Page 45 of Love & Other Disasters

“What time is it?” she muttered.

“Four,” he answered.

“Your alarm goes off at four in the morning?”

“I usually go for a run.”

“Good god, you’re insane.” It didn’t surprise her; he didn’t get that body by not exercising.

He laughed and squeezed her. A hardened part of his anatomy pressed against her backside. It took her back to their night at the hotel. He kissed her shoulder and peppered little soft kisses up her neck to her ear.

“Jordan,” she said in a warning.

“Tell me you don’t want me.”

“That would be a lie,” she breathed. His touch reminding her that what he had pressed against her would feel good sliding inside.

“If you want me, and I want you. Then why not?”

“With everything…” she sat and faced him.

“Let’s forget everything for a little while,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s just me and you right here, right now. Nothing else in the world.”

The man with the sheet pushed down to his waist, his defined torso on display making her want to lick and bite him. Nothing else in the world sounded amazing. The bold black swirls ending in sharp points of the tribal looking tattoo on his left bicep caught her attention.

“Tell me about your tattoo,” she said, settling back next to him, pulling the covers up, and rolling to face him. Her curiosity over it reining because she was too chicken to go for it with him.

“Not much to say,” he held up his arm, looking at it. “Some of my fraternity brothers and I got them freshman year.”

“Does it mean something?”

“I thought it looked cool. Dude said it was the symbol for warrior, but I doubt it now. I think he was bullshitting some kids.”

Violet laughed and reached over and ran her fingers over the inked skin, tracing the smooth outline. J.P. stilled at her touch. Her hand ran up and along his shoulder to his cheek, filled with stubble, which somehow didn’t bruise.

“Would a warrior take a punch and not retaliate?”

“An experienced warrior knows when to hold back.” J.P. ran his fingers along her arm; she shivered. “I would have defended myself if he kept hitting, but he didn’t even know how to throw a punch.”

Her hand kept wandering over his bicep, shoulder, and then wandered down his chest when she wasn’t paying attention. Lust building in her, but should she dare? Why not. It’s not like the company would survive, and even if it did, she doubted her place there in the long term. Why not enjoy Jordan? Her timid nature is why she channeled Elle in the first place, because her life had gone stale, and she’d gone nowhere in it.

“This stays here,” she whispered. “At the office, this never happened, and we don’t talk about it, no matter what.”

“It stays here.” J.P. kissed her cheek.

“I mean it, don’t treat me any different than the others.” She slid against him and snuggled the crook of his neck and planted a kiss. “If there comes a need for more layoffs, I’m first.”

He inhaled. “Are you sure about that?”

She wasn’t sure if he meant about what she said about treating her any different or the agreement to have sex, but either way. “Yes,” she whispered, biting his neck, “I’m sure. Promise me.” Violet pulled back, staring at J.P.

“Okay,” he said.

His lips locked on hers and their tongues tangled in each other’s mouths while hands roamed, groping each other. This was a turning point in her life. But his long, lingering kisses muddied her thoughts.

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