Page 61 of Reluctantly Yours

Her blue eyes widen in shock, and she takes a step backward. “You’re mad at me? No, I don’t think so.” She points a polished red nail toward my chest. “You’re the one who’s been such an ass tonight.”

I step right into her finger. Her short nail doesn’t even press past the material of my shirt.

“I spent the majority of the night away from you at your request, then when I was in the middle of talking to Fred, I discover you’re dancing with another man. The same man whose company is also trying to acquire Voltaire.”

“Right. It’s always about business and Voltaire. Never about people and feelings, because they have them you know. Feelings. People. Me. I have feelings.” She drops her finger from between us, probably a bad move on her part. My body immediately takes the given space. “I didn’t know. I probably shouldn’t have danced with him then, but he was nice.” Her eyes lift to mine. “And he liked my dress.”

“Of course, he did.” I move my hands to the shelf above Chloe’s head. “He wants anything that’s mine.”

“You are the worst. You couldn’t give me a compliment if you tried.”

“That’s what this is about? What Hunter said?”

“No.” She looks defiant, her features pinched tight. “Yes. Maybe if you weren’t doling out compliments left and right to anyone who wasn’t me, this wouldn’t be an issue.”

“You want to know why I told other women they looked nice, or lovely or some other bullshit nicety tonight?”

Her face softens. “It wasn’t bullshit. They did look lovely.”

A puff of air escapes my nostrils, which is fitting. I’m the bull and Chloe is the red flag waving in the distance, taunting me, teasing me. Except, now she’s right here within reach. I lower my face toward hers. The scent of her shampoo mixed with hairspray and her floral perfume wraps its arms around me, pulling me in further.

“You drive me fucking crazy.”

“Same,” she says, tilting her chin up, giving me access to her full lips.

I don’t think before I crush my lips to hers. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since the moment she descended my staircase tonight. Chloe’s perfect, pliable lips on mine. She meets me there, hungry just like I am. Or it’s the natural reaction to the frustration we’re feeling with each other. Pent up anger and lust.

My hands drop to her hips, lifting the skirt of her dress to free her legs. I lift her up, pressing her back into the bookcase. Her legs wrap around my waist, aligning our bodies. Her fingers are in my hair, pulling me closer. It’s not possible to get closer. My tongue sweeps against the seam of her lips. She opens wide, letting me dive in to taste her. My hips rock into her, it’s a primal instinct to press my hardness into her softness. Chloe moans at the contact, and I nearly come at the sound of her breathy sighs.

Maybe Carl was right. I just need to be inside her, then all the madness will stop.

My fingers trace the inside of her thigh, inching toward her center when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Fuck. I should ignore it, slide my fingers beneath Chloe’s panties. That’s where I want to be, but habit has me releasing her. My fingers retreat to pull my phone from my pocket.

It’s Fred.

“Barrett.” His voice booms over the line when I answer. “I saw you and Chloe headed out early. I hope everything is okay.”

My eyes find Chloe’s. Her hair is wild from my hands, her lips swollen, lipstick smeared. Her breaths are coming out deep and heavy.

“We’re good. We wanted to get home early tonight.” I try to casually adjust my raging hard on.

I turn away from Chloe, wanting to be fully present for the conversation with Fred I missed out on earlier.

Fred chuckles. “Sorry to interrupt. Frankie wanted me to call right away. We’re headed to the Hamptons next weekend for Fourth of July. We’d like you and Chloe to join us if you don’t have any plans.”

“We’d love to,” I answer automatically. There’s no schedule to check, if Fred Hinkle is in the Hamptons, that’s where I need to be.

“You and I will golf while the ladies shop and Frankie’s dying to get out on the boat.”

“Sounds like a great time.” A perfect time to talk with Fred.

“Great. We look forward to seeing you both next weekend.”

We hang up and I turn back to Chloe, except she’s no longer there. She must have slipped out while I was talking to Fred. I tell myself it’s for the best. Tonight was a fucking mess and I need to not let my dick run this operation. That was never part of the plan. Fred’s call is the perfect reminder of why Chloe is here, to help me land this deal with Fred. That’s it. I can’t let my attraction to her get in the way of acquiring Voltaire Telecom.

CHAPTER14

Chloe