Page 121 of Consumed By You

“I do, very much.”

I go over to him and he places his warm hands on my hips. “You look great without makeup. You don’t need it.”

A simmering heat ignites in my heart at his compliment and I press my lips to his tenderly.

He attempts to deepen the kiss, but I pull back. “I’m hungry.”

He smiles wickedly. “Me too.”

***

“Was it something important at work?” I ask, taking a bite from a slice of French bread.

He swallows, knowing I’m referring to his urgent phone calls. “No.”

I raise my brows waiting for more, but he doesn’t elaborate. I guess he doesn’t want to talk about it. I’m thinking of how to change the subject when he says, “It was my mother.”

“Your mother?”

Damn, he sounded like he hated her on the phone.

“Yes, and no, I don’t always speak to her that way.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything.”

“I can read your mind.” He leans back on his elbow.

“Why did you? Are you mad at her?”

“She went behind my back, tried to get Alexander to work for her company she’s starting. Fortunately, he realizes he’s never going to make as much money as he does in my company.”

I look away at the mention of Alexander, a man I haven’t even tried to think about. Last time I saw him was minutes before Benjamin fired and dumped me. Just hearing his name makes my stomach churn.

“That was wrong of her.”

“I’m used to it. My family is conniving and unattached,” he says coldly.

“Are you and your sister still okay?”

“Yeah, she’s the only sane one.” He tucks a strand of hair behind his ear. “She’ll be back in a week. My father is flying down to see her. I haven’t seen him in three years, so that should be pretty interesting.”

He takes my hand, turns it over, and traces the lines. I listen to the fire crackle and a burnt log crumbles in the fireplace.

“Tell me more.”

He looks up. “Such as?”

“I don’t know, anything.”

“I think I’d like to know about your life. You know much more about me than I know of you.”

I narrow my eyes playfully. “That’s because your life is so much more interesting.”

“It would be sad if you truly thought that,” he says wryly. “I’m very dull, you’ll see.”

“I look forward to it.” I plant my lips on his for a moment before he pulls away.

“There is one thing in particular that’s been on my mind.”