Page 16 of Stuck with My Billionaire Protector

“Well, thanks for the ride. Good night, Mr. Chase,” she finally says.

“Good night, Jocelyn.”

She turns to go inside but I stop her. “Jocelyn, wait—“

She looks back at me, and I’m struck by her beauty once again. I almost can’t stop myself, but I’m not an animal. If she says no, I’ll stop. I cup her face in my hands and kiss her. She tastes like wine and the spices in her food. Her lips are soft beneath mine, warm and wet. My body tightens as she leans into me. The feeling of her against me is incredible…

Her tongue strokes my lower lip and I run my thumb over it. I want to taste more of her. I part my mouth, allowing her tongue to slide into my mouth. She moans softly as I lick her, tasting her sweet flesh with my tongue.

“Jocelyn.”

“Yes, Mr. Chase?”

“Do you want me to stop?” I ask, aware that she’s had a few tonight.

“No. Don’t stop. Kiss me again, Mr. Chase.”

I kiss her again, but then she abruptly pulls away. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I’ll see you at the airport on Monday.”

With that, she opens her door and goes inside, leaving me feeling confused and a little annoyed.

I know that I’m not the easiest person to get close to. My past is riddled with pain and trauma that I’ve never quite been able to shake off. But for the first time in a long time, it feels like maybe things could be different. Maybe I could let my guard down and finally open myself up to someone.

But now, as I stand alone outside her door, I can feel the walls I’ve built around myself start to creep back up. I take a deep breath and try to push the disappointment aside. After all, we do have a business trip to prepare for.

I turn to leave, and as I do, I catch a glimpse of her through the window. She’s pacing back and forth, her face etched with worry. I can tell she’s struggling with her emotions just like me.

I make a split-second decision and knock on her door. When she opens it, her eyes widen in surprise.

“I’m sorry,” she says before I can even speak. “I just… I didn’t mean to pull away like that. It’s just that… this all came out of nowhere and you’re my boss and we’re leaving on a business trip together. I don’t want things to be awkward.”

I step closer to her, taking her hand in mine. “I know,” I say softly. “It was a surprise for me too.”

I lean in and kiss her again, this time with more tenderness than before. I pull back and place a light kiss on her forehead. “Get some sleep, Jocelyn. I’ll send a car to pick you up Monday morning.”

She turns to go back inside and as I walk back to my car, I can feel the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. All the reasons why this won’t work flood my mind. I’m her boss, I have a troubled past, and I’m too old for her. The list seems endless, and it makes me think I never should have kissed her in the first place.

I start the car and pull out of the parking lot, trying to shake off the feeling of defeat. Maybe it’s for the best. We have a business trip and I don’t want to make things awkward either, especially now that we are finally getting along.

But as I drive home, part of me feels like I’m making a mistake. There’s something about her that draws me in, something that makes me feel like maybe, just maybe, we could make it work.

I try to push the thoughts aside and focus on the road ahead, but my mind keeps drifting back to her. As I pull into my driveway, I know that this is going to be a long weekend filled with thoughts of what could have been and what the next week will bring.

Chapter 8

Jocelyn

AsIstepoutof the apartment building, I see the black Cadillac waiting for me. My heart starts racing as I realize that I’m about to see Dylan for the first time since our kiss.

During the ride to the airport, I reflect on the kiss. It was passionate and intense, and I can still feel the warmth of his lips on mine. But at the same time, I’m worried. He’s my boss. He’s older than me. I’m also still not convinced he’s forgiven me for hitting his car.

Arriving at the airport, I take a deep breath and remind myself to stay focused. We have important work to do in Fiji, and I won’t let my feelings get in the way. I can’t afford to let my feelings get in the way of my professional obligations.

As I step out of the car, I see him waiting for me at the entrance to the airport. He looks up from his phone and our eyes meet. For a moment, we just stare at each other, neither of us saying anything.

Finally, he breaks the silence. “Good morning,” he says, his voice gruff.

“Morning,” I reply, feeling a little shy. With his gaze on me, I can’t help but feel self-conscious.

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