Chapter 17 Sixteen #2
She shook her head, crossing her arms. That hadn’t been what she wanted at all.
“Of course not. I understand why you did it. But you shouldn’t—you don’t just throw a check at whatever you want whenever you want,” she said. “I know you’ve had money and power your entire life but imagine for a second if you didn’t. What would you do then?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “My mom used to say that.”
Sophie cocked her head. There had been minimal information on James’s mother online, but from what Sophie did find, everything pointed to Rose Tian having come from money.
Taking a deep breath, he continued, “Mom’s family had money, but back then, it wasn’t much.
They barely managed to break into the upper class.
My dad was ‘New Money,’ but in comparison, he might as well have been swimming in cash for generations.
It was a perfect match, in that regard, and they loved each other, so…
” He swallowed hard. “The point is, she used to tell Adam and I something similar because she knew firsthand what it was like to potentially lose it all the very next day.”
“I … I see.” Sophie sank back against the railing.
No wonder James wanted to keep his company afloat so desperately.
At the end of the day, he’s trying to do the best for his mom. She hugged herself tight. Just like me.
“I’m sorry, Sophie.” He surveyed her. “I should’ve known better.”
She let out a sigh and smiled wryly. “Remember when you said you liked complicated? That still holding true?”
“Let’s put it like this,” he said. “If Selena had asked, I would’ve given her everything.” A soft expression lingered in his eyes, and he grinned. “You’re worth it, Sophie.”
Her chest tightened astronomically, and all at once, she threw everything to the wind.
As she took the few steps between them, she hauled everything over the ledge of the balcony they stood on and pulled him behind the leaves of a large potted plant to kiss him roughly.
She wanted him, no matter how messy it got. All the strings and then some, unconditionally and forever.
‘Let me be there for you.’
Desperation shoved her fingers into his hair and loosened his tie. Hunger pinned him against the wall, chasing any guise of sense from her mind.
“Sophie, wait.” He pulled away, panting. He disentangled his fingers from her hair, dropping his touch from the sides of her face. “We can’t … not here.”
Her fingers stilled from where they started to undo his shirt buttons, and logic struggled to float back into her body.
“Right,” she gasped. “Right, I … sorry.”
Guilt rushed her. After what he just told me, too? You idiot.
He pulled his keycard from his inner jacket pocket. “Not here, but…”
She smiled, relief replacing the blood in her veins. “You go first and I’ll follow.”
The door numbers descended in order as she drifted past. How strange that things changed so much in such a short amount of time.
Just last month, she would never have dreamed of leaving a work event for a brief fling. But that was before she was consumed so wholeheartedly by someone; her heart ached. To see them as your endgame, and for them to see you as such.
She knocked on James’s door, and a moment later, it swung open. A tattooed arm shot out, hand latching around her wrist.
“How long do we have?” He pushed the door shut.
She racked her brains for the itinerary she had memorized earlier that evening. “We have to be back for the auction in an hour.”
He grinned devilishly. “That’s more than enough time.”
Heat pulsed low in her belly and she walked further into the room, steps muffled by the plush carpet.
“My hair and makeup have to stay intact, and we have to stay quiet,” she said. “These walls are thin.”
His lips landed on the shell of her ear while his arms wrapped around her waist. “That can be arranged, but that second part is on you.”
She let out a breathless laugh, turning to glance at him. “Should I be worried?”
His chuckle sent arrows of desire soaring between her legs, and she shuddered with anticipation.
“Turn around for me, bǎobèi.”
She froze, turning her back to him. “I think we found it.”
Her dress loosened as he undid the zipper. Tugging it over her head, he draped the material on an armchair. He undid his tie and dropped it and his suit jacket alongside the dress.
He bent, his fingers working the clasps of her shoes. Each sweep of his hand against her skin was like dancing in a deluge of flames.
“Your nickname?” he asked, sliding off her thong. He pressed a kiss to her ass as he straightened, making his way in front and snaking his arms around her again.
Gone was his suit jacket, and the sleeves of his white button-down were rolled up, exposing his forearms. The top few buttons were undone and the shirt itself threatened to untuck from his pants. His gaze dragged over her, setting her ablaze.
Her mouth dried out as she nodded.
The shift of his shirt against her sent shivers racking up and down her spine, and the rough grace of his watch against her bare skin was intoxicating.
“I think so, too,” he murmured. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, he patted the space between his spread legs.
“James, we only have an hour.”
“Then you better hurry up and do as I ask.” Nothing but pure lust dripped from his words.
She breathed deeply as she perched before him, nestling in his lap. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t move back against his cock in retaliation.
He grunted. “Ah, that’s a good girl.”
One of his arms clapped around her waist, holding her against him, and his lips captured hers while his other hand swept down her skin, feather-light.
She sighed, pushing into his touch.
He swallowed the sound, nudging her legs apart.
Breaking their kiss, her head dropped back against his shoulder as his fingers skimmed her clit.
“Fuck,” she groaned.
Her head lolled, and she moved against his crotch, pushing her ass back against his hardening cock.
His motions stilled, and he took a fluttering breath. “I’m going to need you to stop that.”
“And if I don’t?” she teased. “What are you going to do about it?”
In her peripheral vision, she glimpsed the playful smirk adorning his mouth as a trying expression tightened his jaw, and his eyes met hers. The desire crashing there overwhelmed her, and she gasped as he slapped her pussy, pushing two fingers into her.
She groaned as he started moving them in and out, rubbing her clit with his thumb.
“Then we both don’t make it to the auction,” he murmured. “We stay here, and I show you just how good I can make this for you.”
She let out sweeps of air and let him take complete control, writhing against him as he drove her wild.
He squeezed her bare breast as his hand continued to move between her legs, drawing her to the edge, and then withdrawing right before she tipped over.
“Do you see what I do to you?” he hummed. “Do you see what a mess you’re making for me?”
She took a shuddering breath, her hips rocking towards his fingers.
“Such a good fucking girl.” His fingers pumped faster and his voice could give crushed velvet a run for its money. “Keep riding my hand. Just like that.”
His fingers twisted before curling, and she gasped, grabbing onto his forearm and pressing into the Ace of Spades.
Breathing heavily, she latched onto his wrist as he relinquished her breast and encircled her throat instead.
“About before with Selena,” Sophie started. “I don’t know why I—no, that’s a lie. I knew perfectly what I was doing.”
“And what was that?” he asked. His mouth placed kisses on her shoulder as his fingers flexed languorously.
Her gaze landed on them, and she groaned, writhing. So close, she was so close. If he just—
But his fingers stilled, and he repeated his words, his voice low in her ear.
She whimpered, letting her head loll on his shoulder. “I … I wanted her away from you. Because you’re mine.”
Even though she couldn’t have him, not properly, at least, she didn’t want anyone else’s hands on him.
A few more pumps of his fingers sent her back arching and breath-stopping as she came so hard, stars floated behind her eyelids.
With some difficulty, she turned her head and glanced at him.
“You’re mine,” she repeated. “Understand?”
“Dāngrán, bǎobèi,” he murmured. Smiling, he lifted his fingers to his mouth and closed his lips around them.