Chapter Thirty-Nine
Grant saw Jennifer brace herself against the door Dottie had just closed, unable to pull her gaze away from Grant. She stiffened and watched as he stood slowly, came around his desk, sat on the edge facing her, spread his legs out, and crossed his arms across his chest. Her eyes ate him up.
Neither said a word for several moments.
His gaze swept over her, from her shiny head of burnt tresses that cascaded around her shoulders, just as he liked, to her tiny little feet in the ugly black flats she insisted on wearing.
“Jennifer, did you want something?” He tried and failed to keep the edgy emotion out of his voice.
His eyebrows snapped together as he silently regarded her.
She was way too pale. Pale enough that he could make out the freckles across her nose from where he sat.
She looked like she’d been sick. He could tell she had lost weight, making her look frail.
Dammit. He hoped she had finally come to the spot-on conclusion that she needed him.
She tried to speak. “I-I’m sorry. I think this was a bad idea. The last thing I want ... is to hurt you. I’m sorry...” she whimpered.
Grant heard the staggering despair in her tone and about lost it when she turned and tried to open the door.
He was over to her within seconds and placed his arms, bent at the elbows, on either side of her on the door, preventing her from leaving.
He pressed his body against hers, making sure she still felt how much he wanted her.
He bent close to her ear. “Where do you think you’re going, baby? Running again?”
Jennifer automatically shook her head, then it turned into a nod.
“Yes,” she said. A muted tension laced her tone, and she pressed her forehead against the cool door.
“I didn’t think. I’m sorry. I just wanted to see you so badly, to try to make everything right.
I’m being selfish. All I thought of was me.
Grant, let me go. You can call if you want to see me, and we can try to connect then.
” Her words became more muffled as she spoke.
“You know, when you’ve had a chance to make your own choice. ”
Grant took her fragrance into his lungs. Her essence created a need so strong it made him lightheaded. There was no way he was letting her leave. His eyes narrowed at the back of her bent head. “I see. So, you still don’t know if you want me,” he taunted, knowing full well she did.
Jennifer’s body jerked and then stiffened.
“No,” she burst out. “That’s not it. I do want you very much.
I admit I made a horrible mistake, but I didn’t give you a choice about seeing me today, and I feel bad about that.
I’ve already caused you pain.” She turned slowly when the warmth of his body lifted off her back.
He said nothing but moved away from her and walked to his desk, sitting in the same spot as before with his arms crossed and legs spread. “First off, if I didn’t want to see you, you never would have gotten in my office.”
He watched her for a minute, and his eyes narrowed.
“Now, here is how I would like this to go.” He paused before his voice turned low and rough.
“I would like for you to come to me and let me hold you. I just need to hold you for a minute. Would you do that, sweetheart?” His voice was gentle but held the underlying steel that made him who he was.
He only had so much strength and patience left.
He caught her reaching back and grabbing the door handle. “Jennifer, I’m telling you right now, if you open that door so much as a crack, you’ll drive me bat-shit crazy,” he said in a guttural rasp.
“I’m not leaving,” she denied hoarsely as she took a tentative step forward.
“Then come here.” The gentle command was clear in his voice.
She let her purse slide to the floor at her feet before slowly making her way to him. The closer she got, the more unsteady she looked. She stopped a foot from him and locked her knees to keep from sliding to the floor.
“All the way, Jen. Right here between my legs.” He uncrossed his arms when she started forward again, and his fingers of both hands wrapped around her hips and pulled her torso against his hardness before wrapping his arms around her.
They stayed like that for a long time before he spoke up. “Why did you run?”
“Jennifer?” he demanded when she stayed mute, leaning back to see her face.
“I...” She swallowed the knot in her throat but was unable to keep the tears in.
“Look at me, baby,” he rasped out as he struggled against the massive need to lay her on the nearest flat surface and fuck her, reminding her again and again until there was no doubt how much he loved her.
She blinked a few times before raising her head.
“I’m sorry, Grant. Very, very sorry. You were right about my running because I was scared. I’ve just never felt the overwhelming feelings you generate that seemed to overtake my whole being. And I guess I still don’t understand what a man like you might see in me.”
His strong hands flexed and then tightened because of her confession and the deep misery in her eyes.
He let go of his resentment toward her rebellion when he realized she’d hurt herself as much, if not more, than she had him.
And she hadn’t known he was just giving her space.
He’d known it was only a matter of time before he came for her.
One of his hands slid up under her hair to grip the back of her head.
“That’s good, baby. Real good. Now, that bullshit about a man like me wanting you.
I think time is the only thing that will get through to you.
Don’t ever put me through the shit you did this week, Jennifer.
When you feel insecure, come to me, and we’ll work through it together.
” He grasped her hair, lifted her face, and fastened his lips to hers.
His tongue pushed through her lips. Each stroke of his tongue against hers made his possessive male dominance over her intensify.
Their breaths combined and then clashed against each other, creating a carnal kiss that stopped her breath.
Grant lifted his head, gazed down at her, and inhaled her heady feminine scent.
Although she was still pale, a pleasing flush now painted her cheek, and her mouth was wet and puffy from his kisses.
Wave after wave of raw pleasure tore through his veins.
A coil of sexual heat radiated so strongly it took his breath away.
The grip that kept his passions under control tightened.
He’d never felt this out of control. He came close every time he was with her, but never to the point that he’d lose his sanity so abruptly, or he wouldn’t be able to pull back if she needed him to.
His eyes fell on her parted lips, and he dived in again and pushed his tongue into the depths of her mouth, dominating it. Grant pulled her in tighter against his hardness, controlling the tremors and passionate moves that engulfed her body.
He lifted his head and tore his mouth from hers.
His gaze captured hers and held. Eventually, he was able to take a breath that calmed the unadulterated animal’s desire to mate.
He clenched his fist in her hair and held her away from him.
Grant gritted his teeth. He needed to rein it in because he could tell he was making her uneasy.
“Tell me right now, Jennifer, you’ll never do this shit again. That you’ll never leave me again.”
Jennifer nodded mutely and stared at the possessive expression on his face.
“Say the words, Jen.” A harsh frown bowed his brows, and his grip tightened.
Jennifer licked her lips. “I will never leave you again.”
He released her hair and moved her back a step. “Let’s take your clothes off.” The look on his face showed how close to the edge he still was. “Jen?” he asked abruptly, concerned when she’d stayed frozen.
Jennifer’s body jerked, and she started to unbutton her shirt and looked toward the door nervously. “What about—”
“She’s gone, but it wouldn’t matter. I dare someone to come through that door right now. Come on, baby. I want your clothes off now. I need to see and touch you. It’s been too damn long.”
Grant was entranced by the small fingers slowly opening one button at a time, giving him little glimpses of the black lace of her bra. It was sexy as hell, but it wasn’t going fast enough for him. He reached out to help her, but she gripped her shirt tightly and turned slightly to the side.
“Wait,” she said.
His eyes narrowed on her. He didn’t deal well with not having her under normal circumstances. Today was not normal. He hadn’t had her for five days. He didn’t know if she was doing it on purpose.
“Did you really just try to push me away?” he growled.
Jennifer froze as she pulled her shirt off. His gaze caught and held hers. “What? No. I just wanted to do it myself, for you.” She inhaled raggedly.
His gaze was heavy-lidded but unblinking, and his voice was lethally dominant. “That’s good. If something I’m doing hurts you, tell me, but otherwise, I’m in control.”
Jennifer dropped the shirt to the floor and reached for Grant. Her arms slid up and around his neck.
“I know that, and I’m okay with it, Grant. I can’t imagine myself not ever wanting your touch.” She spoke softly against his neck, and her hot breath skimmed over his skin.
Grant pulled her back to look into her eyes. Her total surrender calmed him enough to take a breath. He nudged her to take another step away from him.
“Okay, the rest of the clothes, baby.”
Jennifer didn’t pause as she unzipped her jeans and slid them down her legs. She pulled her shoes off, then her pants. She stood before him in only her bra and panties.
“As much as I like to see you in things I buy, I like you naked more. All of it, Jen.”
After the bra and panties came off, she stood still as he looked at her. She involuntarily tried to raise her hands to cover herself but caught the dangerous look in his eyes.