Page 7 of Runaway Bride for the Boss

What the hell is she doing in my house?Why is she here?

Her hair curls over her shoulders, falling just below her breasts, framing her face. My gaze drops to the shirt dwarfing her—definitely mine—momentarily before meeting her gaze again.

She blinks at me once, twice, then whispers, “You.” She recognizes me?

I don’t know how she ended up here in my territory, but fuck if I care. My heart starts pounding as the gravity of the situation hits me. The woman I’ve been obsessively looking for over the past twelve months is right.here.

I start to walk toward her; my lips tilt up in a smug smile when she shuffles backward. My blood pumps faster as I continue to stalk her and she retreats further, our gazes locked. When her back hits the fridge, my eyes narrow. This must be how the cat who got the fucking canary felt. When she tosses a glance to the doorway behind me, I slam my hands against the fridge on either side of her head, leaving her no chance to scurry away.

Her body is caged in by my own, our chests only inches apart. Her breaths are coming in heaving pants, and her body trembles slightly. My gaze searches her eyes; her pupils are blown, dilating. All the blood rushes down to my cock when I realize that she’s aroused. Fuck.

Her head tilts up toward mine ever so slightly, exposing her slender neck, and I pounce. One hand moves to the side of her throat, cradling the back of her head as I plant my mouth over hers. The world narrows until it’s just us when she parts her lipseagerly for me. Fuck, I expected a little resistance, but not this sweet surrender.

She makes a small sound of pleasure, which drives me wild. I deepen the kiss, stroking her hot tongue with mine. She presses up into me, her hands coming up around my neck. Her breasts press warmly into my chest, it’s like a shot of electricity straight to my dick. I groan, shifting my hands into her hair, using the grip to hold her still. Her palms stroke down my chest firmly. It takes me a second to realize that she’s trying to push me away. I contemplate not breaking the kiss, as I’ve waited so long.

She was into it, I know she was. I could easily deepen the kiss and coax her back to me. But at the same time, I want to know how she got here. The need to know more about her is like a fever in my blood. I break the kiss and shift back, but not too far. Her tits brushing my chest as she pants is intoxicating and my eyes drop to her glistening lips. Just one more taste, just…my head snaps to the left and the loud sound of flesh meeting flesh rents the air.

She slapped me? I smirk as I slowly turn my head to face her. She has a bit of fire in her after all. Good.

“How dare you!” she demands angrily.

“You’re the one inmyhouse, wearingmyshirt. I should be asking you that question.” My voice is dangerously low as I narrow my eyes on her and she swallows hard. She tries to shuffle away but there’s nowhere for her to go.

“I–I’m sorry–I didn’t know this was your shirt. Andrea gave it to me when I went to her bar so I could change out of my wet clothes, which were really cold, and I—” she rambles on but I’m no longer following.

Andrea? This must be the guest Greg mentioned. I smirk again. I should reward my little sister for the present she brought me. “Are you AWM?” I ask, interrupting her tirade. I already know, but I need her to confirm it.

The woman pauses. “How do you know my initials?”

CHAPTER 5

AUTUMN

He stares at me quietly for a few seconds, and I try to ignore the fever his gaze is inducing in me. Crap, I can't believe he just kissed me. And I let him. No, I even kissed him back.

“How do you know my initials?” I ask again, and he spins on his heels. I watch him walk away in long strides. Is he just going to leave without answering my question? What the hell?

When he’s gone from view, I sag weakly against the fridge. I place my hand over my chest and slowly breathe in and out to regulate my heartbeat. He’s definitely the man from my engagement party last year. His piercing eyes have stayed with me despite how hard I’ve tried to get him out of my head.

Those striking blue eyes with flecks of green and amber. But it wasn’t just the color. It was the chilling lack of emotion in them, at least until they seemed to devour me, raking over my body like his next meal. He’s as hot as I remember.

I’d say this is fate, but shit, I’m not in the market for a new relationship. I’m not even twelve hours out of my last one! I push away from the fridge and make my way to the gorgeous foyer, climbing the curving staircase to the second floor, where Andrea has designated a room for the night.

I toss and turn on the plush bed restlessly. What’s going on back home? There would no longer be any doubt that I ran away once Mom sees my letter and shows it to Larson, as I know she would. She’s a suck-up to money.

I sigh, the events of the day finally hitting me. I’m so lucky that I walked into the Liquid Elixir. Because of that choice, I’m sleeping in a highly secured home—I didn’t miss the armed men patrolling the grounds, despite Andrea trying to distract me. I remember the high-tech door of her apartment above the bar. What the hell could possibly warrant such extensive means of protection?

I wake up with a start.Bright sunlight is streaming into the room through the windows. I must have forgotten to draw the curtains last night. Oh shit, Larson is going to be so mad I slept in. My heart clenches with fear as I quickly sit up. I’m swinging my legs off the bed when I finally realize I’m in a strange room. Then the events of the previous day come crashing back and I sigh with relief.

That’s right. I ran away. I no longer answer to Larson. A light knock at my door has me tensing up, could it behim? “Hey Autumn, are you up?” Andrea’s soft voice comes through the door.

Equal parts relief and disappointment hit me, and I sigh. You need to pull it together, Autumn. “Yes. Hold on.” I get up from the bed and make my way to the door. “What’s up?”

She must have been up for a while because it’s clear she’s had a shower and is in fresh clothes. “Hi, sorry if I woke you, I wanted to introduce you to my brother before he leaves so he knows to expect you this evening.”

“Oh.” So the strangerisher brother. Shit, they’ve talked this morning then, did he mention the kiss? Somehow, I doubt it. I’ve never had a brother, but I’m pretty sure kissing strangers isn’t a common topic between siblings.

Andrea raises her hands, and I finally notice the bundle of clothes. “I leave a few changes of clothes in my wardrobe here for when I visit. Why don’t you get dressed and meet us downstairs? Here.”

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