Page 123 of The Exception

“I better be youronlyhusband.” He glared at me, clutching my hips.

I laughed.So serious.“Favorite and only, yes. My favorite, and only—” I kissed his jawline “—lover. My favorite person.” I placed my hand over his heart.

His expression softened. “I’m your favorite person?”

I nodded.

“Okay.” His tone turned teasing. “What do you want?”

I tilted my head. “What do I want?” I didn’t understand.

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “You’re clearly buttering me up for something. What is it—more time at the château? Because I’m planning to speak with Jasper and Sloan about spending an extra week there forles Journées du patrimoine.”

“You are?”

“I am,” he said.

I smoothed my hands down his lapels. “You know I’d still love you even if you didn’t do anything for me, right? This might sound ironic or even hypocritical, considering our arrangement, but I love you because of who you are.Notwhat you can do for me.”

His stare was intense. So intense that I worried I’d pissed him off, but then his shoulders relaxed.

“Even so,” he said. “I like helping.”

I was beginning to suspect it was his love language—acts of service. Graham was always doing something for someone else. I wanted to show him that he was important. I wanted to make him feel as special as he’d made me feel.

“It’s my turn to help you with something for a change,” I said, backing him toward his chair. I was determined to prove that my love for him had nothing to do with our agreement or the twenty million dollars.

“Oh yeah?” He arched one eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

“I know how stressed you’ve been lately,” I said, smoothing my hands over his shoulders then unbuckling his belt. “Dealing with the board. Straddling two worlds.”

“Mm.” He dragged his thumb along his bottom lip, watching me. “I’ll give you something to straddle.”

“Later.” I smirked, kneeling before him, freeing him from his trousers. His cock bobbed toward me. I’d never done anything like this, but the idea that we were in his office and I was going to suck him off beneath his desk sent a rush of desire straight to my core.

“Right now—” I kissed his tip, and he jerked in my hand “—is about you. You give and you give and you give. I want to give you something.”

He cradled my chin in his hand, his hold firm yet full of tenderness. “I have everything I could ever want,mon cœur.” His green eyes were darkened with lust but also love too. And warmth.

“Oh, so…” My eyes darted to his cock, the head hard and insistent, a drop of precome leaking from the tip. “You don’t want me to suck you off?”

A muscle in his neck twitched. “I didn’t say that, did I?”

I laughed, bending down to take him in my mouth, ignoring the trill of a phone ringing outside. He groaned, gripping the edges of his chair. “Fuck, Lil. Your mouth feels so good wrapped around my cock.”

I kept going, teasing him with my mouth and my hands. Wanting to make him lose control. Wanting to give him a release.

“Tu es tellement belle,” he coaxed, telling me how beautiful I was. “On your knees for me.” His touch was gentle despite the bite to his words.

“Mm.” I took him deep, humming around him. My clit was aching, my core throbbing with need. I squirmed, desperately trying to rub my thighs together.

“Fuck,” he rasped, deep and low. “Fuck,” he hissed. “I love seeing you on your knees for me, but I want to come inside you.” He grabbed my wrists and pulled me to a standing position.

“Yes,” I gasped. “Yes. I want that too.”

His eyes darkened. I knew we were being reckless, but I was desperate for him.

He stood and kissed me, turning me so my back was to him. Even now, even when we should be rushed, he was tender. Loving.

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