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I'm panicking inside. If she walks in, there'll be no way to explain this. None.
James advances on me and I retreat until my back hits a wall. The city lights filter through the window and illuminate his features, and I take in his eyes that are full of determination, his skillful lips that are inching closer to mine, and I can’t help but wonder how is it this man, with his matching salt and pepper hair and beard, has me in knots and aching with desire for him.
Inhaling, I hold my breath as he closes the distance.
"She won't. I know she won't leave her mother until the night is over." He glances briefly at his Rolex. "Which means we have a few hours. I want to know why you did it, Aubrey. Tell me why you blocked me."
I swallow hard. I love the sound of my real name on his lips.
Shaking my head, I say, "You're far from stupid, James. You know why."
He raises a hand to my cheek, allowing his fingers to graze down the side to my jaw, my neck, and to the strap of my tank top. My nipples harden and I know he sees it as he slips the strap down my shoulder. He palms my breast roughly, making sure he pinches my nipple, and I draw in an audible breath, my back arching as the searing heat travels through my body.
"I can't get close to a client for obvious reasons, and you're a complication I didn't want." I pause. "I still don't want it."
"Liar,” he says, no doubt feeling how I’m trembling against him, my body betraying my words. “I'm a complication you need, sweetheart," he continues, his hands slowly moving down my waist to grab my hips.
His touch is seductive, and he leaves a trail of hunger in his wake for me to chase after.
"This is a complication we both need."
I place my hands on his chest to stop him, but it’s a useless effort, as I’m defenseless against him. James lifts me with ease.
My legs automatically wind his waist and I fall into him. One of his hands skims up my back to cup my neck. I sigh at his strength, and he sees it. His other hand is under my ass, holding me up as if I weigh nothing. He presses my back to the wall to secure me and pushes his chest into mine. His fingers dig deeper into my neck and my thighs tighten even more as a rush of desire slips from me. There's something about how he takes control with just enough power that makes me fucking weak for him.
I draw in a heavy breath. "I can’t do this, James. I refuse to do this to Natalie. I love her and I don’t want to lose her. Her friendship means more to me than whatever this is."
My heart is racing and I wonder if he can feel it. Bringing my hand to his face, I cup his jaw, stroking his beard and bringing him to me. My thumb traces over his bottom lip and he opens to bite down. His mouth is too close, and I fight the urge to lean in and press my lips to his.
"Why are you pushing this?" I whisper.
"I wish I had a real explanation, but I don't. There's something about you that has captivated me ever since the first day we met. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. Why do you think I kept requesting you? When you blocked me I went fucking out of my mind."
I shake my head vehemently. I refuse to believe he feels the same way as I do. "It's because we didn't have sex. That's all it is. I'm a challenge, and the chase excites you. But you’ll get over it and forget me in time."
His face turns hard.
"No. Not even close, Aubrey. Yeah, don't get me wrong. I’m fucking dying to be inside you, but it's you that fascinates me. The way you speak your mind, the jokes you make, the way you carry yourself in a public setting. The way you challenge me—I fucking love that you do. You have a beautiful heart and a dirty mind. I like what you bring to the table." James applies pressure to the back of my neck and my body melts into him like butter. A soft, breathy sigh expels from me. "You want a man who’s real with you, Aubrey? You want honesty? My wife hates when I touch her like this, but you respond to it. I can feel your body light up under my fingertips and it makes me curious to see what other reactions I can get from you. So excuse me for wanting someone who indulges in the things I do inside and outside the bedroom."
That's the thing. We indulge, then we connect, and that leaves us with a side of feelings that will fuck us over in the end. His words resonate deep inside me no matter how hard I try to pretend they don't. He's the flame on the tip of the arrow that's aimed right at my heart. I want to burn alive with him.
A few short moments pass between us and he presses his lips under my ear, peppering me with warm kisses. My hand caresses his neck and I can feel his throat move when he swallows, something that's sinfully hot to me. Moving higher, my fingers thread through his hair and I hold him to me.
"You should go." My voice is husky. "I won't betray Natalie this way."
"I'm not asking you to betray anything. I'm only asking you to be mine for a little while," he says and closes the distance, pressing his lips to mine.
If there ever were a set of words that could break a woman's heart, that would be it.
He kisses me deeper, so fiercely that I almost yield from the way his tongue coaxes my own to respond.
"Are you really going to refuse to feel what we have? Let me tell you something—I'm not a fucking pansy. I don't do soft and I'm not that romantic, but this feeling in my chest is not normal. This craving I have for you is not fucking normal. You're all I can think about—you’re what I want, what I need, like I need air to breathe. I've never had this before, and my gut is telling me to chase it. I’m not giving up on this… you."
I blink, trying to sort out what's going on between us, knowing I need to push him away for good.
"What I have with you, I have with every client, James. I just know how to play the game, that's all it is and nothing more. I'm paid to give you an illusion, to create the ultimate fantasy for you."
"I don't believe you," he says against my mouth, unaffected by my harshness. "You're lying."
