Page 13 of Connor

My nose led me downstairs to the kitchen, where a couple of people were busy at the huge stove and chopping up things at the counter. The older lady stopped, wiping her hands on her apron. “Are you looking for breakfast, sir? If you’ll sit down at the dining room table, we’ll bring something in. Would you like some coffee?”

“I’d love a cup of coffee, but I don’t want to be any trouble—I don’t need anything to eat.”

She looked at me like she couldn’t quite figure out what I meant, but then went to the door to show me the way out of her kitchen. I could take a hint, contrary to what everybody said.

As I passed by her, she pointed the way to the dining room and said someone would be in to get my order. My order? What the fuck? Off I went, though, hoping to get the coffee and maybe some idea of where Jared was.

I found him soon enough in the dining room, sipping on a cup of coffee and reading something on a big iPad. His plate was in front of him and on it were the remains of some tiny waffles and loads of fruit. It looked so good. I leaned in a bit and caught his scent too, which was equally delicious, clean and expensive, but sweet and dark, like some probably outrageously expensive cologne with a fancy name. He glanced up at me and gave me the once over, like he always did, his gaze hot and steady. So I gave him a little twirl.

“How do I look? I love this track suit, and it’s really warm. Thank you for leaving it out for me.”

“No problem. I believe the maid will have your clothing washed and dried soon. The sneakers too, though they’ll take a bit more time to dry. I’m not sure if they’ll come completely clean. They’re pretty far gone.”

I was listening to him, but not really, you know? So I couldn’t help what I did next. I mean, he was right there and so fucking gorgeous, and he’d saved my life—probably quite literally. I walked right up to him, and he turned in his chair to glance up at me, kind of wary, like what on earth is he up to now? I nudged his knees open with mine and he grabbed both my wrists in his hands. But he wasn’t doing anything to stop me.

I climbed onto his lap and leaned in to kiss him. He made a startled sound at first and but he didn’t dodge or try to move his head. He was holding my wrists out to the side to control and contain me, and it was perfect. Once again, the sheer presence of him made me dizzy and excited. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Kissing you. Wasn’t I doing it right? Can I try again?”

He gave me a sharp look and growled at me—fucking growled, like that kind of thing was scary. Then he pushed my hands behind me and leaned over me and covered my mouth with his.

I liked kissing—it was nice and really sexy. A good prelude to sex, anyway, but in the past, I’d never liked it to last too long. It was like a ordering appetizers at a restaurant—you looked forward to them; they whetted your appetite, and they were fun to try, but you didn’t want to have too much, or you might ruin your dinner. But this was different that it had ever been before. These were…everything.

This was no kind of kiss I’d ever experienced before in my life. He took complete and utter control of me and everything I was. His mouth claimed mine in a way that was wildly exciting. It was more than a kiss—his mouth devoured mine, and it was thorough and deep and took no prisoners. I was so out of my depth, I was drowning, and I didn’t even care. If I died right there, it was a hell of a way to go. When he finally allowed me up for air and to take a breath, I was destroyed. But happy. I gazed up at him, wrecked and ravished and mouth fucked and oh, so ready for more.

And did I mention he still had control of my hands? A little thrill shot through me as he held my wrists pushed behind my back and gazed down at me from inches away. And then he shook his head.

“This isn’t right. I didn’t bring you here for this—I had no such expectations.”

“I know that. You were helping me. And I wanted you to kiss me. So much. I’ve wanted everything we’ve done. Do it again, please.”

“No. It’s taking advantage, and I won’t do that. You have to get dressed, so I can have Richards drive you to a hotel.”

“Don’t you want me?”

He looked startled at the question and shook his head, which I have to admit, kind of hurt. I struggled to get away and he let me go. I jumped up off his lap, and stood staring down at him. Damn it, I started crying too, just to make it all perfect. I think my chest was heaving, and I know my face was wet. I’d made a fool of myself, and I just wanted to get away from there. I turned to run out of the room and slammed right into one of the women in black uniforms, and she was carrying a tray. Or she was until I rolled over her. She dropped it on the floor with a little cry, and I heard Jared Spencer call out my name behind me as I darted around her, yelling “I’m sorry!” I practically flew out of the room.

I made it as far as the stairs before I was picked up and thrown over his shoulder, and I felt a big hand slam down on my ass. It shocked me so much I didn’t even scream at first and then I gave a loud yelp of shock and outrage, and he did it again. Two more times!

This time I had the good sense not to make any more noise as he continued up the stairs and back to the room I’d spent the night in. His room. He threw me down on the bed, but I sprang back up and tried to get away. I was ready to run out into the snow at that point, because I’d made a complete idiot out of myself, and I was mortified. I had to get out of there.

Or so I thought. Instead he pushed me down to my back and fell on top of me. “Stop all this,” he said, bending over me and all up in my face. “Calm yourself, Connor. I won’t let you up until you do.”

“I’m not a child!”

“Then why do you keep acting like one?”

“Please let me get up. I want to leave.”

“Why? Because you didn’t get your way?”

Damn right, but I didn’t want to say so.

“The roads aren’t cleared yet. Behave yourself, little boy. As soon as they are, I’ll have Richards take you to a hotel.”

“I told you I can’t afford a hotel, and I want to go home. The apartment’s still mine until the end of the month.”

“That’s only a few days and you don’t have any lights or heat.”

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