Page 50 of Cartel Rose (Jorge)

“You said something like that before. I don’t remember if you said you’ve met him. Do you know him well?”

“No, but we’ve been at charity events together, and I’ve heard what he’s capable of. It’s one reason your firm appealed to my family. We didn’t want to get into bed with him directly, but we wanted to know he’d be there to secure any deal that might go awry.”

“All that time, you weren’t really there to interview me. You’d already decided.”

“Not exactly. As you know, I very nearly walked away from that deal. That leak nearly cost you a few million euros.”

“I know. Was it my uncle who made you give us another chance?”

“No, that was entirely you.”

Our gazes lock, and she nods. My forefinger goes under her chin and tilts her head back.

“Liesel, I told you what I want. It isn’t some power play to manipulate you. It isn’t because we’re forced to stay together in this suite. It isn’t because I want to torment you or treat you like a toy I’ll cast off when I get bored. I know you’re serious about Bastian, and that’s why you live with him. But there’s no denying there’s something between us. And I don’t for a minute believe it’s purely because of desperation that you turned to me.”

“Maybe not. Maybe there really is something there, Jorge.”

“I’ll respect your relationship. I won’t do anything to make you a cheater. But you know you want what I said earlier. You want to kiss me. You want to feel me inside you. You ache for it just like I do. You want me to touch and taste every part of you. You want to submit to my dominance.”

Her eyes widen to where it must be uncomfortable. It tells me she isn’t into BDSM because it shocks her. But she wants that dynamic, even if she doesn’t want that type of sex.

“Jorge, I?—”

“You don’t want me to keep being domineering. But you want me to continue to take the lead. You want to know I’ll do more than protect you. You want me to take care of you. You want the weight of the world off your shoulders. To focus on something beyond all this. Even after this, you want to focus on something beyond work and your duties. Youneedsomeone who understands that.”

“Bastian—”

“Might be someone whose company you enjoy. You may love his personality and what he does for you. But you know it’s not enough. If that were the case, you wouldn't be attracted to me. You wouldn't be attracted to a man like me if you didn't want this deep down. Maybe you haven’t recognized that, but it’s there.”

“I know.” She whispers her response, but I see how conflicted she is.

“I told you I won’t do anything to compromise your relationship. But this wasn’t a secret between us. It just needed to be said aloud.”

“I’m not ready to leave a relationship I believed would lead to marriage and a life with him.”

“Believed,chiquita. Past tense.”

She swallows, and tears well in her eyes.

“I’m not giving up on that future for something temporary. You’ll go home, and I’ll just be left behind.”

I can’t demand she move to the U.S. with me, but that’s the only way this will work. I can’t move here.

“Liesel, I won’t leave you behind. I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t see this as something more than a quick fuck.”

“You don’t live here. I do. I can’t uproot my life.”

“I know. But I’m not walking away from you if you decide I’m who you want.”

Chapter Thirteen

Liesel

My head’s spinning. I feel like something sucked all the oxygen out of the room. Being in Jorge’s arms is different from any other man I’ve been with. It’s like we’ve been a couple for ages. It’s that normal and comforting. I want the things he said. I feel the way he described. It’s visceral. It’s intuitive. It’s practically primal.

But it doesn’t negate my feelings for Bastian. I love him. I live with him because I see—saw—see—the fuck if I know at this point—a future with him. I saw marriage and maybe children in the future. We’ve talked about that, but neither of us is sure we want them. We were going to discuss marriage when he returned from his next overseas assignment. We want to see how things go during that time apart. Mostly, it’s how I do with the separation and being left behind. I was so positive it wouldn’t be a problem.

How deeply in love are you if you’re aching for another man to fuck you? Aching for him to take care of you just like he said? Wanting to submit to him like he said?