Page 6 of Controlled By the Virgo

My chest tightens, and I can no longer hold back my emotions. "You know what, Mr. Carter? Maybe you should! Because if you'll remember I never signed up for this shit! You coerced me into accepting this position!"

His eyes widen at my outburst, and the room falls silent. We stand there, locked in a stare, as the tension between us thickens. I can feel the heat radiating off him, and my body responds with an involuntary shiver.

"On the contrary, sweet Valerie," he begins, his voice low and controlled as he bridges the gap between us, "you signed up for it the moment you pulled my wallet from my ass and tried to steal from me."

We glare at each other for a long moment before his eyes finally soften.

"Why did you do it?" he asks softly.

My throat tightens, and I'm suddenly blinking furiously to try to keep the tears at bay.

"Because..." I hesitate, my gaze dropping to Van's lips for a brief moment before meeting his eyes again. "Because my mom has cancer."

"Valerie," Van says my name with such compassion, I can't hold the tears back any longer.

I break down right there in his office. He pulls me to him, and I sob all over his chest.

He whispers soothing words in my ear. I don't register what he's saying, just the comforting tone he's using as he strokes my hair and my back and do what no one else has ever done before.

Let me cry.

I don't think I've cried once since Mom got her diagnosis. I just instantly took on the responsibility. Hell, someone had to, and I'm all Mom's got.

"It's okay. I've got you, baby."

Hearing Van call me "baby" does something funny to my insides. I tilt my head to look up at him.

Andbiiigmistake.

He's looking down at me with more tenderness than I thought the controlling, dominating businessman was capable of.

And that does something funny to my insides too.

His eyes spark with a blazing fire as they scan my face. His thumb traces my jawline, and my breath catches.

I know what's going to happen before it ever does. I try to brace myself for it, but it's no good.

When Van's lips touch mine, the entire world falls out beneath me.

CHAPTERFIVE

Van

My arms tightenaround Valerie as I finally taste her lips for the first time.

And holy fuck, she's even sweeter than I imagined. My dick is a rod of raging steel in my pants, and I can't help grinding myself against her as I slide my tongue against hers.

She whimpers, and that sound only spurs me on.

I fist my hands in her hair and angle her head so that I can kiss her deeper.

"Fuck, baby, do you know how long I've wanted to do this?" I whisper in her ear.

I feel the shiver run through her as I start kissing and laving at her neck.

Her head falls back to grant me greater access, and I chuckle.

Valerie can deny it all she wants, but she feels this thing between us too. She wants me just as much as I want her.

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