Page 135 of Matchmaking the CEO

"I love that you think about them first thing, babe."

I leaned forward, kissing a corner of her mouth. I just couldn't help myself; I needed the contact. "You’re my life, Natalie. You have my love, my heart, my dreams, and my future. I wanted to bring you here to your favorite place in the city to tell you that."

She grinned, staring into my eyes. "You really are something, Jake Whitley. I’m stunned. I'm not even sure what to say."

I frowned, cupping the side of her face, pressing my forehead to hers. "Tell me you feel the same. Tell me you want the same."

"I do. God, I do." She tugged at the collar of my shirt with one hand, sighing. "I didn't realize I had to say that aloud."

"Yes, you did because I needed to hear it." I pulled back, putting two fingers under her chin. "I also never want to hear anything about you getting between me and my family, okay?"

She closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath before opening them.

"The fight between me and Maddox is fixed, I promise. But even if it wasn't, even if my brothers and I never talked to each other again, that wouldn't change what I feel for you, how much I love you, how much I need you."

Then I couldn't help myself any longer. I kissed her so hard that I was struggling for breath, and so was she. I wanted to consume her, and I wanted to do it for the rest of the day. I stopped only when I heard her moan, and then she pulled back.

"Oh God, Jake." Her mouth was red. She was shaking slightly. My cock twitched at the sight.

"Let's go to the hotel," I said.

"But they're expecting me back at the office," she murmured.

"It was just a ruse to get you here. No one's going to expect you to go back.”

Her blush intensified. "But what will everyone say? Won't they get mad at me?"

I winked at her. "I know the boss. I'm sure something could be arranged. I want to spend the rest of the day with you."

"Oh, I want the same," she said. Then she grinned and pointed at the ice cream shop. "But I'm not leaving here without something delicious."

"You've read my mind." I wanted to buy her ice cream, but not for the reason she thought. I had plans for it. "Let's go to the counter and take a box to go."

She chose a lot of flavors. I couldn't wait to taste them on her and explore her body.

I'd let Cal go because I didn't know how long this would take, so we just took a cab to the hotel. The rain had stopped somewhat, so we didn't open our umbrellas as we raced to the lobby, then headed straight to the elevator. She was shivering when we reached our floor.

"Oh, now I feel the cold," she said. "But I have a feeling it'll take no time for you to warm me up."

"What gave me away?" I said as I slid the card through the door, pushing it open. The second we entered, I took the ice cream from her hands, putting it on the small stand in the entrance. Then I kissed her. This wasn't like back at the ice cream shop—I really kissed her with everything I had, taking all I needed from her.

She responded in kind, tugging at my shirt. She wanted me naked, and I obliged, taking off my pants. I made no show of it, just quick, practical. I wanted to be naked, needing the skin-on-skin contact. It was easier to take off her clothes. She only had a dress and that damn lingerie that was surely going to kill me one day. It was lace too, of course, and it contrasted with her skin in the most delicious way. The bra was almost see-through, which I appreciated, with a larger piece of lace covering her nipples. The sight drove me insane.

"You shouldn't go out of the house looking this sexy," I growled, pressing her against a wall.

"Really? You're going to fuss about that?"

"About everything," I said. "All this belongs to me. Only I can see you like this."

"Of course, only you." She sounded shy.

I palmed her breast over the lace.

"Mine," I whispered. I felt her nipple turn hard through the fabric. I felt a feral claim over her, and I wanted her to know it.

She looked at me with darkened eyes. Fuck yes. She knew it, and she liked it. This was my woman. She knew what I needed and had no qualms about giving me exactly that.

I moved one hand farther down, splaying my fingers wide on her stomach, pressing gently on her pubic bone and then pressing even harder as I slid it to her pussy, cupping her over the fabric.

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