Page 37 of Power
I sigh. I don’t want to draw my eyes away from the perfection in front of me. “You’ve said what you came here to say. You can leave.”
“It’s a workday,” he huffs.
“And?”
“You aren’t there.”
“I’m busy.”
“I can see that.”
“I’ll be back when this is done.”
“And when will that be?”
“Tomorrow perhaps, maybe the day after.”
“Can I see?”
“As you wish.”
He steps up next to me and gazes at the portrait of Bailey naked in the elevator. I know she was covered up when I was with her, but I have an excellent imagination. I see the swell of her breasts, the gorgeous slit at the apex of her thighs, and every curve of her hips, lips, and brow. That dark hair cascading down her back and the look of lust on her face when she climaxes. I know it all.
“Beautiful,” Archer murmurs, turning to me. He cups the back of my head, forcing me to face him and halt my progress. “You are deeply in lust with her.”
“Aren’t you?”
His gaze drops to my lips.
“Jealous?” I ask, knowing it will piss him off.
“No. I know you, Finn. I know where your black heart lies. Don’t let her break you.”
“What if I want to be broken?” It’s a question I have asked myself a thousand times since she understood what I was saying to her. Since shegotme. No other woman or man, apart from the Jacksons, has ever figured me out in the two seconds it did her.
Archer shakes his head. “You aren’t ready for that. You will hurt her.”
“She will hurt me first.”
“Exactly. I can’t allow that to happen. You are mine to take care of, Finn.” He strokes the back of his hand down my cheek.
I blink, not knowing how to explain theseemotionsbubbling away in the dark pit of my soul. I’ve never had them, I don’t understand them, and I can’t even say what they are. Love, lust, desire, arousal. What are they? What do they even mean? Nothing to somebody like me. And yet. Here we are.
“Don’t let this obsession take over.”
“I want it to. I want to see what Owen sees.”
“If you hurt her, Finn…” He presses his lips together, drawing my eyes to that perfect mouth that utters words to me that I crave.
“Hurt is relative.”
“You know what I mean. She is delicate. The slightest scratch will scar her.”
“I want to see her bleed.”
“I know. But don’t let it consume you.”
“Too late.”
