7. Erin
ERIN
H oly shit.
Somehow, being in James Cullen’s presence and talking to him felt better than any other place in the world.
Things turned awkward after he asked about me having someone in my life, but then the vet called and pulled us out of that strange limbo of attraction we were caught in.
Or was it just me?
I changed in record time, happy to have my stuff back—which James carried upstairs for me.
And when I came back down, he was already waiting.
“Did Alan have any plans for where you will be staying?” James asked, and led me into his garage.
I froze, then gasped.
His garage was bigger than my old apartment, more luxurious, as well. And the cars…were obnoxious and luxurious, and freakishly sleek and probably veeery expensive.
He laid his hand on the small of my back and urged me forward.
Warmth seeped through my clothes and evoked butterflies deep in my belly.
Somehow, we’d gone from strangers to not-strangers within a couple of hours. I was surprisingly comfortable with his touches.
Wanted him to touch me.
“Alan generously offered their small flat for me to live in.”
“The one in his barn? No fucking way.”
I looked at him. His over-the-top reaction shocked me a little. “He said it’s just until I’m settled. Jessie lived there for a while.”
He glanced at me sideways, then shook his head. “Jessie tried to live there before Alan pressured her into moving in with him. It’s a room above the barn. Not living standards. He should’ve never offered. You will stay with us for the time being.”
My muscles tensed, and I stiffened. I was over being pushed around or told what I could or couldn’t do. “I beg you pardon? You can’t tell me what to do.”
He thrust out his chest, then raised a single eyebrow. “I’m paying half your salary. That makes me your boss. Hell, yeah, I can tell you what to do.”
I faced him. No way, was I backing down or not calling this chauvinistic bullshit. “Are you serious right now?”
“About you not living in a barn? Dead serious.”
“James.”
“Erin.”
I sighed. “I’m not your problem. You’ve been so kind to me—yesterday and today. But you’ve done enough. And you have enough on your plate already. Enough to worry about.”
He stopped, turned towards me. He wasn’t smiling. “I do, so don’t be another thing I have to worry about at night.”
I let my arms fall to my side while my insides turned to mush. What could you reply to something like that?
I stared at him and he stared back.
Strong. Unyielding. Full of conviction.
There was no reasoning with him about this. And itt would be so easy to let him take care of me…easy but not wise. “I’m sure there are other places where I can stay. Didn’t we pass a B he was telling me what to do. And I could just follow his lead. Could let go of the white knuckling, which had become a way of life for me.
I sighed.
“Erin?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to kiss you.”
I froze. “You are?”
He nodded and stepped right up into my personal space.
“Why?” I whispered, which made him raise a single eyebrow.
He cupped my cheek with one hand, the back of my head with another. “May I?” He growled, his dark voice trapping me into a dangerous net.
Our gazes locked, I didn’t know if it was just a second or an eternity.
He held me. Waited, until I gave him the slightest of nods.
And then he pulled me toward him until his lips met mine.
It started out soft. Easy, but within seconds, I was engulfed in flames. As if a firestorm swept through me, leaving burning desire, lust, and longing.
I groaned, which he took as a sign of agreement to devour me.
And devour me, he did.