Page 18 of Kingpin's Nanny

She gasps.

I have no restraint left. Enough teasing. No more avoiding the inevitable. I love her. I don’t care that I’m twice her age, or that she’s my innocent little employee. I’m going to claim my woman. She will bemine.

“Now.”

8

BELLA

He has a photo of me beside his bed. I remember the moment captured so vividly, even though I didn’t realise he’d taken a picture. I had just emerged from the sea, and was watching Ivy on her bodyboard, my back to Lucas on the beach. My hair was stuck to my head and my shoulders were pink from too much swimming in the sun.

About a month after I’d started working for him, we went to the South of France. The summer had extended into Autumn, and I don’t know what made Lucas decide to go away, but Ivy asked longingly one evening, and told him that I’d never been to France. And he sprung it on us a few days later. A weekend on a yacht exploring secret coves and Lucas rolling his eyes when I wouldn’t drink more than a sip of wine. Not with so much water around, and the smooth teak decks on the boat.

I was attracted to him before, my tummy fluttering inappropriately on our first meeting. But there had been just the three of us on that beach, and I fell even more for my severe boss seeing him make sandcastles with Ivy. We’d spent hours at the beach, and I peeked at him from under my lashes, unable to believe a man like that was my boss.

I was full of a tumult of new feelings. I’d never wanted anyone before, but Mr Knight I’d responded to the second I saw him. The sight of his chest—wide, muscled, his pecs covered with a fine layer of dark hair and his whole torso a piece of art in black and gold—had just added more layers to my attraction. I wanted him.

That made the fact he was cold to me all the worse. I attempted to flirt with him. Awkwardly, of course. I brushed a non-existent bit of fluff from his shirt—as if fluff would dare to settle on Mr Knight—and said that being by the sea suited him. I even asked him to sit with me after Ivy had gone to sleep, and we talked late into the night.

I was convinced there was something between us, but when we returned to London it was back to the same thing: twenty minutes at bedtime, and cool civility.

And he has a photograph of me next to hisbed. I don’t understand.

I take the stairs slowly even though I want to rush. I can’t quite bring myself to believe any of this.

He knew all the time while I was putting on a show. Lucas watched me touch myself, and said those deliciously filthy things to me. He stroked his cock and told me I made him hard.

He said helovedwatching me.

“Bella.”

I look up to find him on the stairs, coming to get me. He stops when he sees my face.

He’s reclothed himself, though his forearms are still exposed, his tan skin in contrast to the white shirt. I’m an idiot. How did I not recognise him, just from his strong hands?

Because I was afraid. I was terrified it wasn’t him. I couldn’t raise my hopes that someone really wanted me, because there have been so many times in my life that no one did. No one cared.

“Bella.” He runs down the remaining steps and catches me in his arms, pushing me against the wall, pressing his body right against mine and looks down at me. A lock of black, curly hair shot through with silver falls over his forehead.

He’s hot and solid, his dark hair-covered forearms braced on either side of my head, the muscles flexing. I feel so safe.

We look at each other, both breathing fast. I’m suddenly very aware of my thin T-shirt and my nipples brushing against his chest.

“I’ve dreamed of this,” I confess in a whisper.

“I have too, little elf.” He pauses and when he speaks again, his voice is tormented. “But there are some things you need to know.”

“What?”

“I stayed away for your own good, Bella. I shouldn’t?—”

“You should!” He left me alone deliberately? “I want?—”

“Shhh.” He kisses me hard, and I don’t think he realises it’s my first kiss. Because it’s short and his lips are soft and firm and passionate. But it does achieve his aim spectacularly, as I can’t speak afterwards.

“You’re so young. And you’re my employee, and innocent.” The sadness in his tone crushes the hope in my chest. “I’m the head of King’s Cross. I’d tear you apart.”

“I like that you’re older,” I manage to say around the rising fear that he won’t let this happen. Did he not mean what he said, and I’ve misread everything? “I think it’s kinda hot that you’re my boss.”