Page 34 of The Innovator

I crossed my arms, matching her stance. “For someone smart, you’re missing the mark.”

She jabbed a finger at my chest, digging in for emphasis. “Oh, I missed the mark by coming here. I’m leaving.” She whirled away from me.

Her face was inches from me as I wrapped an arm around her waist. “I never miss the mark.” I crushed my mouth to hers, taking what I’d been craving.

The anger between us was like fire attracting fire. I couldn’t stop myself. My lips absorbed her mouth, wanting to devour the frustration from her. She moaned, and her lips softened, molding to mine. I slid a hand down to her ass and claimed it. I discovered her body’s shape, loving all her curves. When my palm claimed a breast, she gasped, and her mouth opened wider for me. My tongue dove in and met hers, and a new fire exploded between us.

The kiss was fueled by passion, irritation, and a pounding need that intensified to a level I’d never experienced.

Natalie was fucking perfect, meeting my tongue with every stroke. My cock throbbed uncomfortably in my jeans as I took in her decadent flavor, her scent. She tasted sweet and wholesome, like an intoxicating drug I didn’t know I needed until this moment. She smelled like secrets, sex, and sin, wrapped in a cloak of honey that made me want to lick it all away from her. Cupping the back of her neck, I slanted my mouth for a deeper kiss.

Desire slammed into desire, sparking this inexplicable need that turned us into two desperate people wanting release.

She sucked my tongue, gripping my hair with her fingers. I loved the way her nails scraped my scalp while her body pressed into mine. She tasted better than the dream.I broke away from the kiss to nibble on the junction of her neck and shoulder. I dropped kisses along her elegant shoulder and down her smooth arm—the exposed area that had aroused me earlier.

She moaned, and it was like a command calling me. I answered by returning to her mouth, offering another wild kiss.

My hunger for her overwhelmed me, and my hand adored her breasts, kneading and making them mine. I sensed the change in her body as she broke for breath, then pushed me away. Her chest heaved as she stared at me with lust darkening her blue eyes. The sweep of her tongue over her lips almost made me burst in my jeans.

“Stay away from me and my business,” she said with a tremulous voice.

She didn’t realize that I took orders from no one. However, my body had a way of disobeying me for her, but I wasn’t going to disclose that.

“I just made you my business, buttercup. The next time we kiss, it’ll be in my bed. I can show you other dimples in my body.We can have a discovery session. I’ll check out yours and you can check out mine.”

Amusement splashed on her flushed face. “That’s not going to happen. It already went too far today.”

“Itwillhappen.”

“It won’t.”

“Wanna bet?”

She considered me for a long moment, and I could see the pros and cons weighing on her scale. “That depends on what we’re wagering.”

This conversation—this dispute—had just turned into something more interesting. There was no negotiation about me having her. It was only a matter of when. I just had to make sure I didn’t let her get too close. It would be sex and nothing more.

I stepped closer and pressed the pad of my finger to her swollen lips—swollen because of me. “If you kiss me first, you lose. If I kiss you first, I lose.”

I’d do anything to have her kiss me.

“You know this is ridiculous, right?”

“It’s been a ridiculous day. Nothing else will surprise me.”

A challenge gleamed in her eyes. “Fine. If I win, I want to choose a replacement for The Prism. I’ve got ideas.”

Nowthatsurprised me. “Why?”

“Why not?”

I doubted she’d tell me the reason, but I intended to find out. Had I made a mistake in assuming she wanted to wager something else? Did I already lose a game that hadn’t even started?

“Don’t dream about me tonight, McDimple.” She flicked a gaze down at my bulge, trying to burst free from the fly.

With her curious fingers, she traced it, outlining the shape slowly and seductively like a vixen who knew exactly what she was doing. She was trying to kill me. My cock pulsed, begging for more.

“I can imagine the dimples you have on your body.” She smirked, already trying to make me lose. Straightening her dress, she strode out of my office, leaving me alone with her scent, the memory of her kiss, and the pounding need to release the pressure within me.

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