Page 72 of Guarded King

She gives him a warm smile. “I hope so too.”

Once Ellis and Jasmine have stepped through the glass door of the hotel and made their way to the car waiting for them, Chloe turns to me. “I overheard what he said. He seems very receptive.”

“He was. I think we can lock him down during our next meeting in New York.”

“That’s wonderful.” Her expression turns a little mischievous then. “I guess sometimes dinner meetings aren’t all bad.”

“Some are more tolerable than others.” Particularly when she’s sitting next to me.

In response, Chloe stifles a yawn.

I chuckle. “Tired?”

She lets out a little laugh. “I am, even after my nap this afternoon. I honestly don’t know how you’re still on your feet.”

“I don’t sleep much on any given day. It means I get more work done, anyway.”

She studies me, a little crease forming between her eyebrows. “Has anyone told you that you work too hard?” Grimacing, she shakes her head. “Sorry, that must be the wine talking.”

I finally cave to the urge and put my hand on her back, guiding her toward the elevators. “Don’t blame the wine. You’ve said worse before.” I smile down at her. “And yes, one or two people may have mentioned it.”

The doors to the elevator open as we approach, and a couple holding hands steps out. There’s no one else waiting, so we’re alone as the doors close and we ascend.

Her sweet scent teases me, and I flash back to the thought I had while she was eating dessert. I zero in on her lips, and my dick throbs at the thought of how pretty they’d look wrapped around it.

The mental image of her in my office, watching me, surges back to the forefront of my mind, sparking a fierce tension deep inside me.

If she weren’t my employee, I wouldn’t be dropping her off at the door of her suite. I’d take her to mine. I’d taste that lush mouth. I’d taste every part of her. I’d watch her ocean eyes change color and relish the way her body shuddered against mine. And I’d make sure she was screaming my name when she came.

Fuck.

These thoughts have to stop. I need to wrestle back the control I once imagined I had. After tonight, I’m one step closer to my goal, and I can’t let this drumbeat of desire in my chest derail that.

As another yawn overtakes her, she covers her mouth. Then she gives me a sleepy smile. The look turns my lust-filled thoughts softer.

“Sorry,” she says. “That was a lovely dinner, though. Now I can say I’ve eaten in a real French restaurant.”

A damn rock lands in my gut. Here I am imagining all the dirty things I want to do to her, and she’s thinking about the once-in-a-lifetime experience she just had. As she should be.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. If things were different, there’s so much more I could show you.”

Her eyes widen as my words hang in the air between us, the ambiguousness of their meaning obvious.

“If we had more time here, I mean.”

She nods just as the ding of the elevator signals that we’ve reached our floor.

We walk quietly next to each other, stopping at the door of her suite. She fishes around in her purse for her key card, and once she has it, she looks up at me, her eyes flashing with an unnamed emotion. Mouth parted, she searches my face, and for a moment, I wonder if she’s going to invite me in.

Instead, she lets out a breath, then smiles. “Thank you. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

“There’s a full breakfast buffet downstairs, or you can order room service. I’ll meet you in the foyer at eight a.m.” The words are rushed. I need to get away before I do something stupid, like push her against the door and kiss her. Slide those narrow straps that have been taunting me all night off her shoulders so I can palm her breasts, suck her tight nipples into my mouth.

Swallowing thickly, I curl my hands into fists to stop myself from doing any of that.

She stares at me, her plump lower lip pulled between her teeth, then smiles softly. “Good night, Roman.”

“Good night, Chloe.” Voice low, rough, I step back, barely holding on to my fraying restraint.