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He reached his hand inside his suit jacket and removed a cellphone, at the same time, lightly clasped my arm as if assuring I wouldn’t run off. Not at all like Declan’s tight grip, more so a gentleness in it. A warmth filled me as I glanced over him, and his stance in front of me. Apparently, I wasn’t going anywhere without him.
CHAPTER FOUR
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“David is outfront ready to take you to Jersey City,” Jonas released my arm.
I rubbed my hands over where his fingers had just been, bereft from the loss of his touch. “You didn’t have to hold me captive. I wasn’t going to run away.”
He eyed me speculatively. “No. I suppose not,” he said softly. He placed his hand along my lower back and guided me out of the hotel. When we arrived outside, we stopped in front of a black Bentley.
I glanced at the open door and muttered, “Oh the milk of human kindness.”
“What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature is too of the milk of human kindness,” he replied.
My lips parted. “You quote Macbeth?”
“Yes. But I hope you don’t share Lady Macbeth’s sentiment,” he said and winked.
I flushed. “No. Sorry. I think compassion is honorable. I… I don’t know, I ramble when I’m uncomfortable.”
His lip twitched. “You quote Shakespeare when you’re ‘uncomfortable,’” he bemused.
I shrugged and gave him a small smile. “Well, sometimes… Thank you, Jonas.”
He reached inside his jacket, pulling out a card and handed it to me. Four phone numbers. Two for New York, and two for Texas.
I pressed the card in my hand and noticed he hadn’t moved away from the door. Was he waiting for something? I stared up at him.
Jonas arched a perfect brow. “Your phone number?” he mused.
My eyes widened as my pulse sped up. Jonas Crane wants my phone number? It was akin to getting asked out by a crush. A toothy grin spread across my face.Calm down.I rattled off my number and he programmed it into his cell phone. I covered my mouth.
“I wish I could ride with you,” he said. “But I have a call in an hour, and an early yoga session with my ex and my son Paul.”
“Yoga. Another hobby?” I asked, my brow raising.
He nodded and leaned against the door. I clasped my hands in my lap to try to hide my trembling. “The ride home is really too generous. Thank you.”
Jonas leaned down close to me as if he was breathing me in. “You can pursue me for Arch again,” he said in a low rumble that sent a shiver through me.
He brushed his lips against my cheek.
The kiss on the surface was innocent, but didn’t match the potent heat coming off his body. My body answered with my own wave of lustful longing as an ache swelled between my thighs. The more he lingered, the less innocent my thoughts became and what might happen with this man who was proving himself irresistible.
His breath trailing over to my ear. “I didn’t mean to do that tonight. But you needed a kiss. Didn’t you?” he said just above a whisper.
I cast my eyes down and moved a tiny bit closer hoping he would kiss me again. He didn’t though. Instead he stepped back and straightened his blazer.
“Good night, Ms. Salomé.” His tone was all-professional, like he was addressing a client. Not a woman he just kissed and had me second guessing our time together this evening.
I lifted my chin and averted my eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Crane.”
His driver David closed the car door. I glanced out the window and found Jonas still there, watching us until the car entered the street.
Jonas was a danger just as Gregor warned me. I was naïve to think otherwise. Some people are too hard to resist, and he was a force majeure. So opposite from the ruthless, private businessman renown to the financial world. Undeniably alluring though approachable, engaging and charming. He was diverse, even able to engage on anthropology and quote Shakespeare. He captivated my mind after spending only a little time chatting with him. And then he kissed me.
His touch enlightened my senses and left me wanting more. Jonas had me believing in those moments; he understood me wanting to be touched, kissed, and gave it to me. But then at the end, he was professional and reminded me what our encounter meant to him, business. Jonas was and is truly well out of my league, but he was still willing to discuss business with me.
