I rub my forehead, a headache quickly forming. “I’m so confused. You left me alone in your bed without even saying goodbye. You left me the number to your driver—”
“Is that what you think? I left you alone without saying goodbye?”
“You did!”
He shakes his head, pulls his phone from his pocket, and hits a few things on the screen before handing me the device.
I look at the black and white image… not an image, a video. “You have a security camera in your bedroom?” He doesn’t answer, probably because I’m staring at the answer.
The video shows me asleep in his bed and shows him sitting in a chair next to the bed watching me.
“I was an hour late for work because I couldn’t tear myself away from watching you sleep.”
I peer up at him over the device. “That’s kind of creepy.”
He nods to the device. “Move forward.”
I run my finger on the screen that shows him getting up and going to the bathroom. He emerges dressed in the suit he’s wearing now, sits at the edge of the bed, and runs his fingers through my hair. Then he leans down and kisses my temple. “You did say goodbye.”
He takes his phone back and stuffs it into his pocket.
“Why didn’t you leave me your number?”
“I wasn’t aware I should. I was thinking of your needs.” He shakes his head and self-consciously rubs the back of his neck. “I guess I need to focus more on what you might want. I’ve already explained I’m not great at reading people.”
I shrug one shoulder. “You could ask.”
“Okay.” He crosses his arms at his chest and nods. “What do you want, Jordan?”
I didn’t realize he’d ask me now. On the spot. I shuffle through my mind and settle on honesty. “I want you.”
The shock on his face is subtle but noticeable.
“And on the nights we’re together, I want to wake up to say goodbye. I want your phone number. I want to be able to call you and share stupid shit about my day and hear all about yours. I guess what I’m saying is, I want to date you. Exclusively. No contracts. No pay-off money. Just us spending time together.”
“Time isn’t something I have a lot of.”
“I don’t need all your time, just some.”
“Would you be willing to endure social engagements for North Industries?”
“You mean… work parties?”
“And dinners.”
“I could do that. Although, my wardrobe sucks since Lincoln got rid of all my things.” I don’t tell him that my wardrobe mostly sucked before that, too.
“I can take care of that. But I don’t think we should see each other romantically while you’re still living with your ex-boyfriend.”
“Trust me, I don’t want to be there any longer than I need to.” I sigh and consider how much longer it’ll take for me to earn the money I need for my own place. I haven’t received a call back from the jobs I’ve applied for.
“Move in with me.”
My gaze snaps to his. “Huh?”
He shrugs. “It’s the most logical solution.”
We’ve lived together before in much worse conditions, so it’s not like there will be any surprises. And the thought of getting out of Lincoln’s place immediately is more than I could ever dream. Also, it’ll mean he and Courtney can be together freely rather than hiding behind my back. See? I’m so selfless.
“I’m hardly ever home, so you’ll have the place to yourself. You can also quit that bullshit job and look for something better. I’m sure I could find you something within the company—”
I hold up a hand. “Stop right there. Yes to everything except you hiring me here. I don’t need the pity hire. I’ll find something.”
He closes the distance between us, his hands grip my hips, and he pulls me flush to his body. “I’m going to screw this up. Don’t let me get away with it.” The vulnerability in his eyes makes my heart ache.
“I won’t.” I kiss him deeply and thoroughly, until we’re both breathless and turned on. “You should go to your meeting.”
“Not yet.” He hikes my leg up to his hip and slides his hand into the front of my leggings. “I’m not ready to let you go.”
I bite my lip to keep from moaning too loud, but it’s impossible to stay quiet as he slips a finger inside me. His mouth covers mine, and his teeth replace my own. I never imagined I’d be the type of woman attracted to his display of dominance, but every muscle in my body melts around him.
He cups the back of my head, his fingers lace into my hair, and he tilts my chin up to expose my throat. Releasing my lip, he drops his mouth to my neck to lick and suck and drive me wild. All I can do is hold on while he uses pleasure to hold me captive.
There’s a loud knock on the glass right beside my head. “Alex, what the fuck!” Hayes sounds angrier than usual.
“Oh, shit,” I whisper into the air as Alexander continues to kiss my throat and play between my legs. “He’s pissed.”
He lifts his head and meets my gaze, his eyes the color of mossy wood alight with a fiery lust that makes me tremble. “Don’t care.”
“We need you in this meeting,” Hayes hisses, and I imagine his face turning purple with rage.
Alexander holds my eyes, and a wicked smile tilts his lips as he adds a second finger. My mouth falls open on a silent moan, and his eyes dance with male pride as he watches me come undone.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Hayes says, sounding defeated but still angry as all hell.
The fact that Alexander’s brother is on the other side of the frosted glass, that he’s less than a foot away but can’t see us, and that nothing he’s saying is having the slightest effect on Alexander turns me on.
“You’re so wet.” He doesn’t whisper or try to muffle his voice. As if he could care less if his brother hears him.
“Fuck,” Hayes says in a guttural way that makes me think he’s listening and knows exactly what we’re doing.
My belly tumbles, and the force of a million butterfly wings converge into one unstoppable wave. I rock my hips forward, chasing my own release, but I don’t have to. He reads my body as if he’s written the words himself, anticipates what’s to come, and gives me exactly what I need. He kisses me to muffle the unavoidable gasp and whimper that come barreling from my throat as a burst of euphoric lightning races through my veins, and I fall apart in his arms. He doesn’t pull away, doesn’t stop or slow, but kisses me harder, plunders me deeper, as if he’s desperate to crawl inside me and lose himself.
I break the kiss to gasp for air. The muscles in my legs are loose, and I sag against him. Only then does he pull his hand from between my legs and wrap me in his arms.
“Beautiful,” he says quietly.
I’m still in the clouds and unable to string together a coherent thought—much less words—so I rest against his chest until I float back to earth.
After a few minutes pass, he backs away, his hands on my upper arms to make sure I’m stable. I feel like I’ve just been tumble dried, and he still looks perfectly put together in his charcoal gray suit. His tie isn’t even off-center.