Page 30 of His Jewel

She met his gaze. He was the one who suggested they talk, and now it seemed he had nothing to say. She found her voice.

“I know you’ll never be able to forgive me, or trust me again, but I’m so sorry.” She swallowed. “There’s obviously more to it. I know you’ve spoken with Alana. My parents, especially my dad, wanted me to do this. They told me about you, your business practices, how you stole clients from them. That you were shady and a bad man. You proved them wrong, me wrong, on every single count. Before I knew it, I was head over heels for you, and it was too late. I couldn’t tell you. I don’t expect you to understand.”

A tear trickled down her cheek.

He nodded. She watched his hand clench and unclench and she had to touch him. She covered his hand with her own and allowed his warmth to seep into her. His gaze flew to her, and she squeezed harder, thumb rubbing over his palm. His eyes fluttered closed against the touch, his face a mask of confusion.

“I don’t know why I’m here.”

“Because you love me. And I love you,” she admitted.

His eyes flashed open at her admission. He swallowed. “And because Drew and Alana basically told me I’d be a fucking moron if I didn’t come find you.” His jaw flexed. “I’m so in love with you it hurts.” He tilted her face toward him. “Never again. You can never lie to me again.”

“I promise.”

“This will be a fresh start for us.”

Her heart lurched at the wordus.

He stood. “Come here,” he commanded, voice low and gravelly, traveling all the way up her spine.

She practically ran to him, the force of her eagerness set them both off-balance. The second his lips touched hers, she saw stars. She moaned against his mouth, and she felt his sharp inhale, his hands roaming through her hair, tracing her face.

Suddenly, he broke the kiss, leaving them both panting, cheeks flushed.

“You’re going somewhere? You look like you’re going somewhere.”

“Job interview. Not for hours.”

He licked her lipstick from around his mouth. “Good. Because we’re going to need hours with all I have planned.”

With that, she was off her two feet and in the air.

“Where’s the bedroom?”

She could feel his hardness through his jeans, and it was making her ache, desperate.

“No here, right here,” she said.

He may have had elaborate plans, but she needed him now. It had been too long since he’d been inside her.

She jumped from his arms, turning so that she was planted over the table, her back to him. She pulled down her skirt and underwear and reached back behind her to stroke over his hard length. He seemed to agree. She heard his belt unbuckle and clatter to the floor. Then he was pressed behind her, sliding in with one deep thrust. He growled at the wetness he found there.

They both moaned in unison.

“So ready for me,” he grit out, pumping into her. There was nothing controlled about his strokes, and the erratic nature of them was building her pleasure. Her head lolled back, and he seized on her neck, peppering kisses, finally landing on the sensitive part of her ear.

She gasped. She’d never felt closer to anyone in her life.

A sudden burst of honesty rushed from her lips. “I’ve missed you. I love you so much, Josh.”

That was the final straw for him, as he pushed himself deeper inside her than he’d ever been. She let out a scream as she clenched around him.

She turned, breathless, wrapping herself in his arms.

“So, it turns out there are better ways to expend nervous energy than walking around New York.”

He pulled back, grinning. The sight of him sweaty and tousled took her breath away.

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