Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Then, that morning, she bent over her desk in that cream silk blouse, the one that gaped just enough to give me a glimpse of the swell of her breasts and the edge of her lace bra. I excused myself to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face for five minutes straight.
More cold showers since meeting her than in my entire life combined.
But now she's in my arms, pressing herself against me like she can't get close enough, her mouth hot and demanding under mine. My hand slides from her hair down her back, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her black dress.
I force myself to pull back, needing to see her face, to make sure this is real. Her eyes are dark, lips swollen from my kiss. A flush spreads across her cheeks.
Jesus Christ. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
"If you stop now, I swear I'll fire you," she says, still clutching my shoulders.
A laugh escapes me. "You'll fire me for stopping, but not for kissing you senseless against a wall?"
"Exactly." She nods. "Though I reserve the right to fire you if you don't do it again immediately."
"You know why I stopped?" I brush my thumb across her lower lip and tug it down. The little menace responds by sucking it. Fuck. "Because once I claim you as mine, Meredith, the next man who touches you will lose his fingers."
Her eyes widen, but instead of backing away or telling me this is a mistake, she just says, "Okay."
I search her face for doubt, for hesitation, and find none. "Do you hear me, Meredith? I do not share. If you're mine, you're mine until the day I die."
She holds my gaze, a soft smile plays in the corner of her mouth. "I heard you the first time, Cole."
"And you're okay with it?"
"I mean, I didn't think you'd go through with the kiss, but here we are." Her fingers start tracing patterns on my shoulder. "Tell me, how long have you wanted this?"
"Since the moment I saw your photo. Since the day I walked into your father's office and realized the photo didn't come close to doing you justice."
Her mouth curves into a full smile. "That long?"
"That long." I run my hands down her sides, feeling the dip of her waist, the flare of her hips. "How long for you?"
"Since you walked through the door. All tall and serious and..." She waves a hand at my general person. "All of this."
I grin at her gesture. "All of what?"
"Don't make me stroke your ego, Farrell. It's already big enough."
"Among other things," I whisper against her ear, enjoying the way she shivers.
"Oh my God." She laughs, shoving at my chest without any real intent to push me away. "I knew you'd be like this."
"Like what?"
"Demanding. Possessive. A tad egoistic."
“ A tad?” I tease, raising an eyebrow. "Having second thoughts?"
"Not a single one."
"For the record, Meredith, I can back up my ego. It's not inflated with hot air."
Instead of answering, she pulls me down for another kiss, this one slower but no less intense. "I've been having extremely inappropriate thoughts about you, Cole. It's about time you caught up."
I laugh against her mouth, my hand sliding to her ass, something I've wanted to do for a long time, and pull her against me. Her mouth forms an 'o' at the bulge in my pants. "I've been having plenty of inappropriate thoughts. I just had the good sense to keep them to myself."
"Until now."
"Until now." I trail kisses along her jaw and bite her earlobe lightly. "Hard to keep anything to myself when you're looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you want to climb me like a tree."
She blushes but doesn't deny it. "I've been very subtle."
"About as subtle as a brick through a window."
She gasps in mock outrage. "I have been the picture of professional decorum."
"Says the woman who just ordered me to kiss her."
"That was a momentary lapse in judgment."
"Want me to stop?" I ask, pulling back slightly.
She yanks me back. "Don't you dare."
Our lips meet again, hunger reigniting instantly. Her hands slide under my jacket, feeling the warmth of my body through my shirt. I grip her hips, lifting her slightly to align our bodies better.
When we break for air, I rest my forehead against hers. "What about Brian?"
Her eyes, which had been half-closed, snap open. "Oh, he can fuck right off."
I blink, momentarily stunned. I've never heard Meredith swear. Not once. Not even when she stubbed her toe on that coffee table in Milan and nearly broke it.
A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it. "Did you just—"
"Yes, I did." She looks both embarrassed and defiant. "And I meant it. I'm not marrying Brian Percy. I'd rather eat glass."
"Good." I brush a strand of hair from her face. "Because I wasn't planning on letting that happen."