Page 27 of Bargain With The Boss (Crescent Cove: The Moguls #2)

Sydney

God.

Dear God.

My breath felt like it was trapped in my chest and couldn’t get out. Then I realized it was simply Xavier.

On top of me.

Again.

I shifted my hips and hissed as he slid out of me.

Again, no protection.

Because he thought I took care of it.

I draped my arm over my face, sucking in a deep breath as his weight shifted off me. He got off the bed, then came back and I groaned at the soft, warm washcloth he used to clean me up.

He kissed my inner thigh. “I never knew I’d want to see a woman painted in me.”

I shivered, letting my arm drop. “You overwhelm me.”

He drew me up into his arms, lifting me to the top of the bed so he could flip back the covers. “Makes two of us, Duchess.” He climbed in behind me, curling around me. With an oath, he reached over me to the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness save for the lights from outside.

He tucked his chin into the space between my shoulder and neck, kissing me gently. “You left me.”

“I know.” My voice was little more than a whisper. “It was only supposed to be once.”

And once was all it could take to change my life forever.

Yet here I was, doing it again. And I wanted more of it. The aching hole inside of me filled when he touched me. I didn’t realize how starved I was until Xavier.

Was it just for connection or was it for him?

You know the answer.

I closed my eyes.

“Why?”

“I don’t belong here, Xavier. I have a life in Seattle.”

“Do you?”

No.

I wanted to answer no. I wanted to turn around in this bed and wrap around him and ask for more. Ask to be his.

“The company needs me.”

“More than me?”

“It’s just lust between us.”

He shifted back and rolled me onto my back. “You really believe that or is it easier to?”

His eyes glittered in the dark. I could feel his anger coming off him in waves. And under it, something more.

More than I could ask from him. “Can’t it just be this for now?”

He sighed and relaxed. “Just don’t push me away.”

“I won’t,” I said softly.

Pulling me against him, he settled back down. “Good because you’re the one who called for me.”

I groaned. “I know. Blame the tequila.”

“I’ll thank the tequila instead.” He kissed my neck. “Whatever it took to bring you back.”

I smoothed my fingers over his forearm looped around me. I couldn’t even be mad at myself. Or I wouldn’t have gotten this night as a bonus. No matter what else came after, I got these days.

And maybe a few more.

I wasn’t sure when I drifted off, but next I knew the birds were chirping and sun poured in my room. He didn’t let go.

All night.

I should have felt crowded. I’d never wanted the few men I’d dated to stay overnight. Now, I’d had him in my bed two nights in a row.

I rolled out of the bed, nature calling after all the drinks I’d had the night before.

Xavier rolled onto his stomach, hugging the pillow under his head.

An adorable curl fell forward on his forehead, and I had to resist the urge to smooth it back.

Even worse, I wanted to crawl back and feel his heavy arm on me again.

I slipped into the bathroom, showering and putting some of my armor back on. Last night was a blur of fun and impulsivity. I couldn’t believe I texted him to find me.

What the hell had come over me?

Even more incredible—he’d come.

A knock on the door had me clutching my robe closed. I was mid-slather with my shower aftercare, my foot on the side of the tub.

I cleared my throat. “Come in.”

He peeked in, his eyes darkening as he opened the door. “What is it about a woman with her lotions and potions?”

I frowned at him as I methodically finished rubbing in my after shower oil. “I have no idea what you mean.”

Xavier laughed and crowded into me. He took the bottle from me and sniffed. “There it is. The dark flowers that make me want to bury my face in your neck.”

“Orchids,” I said softly.

“My new favorite flower.” He grinned and lowered his mouth to mine.

My fingers fell away from the lapels of my robe to lay on his chest.

Instead of spinning out into the passion that usually rose between us, he straightened. “May I?”

Worse. So much worse.

I drew in a breath as he poured the oil into his hands then tucked them into my robe to push it off my shoulders until it fell to the floor.

He smoothed the warm oil over my damp shoulders then down each arm in firm strokes.

His dark blue eyes were intent and locked on my skin as he took care to cover every damn inch of me.

My upper arms, forearms, even my hands before refilling his hands to start at my stomach. He glided over the dips of my waist to the curve of my ribs until he filled his hands with my breasts.

My head dropped back as the warm oil soothed and excited at the same time.

He rolled my nipples until they were hard and aching before suddenly turning me around, pushing my hair over my shoulder.

Off balanced, I swayed against him, feeling how hard he was against my ass.

But he kept on going. Dripping the oil on my back to rub endless circles over my shoulder blades and lower back until I was putty.

Then his hands slid back around to my front, drawing me back against his chest.

“So soft. So sensitive.” He cupped my breasts, lifting them then tugging each tip until I cried out. “I never tire of touching you, Duchess.”

“You make me feel crazy.”

“Makes two of us.” He brushed his nose along my neck. “I was afraid you were gone again.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere.” Yet.

Always yet.

One hand slid down to my belly again, this time he didn’t stop there and delved lower. “Wet for me?”

I shuddered. Of course I was.

When wasn’t I when it came to him?

“Ahh, there you are.” He slipped two fingers in me, and I sighed.

Not quite the fullness I needed, but so good.

And in the quiet of the bathroom with nothing but our breaths he pushed me into a soft, weightless orgasm. For once I didn’t worry. I just let him hold me and destroy me at the same time.

When I came back to myself, his husky words were in my ear.

“My Duchess.”

And I wished it were so.

I turned in his arms, holding onto him.

“Hey, what’s this?”

I shook my head and just pushed my face into his neck. The sandalwood warm scent of him evened me out. I eased back, looking up at him.

“What’s got you so…sad isn’t the word.” He lifted a hand to my face, cupping my cheek. “What’s going on, Syd?”

I opened my mouth.

What was I supposed to tell him?

I’m here to ruin everything. I’m supposed to find a way to bring Jude home or everyone I actually care about will be out of a job and blacklisted by my mother?

She didn’t say that—but she didn’t have to.

There would be no second chances for my team if I failed.

My phone trilled out a ringtone that drained the last of the pleasure out of me.

My mother.

I crouched and snatched my robe off the floor. My breath caught as I saw how hard he was for me. That touching me like he had—with no reciprocation—was enough to excite him.

I stared up at him for a second, then flew out of the room.

I crossed to my bag and dug inside, upending it on the chair. A half dozen texts already waiting for me on the screen. What would happen if I just tossed it out the window and into the lake?

I gripped it so hard, my hand shook.

When I looked up Xavier was in the doorway wearing only a pair of boxers, still hard from what we’d done in the bathroom.

I could ignore her and walk across the room and lose myself in him again.

Let the phone go to voicemail.

It stopped ringing and the room was silent for a minute, my breath heavy.

Then it started ringing again.

I took it out on the balcony and closed the door between us.

“Yes, Mother.”

“Ignoring me isn’t wise. I just wanted to let you know that I fired Pete today.”

“You can’t! He’s been with the company forever.”

“And he’s at the end of his use.” My mother’s cool voice made my stomach clench.

“You’re taking far too long.”

“I’ve been here a few weeks,” I whispered furiously.

“I want results Sydney. You have another week and then we’ll see if Lynn can keep her job.” Then she hung up.

I sagged against the half wall, the lake blurry under the haze of rage.

What was I supposed to do?

I didn’t even have a concrete plan to get Jude back to Seattle. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

“Sydney?”

I turned to find Xavier in the doorway.

He held up a box. “What’s this?”

My heart raced and the rage went straight to a cold sweat drenching fear. The Plan B prescription. “Xavier, I can explain.”

“You said you were on birth control.”

“I know, I—” What? One more lie?

To add to my others.

“I—”

It was indefensible. I should have demanded him to use condoms after that first time. It was smart and yet I’d done nothing smart since I stepped foot in this freaking state.

He backed away from the door and dropped the box on the bed before grabbing his pants.

I followed him inside, hovering at the door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

“That’s pretty fucking obvious.”

“We were just?—”

“What, Syd?” The chill in his eyes made the lump in my throat expand.

“It was stupid. The condom broke and I just blurted it out. I shouldn’t have, but it was probably going to be fine. I just bought it in case.”

“And you let me touch you again and again without a condom.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“Because you knew you could take care of it.” His voice was tight.

It wasn’t something I’d ever thought I would have to do. And I wasn’t entirely sure I could bring myself to actually take it.

“Xavier.”

“No. It’s your choice. I can’t—” He shook his head and grabbed his shirt and keys.

“Wait. Can’t we talk about this.”

“What’s to talk about. I wasn’t a thought in this entire process, right?”

Shock rattled me. “You…wouldn’t you want this?”

He paused at the door. “What I want doesn’t much matter.”

Then he was gone.

I sank to the floor as tears rolled and the lump became a sob.