“This is the only way to save your clinic. I can offer more money, so the owner will have to sell it to me.”

I couldn’t find my voice. I was absolutely shocked, but at the same time elated to hear this. Was this real?

“But, but will you have enough money? From what I’ve heard, your company offered a pretty big sum.”

His soft lips formed a small smile, his hand reaching for mine on my lap, but then he stopped himself as if he’d remembered he wasn’t allowed to do that. I squirmed, staring at his hand hovering above mine before he pulled it away. I clenched my hand, wishing he had touched me.

“I’ll top their offer, so don’t worry about it.”

“Are you sure you have enough money to back your words up?”

His lips formed a full-on smile, his eyes glimmering with the confidence of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.

“My family business isn’t my only source of money. I’ve been investing in stocks for years, so I can definitely acquire your building.”

If Jared really wanted to obtain the building and save it, that meant we wouldn’t be in a pinch anymore. This would solve all our problems.

Gratitude gave life to other emotions I’d suppressed these last few days, fueling my need for him. He would actually buy our building to save it. He would leave his family business, finally getting his independence.

Five minutes had long passed, but I didn’t want to move. I wanted to stay and get over the hurt. That frightened me to some extent because my trust was so fragile—almost non-existent—but here I was. A few moments away from accepting him back.

I had to ask. “Why are you doing this? Are you doing it so you could get my forgiveness?”

This time he covered my hand with his, his gaze finding mine once again. The silence between us was charged, and each inhalation was followed by a strong ache in my chest.

“No. I’m not doing this for your forgiveness, not that I expect you to forgive me.” His knuckles brushed my cheek ever so tenderly. “I’m doing this because I care about you, Claire. Believe it or not, I care for you and I want you to be happy. I want to help you. So if buying your building will make you happy, I don’t care what I have to do to achieve that. That’s the least I can do after hiding the truth from you.”

I could see the truth in his eyes, hear it in his voice. For the first time, he looked completely exposed, letting me see the raw emotions on his face that was now only a couple of inches away from mine. If I moved even a bit, our lips would connect, and that thought alone quickened my pulse.

“But I want you to know I’m terribly sorry,” he whispered, and there was no mistaking that his hoarse voice was carrying regret and shame. “I’m sorry for being a douchebag who didn’t tell you the truth from the start. I didn’t do that intentionally, nor did I want to hurt you. I’m so sorry.”

His brows were scrunched together, his lips drawn in a stern line, and it was clear how bad he felt about his mistake. He’d been wrong, but he was doing his best to fix his mistake. And he was going out of his way to do it. All for me.

A shaky smile replaced the worry lines on my face, and the world suddenly became brighter and more colorful. I was happy and grateful to him.

“I... I honestly don’t know what to say. I’m happy and confused at the same time.”

“You don’t need to say anything. I’ve done enough damage, so now I need to fix it.”

“Still. You don’t have to. If you really were a horrible person who didn’t care for anyone but himself, you wouldn’t do this. You wouldn’t try to fix your mistake. You aren’t pressuring me here to be with you or expecting anything from me.”

I covered his cheek. His skin was soft and thick, and I basked in the feel of it against mine. The contrast felt amazing. “It takes a lot to admit a mistake, let alone try to fix it, so I appreciate this.”

I leaned closer to him, pulled to him by some invisible force that took my breath away and brought butterflies to my stomach. “I appreciate you. And I forgive you.”

His eyes widened, going to my lips and then back to my eyes again. “You do?”

I beamed at him. “Yes.”

The first contact of our lips was delicate as if we were both testing the waters before we let our passion consume us. Soon, all tentativeness ebbed into a pure fire that fused our mouths. His tongue flirted with mine, reminding me of how much I needed him, and now that I knew he cared for me and wanted to rectify his mistake, I could let my defensive wall vanish and unleash my feelings for him. My body buzzed with anticipation.

“I missed you so much,” he muttered into my lips before he claimed them again, threading his fingers through my hair. I was without breath, wanting his lips everywhere on me.

“Oh god, I missed you too, Jared. I hated it, but I missed you too.”

He grabbed my face and made me look at him. “I won’t hurt you ever again. Trust me.”

I covered his hands, wondering if I could fully trust him after everything. Was it too late, or was there a chance for us to start anew?

“I see the wheels turning in your head.” His lips turned up. “I won’t pressure you, but I’ll be honest with you—I’m dying to taste you again. I’m dying for your pussy.”

A bolt of pleasure coursed through me, hitting my very core. His dirty words had a special effect on me, increasing my hunger, and all I wanted now was to pull him out of here and bring him to my place.

No. There was no place for doubts anymore.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Not long after, I was pressed against my front door, having barely locked it behind me before he captured my lips again. All fatigue fled, leaving space for the desire that grew stronger with each fervent touch of his soft lips and warm fingers.

I was trembling as I returned his kiss, letting him undress me in a hurry, his restless fingers adding to my arousal. My blazer, blouse, and bra were the first to go. His breath quickened the moment he took my breasts into his big hands and squeezed them, his pupils dilating. I arched my back when his deft thumbs found my nipples, which turned into two hard nubs instantly.

“So fucking sexy.” His voice was a hoarse whisper, matching the raw intensity in his eyes. “I dreamed about this, you know? I dreamed about touching you like this, about seeing all of you.”

His mouth wrapped around my nipple, and a sweet suction sent more pleasure through my insides. I was gripping his hair, pressing myself against his hard body as his mouth worked its magic on me. I could feel my juices ruining my panties, and it was turning me on even more. I was pliable in his hands, at his mercy, having difficulty focusing on anything as he brought me more and more ecstasy.

He slid his hand down my stomach and under my skirt and cupped my pussy. His growl mixed with my breathy moan. “Fuck. Always so wet and ready.” He curled his fingers over my clit, caressing just the right spot, and I let another moan out. “What do you want, Claire? Tell me exactly what you need.”

“Everything. All of you.”

“Not good enough.” He pressed his fingers against me, and the impatience was getting the best of me. I couldn’t find the right words when he was touching me like this. “Tell. Me. Exactly. What. You. Need.”

I tugged at his hair, pushing against his hand. “Touch me.”

“And?”

“Put your hand inside my panties and fuck me with your fingers.”

“Fuck. And?”

“Then, when I’m wet enough, put your mouth on my pussy and eat me until I come all over your face.”

“Fuuck.” Apparently, my words were his undoing, since he fell down to his knees and pulled my skirt and panties down, almost tearing them up in the process. I barely had time to step out of them before he grabbed my hip and thrust two long fingers into my pulsating mound, extracting a scream out of me.

“You’re so hot, sweetheart.”

“Yes. Just like that...”

His fingers curled each time he entered me, stimulating just the right spot, and the pleasure was almost too much. I squeezed my breasts, shutting my eyes closed, shuddering hard.

“Open your eyes,” he ordered me, fucking me faster. “I want to see your eyes when you come.”

I didn’t waste time obeying him, screaming when he brought another finger inside. I was so full, but even that wasn’t enough because the only way my hunger could be satisfied would be to have him deep inside of me.

“Look at you. So messy.”

My pussy was overflowing with my juices, which were trickling down my thighs. His mouth attacked my clit mercilessly, devouring me, and my legs gave out on me. He grabbed my waist to hold me in place and placed my leg over his shoulder, opening me more to him. He never stopped licking my hot flesh, bringing me so close to a mind-shattering release.

“Yes, yes, yes! Don’t stop, Jared! Just like that... Right there...” I couldn’t stop myself from pressing into his face, rubbing against him shamelessly, but that only seemed to spur him on. His mouth owned me, intensifying lust that went above anything I’d experienced before. I was crazy for him, ready to burst—on the verge of losing my mind.

“Come,” he growled into my mound, his voice creating the vibrations that pushed me closer to the edge. “Come now.” The moment his lips enclosed around my swollen clit, I was seeing stars, coming so hard that I couldn’t even comprehend it.

If he hadn’t been holding me, I would be a pile of hot limbs on the floor, convulsing in a never-ending fit of pleasure. I wasn’t aware of our short walk to my couch, still lost in my wonderful haze. He knelt on the floor in front of me and brought his cock to my entrance.

“This is going to be a quick one, but I’ll be taking my time with you later.”

With these words, he pushed inside of me, owning each inch of my greedy pussy. He cupped my ass and drew me to the edge of my couch, which sent him deeper into me.

“Ah, Jared! So big.”

His smirk was making my heart flutter. “And only yours.”

I wrapped my legs around him, digging my nails into his shoulders when he began a ruthless tempo. The friction of his solid shaft against my walls was heavenly. I was so very wet, the sloshing sounds of my pussy blending with our moans and groans.

He buried his head into my neck and commenced a series of open-mouthed kisses that made me shiver, sliding in and out of me in rising tempo.

“You’re so good,” he gritted out, holding me like he never wanted to let me go. “This is all I ever needed. Only you.”

His ardent words did something strange to my heart, taking more parts of it, turning my feelings for him into something much, much more. I wanted him to hold me like this forever, addicted to everything that was Jared, and it terrified me and made me happy at the same time.

With that thought, we came together, keeping each other close in an embrace that spoke more than any words could.

Jared moved his soapy hands all over my body, gazing at me with want and affection. We were in my shower, both of us burning with need because what happened in my living room wasn’t nearly enough.

“I feel so greedy when I’m with you,” I told him. His hands slid up my thighs, so close to my core but never touching it, and it only brought more heat to my body. “I always want more.”

He rinsed the soap from my thighs, never taking his eyes off of me. “That makes the two of us. You’ve managed to get under my skin, and now all I want is to be next to you. It’s never enough.” He caressed my waist, tracing it sensually, and covered my boob. His fingers grazed my nipple, teasing me as his other hand went down to my upper thigh. “Touching you.” He planted a kiss on my shoulder. “Kissing you.” His hand found my throbbing flesh and rewarded it with a slow stroke. “Pleasuring you.”

An ache spread through my chest, accompanied with the pressure in the pit of my belly. I was hot all over for him, ready for more, more, more.

“I need to come again,” I said, not bothered with how needy I sounded.

His tongue slid over his lower lip, his eyes turning darker.

“Turn around,” he commanded. “Place your hands on the tiles.”

The cold tiles felt perfect against my scorching hot skin. I shivered when his hands started its journey across my spine, barely touching me but touching me enough to create goosebumps all over me.

“I like everything about you, baby. You make me so hard that I want to bury myself inside of you and stay there forever. What are you doing to me?”

He knelt and separated my ass cheeks, bringing his mouth to the place that was dying for it. His tongue came out to meet my hole, sliding across the entrance before he plunged into it.

“Jared... Oh Christ... I love that.”

His fingers circled around my clit as his tongue thrust into me, and my legs began trembling. I was already beyond myself with these sensations, moaning his name in delirium.

“Ah, so good... Ah...”

Once more, I couldn’t resist grinding against his face. He pressed it against me, increasing the pressure, and it was amazing. Everything was amazing, and I needed more.

“Yes. More. Give me more.”

His tongue assaulted my clit, making me extremely wet, and I was so close that I could barely stand it.

“I’ll come. I’ll come, Jared. I’ll—”

He stood up abruptly and dove into me, triggering an orgasm that robbed me of my breath and reason. He tugged a handful of my hair and wrapped it around his fist, pulling my upper back flush against him, and continued his rough rhythm.

“Shit. You’re so fucking tight. You’re always so tight and it’s perfect. I can’t stop fucking you. You’re too good.”

“Yes. Don’t stop. Only you can make me feel this way. Only you can make me this wet and needy.”

“Yes, baby. Talk dirty to me. Keep talking.”

“You’re driving me crazy. I need your thick, long cock deep inside me. I need you to fuck me like it’s going to be the last thing you’ll ever do. I need it again and again because the way you make me feel... No one has ever made me feel this way. Ah! Yes!”

He hit my cervix repeatedly, ramming into me wildly. He stopped only to grab my thighs from behind and pick me up, holding me in the air like I didn’t weigh anything. “Hold onto me.”

I snaked my arms around his neck, in rapture because he could now enter me even deeper, and it was giving me an impossible amount of pleasure. His cock ripped through me, hitting the wall of my womb each time he penetrated, and I was orgasming again, screaming his name through his thrusts.

He didn’t stop, fucking me like he couldn’t get enough, like he needed each next thrust more than anything in his life.

I lost the count of orgasms he’d given me before he finally let himself find his own release, too weak and sated as he held me against him under the hot water in my shower. No words were needed as we washed each other again, too content and happy in our perfect bubble.