Page 41 of Enemies with Benefits

Any time. See you tonight.

I sailed through the rest of the day, surprisingly focused after my turbulent emotions, and when I arrived at the Mortimer building to find Jasper caught up in another meeting, the idea that had been mushrooming at the back of my mind on my way over sent me wandering into the empty office next to his. He found me there twenty minutes later, with my copies of the Moroccan deal spread out on the desk while I pored over equipment-delivery schedules and personnel management.

‘Would it be totally sexist to say you look good behind that desk?’ he drawled, leaning casually against the doorjamb.

I bit my inside lip to stop myself from smiling. To stop my insides from melting at the sight of him, tie loosened, hair slightly dishevelled, his long legs and spectacular body framed in a bespoke suit that highlighted his masculine perfection. ‘Yes, it totally would.’

Hazel eyes glinted as he rounded the desk I’d appropriated and perched on the edge, his muscled thighs a tantalising touch away. ‘You should punish me for my heinous crime, then,’ he said in a low purr.

I sat back in my chair, futilely willing my racing heartbeat to slow, while blatantly eyeing him from head to toe. ‘Hmm, I think I will. Just give me a few seconds to devise an adequate torture.’

A sexy smile lifted the corners of his mouth and I tightened my gut against the punch of need that threatened to leave me breathless. His eyes left mine to cast a look around the room. ‘I take it you’ve decided to make use of the office?’

I shrugged. ‘Since the contract says I need to spend time here, I thought this was best.’

His smile widened. ‘I agree,’ he said, then those sinful eyes dropped to scrutinise my body just as I did his. He swallowed when his gaze reached the hem of my pencil skirt. Desire spiralling through my veins, I deliberately crossed my legs, allowing the hem to ride higher.

When his eyes met mine again, flames blazed high and dangerous. ‘Two hours, forty minutes,’ he murmured, reminding me of how much time we’d spent on work so far.

A rush of heated anticipation to my core almost made me groan. Correcting him to say he was off by a vital thirteen minutes felt a little too needy so I let it go. ‘I have a bit more to catch up on, so I suggest you leave me alone.’

His gaze dropped to my lips, lingering for an indecently long time. ‘Can I get a little bit of that punishment first?’ he asked thickly.

No. Say no.

Of course I didn’t. Because this morning already felt like a lifetime ago. And damn it, he’d fed me and made me feel better after that argument with my mother. What was wrong with a little give?

Relaxing even further in my chair despite wanting to jump him, I crooked my finger. Hunger deepening in his eyes, he gripped my arm rests, his face hovering over mine. Slowly, I wrapped my fingers around his loose tie and tugged him closer until he was a whisper away. Then I slowly licked my bottom lip.

With a deep groan, Jasper breached that last inch between us, yanked the chair close and fused his lips to mine. Decadent minutes of sliding tongues, playful nips and frantic groping later, I pushed him away.

‘I really have work to do, Jasper. And you’re wasting my time.’ I cringed at the breathless mess of my voice.

He stayed where he was for another handful of seconds, his throat working, his eyes fixated on my kiss-bruised lips, savage hunger and a clear reluctance to end our entanglement pulsing from him.

And yes, it pleased a deeply needy part of me to see him fighting his own need for me. Battling to get himself under control. And when I spotted the thick bulge behind his fly, I fought a hard battle of my own. But ultimately, I knew this was for the best. That I needed this vital distance to control my needs. Before they escalated out of my control.

CHAPTER EIGHT

TWOHOURS,THIRTY-NINEMINUTES.

That time was emblazoned across my brain as I guided Wren into the exclusive restaurant in Fitzrovia on Wednesday evening to meet the tequila supplier.

The ambient lighting and tropical atmosphere of the Spanish fusion restaurant suited my mood and I watched the lights play on Wren’s flawless skin as we approached our table. I’d been unable to take a complete breath since she stepped out of her front door wearing the sleeveless, thigh skimming, butt-hugging moss-green dress. The soft material clung to all the right places and I’d barely been able to keep my eyes on the road on the drive over.

I wasn’t entirely sure whether to squander the entire time wining and dining this potential business partner and making her wait as payback for the way she’d tortured me for the last two days, or devote exactly two hours and thirty-eight minutes on Paolo Alonso and spend the last minute locating the nearest flat surface to rip Wren’s panties off and drive myself into her snug pussy the way I’d been dying to do ever since the lift doors had shut between us on Monday.

Within fifteen minutes of us being seated, I sensed it would be the former, and not because of the need to torture Wren. Our guest seemed hell-bent on a different type of torturing of his own. Paolo was in no mood to discuss business. The Mexican businessman was only interested in regaling us with tall stories of his journey from simple farmer to multimillionaire tequila manufacturer.

Every attempt to steer the discussion back to business was merrily lobbed away.

I was hiding gritted teeth behind a sip of wine halfway through the main course when Wren leaned her elbows on the table and smiled at Paolo.

‘La Tromba, the name of your tequila brand. That means whirlwind, doesn’t it?’ she asked.

Paolo grinned. ‘It does,sí. I named it after my wife,’ he mused. ‘From the moment I met her until now, she has never stopped making my life...interesting.’ A faraway look entered his eyes, private enough that Wren looked away. Straight into my eyes. I stared right back, not bothering to hide the depths of my hunger for her.

Her eyes widened a fraction, but, sweet heaven bless her, she didn’t shy away from what I was projecting. Which was that I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted another woman. That I intended to have her the second our six-hour deadline was up.

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