Trust.

I swallowed hard and gathered the strength to do this, to confide my deepest fears to a man who could so easily destroy me. It helped that he knew about Ryan, but there were other things I hadn’t admitted yet. Not out loud, anyway.

“You asked if I remember the day we met.” He meant it as a rhetorical question, but I figured this would be a good starting point. “I do, but it was different for me. You possessed a confidence that I immediately wanted to challenge, partly because it’s in my nature to do so, but mostly because it unnerved me. I’ve always been drawn to influential men, but after Ryan, I vowed never to be involved with one again. Then you showed up, all sexy as sin in your expensive suit, and charmed your way into spending the entire day and night with me. Part of me hated how effortlessly you inserted yourself into my life as if you belonged there.”

It infuriated me at the time but also fascinated me. My cheeks heated at the memory of it, how hot and bothered he left me without even trying. I coughed to clear my throat.

“You’re right. The attraction has always been mutual, but unlike you, I haven’t wanted to embrace it. I am still trying to survive the first powerful man I fell for; there is no way I can balance two of you. Not when you have so completely shattered every wall I’ve built to protect myself. You could destroy me, Will. Trusting you not to is taking all my willpower, but I started down that path the second I told you about Ryan.” I placed a hand over my aching heart and allowed all my emotions to show in my eyes. All the pain, the fear, the love . . .

“It may not look like I’m fighting for us on the outside, but that’s only because my struggle is in here.” I tapped my chest for emphasis. “I’m my own biggest obstacle, but I’m trying, Will. I promise you that I am.”

He wrapped his arms around me in a hug that warmed me inside and out. I didn’t realize how cold I’d felt until he embraced me, and I immediately melted into him. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“You have nothing to apologize for, sweetheart,” he replied, voice soft. “I knew you wouldn’t react favorably to my confession, but I feared it would drive you away. Especially after revealing what you did about Ryan. I’m aware that it was heavy-handed on my part, but I did it to protect you.”

“I know.” I kissed his jaw, then his cheek. “It was the right thing to do. Nothing about our relationship has ever been strictly professional, but I need to know something.” I pulled back to read his facial reaction. “Why did you go through all the trouble of hiring me? Why not just try to date me?”

His brow furrowed. “Because you’re brilliant. Why would I hire another lawyer when I could have you?” He sounded genuinely confused, which placated me a little. It meant he’d recruited me for the right reasons.

“But what about Garrett? Surely he wouldn’t mind representing Mershano Vineyards.”

“He manages my personal estate. I needed a corporate lawyer, and your work with Sarah’s contract impressed me. Did you think I only hired you to get you into bed?” The last was said with a twinkle in his eye. “Because although that might be a benefit of working together, it wasn’t part of my decision process. I would never hire a woman just to sleep with her, and I believe I’ve proven that I would never need to either.”

I rolled my eyes. “So cocky.”

“I’ve more than earned my confidence, darlin’.” He smiled against my lips. “Or do you require a reminder?” I opened my mouth to reply, and he silenced me with his tongue. My toes curled from the sensual assault. The man possessed the mouth of a god, and he knew it. Each skillful twist set my blood on fire. I clung to him and held on for the ride as he devoured me. My legs went around his waist as he lifted me off the ground and pushed me up against the wall. I shivered as the cool air caressed my exposed thighs. Will’s hands rivaled his mouth, stroking and touching me in all the right ways.

“Would you like your reminder out here or in the room?” he asked, his voice a whisper.

I shivered as he pressed his arousal into my hot center. The scrap of lace between my thighs allowed me to feel every pulse of his hard length through his slacks. We’d barely started, and already I was eager for him to take me. I fisted my hand in his hair to force his mouth back to mine.

“Here,” I demanded before giving myself to him in a kiss. All the frustration from our first fight went into my embrace, culminating in a meeting of mouths that was all about confirming what he meant to me. I wanted him now and for always, and I would fight with my dying breath to make this work. He returned the emotions in kind and tore my dress over my head. It left me in stockings and a thong. I’d not worn a bra today, something he seemed to luxuriate in as his mouth dropped to my breasts.

“You’re fucking perfect.” His words were filled with a reverence that left me breathless. “You still owe me a lingerie show, but I do like these.” He traced the navy lace strip over my hip and down the crease of my thigh. “We’ll have to replace them.”

I yelped as he ripped them off of me, leaving me in nothing but my garters and silk stockings. It struck me that I was completely exposed and the only thing protecting my dignity was Will. He still wore his slacks and dress shirt, and for whatever reason, that only seemed to turn me on more. I pressed against his hard ridge with a moan.

“I need you, Will. Now.”

His chuckle vibrated my neck as he trailed kisses up the column of my throat. “What are you willing to do for it?” He palmed my ass with one hand while the other drifted south of my belly button.

When he thrummed my clit, I bucked into his hand and groaned, “Anything.”

“Anything, hmm?” His tone was filled with dark amusement. “Even call me ‘sir’?” He pinched my sensitive bundle of nerves, making me see stars. It left me panting against him and aching with a need only he could soothe.

“I’ll call you whatever the hell you want if you fuck me right now.” It came out louder than I intended, but the man was driving me crazy.

“That’s what I thought,” he murmured. “Unbuckle my pants, Rachel.”

I ran my hand down his crisp shirt to the belt at his waist and trembled as I loosened the leather from his hips. He kept massaging my sensitive nub but withheld the pressure I craved. Each sensuous caress stoked the flames deep inside me, keeping them burning hot without allowing it to boil over.

“You’re killing me,” I managed in a pained whisper.

“Keep going,” he urged after I popped the button on his pants. My fingers shook as I tugged down the zipper. “You know what I want you to do, Rachel.” And I did, because it was exactly what I wanted. I tugged his heavy member free from the briefs and pressed him against my wet heat. He felt so smooth and hot against me, so right. I shifted up to position him where I needed him and felt him tense. When he pulled a condom from his pocket, I glared at it. Protection was important, but it always ruined the moment.

“I’m on birth control,” I breathed. “And I’m healthy.”

“We’ll properly discuss that later.” He ripped the packet open with his teeth and rolled the condom on one-handed. His other hand was busy holding me up with his palm on my ass. When his cock returned to my entrance, I quivered. “Hold on, gorgeous.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck as he slammed home inside of me. No gentle prodding or exploring, just hard, fast fucking, and it felt amazing. Each thrust sent me higher, to a place only Will could take me. Knowing the city existed just over his shoulder sent a sinful thrill through me and heightened my pleasure. It felt dangerous, and wrong, and all kinds of right.

My head dropped to his shoulder with a shudder as pleasure warmed me inside. This was the part I loved, the part where I teetered on the edge of that special world created by Will. The one filled with bliss and passion and wonder. He drilled me harder, scraping my back against the wall with each thrust, and wound his fingers in my hair to force my gaze to his.

“I love that look in your eyes,” he whispered. “Drunk on lust and ready to explode.” He swept his tongue against my lips, coaxing me to open, and dipped inside. I moaned into his mouth as he took me even harder. He palmed my breast, tweaking my nipple, then lowered his hand to my tender point.

“Are you going to come for me, Rachel?” he asked. “I want to feel you let go around my cock. Now, Rachel.”

He applied just the right amount of pressure to send me soaring. I screamed his name, not caring at all who heard me, and let go of everything. All my worries and concerns failed to matter. Erotic sensation was all that existed here, and it rolled through my body in arousing waves that Will had to feel. I buried my head into his neck as he carried me back into the suite, and startled only slightly when I felt the mattress against my back. Then it was beneath my knees as he propped me up and drove into me from behind.

“Oh God . . .” I couldn’t believe how much deeper he was now, hitting a spot that mixed pleasure and pain over and over again, until another ripple of ecstasy crashed into me. My hands tightened on the quilt as my body spasmed from the unexpected orgasm, and I barely registered him removing his hand from between my legs to grab my hips.

“You feel amazing,” he breathed. “So fucking amazing.” His grip tightened as he picked up his pace, and I tried to push back against him to grant him more access, but my limbs protested. Two powerful orgasms left me weak and depleted beneath him. My name slipped from his mouth on a guttural growl, and he collapsed against my back with a tremble that I felt pulsing between my legs. He lifted my hair out of the way and kissed the back of my neck as his body continued to shake against mine.

“Mmm . . .” He nuzzled my ear and rolled us to our sides so he could spoon me. “I consider my point made.”

I huffed a laugh. He more than proved his point with that little reminder. “Your confidence is well deserved, Mershano.”

His teeth nipped my ear. “I thought we agreed on ‘sir’?”

“I’ll call you whatever you want after that, sir.”

“One more time. Just so I remember it.”

“Whatever you want, sir.”

He chuckled. “That’s two points made, then. Excellent.”

I rolled my eyes. “Cocky, sir.”

His hard length twitched inside me. “Cocky indeed, gorgeous.” He pressed another kiss to my neck and rolled off the bed to dispose of the condom. His slacks were zipped and belted again when he joined me on the bed with a warm washcloth. Why was it so sexy to be naked around a fully clothed man? I jolted when he pressed the damp towel to my core, and shuddered as another aftershock hit me.

“So sensitive,” he mused, rolling me to my back. His lips brushed mine while he continued to soothe me below. “For the record, I don’t care what you call me. I just wanted to prove that I could convince you to call me whatever I liked.”

“Uh-huh.” I stretched like a lazy cat and sighed. “I hope you don’t need me to work tomorrow, because I think you broke me. All I want to do is lie in bed and fuck all day.”

His deep laugh warmed me. “Maybe we can plan a getaway for after the acquisition meetings and do precisely that.”

I brightened at that idea. “Really?”

“Sure. We can go wherever you want after we’re done this week.” He kissed me on the nose and smiled. “I’m yours to do with as you please.”

“Oh?” I lifted a brow. “Is that a promise?”

“Absolutely.”

I liked the sound of that, but it made me wonder. “Why the condom, then? Unless . . . Is there a reason we need one?” The not-so-random thought soured the moment. We’d yet to discuss his previous relationships, and he definitely had experience. Females practically threw themselves at his feet. Like those women at the hotel last month.

“One of the things I adore about you is the ability to read emotions from your beautiful eyes, but I’m not sure I like the one looking up at me now.” He went to his elbow to stare down at me. “I’m healthy, Rachel. My last checkup was a few months ago, and you’re the only woman I’ve been with since. But I wasn’t about to fuck you without protection in the heat of the moment, not without proper consent.”

“I gave consent.”

“Yes, in a pleasure-induced state, darlin’. Not the same.”

I bit my lip, considering. “Do I want to know how many women you’ve been with?”

His sigh answered my question before his words. “No, but I can tell you a number if you need it. What matters more is that none of my previous relationships, whether brief or otherwise, compares to what exists between us. I’ve never felt this way about anyone except you, and I sure as hell have never tried this hard to win a woman over.”

I snorted. “That’s because all the others likely fell to their knees with a single command.”

He smiled at that. “Maybe true, but not you. I like that you made me work for it.” He palmed my cheek and kissed me lightly. “But yes, I’ve been with other women and I’ve dated, but nothing long term. None of them were right for me, and I found myself loving my company more than them. You’re different. For the first time in my life, I’m with someone I value more than Mershano Vineyards. You’re not just some random woman to me, Rachel. You never have been, nor will you ever be.”

My heart warmed at his words. “I think you like me, Mershano.”

He traced my lower lip with his thumb. “I think you like me too, Dawson.”

“I do,” I confirmed. “Maybe a little too much.”

“That’s impossible,” he returned playfully. “I’m very easy to adore.”

“Oh, here we go with the arrogance again.”

“Do you need another lesson?”

My thighs squeezed together at the promise underlining his tone, and since his hand was still lounging down there with the washcloth, I knew he felt it. “I need to eat first,” I whispered, my stomach grumbling in agreement. His thorough fucking had left me half-starved after skipping dinner. “But afterward, maybe you could make your point without a condom?”

His eyes glittered at that. “It’s a promise, gorgeous.”