Page 32 of Enemies with Benefits

As I shook my head free of the thought, he stepped closer. ‘Here, I’ll take a couple of those off your hands if you want.’

I watched, a little annoyed for being so easily distracted by him as he transferred a bagel and croissant from my plate to his. He left far more than I needed on my plate but somehow I didn’t protest as his free hand landed in the small of my back, scrambling my brain as he guided me back to the table. ‘Come on, let’s get back to it,’ he said.

In between watching him take healthy bites out of his food and attacking the next item on the agenda, I demolished several pastries, mentally promising myself another twenty minutes on the treadmill at my next gym session.

I didn’t object when he returned to the buffet table and brought back a bowl of fruit, only squirmed stealthily in my chair as I watched him toss a grape into his mouth.

God, what the hell was so fascinating about watching this man eat? Whatever it was, I couldn’t stop myself from watching him swallow, the movement of his Adam’s apple curiously erotic enough to shoot arrows of desire into my pelvis.

‘Are we done?’ I asked, more out of desperation than anything else.

‘More or less,’ he replied.

‘What else is there?’

For the longest time, he didn’t reply. When he reacted, it was to reach into the fruit bowl and pluck out a ripe, juicy strawberry. Then he rolled his chair around the table, breaching the gap between us. ‘There’s something else I want to talk about.’

Something dark and decadent in his voice made my thighs tingle, my breath rush out in a lustful little pant. ‘Oh?’

‘I feel the need to apologise for the way I left things last night.’

The reminder reduced the tingles but didn’t demolish them altogether. ‘You came to deliver a message and I received it loud and clear.’

‘I’m not talking about business, and you know it.’

‘Do I?’

He leaned forward, held the fruit against my bottom lip then trailed it lazily from side to side. ‘I left you hanging,’ he murmured throatily. ‘I’m not in the habit of doing that.’

Curiously compelled, I licked the fruit before answering, ‘I’m a big girl, Jasper. I can take it.’

His nostrils flared in arousal. ‘Not if you don’t have to.’

I sucked in a breath, the scent of the strawberry and his aftershave a potent mix that rendered me strangely breathless. ‘You don’t owe me anything...’

‘Okay. But you still owe me one minute, possibly two.’ He pressed the fruit harder against my mouth. ‘Open,’ he instructed gruffly.

My lips parted and I took the fruit. His gaze dropped to my mouth as I held it between my lips for a moment then bit into it. Sticky juice trickled down one corner of my mouth. His gaze latched on to it for one tight little second before, groaning, he lunged forward.

He devoured half of the fruit as he sealed his lips to mine.

As if a switch had been thrown, feverish electricity consumed us as we consumed each other. He rose, his urgent hands landing on my waist to yank my body into his. My hands flew up his broad shoulders, explored for mere seconds before spiking into his hair.

Jasper’s tongue delved into my mouth, licking away the last of the juices before tangling with mine. Desire shot through me, lifted me onto my tiptoes as I strained against him. Wanting more.

My vibrator last night had come nowhere close to satisfying the need clamouring anew inside me. The thought that Jasper was equally ravenous for me thrilled my blood as he deepened the kiss.

The faint sound of a ringing phone momentarily reminded me of where we were, the possibility that someone could walk in on us at any moment.

With a monumental effort, I broke the kiss and laid my hand on his chest as I fought to catch my breath. ‘Jasper, I...the door...’

Without letting go of me, he walked us a few steps to the middle of the conference table and snatched up a small remote. Aiming it at the door, he clicked a button and I heard the distinct sound of it locking.

Burnished eyes pinned me where I stood. ‘No one will disturb or hear us now. The room’s soundproofed.’

My breath shuddered out, my fingers tightening on his nape even as I questioned my sanity. ‘Jasper...’

He dropped his lips to my jaw, trailing little erotic bites before he caught my earlobe between his teeth. ‘I regret not making you come last night. I sure as hell regret missing the chance to be inside you, even if it was only for one minute.’

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