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“It’s impossible to go five minutes without kissing you,” he says. “I’m not saying you have to tell me your secret. Just know this. I’m not using you. I’ve never been that sort of man.”
I turn away and walk over to the window. We’re high up, looking down on the city, out of view of the other buildings. I know Jacob must’ve chosen this apartment for that reason—to ensure nobody could see us with the journalist who dropped the dog-theft story and so nobody saw us, me and Jacob, locked in throes of obsession.
My throat feels like it’s closing, but surely that’s just melodramatic craziness. I can say this. I have to, but first, I have to fix the Mom stuff. I never should’ve said that. Turning back to him, I find his eyes locked on me. He has a particular way of staring as if nothing else is important and it never has been, as if his business and the rest of the world don’t exist.
“Can you forget what I said about Mom? It’s not about that. Honestly, I have no idea how she feels. She never gets specific.”
That’s a fact, but it still feels like damage control. I should avoid this man, so I don’t bring any drama into Mom’s job, and yet I’ve done exactly that by revealing her ambiguous maybe-a-crush. Worse, I said shelovedhim. What’s wrong with me?
“It’s done,” he says. “I’ll pretend you never said it. So, what is this about?”
He stalks toward me. That’s what it feels like,stalking, as if he’s a jungle cat, each step languid but with dormant power contained within it.
“We both know you wanted it back there, wantedus. Maybe it’s fast. Maybe I should be a gentleman, but you’re a liar if you deny that.”
“I never said I didn’t want it. I just don’t want my first time to be rushed, you know?”
The words come out quickly. I almost stumble over them, but I have to get them out to distract from the Mom thing. He stares at me as if he hasn’t registered what I’ve said.
Finally, he whispers, “You’re a virgin?”
I thought I was getting better at deciphering him, but his tone is a mystery. It could be disgust, awe, or disinterest. Maybe I was right. He was searching for a fling, to use me as Dad used Mom, and now he wants nothing to do with me.
“Is that a problem?” I counter.
He flinches, then slowly shakes his head. “I just… I didn’t…”
“Wow, I’ve done the impossible. I’ve made Jacob Jennings speechless. I should get a prize.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I push past him, stride to the table, and gather up my things. He stands nearby, staring at me, his hands behind his back. It’s strange the way he just watches me, not saying anything.
I won’t be naïve about this anymore. Here’s the evidence he wanted me for sex and nothing else. Otherwise, why isn’t hesayinganything? We haven’t discussed the next step in our story. If I have to handle it alone, fine.
“See you around,” I say.
“Wait,” he snaps, striding forward.
Oh,nowhe wants to speak?
He grabs me by both sides and pulls me roughly against him. His kiss starts gently, and I sink into it, but then he gets urgent, his tongue chasing mine, his manhood a solid, massive length against my belly. His hands glide from my sides around to my ass. He’s getting carried away again. Breaking off the kiss is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.
“I just told you. I can’t rush my first time.”
He takes a step back, his body shuddering. “We’re seeing each other again. We’re going to finish this story. When you sassily storm out of here, don’t youdarethink it’s the last time.”
“I’m notsassilydoing anything. I’m leaving because you can’t control yourself.”
“You’re right,” he says. “You’re irresistible. I’m not ashamed to admit it.”
Is this a pattern of behavior? Has he done this before? Am I just another woman for the CEO to take advantage of?
I leave. In the hallway, despite everything that’s happened, warmth flurries into me. Jacob Jennings just called me irresistible, and we’ve made progress on the story.
That’s something, even if everything else feels like a battle.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Jacob
