Page 94 of The Refusal

She shifts on my lap and rubs her lips together.

“I hurt your feelings, and I’m not sure how soon I’ll be able to forgive myself for that. You wanted to make us public, and I put my company and reputation before you. I’m the worst kind of person for being so self-absorbed that I—”

“I understand, Jo. Christ! You’ve worked hard all your life to get where you are.” I run my palms up her thighs on either side of my hips. “I get it, I really do. I want you to be taken seriously.”

“TheWSJinterview was amazing. The things you said about me—”

“I didn’t say anything you didn’t deserve.”

I may have got her some publicity, but she brings all her own talent to the work she does.

“We’ve got about ten hot prospects for business from one article. Samsung ishuge.”

“Glad to be of assistance,” I say, laughing, lightness filling my chest with the idea that something I’ve done, in the hope of bringing her back to me, has had such a great outcome.

“Did you mean it?”

My hands tighten on her hips. I’ve as good as admitted it already tonight. I shouldn’t have said it in public before I said it in private. I let my gaze wander over her clear eyes and the freckles forming an unending pattern over her nose and out across her cheeks. Does she feel the same? I suck in a deep breath.

“I meant it, Jo. I love you.”

And her eyes soften, lips curling up like a slow-growing work of magic.

“You don’t need to say it back,” I say quickly. “Just don’t push me away again, let me—”

But she interrupts in the quietest voice. “I love you, too.”

“What?”My voice cracks, heat swarming up my neck. I rest my head against her forehead as I close my eyes. All this time and she’s been so hesitant, so reluctant.Jesus Christ. Blood thunders in my ears. “Youloveme?”

My lips are inches from hers as her smile unwinds at the croak in my voice, and my answering grin splits my face. Her hands come up to cup my jaw, and she scratches through the scruff from the shave I didn’t get a chance to have when I got the call from James. She leans forward lightly brushing her mouth across mine.

“Yeah.”

I draw back a bit so I can see her properly, lick my lips. “How, when—”

“I think I fell in love with you in the elevator the first time I met you; you were so cute and bashful and enjoying the game so much—”

She’s describing it as a fond memory, whereas all I remember about that day was this gorgeous, unattainable woman who wrapped me around her little finger, and I couldn’t read at all.

“Thatlong ago?” I growl. “I’ve gone through all this worry and torture …” I’m trying to act like I’m mad, but I know I’m failing when she grins at me.

“Oh myGod!” I shout, tipping my head back to the velvet of the car ceiling, and she bursts out laughing.

I lean forward to kiss her. “I need to put my hands all over youright now.” I skim my palm over her thigh, brushing between her legs, and she gives a little Jo hip wiggle. She does this when she’s turned on and wants more, and it makes me feel like a king.

Winding her arms around my shoulders, she laughs as my knuckles rub over the seam of her jeans. Cool fingers invade my hair. She leans forward and nibbles my ear.

“I want to put my mouth all over you,” she says.

Her hot breath against my neck sends shivers over my skin. I slide my hands to her bottom, pulling her down and grinding up into her, nibbling along her jaw. The reminder that she tortured me in Hong Kong, what she did and how she did it, causes the last vestiges of my restraint to fall away.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

I lift her up and over into her seat, putting the car into drive as she buckles up, and the tires squeal when I pull out into the empty street.

50

Jo

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