Page 20 of The Grump's Assistant

“Juniper,” I growl as I stand and nearly rip the door off its hinges.

She looks up at me, those wide, green eyes capturing mine and pulling me closer, closer, closer until I lift her curvy body up into my arms and slant my mouth over hers.

I’ve never felt this way, never felt this desperate, this out of control. I feel like if I don’t kiss her right now, I’m going to dissolve, disappear completely because she’s the only thing that makes me real.

I wrap one of my hands around the back of her neck while the other one rests on the small of her back, keeping her close to me. Juniper’s pulse beats rapidly on the side of her neck and I can see her swallow thickly.

She needs it, too. She needs me. It’s a powerful feeling, to be needed by someone like Juniper. And I’m a man used to power. But this… this is something else entirely.

“Wow,” she says breathlessly when we break apart. “I hope that’s not how you greeted everyone who knocked on your door today.”

I chuckle at her cheeky response. My heart stops when she smiles at me. Jesus Christ, I thought she was gorgeous before, but her brilliant, sparkling eyes and wide smile just might kill me. How is she so full of light and life? And how can I make it my own?

“Feeling sassy today?” I murmur as I continue trailing kisses down her neck.

“Always,” Juniper sighs, making me grin. “I like your laugh.”

I pause, letting her words sink in. What a precious thing, to enjoy the way someone laughs. I can’t say I’ve ever noticed anyone’s laugh until Juniper. I love every sound she makes, and I’m hoping to hear a few new ones tonight.

“I likeyou,” I finally reply, taking her lips once again.

Juniper relaxes into the kiss, letting me carry her to my private elevator. We don’t separate as we step inside, or as the elevator jets us up several stories in the blink of an eye.

When the doors open into my penthouse, Juniper finally tears herself away from me, seeming to notice our change of location for the first time. She climbs out of my embrace, which I’m not a fan of. I let her know it by lacing my fingers in hers and pulling her toward me. My angel collides with my chest.

“Oomph,” she breathes out before giggling and tilting her head up.

“Sorry,” I grunt. “I’ll have to be more careful with you.”

“I think you handle me just fine.”

I groan at her words, then lean down and rest my forehead on hers. I’m going to lose my damn mind if I don’t get inside her, but this is all very fast. Some part of me knows that. And as much as I want to defile my perfect angel right here and now, I need to know she’s on board.

“We can slow down,” I tell her, rubbing my nose against her tiny one. Every single inch of her is precious and mine andfuck, I’ve never felt so possessive of anything or anyone in my life.

“After this morning? Are you kidding me?” Juniper sounds offended, which only makes me chuckle again. She smiles at me and gets up on her tiptoes to kiss me. “I want whatever you want,” she whispers onto my lips before kissing me again.

“Are you sure?”

Juniper nods. “I’m sure, Vincent. I just need to let you know… I, uh…” She takes a deep breath and blows it out.

“What? What’s wrong?” I’m about to give her some space, but Juniper fists my shirt and pulls me closer.

“Nothing’s wrong. I promise.” I stand still, looking down at her and waiting for her to continue. “I just think you should know that I’ve never done this before.”

“I sure hope you’ve never slept with your boss before,” I growl. Truthfully, the thought of any man’s hands on her makes me livid, but that’s not fair. Just because I’ve been out of the game and celibate for years, doesn’t mean she has.

“Of course not!” Juniper gasps. “I’ve also never slept with anyone.”

“Fuck,” I grunt. “Say it again.” Juniper looks confused, so I bury my face into the side of her neck, licking over her pulse point before explaining. “Tell me I’m the only one to taste you. Tell me I’m going to be the only one to see your beautiful body on display. Goddamn, angel, tell me I’m the only one who will stretch out that tight little pussy.”

“Only you,” she whimpers, tilting her head to the side to give me more room to devour her. I lick her neck and nibble on the shell of her ear.

“Good,” I growl.

I walk us a few steps backward, pressing her back against the wall with the weight of my body as I slant my mouth overhers, thrusting my tongue in between her lips so I can finally have another taste. She moans softly for me, and then loudly as I tangle my fingers in her long hair and angle her head to deepen the kiss. A sharp thread of desire slices through me when I feel her teeth sink into my bottom lip.

“God, Juniper,” I groan, kissing down her neck and nipping at her pulse point.

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