Page 85 of The Cask

I nodded. “Yeah.”

Pushing my braids over my shoulder, he then let his fingertips coast down my neck and chest. “Are you sure?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m sure.”

“You are incredible.” Dropping a soft kiss against my lips, he stared at me as if he were seeing me for the first time. There was so much adoration in his gaze that it made my heart skip a beat. “I like you. And when we get out of here, I’m taking you somewhere to make up for getting us trapped down here.”

Pulling his face toward mine, I pressed my lips against his. I needed time to think. But with the slow, dawdling kisses, I couldn’t think. All I could do was feel. And it felt good—too good.

“Wow,” I breathed when he pulled away. I let my eyelashes flutter open and I was met with a look that made my heart leap from my chest.

“Talk to me. Something is on your mind.” He removed the condom and threw it in the trashcan. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me into him. “I see you.”

He looked sincere. He sounded sincere. I didn’t just believe him; Iwantedto believe him. But then my senses came back, and I remembered something indisputable.

Olivia.

“I’m sure you say that to all the women,” I said, tilting my head to the side.

His brows furrowed. “What? Why would you say that? Why do you think that?”

“Besides me, who was the last person you went on a date with?” I asked, ignoring his questions.

He paused. “Melissa Roberts.”

“When was that?”

“Come here.” He grabbed my hand and dragged me around the desk to my chair. After tossing his shirt into the seat, he sat down and pulled me into his lap. “You don’t strike me as the jealous type. What’s going on? Why do you keep doubting me?”

“I was hoping you would tell me about Olivia on your own and I didn’t have to bring it up to you.” I lifted my shoulders. “I wanted you to keep it real, but I guess that’s too much to ask for.”

“What?!” he laughed. “This is a joke, right?”

I pursed my lips. “No.”

“A very good joke indeed,” he continued as if I wasn’t glaring at him.

“I’m not joking.”

He stopped smiling. “You’re not serious? Ebony?”

“Yes, I’m serious!” I snapped, struggling to get out of his lap.

His eyes were wide as he held me tighter. “You’re jealous? Of Olivia?”

“I’m not jealous. I’m just not feeling it.”

He studied me. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“I worry about men who don’t tell the truth.”

He shook his head. “You’ve been quick to believe the worst in me from the beginning. What’s up with that?”

“Let me up!” I hissed as I pushed my way to my feet.

I was going to launch into my reasons, but I decided not to. It didn’t matter. Looking into his eyes from a foot away, I could still feel him, and I needed to shake that connection.

“Olivia is the one who helped get my paperwork through for Luxe. My inside woman as you put it,” he told me as he rose to his feet, snatching up his boxer briefs from the floor and pulling them on.

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