Page 42 of Final Chance At Love (Chance At Love Duet 2)

“You know about my ex-wife,” Kristoff started, his voice strong. “And the fact that she cheated on me with my best friend.” I nodded feeling bad for him again. I wished I could take that hurt away from him.

Mental slap,I have to stop being so focused on him.I have to take care of myself.It is me that is falling apart here.

“What you don’t know is that I didn’t find out about the cheating till Jacqualine was almost six months pregnant. For the first six months, she left me to believe I was the father.”

God, it seemed we both had some bad ghosts hunting us. I wanted to go to Kristoff and offer him comfort, but I remained glued to my seat.

He continued in his strong voice, void of emotions; although, I was sure it was his mechanism for masking his pain. “I decided never to allow those kinds of distractions again, hence the contract. The contract allowed me to make it a business arrangement and to ensure I had control of what, when, and how things happened … Till you walked into my office on that first interview.”

I looked at him in surprise. I didn’t think my first interview was that memorable.

“I was surprised to receive the call for the follow up interview,” I muttered.

He smiled his first smile this afternoon.

“I wanted to hire you the same day and ask you to sign both contracts right away.” His smile faltered and he got serious. “Gemma, I need that contract. For my own sanity.”

“You want a contract for your own sanity,” I sighed, feeling like I could cry but I remained surprisingly calm. I knew that contract was going to come back and haunt me. “Or because you think it will be the thing that commits me to the relationship. But I am more than a contract and this,” I motioned my hand between us. “...should be more than a contract. I thought we were headed that way.”

My heart twitched in a painful way. I guess I sort of understood his need for it now. It was ironic that to me signing that contract almost felt like acknowledging that he owned me and I couldn’t go down that road. Jack took our wedding vows as his ownership of me. I viewed signing that contract to be the same, if not worse. It was wrong for me. I couldn’t put myself in a position like that, letting him own me.

“I am sorry for the scene with Rick,” he apologized. “It was wrong…” Silence stretched between us. “Isn’t that enough?”

“Not this time,” I choked the words out with regret, my heart bleeding.

“I promise, I would never hurt you.”

My stupid heart believed him. I believed he’d never intentionally hurt me, but my mind kept telling me that people do horrible things when they are desperate and running high on emotions.

“I guess we both have ghosts haunting us,” I almost choked on my words. “What happened with trusting me?”

“Gemma,” his voice was firm. “I can amend the contract slightly. Please sign it; do it for me.”

I would do anything for him, but I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror.

“And don’t see Rick alone again.” His voice was firm, calm, and non-negotiable. That is the business man I admired and feared to negotiate against.

“Rick is my best friend,” I tried to sound detached but my voice shook. “Both Betty and Rick are my family. I can’t give him up.” I observed him from my spot, and his eyes never wavered from me.

Gosh, what a mess we both were!

I stood up from my spot and walked carefully towards him. He remained dead still with the exception of his eyes tracing my every move. As if he was worried that one sudden movement would make me change my mind.

I came right to him and reached out with shaking fingers to touch his face when my hand stopped midair, unsure. Seeing my hesitance, he took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my palm gently.

“Forgive me, Gemma,” he mumbled against my palm. I imagined it was hard for Kristoff to apologize. I had a feeling he rarely had to do it although this was the second time in the last few weeks he said it to me. He laid another kiss on my palm, and another on my wrist, right above my pulse. My body immediately responded to his touch, and it scared the shit out of me.

On its own accord, my other hand went to his scalp, and I gently pushed my fingers through his hair, while his eyes drilled into me.

“I am sorry too, Kristoff,” I whispered, scared how fast I was caving in. “About what your ex-wife and your friend did.” He still held my one hand close to his lips, and silence stretched between us. “But I can’t sign that contract. You are hot, handsome, and one of the richest men on this planet. You don’t need a contract. If you would let it happen, women would be lining up in front of your door for a chance to be with you.”

“Then why aren’t you?” he asked, his hand was possessively on my exposed skin, right at my knee slowly inching up under my skirt. I must have lost my mind. I should’ve kept my distance and stopped this thing between us before our blazing desire burns us both down to ashes and there was nothing left of us.

I looked at his green gaze, feeling his fingers gently brush against my panties. My body instantly betrayed me, wanting to feel him inside me. “You want me, I can feel it with each shudder of your body. You want me almost as much as I want you.”

A soft moan escaped my lips, proving his point.

“Kristoff, I never said I didn’t want you. You make me ache with need and desire.” My voice was a soft whisper.

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