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I slowly blinked my eyes open and drowsily lifted my head from James’s shoulder. We were in his office, and he was typing out an email on his computer, somehow working around me.
“Hey, sleepy head,” he softly greeted, not removing his eyes from the computer screen in front of him as he continued typing. “How was your nap?”
“Restful,” I told him as I leaned my head back on his shoulder and shut my eyes again, soaking in more of his warmth. He continued working, not at all bothered by me basically being in his way.
I opened my eyes again, watching as he moved his mouse to click send on the email he’d been typing out. He looked down at me afterward. His hair was a mess on his head – messier than it normally was.
“Something frustrated you,” I instantly noted.
His lips twitched with amusement as he arched an eyebrow at me. “How can you tell, little one?”
I reached up and slid my fingers through his curly, dirty-blonde hair. “Your hair is messier than usual,” I told him. “Is everything okay?”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Just the normal bullshit,” he told me. “Unfortunately, it’s the life of not only a mafia don, but it’s also the life of a tycoon.” He shrugged. “I deal.”
His phone suddenly began vibrating on his desk. With a scowl, he grabbed it, muttering out a curse as he answered it. “Yes, Mom?”
My eyes widened in alarm. James sighed and leaned his head against the back of his desk chair, closing his eyes, annoyance flashing across his face. He wound his arm around me, anchoring me to him. “Mom, can’t you guys visit some other time?” he asked. “Seriously, I’m up to my eyeballs in fucking paperwork right now. It’s never fucking ending. I’m doing all of this shit by myself. You know it’s been like this since Darren’s been locked up.”
I frowned up at him. Just how much stress was he under?
James muttered a curse. “Fine, Mom. Dinner only. And do not bring me a fucking date,” he ordered. “I have a live-in girlfriend.”
I heard his mother squeal through the phone, and my eyes widened in alarm. James laughed as he looked down at me, his blue eyes twinkling, stealing the breath from my lungs.
God, he was so beautiful.
“Yeah, Mom; she’s absolutely perfect.” My cheeks burned. He reached up and traced his finger over my collar. He made a soft humming noise in the back of his throat as he listened to his mom speak again. “It’s serious enough that I’ve collared her.” He grinned as she spoke again. My cheeks darkened even more. “Yes, you’ll meet her tonight. Dinner is at seven. Not a moment later,” he warned her.
A few moments later, he hung up the phone and set it on the desk. My cheeks were burning. He brushed the tip of his nose with mine. “My mother is eager to meet you,” he told me. He brushed his lips to my cheek. “You’re so fucking adorable when you blush.”
My blush deepened. He grinned. “Come on,” he said as he tapped my thigh. I stood up from his lap, watching as he stood up as well. “I need a break to stretch my legs, and I want to show you the garden. I think we both could use some fresh air.”
“That sounds nice,” I told him as he grabbed my hand in his, linking our fingers together.
He flashed me that perfect smile of his as he led me out of his office, locking the door behind him. He nodded once at Alfonso before he led me down the hall towards the stairs. “Where did you live before you were brought to my club?” he asked me out of the blue.
I shrugged. “Nowhere,” I told him honestly. He frowned as he looked down at me. “I was homeless,” I clarified. “My mom was strung out on drugs, and she beat me a lot.” I shrugged. “A teacher reported my bruises when I was seven. So, I went into the foster care system. I aged out, and I had nowhere to go and no money.”
“And you’re only twenty-one?” he asked me.
I nodded. “Going to be twenty-two on April fifth,” I told him.
His eyes widened in shock. “Seriously?” he asked. I nodded. He grinned down at me, stealing the breath from my lungs again. “Our birthdays are on the same day,” he informed me.
My lips parted in shock as I stared up at him. He leaned down and kissed me softly before he led me down a couple of more hallways and outside. “I’ll be thirty-two come April fifth.” He informed me.
“You look younger,” I admitted. He really did.
He laughed. “Has to be all the working out and healthy shit I eat because all of the stress I’m constantly under makes me feel like I’m fucking fifty some days.”
I frowned up at him as he led me outside. The weather was decent today for a day in February. It was a rare occurrence that this area got comfortable weather this time of year. Normally it was blistering fucking cold and snowing.
I slowly drew him to a stop as I looked up at him, swallowing thickly as I prepared my next words. He arched a single, perfect eyebrow at me as he waited on me to speak. “You know if you ever need a release, James, I’m more than willing, right?” I asked him. His eyes softened. “You—" I drew in a deep breath, “you gave me freedom when you took me from that club.” He reached up to brush his fingers over my cheek before dropping his hand back to his side, understanding in his blue eyes. “I’ve never had this kind of freedom in my life. I just want to do something to help you in return.”
He reached up and gripped my chin. “You being with me like this – that’s enough for me, little one,” he assured me. I smiled, and his lips curved with one of his own. “Holding you while you slept earlier? That helped more than you’ll ever know. Just continue being here with me, and I promise you’ll be helping me.” He leaned down and lightly kissed me. It was short and sweet, and yet, it still warmed my soul. “And don’t ever feel like you have to repay me,” he warned me. “The next time you suggest something like that, you’ll receive a punishment.”
“Okay,” I simply answered. I leaned up on my tiptoes to connect our lips again. He growled as he wrapped his arm around my back, his hand still holding my chin as he quickly dominated the kiss, reminding me that he would always be the one in charge.
And I was okay with that.
