I wanted this woman, and no amount of pretending otherwise would help. It was time to throw in the towel and accept that. Sure, I was questioning my sanity, but one look into her eyes, and I knew the clarity and renewed perspective I’d gotten from my trip were merely a figment of my imagination. The truth was, I’d been battling my demons since I touched her in that fucking bathroom, so making it this long without touching her again was a feat in and of itself. The only fucking thing I cared about was spending a few minutes with her. The animal within preferred every minute, but I was angling for one dinner to start.

  Granted, she hadn’t exactly accepted my offer for dinner, but I was not a man who gave up easily. If my radar wasn’t going haywire like the rest of me, I was reasonably sure she would accept, but it wouldn’t be without persistence on my part.

  I could hear footsteps above us as we made it down the last flight of stairs, and part of me wanted to slip into an alcove somewhere so there was no risk of anyone seeing us together. I didn’t do that because it was stupid. I wasn’t a goddamn teenager, nor was she. I didn’t have to hide from anyone because there wasn’t a soul in this building who had the courage to ask me to explain my actions. Well, aside from Garrison, Nick, and Hawk. But they weren’t here to give me shit, so there was no need for me to feel as though we should hide.

  When we reached the first floor, I opened the door to the lobby, then moved with Journey across the space, nodding once at the guard on duty. As we approached the outer doors, I stepped around her to open the door that led outside, waiting for her to exit in front of me. I couldn’t resist the urge to admire her from behind. That fucking dress was enough to make a grown man cry, the way it caressed her delectable ass and showed off her trim legs.

  And those boots... As Garrison would say: Jesus fuck. I’d always admired a woman’s footwear but never like this. I’d put more than one submissive in heels and nothing else, but never had they looked as good as Journey Zeplyn in a pair of fucking red combat boots. They were somehow sexier than if she had on six-inch stilettos.

  We made it a few feet from the door when Journey abruptly stopped and spun around to look at me. “Why are you doing this?”

  I stopped walking and turned to face her, surprised by her tone of voice and the accusation in the question. “I’m sorry?”

  “Pursuing me. Why?”

  “I don’t understand the question.”

  She braced her hands on her hips and squared off with me. “You come back today, Creed, and you’re pretending nothing happened this week. But it did, and I can’t look past it. Nothing’s changed. I’m still not willing to play your games, and I absolutely don’t want to be the toy you pass around between your friends.”

  “I didn’t hear a question in there,” I countered, holding my ground.

  “Why?” she demanded. “Why would you possibly come back and think everything’s fine?”

  My response was a quirk of my eyebrow as I silently urged her to continue because I got the feeling her tirade was only just beginning.

  Her eyebrows dropped over her beautiful eyes. “Is this some kind of game you’re trying to win? Who can get the naive girl first?” She shrugged, and her expression cleared. “If it is, you’re too late.”

  Her brief pause gave me enough time to process what that meant, and I knew with absolute certainty that something had happened between her and Garrison. Something that had put them both on edge.

  “I’m not a challenge, Creed. Not for you or Hawk or Garrison. I don’t need to be conquered.”

  Oh, she certainly needed to be conquered, but not how she thought.

  When she didn’t continue, I said, “There’s no game.”

  She huffed a laugh. “Are you kidding? You’ve been playing games since I met you. You all have. And because I like two of your friends, you’ve decided you want what you can’t have.”

  “Are you saying I can’t have you because of Hawk and Garrison?”

  Her eyes widened just a little. “What? No.”

  “So I can have you?”

  “Creed...”

  I stepped closer to her, but the moment I did, the door opened, and two people came out of the building. Neither of them so much as looked our way, yet I found myself stepping back as though I’d been busted copping a feel.

  Journey noticed, and her attention shifted to the people walking by. She watched them until they were safely in the parking lot before she turned back to me.

  Her eyes were wide when she met my gaze again. “You’re embarrassed to be seen with me.”

  “I’m not embarrassed.” Without thinking, I glanced at the people leaving before looking back at her.

  “You are,” she insisted. “You don’t want anyone to see you talking to me.” Her forehead creased. “Why?”

  I was appalled that she would accuse me, mostly because she had nailed me accurately. Last Monday, when we had coffee in front of God and everyone, it required tremendous restraint to remain seated. The only thing that saved me was her need to skim all the faces to see who was watching her. I’d learned at that moment the only thing more powerful than my need for discretion was my overwhelming craving for this woman, but it would seem they were still at odds.

  “There’s no company policy against it.” Her gaze raked over my face as though the answer might be there. “At least not one that I found.”

  “There’s not,” I confirmed. “And you’re one to talk. Weren’t you the one who wanted distance?”

  “That was … it was business-related.”

  “Your co-workers make an accusation about your personal relationships, and suddenly it’s business related?”

  She glared at me. “It’s moot, Creed. We both know how that turned out. They still think I’m getting favoritism. And quit changing the subject. You’re embarrassed to be seen with me.” She didn’t appear any less confused. “Is it because you’re old enough to be my father?”

  “Jesus fucking Christ.” I stumbled back a step as though she’d slapped me. “How fucking old do you think I am?”

  “Thirty-nine,” she snapped without hesitation. “And I’m twenty-four.”

  “I’m not old enough to—” I cut off my rebuttal as I did the math in my head. “Okay, fine. But I would’ve been fifteen. Jesus. Give me a little credit, would you?”

  Her expression was rife with skepticism. “You’re telling me you were a virgin at fifteen?”

  “Maybe.”

  One golden eyebrow lifted slowly, and I could practically hear her rolling her eyes when she droned, “Seriously?”

  “Okay, no,” I admitted. “I wasn’t.”

  She planted her hands on her hips and squared off with me again. It took every ounce of my self-control not to look at her breasts. They were small but pert, and they stretched that fabric just ... fucking ... right.

  “If it’s not the age difference and not company policy, what is it?”

  “I’m not embarrassed.”

  She clearly didn’t believe me. Her tone was still hard. “No? Then tell me why you’re skittish when other people are around.”

  I should’ve had an excuse ready, something that would make a damn bit of sense, but I had nothing. This woman ... I’d been off-kilter from the moment I laid eyes on her. That was the only excuse I had for what I did next.

  “You need to let this go,” I told her, stepping forward, closing the distance between us.

  “Because you’re wrong, and you refuse to admit it? Or because—”

  I gripped her jaw firmly, tilting her head back before slamming my mouth over hers, effectively cutting off her words.

  Her sharp inhale relayed her shock, but she didn’t pull away and slap me. Quite the opposite, actually.

  Journey pushed up on her toes, her fingers curling firmly around my wrist as her lips parted, allowing me to slide my tongue along the seam. I took the opening she offered and licked into her mouth, savoring her sweetness as my cock lengthened and throbbed. Her tongue met mine, fervent and eager at the same time a soft hum escaped her.

  I was in so much fucking trouble because this woman ... this fucking kiss ... I’d never tasted ambrosia like this before. Never wanted something as badly as I wanted her, and I realized nothing else mattered. Not where we were, not who might be watching. Not that I had pissed her off more times than the total sum of the days I’d known her. Or that her fathers would lose their fucking minds when they learned I was seeing their daughter. Or even that I was convinced something had happened between her and Garrison, yet neither was acknowledging it for whatever reason.

  As the kiss consumed me, as I thrust my tongue against hers, I realized it didn’t matter. None of it. I wanted this woman with a passion that defied logic and reason. I couldn’t stop thinking about her before this moment, and now I knew I’d be thinking about her for the rest of my natural fucking life. And that wasn’t me waxing poetic again, just the raw, honest truth because deep down, I knew she was made just for me. Seven years ago, this woman had ensnared me the way no other ever had, and now… Now, this woman was mine, and it was only a matter of time before I ensured she knew it, too.

  When she sighed again, I pulled back but didn’t move far. I kept my hands on her face, grazing the irresistible softness of her cheeks with my thumbs as I waited for her to open her eyes. When she did, she was smiling.

  “I’m taking you to dinner,” I told her. I was too far gone for pleasantries at this point. I didn’t care what we did or where we went; I needed to be with her. I figured that was the only way I’d be able to move forward. It was the only way to determine if this connection I felt with her was real or if I’d been obsessing like a teenage boy for no fucking reason.

  Either way, something had to give.

  “Okay.” Her smile returned, her eyes skimming over my face. “But I get to pick where.”

  There was a strange sensation in my chest. It was as though my heart had swelled, and I didn’t know what to make of it. I’d never felt anything like this before. If she wanted spaghetti, I’d get my jet ready so we could have dinner in Italy. If she wanted ropa vieja, I’d take her to Cuba. If she wanted steak tartare, I’d take her to France. There was no destination too great where she was concerned.

  “Anything you want.”

  Her smile brightened for the first time, then that husky, raspy voice dropped to a whisper when she said, “I want you to kiss me again.”

  It was insane, I know, but I couldn’t resist her. I didn’t want to.

  I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. Softly, gently. I meant to keep it chaste, but my good intentions vanished when she hummed her approval again. If she was half as expressive when getting fucked as she was with a kiss, I knew I’d never get enough of her.

  A throat cleared, and I barely managed not to jerk away, remembering how disappointed she’d been when she thought I was embarrassed by her. Instead, I released her lips and stood tall, glancing behind her to see Hawk and Garrison watching us as though we were their private porn movie.

  “Fancy meetin’ you here,” Garrison drawled, his expression too cool, too indifferent.

  I knew him well enough to see through the facade. Whatever happened between him and Journey … he was affected by it. And either he didn’t want me to know, or he didn’t want to accept it. And based on his surprise, he hadn’t anticipated running into us out here.

  Hawk, however, looked as though this was just any other day of the week. He was a man who lived moment by moment, and I usually respected that. Right now, his easygoing, go-with-the-flow nature was highly inconvenient for me.

  Journey stayed where she was, ducking her head, shielding her face behind her hair. I put my hand on the back of her head, sliding my fingers through the cool silk while I stared the bastards down and mentally wished them to go up in flames.

  They didn’t. They were too fucking stubborn for that.

  I shot them a look that told them to back off, but they didn’t do that either. However, they remained uncharacteristically quiet, giving Journey a moment to compose herself.

  When she finally turned to face them, she wasn’t smiling. I could sense her worry as she stared at Garrison. They locked eyes momentarily, connected on a level I couldn’t possibly fathom. I hadn’t asked either of them what had happened between them because I had promised Garrison I wouldn’t, but seeing this … something had happened. Something that had changed things between them.

  “It’s lovely to see you again, Journey,” Hawk said, sliding his hands into his pockets as his eyes raked over her approvingly. “Nice boots.”

  It took a moment, but she broke eye contact with Garrison and smiled shyly at Hawk. “Thanks.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Nice to see you again.”

  “It is that,” he said with a smirk, not an ounce of disappointment on his face despite the fact he had just caught me kissing the woman he’d been mooning over for the past two weeks.

  Garrison, on the other hand … he looked like he was ready to strangle me with his bare hands.

  Journey glanced up at me. She beamed a smile my way before looking back at them. “We were about to grab some pizza. Care to join us?”

  I could honestly say I hadn’t envisioned having an entourage along on my first date with Journey. I imagined a few dozen other things we might do, but having dinner with Hawk and Garrison had never crossed my mind.

  Was I disappointed? A little, but it seemed fitting, considering the stunt I had pulled.

  Did I intend to punish her for inviting them? I grinned to myself. Yeah. I definitely did.

  “A trip to Chicago for deep dish?” Hawk teased.

  Journey chuckled. “I was thinking more along the lines of just down the road. But I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

  “I’m game if you are,” Hawk said, glancing over at Garrison.

  Garrison’s eyes remained hard, and he was now avoiding eye contact with Journey. His response was a grunt.

  “We’ll meet you there,” I told them when Journey relayed the name of the restaurant.

  Without waiting for them to acknowledge, I put my hand on her lower back and steered her toward the main entrance where my car was parked. I took her bag and put it in the backseat before helping her into the car. I stood tall, realizing for the first time in days that I didn’t feel like an anvil was sitting on my chest.

  When I got in the car, Journey attempted to buckle her seat belt, but I stopped her by placing my hand on the buckle.

  “Not yet.”

  Her lips parted with a small gasp, her eyes dilating as she stared back at me.

  I slid my fingers into her hair as I cupped the side of her head. I wanted to taste her again, but more than that, I needed to show her who was in charge. She’d gotten away with so much this past week. Indulging her wasn’t fair to either of us because sooner or later, she’d learn who I was. I wasn’t sure she’d like that man as it was, but at least this way, it wouldn’t come as such a shock.

  I let my lips hover over hers. “I missed you.”

  “I didn’t miss you,” she countered, but there was a smile in her voice.

  “Yes, you did.”

  She nodded. “Yes, I did.” Her voice lowered. “But I didn’t want to.”

  “That I believe.”

  I pressed my lips to hers. This time, I maintained control, not giving in when she attempted to deepen the kiss. I smiled as I pulled back, then reached over and buckled her seatbelt. Once she was secure, I sat back, pulling up the car’s navigation menu. I typed in the restaurant’s name. I didn’t need directions, but this way, she’d have a constant reminder of the deadline I was about to impose.

  I shifted the car into reverse and backed out of the parking space. As I shifted into drive, I glanced over at her. “Take off your panties and bra.”

  She gasped. “What?”

  I refrained from smiling, amused by her shock. “Did you not hear me? Or did you not understand?”

  Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She closed it abruptly, her forehead creasing in confusion.

  “I think it’s a fair punishment since I’d been anticipating having dinner, just the two of us, and you thought inviting them would be fun.”

  “I was trying to be nice.”

  “Were you? Or did you think they could save you from me?”

  She laughed softly.

  “But I’m serious. Take off your panties and bra.”

  She glared at me.

  “I don’t do negotiations, Journey. Nor do I care to repeat myself.” I tapped the navigation screen. “You have until we reach our destination to do it.”

  Her eyes dilated to the point the blue was so thin, it was nearly gone. She skimmed my face, and I could tell she was having second thoughts. It was good she was. She should.

  “You accused me of playing games,” I told her as I drove through the parking lot. “I don’t play games. I control outcomes. I maneuver chess pieces on the board because I can. And those in my life allow me to.” I stopped at the exit, waiting for a break in traffic as I peered over at her. “I can see it on your face. In the past fifteen minutes, you’ve convinced yourself I’m not the man you accused of playing with your feelings. The one you hung up on because you disapprove of my tactics. I was kind to you earlier when you came to my office, and then I kissed you, and now you think I’m not the same man who sent you on a date with Garrison or made you come with my voice while I made Hawk listen.”

  She swallowed but remained silent.

  I turned my attention back to the traffic. When it cleared, I pulled out.

  “I’m still that same man, Journey. I haven’t hidden anything from you, and I don’t plan to start now.”

  “And that gives you the right to force me to take off my clothes?”

  “Not your clothes,” I corrected. “Your panties and bra.”

  “Same difference.”

  I laughed. “If I wanted you naked, I would’ve instructed you to strip, hellcat. Keep pushing me, and I might. But don’t mistake my command for force. I will never force you to do anything. I expect you to do it because it pleases me.”

  “It pleases you for me to be naked under my clothes?”

 

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