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I move toward the brown leather chair in front of Jackson’s grand desk and take a seat. “What exactly are you so concerned about? Do you honestly think I can’t handle Liam?”
“I know you can handle him,” Jackson counters without pause, leaning back in his seat, folding his arms. “I also know that he’s very good at handling women, and that’s my concern. Do not get caught up in his games.”
I shake my head, wishing things were different. “Will there ever be a time that you both finally stop this feud between you?”
“I am over it.”
I raise my brows at the curtness in his voice. “I sincerely doubt that.”
Jackson pauses again and frowns, then he speaks firmly. “Aria, listen to me very carefully. The only reason Liam bought you is to get back at me. This is the game we’ve been playing for years. That’s the type of guy he is. There were dozens of women that entered the charity event, why else would he have picked you?”
Because there’s this crazy lusty goodness between us that you can’t understand. Of course, I don’t say that, and gently offer, “Even if that’s true, I think you’re reading too much into this. I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl, Jackson. I can look after myself. No one is tricking me into anything.”
His potent eyes search mine before he curses and adamantly shakes his head, sputtering, “I don’t like this.”
“I’m sure you don’t. You have to share me, and you’ve never been good at sharing.”
“You’re right, I don’t like to share,” he says harshly. “If it wouldn’t have made it look like we were fighting for you, I would have outbid him. But I didn’t want to put you in the spotlight, something that Liam would do to you.”
I ignore his jab at Liam, sticking on the positive things he did say. “Thank you for caring enough about me to consider doing that.” We have this odd kind of relationship, Jackson and I, that grew over the years. He doesn’t have siblings and neither do I, but we are close like that. In a world of cutthroat business and fake friends, I’m the only real friend he’s got. “Please stop being angry about this.” Then I say the one thing I know will fix this. “You’re upsetting me.”
His eyes search mine again, and I make the emotion in my expression thick. He finally sighs, his posture relaxing. “I’m sorry, Aria. I don’t mean for you to be in the middle of this bullshit with Liam. You did enter the auction for charity, and that was kind of you. This is my problem, not yours.”
I smile. “So, we’re good?”
“We’re always good,” he says, giving a soft smile I know is forced.
“Great.” I rise from my seat, knowing things aren’t truly good but they’re as good as they’re going to get. I might care about Jackson, and would never intentionally hurt him, but this is my once chance for a taste of Liam, and I’m going to take it. “I’ll be back in a jiffy with our lunch.”
He says nothing more, glancing down at the papers on his desk, clearly getting his mind back on the job.
Done with making sure we talked, and ensuring he gave me more than one-word answers, I move quickly through our office to the elevator. I’m down in the lower lobby striding past security within minutes. When I pass through the revolving glass doors, I step out into the bright sunny day. The streets are busy with typical tourists. The energy of the city is what I’ve always loved.
I take two steps forward but when a firm hand grasps my arm, I’m ready to either kick someone in the junk or yell at them as I spin around and find myself gazing deeply into Liam’s potent eyes.
He’s fancy with his neatly tailored black suit and navy blue tie, and dear God, he is gorgeous. His dark eyes pin me to where I’m standing with the power they possess. His chiseled jaw and sculpted mouth are perfection. Liam is what teenage boys dream of being when they grow up. A sexy as hell man.
“Hello, Aria,” he says smoothly, seductively. “Might I have a moment, please.”
He slides his hand down my arm to take my hand. I shiver at the heat of his touch as he leads me into the alleyway, placing us behind one of the walls of the parking garage, keeping us out of sight.
“Do you think it’s wise to tempt me? To tease me?” he asks, stepping closer until my back is pressed against the wall and his hands are on either side of my head.
I swallow against the fierceness he projects. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Now maybe not so much. I admit that I hadn’t expected him to act on it. Hell, I tease him all the time. Though maybe Liam’s reached his limit. I stare into the heated depths of his eyes and realize I’ve never seen him like this. Unleashed. Raw. A burn sizzles through me, pooling heat low in my body.
The side of his mouth arches obviously in response to the hitch of my breath, the flushing of my cheeks. His grin is as deadly as it is sexy. “Do you think I don’t know that if I wanted it, I could have you?” The passion exuding from him consumes me, swallowing me whole when he adds, “I know you are well aware that the only reason I haven’t touched you before is because I’m respecting your loyalty to Jackson.”
He leans in and as I inhale his woodsy scent, my heart is racing, thighs are clenching, sex is drenching with desire.
“Do not toy with me, Aria.” He brings his mouth close to mine, his warm minty breath brushing across my parted lips. “Do not push against me because I will not lose. Let this be a reminder of that.” His big, strong hand pushes against my thigh. I’m spreading my legs for him before I even wonder if I should.
His fingers slowly slide upward, giving me the chance to say “stop.” I should end this right now because I’m only proving him right, that where it comes to him I have no control and that I’m all talk, but somehow I can’t stop him.
I want this.
I want him.
When he places a hand on my neck, pinning me to the wall, I’m breathless. A sexy smile creases the corners of his mouth as he slides his hand up my thigh, taking my skirt with it. He tucks his fingers into my panties, pulling them off to the side of my slick heat. I’m trapped in his command, shutting my eyes against all that he creates within me.
