Page 107 of Rush of Jealousy

“Doubtful for her. I saw the way she oohed and ahhed over you.”

“Sweetheart. I wantyou. No one else.”

“You need to consider my feelings though when you are around your harem of women.”

His nose turns up in disgust over my comment, but he doesn’t correct me. “I apologize for making you feel like she was replacing you. But that is completely ludicrous. Because baby, no one could ever do that. Ever.”

Graham’s words ignite the flame within me, and the heat permeates into my deepest insecurities—making the emotions scatter to the forefront. Guilt overwhelms me for making such a simple conversation with someone he used to know turn into such an overexaggeration.

“I wish you could understand how easy you have it, because I have never had sex with anyone but you, so you don’t have that to worry about like I do.”

His eyes darken with the realization, and a small part of me finds comfort in knowing I got through to him.

I need to get over the fact that he has a past—a twelve-girl past to be specific. And that’s just assuming he added correctly. I have no clue how good his math skills are. Better than mine, no doubt. But coming face-to-face with now two girls who have been a part of his life is a bit much. My insecurities about myself blossom and flourish under the inspecting gaze of his ex-lovers. It is much easier in theory to deal with his past whenever it isn’t staring at me straight in the eye.

“I’m sorry for making you feel bad over something so small,” I concede, making his demeanor soften.

“I get that you don’t comprehend just how much you mean to me, Angie. I know that it is utterly ridiculous to like someone as much as I like you after only a couple of months. But there’s no competition where you are concerned. No one else compares to you.”

Graham runs his hands through his already rumpled hair, stirring the sexual energy in the back of the car. The man lives and breathes sex appeal. Graham’s eyes change to a crystal blue and he turns his body to face mine, leaning his left leg onto the leather seat.

“But know that I will slay your dragons and protect what is mine. You enchant me beyond any logical reason. You have the power to destroy me.” His fingers move to my cheek, and the gentle caress causes a shiver down my spine. “Just remember. You are mine. And as for any other man who stumbles into your life, well”—he raises his eyebrows—“I’ll be willing to fight for you.”

“That’s obvious.” I don’t mean for my words to sound as snarky as they do. I quickly curl my lips to a small smile to convey my feelings. “I keep telling myself that this is just a challenge for you. That you’re going to get bored or move on to the next conquest. I keep denying what I feel for you. But I know that it is fear holding me back.”

“What are you afraid of, sweetheart?” His question falls from his lips as eloquently as a pianist producing a chorus melody.

“Of being happy,” I blurt out. It’s a short answer. But it’s the truth. This must be the wine talking, because I’m not a sharer.

Graham furrows an eyebrow. “Most people would think thatneverbeing happy would be their worst fear. But your fears are different. What else do you fear?”

“Being alone.” Fuck. What am I doing?Shut up.

Graham leans back in his seat and studies my words. “You do realize that those two fears will inevitably cause conflict?”

I shrug. “Then I guess I will just live in limbo.”

“What happened to you, baby? Please share this part of yourself with me. I can try to help you then.”

I open my mouth and then quickly close it. I look out the window and lean my head against it. I don’t want to talk about it. I want to keep it tucked away, inside for good.

“Please, baby.”

We arrive back at the lake house, so I get granted a reprieve on having to finish the conversation. Knowing Graham, it is just giving him more time to construct a plan to get me to open up.

He helps me out of the car and leads me through the main doors of the house. “Tired?” he asks softly, earning anumm hmmfrom me, even as he is pulling me toward the stairs to the basement. “Or up for a soak in the hot tub?”

I look up into his concerned eyes and instantly feel the pang of sadness that they bring. I care about him. “I would like that.” My voice is barely a whisper. It feels like there is cotton in my throat.

I follow Graham down the stairs and into a dressing area. He turns me gently and unzips my skirt and unbuttons my shirt. He pulls it from my body and kneels in front of me as he admires my lingerie.

“You are the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. You enchant me, Angela. I want to get to know every part of your body and your mind—equally.” He kisses my knees, then moves up to my thighs. I spread my legs just enough for him to kiss my pussy and then my stomach. “I want to burn the memory of how you look right now into my mind. You are mine. I am never letting you go.”

Graham strips me, starting at my bra, and kisses his way down to peel off my panties and then the belts and thigh-highs. He unfastens the diamond necklace and places it with my discarded clothes. He kisses along where my necklace used to be, and I enjoy the wet trail he leaves behind and the way his hands knead the tension out of my skin. He helps me into the skimpiest white bikini that has more strings than actual fabric. I’m not actually sure what the point of it is, other than to accentuate my curves even more. I watch from the bench while he undresses in front of me, and I sit back and enjoy the show.

“Where’s a wad of dollar bills when I need them?” I tease.

He throws back his head and laughs from his diaphragm. “You did say you wanted a strip show for your date preference.”

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