Chapter 7
“I need you to come in for a minute.”
Gathering the files on her desk, she pushed back the chair and stood up. They had been back in the office for two days, and she kept expecting someone to find out their secret and confront her about it.
Of course, she had insisted on purely professional behavior whenever they were here, something he had reluctantly agreed to. She had spent the entire break with him, occasionally going over to check on her aunt. She was also aware that her grace period was running out.
Pushing the doors open without knocking, she was startled to see him sitting on the front of his desk, his arms crossed over his chest. She had slept at his place as usual and helped him knot his red and blue tie.
Ignoring the incredible pull of attraction, she walked over to put the files next to him. “The Franz’s merger details need to be reviewed, and the terms of their agreement need to be discussed with the client. What are you doing?”
“I missed you.” He was pulling her between his thighs, his hands going around her waist.
“We talked about this.”
“You talked, and I listened.” His tawny golden eyes wandered over her face.
“You are not kissing me.” Slapping her hands on his chest, she eased away slightly. “I have work to do.”
“So do I.” Resisting her effort to avoid him, he bent his head and brushed his lips against hers.
“Reginald-“ She breathed, feeling her knees buckling.
“Hmm?” He was nibbling at her bottom lip and sending shards of heat throughout her body.
“Please stop.”
“I can’t.” His tongue made a foray into her mouth, the taste of her drowning out everything else. Her arms came around his neck as she sank into the kiss, her body molding to his. The man was addictive, she thought dazedly, fingers toying with the fringes of hairs at the nape of his neck. Her breasts were stiff and sensitive, her vagina already moist.
It took considerable willpower for her to tear herself from his arms, but she did.
“No.” She shook her head and took a deep breath. Pulling out of his arms, she went to stand at a safe distance, her chest heaving as she struggled to compose herself. He looked so damn sexy and enticing that she just wanted to fling herself into his arms and never leave.
“Dammit, Reginald. I told you to keep things professional while we are here. I cannot afford for you to make me lose focus.” Taking a deep breath, she stepped back even more. “If you have nothing else for me to take care of, I have a meeting to set up for.”
“There is something else.”
“What is it?”
“You have a week.”
“That’s not- “
“A week, Jacinth, to get used to the idea of us being together, and then I will announce to everyone that we are together. I was thinking of a wedding in February.” An implacable look on his handsome face warned her there was no use arguing.
“I need more than a week.”
“A week.” He repeated. “Or I take things into my own hands.”
She bristled at the arrogant, authoritative tone. “Isn’t that what you are doing now?”
He smiled at that. “You are right. Get used to the idea, darling. It’s happening.”
Giving him a furious glance, she marched out, slamming the doors shut behind her.
Going behind his desk, he sank into the chair, his body shaking. He needed her, and he had never needed anyone before. Not his parents, not the women he had been with over the years. He was constantly afraid of losing her. He wanted to brand her, and he was hoping that even now, she was carrying his seed.
He had seen her with one of the managers yesterday, and it had taken him a lot of effort not to go over and drag the man away from her because he was too close.
They had argued about it last night, and she told him he was being ridiculous.
“He was touching you!”
“His hand was on my arm, that’s it. It’s just a light touch, nothing more. You are overreacting.”
“I wanted to fire him.”
She had stared at him as if he was losing his mind. “I don’t want another man touching you.”
“You don’t own me.”
“You belong to me.”
“I am a person- “
“I don’t give a damn. You belong to me.” He was frustrated that he did not have a right to touch her, to take her in his arms, because of the secrecy, and it was getting to him. She had stormed out of the room and gone downstairs. He had waited a few minutes before going after her.
“I hope you are here to apologize.”
“I am not.”
“Then leave me alone.”
“That’s not going to happen.” He told her firmly. She had tried to resist when he hauled her into his arms. “Stop fighting, dammit.”
“Then let go of me.”
“You think I want to behave like this? Be this way? I am so damned jealous that I cannot stand it. I hate this secrecy that you insisted on.” Blowing out a breath, he wrapped his arms around her. “I need to be with you, Jacinth, and the fact that you cannot see that drives me crazy.”
Sighing in defeat, she rests her face against his chest, feeling the unsteady beating of his heart. “I promise that it will not be for long.”