Page 40 of The English Billionaire's Obsession

“Yeah,” I tell him. “She’s a stylist. Her company worked here a few times. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to come here because of all her stories about it.”

“What are the other reasons?”

“Well, the work, the company. Realization Global is an amazing business, but mainly, it was the independence.”

When he kisses my cheek—something he does occasionally—pleasure sparkles up and down my body. I have to remind myself this is real, floating atop the city with the man who makes me think silly thoughts. Thoughts likemy womb is really keen to get somewhere private.

“You seem pretty independent to me,” he says.

“That’s the thing. I’ve always felt like Icouldbe, but when you’re living with your parents, it’s difficult to know for sure. So I thought, an overseas internship, months on my own… Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been talking to my parents every couple of days.”

“Have you told them…”

I turn away from the city and look up at him. “About us?”

He nods.

“Do you think I should?”

“You’ll have to eventually,” he says, “because I’m not going anywhere.”

“Hmm.”

He doesn’t have to ask what thehmmis about.

“I know. I disappeared, but it won’t happen again. I’ve just got to stop being so pathetic about m—”

“Tommy, please don’t say stuff like that,” I snap. “It’s not pathetic to have feelings about something that happened to you when you were a kid, okay? If you have to say stuff like that to other people, fine, but you can be real with me.”

He kisses my cheek tenderly, then finds my lips, and we sink into it, collapse against each other, his hands sliding to my hips. With a shudder, he lets me go and ends the kiss.

“Do you know how tempting it is to spank that perfect ass of yours?”

“Who said you couldn’t, huh?”

He smirks. “I wouldn’t be able to stop, and this isn’t exactly private. You were telling me about your independence.”

“Yeah, I wanted to know if I could make it on my own, and I think I can. I’m only nineteen, but I don’t feel immature.”

“I’m forty-two, and I’m more immature than you.”

I laugh. “I don’t feel unprepared for life, you know?”

It’s like I’m making a case for our future, assuring him he doesn’t need to worry about my age.

“I know. I can tell that just by being close to you.” He kisses my head, inhaling like he can’t get enough of me. “By beingwithyou…”

I trail my hand up his arm, squeeze onto his muscle, letting myself savor his strength. It’s unbelievable how solid he is. It’s like he’s carved from stone, and I wish he’d say the words I desperately want to hear.

“You’re mine forever. I’ll never let anybody hurt you.”

Just because he’s attracted—pinch me—doesn’t mean he wouldn’t call the men in white coats if I said something like that to him.

I look around the VIP booth of the London Eye. It’s bigger than the others. If we moved into the middle, nobody would see us unless they had a drone or a helicopter. Tommy maneuvers me so we’re staring directly into each other’s eyes. “Why are you looking so… naughty?”

His hand slips down my hip and around, stopping near my ass. He’s got tension running through him like he might leap on me any second and go into complete possession mode.

“We’re almost at the top,” I murmur.

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