I have a feeling she’s trying to warm me up to her father, and because he’s important to her, I want to make an effort. Just…
“I don’t know if I can get used to the idea of your dad not being a bad guy,” I admit.
Genny lets out a soft laugh. “That’s fine. He can still be the bad guy in your story. He’s just not the bad guy in hers.”
“What about in your story?”
She frowns as if the answer is obvious. “In my story, he’s my father.”
My own relationship with my father is also that complex and that simple. Jack Pierce can bring on the charm with the ladies like I can, but he’s so focused when he wants to be. So business-minded, like Hudson. Sometimes it’s like I can’t possibly share his DNA, we’re that different.
But I still love him. I’d still care if he didn’t love me.
My voice is gruff when I manage a response. “Enough said.”
Her eyes slant with compassion, as if she knows what’s going through my head. God, it makes me want things. Want to touch her. Want to hold her. Want to keep her.
I look away, stifling my emotions. With my eyes trained over the horizon, I take a beat to process everything she’s told me, letting the pieces click together in the puzzle that makes up who she is. I better understand now why she was worried to get involved with me—she didn’t want to rely on anyone to help with the Accelecom/Werner Media merger.
But that begs a different question—why is she here if she doesn’t want anyone’s help?
I turn back to study her a moment. “You like me!”
“What? Where did that come from?”
“From you. You don’t want anyone’s help. You just said that. And yet you’re here under the guise of me helping you. Why on earth would you accept help from me when you want to do everything on your own? Only one answer makes sense. You like me.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I do not.” But her skin turns scarlet.
“You’re blushing. You totally do.” I laugh, loving this new turn of events. “I can’t believe it.”
“Would you stop it? You’re making a fool out of yourself.” She purses her lips and shakes her head.
“There’s no one here but you, and I don’t care, anyway. It’s worth it to hear the truth. You. Like. Me.”
She shakes her head again, but this time she doesn’t deny it outright. Instead, she meets my eyes, and I can see it clearly. She does like me.
And there it is again—that tightening in my chest. That feeling that I both want to ignore and hold onto for as long as possible. Words bubble in my throat, sentiments begging to be expressed.
With my gaze locked on hers, I scoot closer, needing to kiss her. Needing to occupy my mouth with something other than the things I shouldn’t say.
Our mouths move slowly at first, tasting. Testing. Quickly, it grows deeper. I cradle her cheek with my hand and move my body in tighter, so she can feel the thick pressure of my erection on the inside of her leg. I know we’re outside, that it’s only dusk and we could be seen, but I’m desperate to have her.
I start to gently steer us to a prone position when she brusquely pushes me away.
I search her face, questioning—did I hurt her? Did I misread the mood? Is the outdoors a hard limit for her, and did I actually just think the term hard limit?
But that can’t be it because she’s given me all the cues. Her grey eyes are clouded with desire. Her breathing has become quick and shallow. Her tongue darts out to moisten her lower lip.
Then, in a husky voice, she says, “Make me.”
I know exactly what she means. I know because it’s what I want her to mean, and because we’ve become so connected in these ways that I can just tell. She wants to fuck as much as I do. But it’s a game now. A game where I make her.
She gives me a beat to process. Her body visibly primes, her limbs prep to take off.
I’m ready when she lunges, though, and I catch her at her wrist. She pulls and twists, and I grin because all I have to do is grab her other arm, and I’ll have her trapped.
Except I’m too slow, and she takes advantage of my hesitation. She stomps down hard on my foot, and before I can react, her free hand flies through the air. With a loud smack, her palm meets my face.
Automatically, I drop her wrist to rub my jaw. Our eyes lock and we freeze.
I can’t believe she did that.
The look on her face says she can’t believe she did it either.
And maybe it’s messed up, and I should be pissed or confused but instead I’m turned on as fuck. My dick is throbbing, and I swear all my primal instincts have kicked in because I can smell her so clearly that my mouth waters. My want turns into need. Desperate, urgent need.
From the way her brow rises, I think she knows. And from the glint in her eye, I’m pretty sure she’s feeling exactly the same. The edges of her mouth turn up into a wicked smile. Then, letting my jacket slip off her shoulders, she runs.
With her heels off, she’s fast, sprinting back along the trees. But I’m right behind her, my adrenaline pushing me to chase, and even though she’s an experienced runner, I’m on her in no time. I grab her by the elbow, and before she can pull away, I fold both arms around her in a tight embrace.
“You think you can run from me?” My voice is low and gruff at her ear. “You think I won’t come after you?”
“Let go,” she whimpers, and I know she doesn’t mean it. She knows she can end this, knows all she has to do is say stop.