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I almost said she wasn’t the only one planning to retire but kept my mouth shut. I’d have to disclose my source, and that would be open up a whole can of worms I wasn’t ready to address.

After a few moments, he said, “You’re good for me, Tara. You don’t let me intimidate you, and you show me points of view that are opposite of mine.”

“Now that is something I never expected to hear from your lips.” I glanced at him, leaned a hip against a table by the window, and folded my arms. “You never give compliments twice in one day. What do you want from me?”

He came closer to me. “Now that’s a loaded question.”

He clasped the tumbler from my fingers, setting it on the windowsill.

Ashur’s gaze perused my body.

“Like what you see, Mr. President?”

“Very much. Though I’d enjoy seeing what’s under the designer outfit even more.”

“Of course, you would,” I responded a little too breathlessly.

And I’d like to lick down those six-pack abs you hide with those expensive suits you wear.

His hand glided along my arm and then settled on my hip.

My breath hitched, and the arousal I’d dulled with the alcohol reignited.

This would be so much easier if I wasn’t crazy attracted to him. In the grand scheme of things, sexual desire for the man one would marry was a requirement. But this wasn’t a normal relationship. It was a bargain wrapped in many strings.

I couldn’t let my attraction cloud my judgment into forgetting this was business.

“Tara.” Ashur’s voice was gruff as he said my name.

“Yes.”

“Sixty-one hours and you’re mine.”

The possessiveness in his statement made my stomach jump. And instead of annoyance at his claim on me, it aroused me.

“I know, Ashur.”

“Ashu.” His fingers flexed on my waist.

I licked my lips. “We’re not lovers yet.”

“You want me as much as I want you.”

I gave a noncommittal hum but my pulse hammered in my ears.

He tilted my chin up with his index finger and leaned down, touching his forehead to mine. “Why have we waited so long? For two years, I’ve wanted nothing more than to get between those thighs of yours and make you scream my name as you came.”

I’d thought of the same thing almost every day. I kept that tidbit to myself. Instead, I said, “You had your hand.”

He lifted his head and peered into my eyes. “My palm is no comparison to your slick hot cunt rippling around my cock.”

My throat dried up, and I swallowed. “Ash…” was all I got out before his mouth came down on mine.

The kiss started gentle, coaxing with soft passes of his lips, completely disarming me. The second I relaxed into the feel of him against me, he grew more demanding. I lost myself in a possessive, mind-blowing kiss. This definitely wasn’t the gentle pecks he’d given me over the last year that had left me wanting, but a claiming, nothing held back, like a volcanic eruption of heat and desire.

How could I have forgotten how he kissed? My body was on fire, and I couldn’t breathe. This man was too damn good at this.

If I didn’t grab control of the situation, it could lead to trouble. But instead of pushing him away I met his demands with my own.