Page 25 of Power
“I understand,” I murmur, on pure instinct, reaching out to hold my hand up to his face, not touching him as he hasn’t given me permission. He inhales sharply, closing his eyes as he turns his face towards my palm.
My blood rushes through my veins, making me lightheaded when he leans forward to press his face against my hand for a split second before he pulls back as if he has been scalded.
“You understand.” His voice is hoarse as if he were on the brink of tears.
It pierces my heart, and I drop my hand. “Yes. I understand, Finn.”
Again, he drops to his knees in front of me. “You are everything,” he murmurs, head bowed.
I gulp. I don’t know what in the hell possesses me to reach up and undo another button of my blouse, and then another and another, until all of them are undone. I shrug it off and drop it lightly on the floor on top of my jacket.
He looks up in surprise and rises quickly.
“Do I satisfy your desire to see me?”
His gaze roams over my ample breasts, encased in a white lacy bra. I know my nipples are visible through the fabric, but it’s not bothering me for some reason. I feel weirdly safe with him. Like my inhibitions can fly away, and I can be free with him.
“More.” His voice is husky and full of something that isn’t lust but still desire. A desire to see more of me.
I hesitate. We are still in an elevator, one which I’m sure someone will have reported as having stopped between floors by now. With trembling hands, I reach for the zipper on my skirt and slide it down slowly, pushing it over the curve of my hips and letting it drop. My mismatched black panties don’t matter when his gaze drops to take in the rest of my body.
“You are a goddess. I could sculpt you, skimming my hands over your curves night and day, not sleeping until you're finished and a masterpiece.”
Wow.
If I thought Archer was good with the words, Finn might have met his match. No one has ever said anything remotely in the vicinity of this to me. It makes me want to strip off entirely and show him my body, but I don’t. I want to savor that thought. I want him to as well. I have no doubts in my mind, that day will come, but until then, we are both going to have to wait. I’ve gone so far past my comfort zone, that I’m going to wonder if I should be sectioned later when I think back to this moment.
I bend down to retrieve my clothes, seeing his disappointment when I cover up and slip my shoes back on.
“Next time,” I murmur, wondering who this woman is and where her confidence has come from.
I lean past him to restart the elevator, noticing his sexy smirk as he moves to the other side of the enclosed space.
The doors ding open after a few seconds, and Archer storms into the box like an avenging god. I stumble back from his domineering presence as his ferocious expression takes in first me, unharmed and fully clothed, and then Finn in the same state.
He calms himself, his gaze landing back on me. “Bailey.”
“Archer.”
“Everything okay in here?”
“Perfect,” I murmur and push past him to take the stairs, the rest of the floors down, a small smile playing on my lips as the dynamic has just shifted. I have realized my power, that I actuallyhavepower, and it is driving these men into a state. I’m sure this feeling won’t last. Tomorrow, I will be back tobasic Bailey,as they used to call me, bland and boring and timid.
But this time, I don’t care.
The power is inside me; it just needs the proper care to grow and flourish.
ChapterEighteen
Owen
I watchBailey stalk off through the door leading to the fifth floor's staircase. She doesn’t notice me; she is lost in her own little world. I turn my attention back to Archer. He is furious. I step forward as he slams his hand into Finn’s chest.
“What the fuck was this?” he growls.
Finn smiles. It’s chilling. “Nothing. Just getting to know Alice.”
“If you hurt a single hair on her, you and me are over.”
