Page 60 of Teasing Her Grumpy Boss

She looked up at him then, compelled to honesty by his nearness and warmth. ‘It’s not enough.’

The expression in his eyes was not one of disappointment or anger. It looked a lot like victory.

Completely confused, she scrambled to her feet, wishing she could be bad enough to leave the remnants of her picnic and run, but some rules she just couldn’t break—no littering, for one. She stared at the mess of wrappers and didn’t know what to do.

He stood. Put his arms around her. A loose prison that she knew she could escape from if she wanted. if she had the strength. She took a half-hearted step away.

‘Tell me you don’t want to stay,’ he whispered again in her ear as his arms pulled her back to him.

She wouldn’t lie. She’d promised. And he meant everything

He whispered again. ‘Tell me you don’t wantme.’

He knew. Oh, God, he knew. That she was his and that she was wanting to run away because she couldn’t deal with having him but not having all of him. Not wanting to live life in the shadow of a ticking clock.

He stepped closer. His arms tightened around her, the length of his body setting her own alight. It was a fire she couldn’t cope with any more. Catching her eyes with his, he wouldn’t let her break away. The old challenge. He spoke again, his voice low but clear. Heartbreakingly clear. ‘Tell me you don’t love me.’

She stared back at him in horror, tears welling. The sob rose and she only managed to stop half of it escaping. She squeezed her eyes shut, tucking her head down and away from him, unable to do the same with her body because he held her to him so tightly.

His whisper in her ear crushed her. ‘Why are you doing this, Lucy?’

‘Daniel…’ Her voice failed as her emotion cracked open.

‘Tears? Not from you. Not from my feisty, free spirit.’

But they streamed down her face as he kissed her neck, sweeping aside her wild hair, bending her back so he had access to her throat—so he could brush his lips against it.

‘I won’t let you do it. I won’t let you go.’

She felt shattered because he wouldn’t. Devastated because it wouldn’t be over until he said so. And she would live in the shadow. It would be slow torture. ‘You have to. Please.’

His grip tightened. His hand twisted in her hair as he held her face up to him. ‘No.’ His kisses moved across her jaw. Tasting her tears.

‘Why?’

‘Why do you think?’ His other hand slipped from her waist to her bottom. Pulling her hard against his groin. Hot. Hard. Primed

‘You want me.’

He lifted his head. ‘I do.’ He kissed her cheekbone.

It wasn’t enough. It would fade. And she wanted more. So much more.

But he kept kissing. And talking. ‘I want to have you.’ He kissed the other cheek. ‘To hold you.’ He continued kissing, punctuating his words. ‘From this day forward. Sickness. Health. Richer. Poorer. I’ll always want you.’

She slackened against him. ‘Daniel. What are you saying?’

‘Don’t you get it, Lucy? I’m not letting you go. Ever.’

‘But you don’t believe in marriage. Or commitment.’

‘I’m thinking it’s an institution not unlike the law. Not perfect, but if we work within the system we can make it better.’

Her body started trembling, top-to-toe uncontrollable shaking that she tried to hold back, because she couldn’t believe what was happening. What he was implying.

He spoke again. ‘You can say it or not. It doesn’t matter. But I know.’ His arrogance endearing yet terrifying. ‘You love me.’

She stared. Couldn’t speak, couldn’t even swallow. The lump in her throat was that huge.

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