Page 41 of The Heiress

I gave myself a little shake. Was it fun to feel this light and aroused? Yes. Did I need to lose all control? No.

Maybe.

“It’s why you’re here. You know me. You knew my parents. You know money. I need you to keep my eyes open and be honest with me.”

He nodded a few times and then grinned. “And here I thought you brought me along because of my big strong muscles and scary biker gang.”

“Well that too. You’re the full package.”

His mouth opened to say something and then he slammed it shut. Swallowed. Tried again. “You know it.”

Something wonderful sizzled between us. His gaze softened and heated at the same time. I believed—or wanted to believe—Jace felt things for me the way I felt them for him. It was messy falling for your best friend. There were so many things at stake. Valuable, wonderful, one-of-a-kind things.

A throat cleared behind me. “Uh, Miss Rossi, we have your appetizers. If you’re ready, that is.”

I jumped and Jace grabbed my hands, pulling me to him. Our bodies collided. I melted inside while trying to hide it outside. The last time he held me were friends. I didn’t even think about the way I could nuzzle into his neck or press my body flush against his. I didn’t think about how his muscles would feel under my palms.

I didn’t think of him as a man, and now I couldn’t think of him any other way.

Jace turned us to the side and out of the way of the crew bringing up the trays. He smiled down at me but I swear his breath stuttered when he did. His arms certainly held me tight instead of letting me go.

“Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes, so take your time. We’ll be maneuvering to keep the sunset in view and nothing else. Enjoy.”

I barely noticed Arjun-Alan-Aiden whatever his name was. I was too caught up in being caught up in Jace.

“Hungry?” His lips moved but his eyes didn’t.

“Very,” I whispered back, but I didn’t mean I was hungry for food.

“Then let’s eat.” He still didn’t let me go for another ten seconds. Then suddenly I was free and it felt like all the cells in my body were untethered and exploding out.

If he felt the way I felt then why did he let me go? Unless hedidn’tfeel these things, in which case things just got super awkward. Except...nothing was awkward. Jace stayed close as he retrieved his glass and sampled a bite of seafood. He shot me a smile. His gaze lingered.

Why were we apart when we could be together?

Unless...he didn’t want to make the first move. Or maybe hewantedto make the first move but didn’t think we should. I was so mixed up and in my head that I didn’t notice when he came to stand beside me and handed me a glass identical to his own.

“Sam?”

I blinked and he was there. So close. Touchable. I moved without thinking. I slid my hand along the back of his neck and into his hair, pulled him to my lips, and kissed him.

He went stiff at first. His eyes widened in shock and his eyebrows shot up to the sky.

And then...oh, and then everything changed. The boundary wasn’t just crossed. It wasobliterated.Jace seized my hips in his strong hands and pulled my body flush against his, angling his face to capture my lips. My eyes fluttered closed as I sank into the heat and electricity of his searching, soft lips on mine. His hands traveled up my back, holding me to him as he kissed and nuzzled.

But he didn’t deepen the kiss and neither did I. There was no need to. I could barely handle the chaste presses of his lips against mine. My entire body vibrated from the shock of it, and I held on tighter to keep from flying apart.

He ran his nose along mine. “Sam?”

How could he talk at a time like this? I kept my eyes closed, refusing to break the spell. “Yes?”

“Why did you kiss me?” There was urgency to his question, not malice.

I forced my eyes open and swooned a little at the intensity in his dark, brooding gaze. I finally understood what that meant. Hooded eyes, dilated pupils. The effect was all shadows and heat.

“Because I had to.”

He drew in a deep, shuddering breath, but didn’t move. “You had to?”

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