

Everly gazes up at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. “This doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you, Stafford,” she whispers, moving forward to nip at my bottom lip while her hand is still on my crotch.

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself, Ev?” She moans when I run my tongue across the seam of her lips. I grab her hand and push our joined fingers firmly against my hard-on. “After this, you’ll be consumed with thoughts of my cock deep inside you, claiming you as my wife, inch by inch.”

Just as her mouth parts, welcoming me in for a taste, the lights come back on. I blink rapidly as I adjust to the brightness. As the doors squeak open, Carol and the maintenance supervisor poke their heads inside.

“Are you alright?” she asks us with a knowing smile.

“We’re fine,” Everly squeaks as she scrambles from my lap.

She acts like we’re high school kids getting caught behind the bleachers. As far as Carol knows, I was getting frisky with my wife, making the most of the honeymoon stage, and she doesn’t seem fazed one bit.

Everly straightens her skirt and retrieves her purse from the ground.

“Thanks for saving us,” she says to the maintenance man before darting past him and disappearing down the hall.

“Great timing,” I mumble.

“You’re not the first man who wasn’t happy to be rescued,” he says with a chuckle.

“How many times has this elevator broken down?” I ask, alarmed.

He shrugs. “A few.”

Everly’s preference for the stairs might be a smart move, but if another elevator mishap means we can continue where we left off, I’m game for it any day.

16

EVERLY

I HALF EXPECTED TO FINDmy dad in my office this morning, but I was relieved when I got to the office and August told me my dad flew back to New York last night. After his impromptu visit to the Stafford Holdings office yesterday, he came back to Townstead International to meet with August and Liam.

That hasn’t stopped him from tormenting me with a barrage of emails. There was no mention of the incident at Cash’s office, just a mountain of work he insisted was urgent. He’s a master at psychological warfare.

His version of love has always come with conditions. He’s incapable of feeling genuine love for anyone, not even me or Theo. It’s a sobering reality that I’ve struggled to grapple with since I was a kid. He had me convinced that it was my fault whenever he got angry at me for not doing things his way, andbelieved that if I could meet his expectations, he’d finally give me the affection I craved.

I was wrong.

I’m drawn out of my thoughts when August strolls into my office without knocking. “Good morning,” he chirps. “Figured you could use this.” He sets a cup of coffee on my desk before taking a seat on the couch in the corner. “Dark roast with two pumps of creamer just the way you like it.”

“God bless you,” I smile. “It’s been a hectic morning and I haven’t had my caffeine fix yet.” I take a long sip, exhaling in satisfaction.

He leans back, crossing his legs like he plans to stay a while. “Glad I could be of service,” he grins.

Today he’s wearing a light gray suit with cropped pants, paired with a black shirt underneath, and stylish black loafers. He refuses to adhere to a typical business dress code, opting to showcase his individual style. My dad gives August hell for it whenever he’s in town.

“What I would give to have been a fly on the wall during Cash’s interaction with Dick yesterday.”

I looped August in on the details of my dad’s unwanted visit to Cash’s office earlier.

I roll my eyes. “You’re just jealous Cash got to stand up to him, while you have to stay silent.”

He tips his head, giving me a hard look. “I’m not the only one.”

“Touché,” I say, taking another drink of my coffee, savoring its rich flavor.

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