“Are you sure you don’t want me with you?” Rose pressed her pliant body against my back, arms circling my hips as she trailed her lips across my shoulder blades.

It was four in the morning, and the limo would be arriving any moment now. And I’d barely gotten out of the shower to change.

“I’ll be back before you know it, Rose.”

“I don’t feel comfortable that she’s going to be there. What if she seduces you. Will you be able to resist her?”

“She won’t. She and I are done. I’ve already stressed this before.”

“It never stopped you before. What makes this time different?”

“It just is.”

“We’re doing so well. I’m just scared she’ll steal you away from me.”

“Rose, this is getting ridiculous. Don’t overstep boundaries just because I’ve spent the night in your bed for the past month. I loath to be pestered and nagged when I’ve assured you there’s nothing going on.”

“If she weren’t so fucking hot, I wouldn’t be acting this way.”

Her deceitfulness made her unattractive in my eyes. That would never change.

“I can’t help how she looks, Rose. You’ve gotten beyond taxing. Will you let me change in peace?”

“You’re such a great guy. You only become an asshole whenever she’s mentioned. But I’m warning you, Jared. If you ever touch her again, I’m through with you. Have whoever you want as long as it’s not her.” Rose marched out of the closet space, her tight bottom mesmerizingly swaying with each step she took.

I’d fucked her five times in the last six hours, ensuring I’d be spent out of my wits the second I stepped onto the gulfstream jet. It wasn’t that I wasn’t confident I could resist Gisele, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. After all, I hadn’t seen her for a good while, so who knew what my body would get up to?

Geared in black denim trousers and a black, fitted crew shirt, I was comfortably dressed for the eleven-hour flight across the Pacific.

Strolling back out of the closet and into the bedroom, I found Rose leaning against the door, displeased. “Take me with you. Gisele needs to be put in her place.”

“Bloody hell, Rose! In case you’ve forgotten, this is a business trip! Gisele’s assistance and decisions are vital for this deal to push through.” My displeasure was teetering on the edge. Since when did this twenty-nine-year-old woman start to become so petulant? Rose’s qualms grated upon me. “She’s a good person, Rose. You have to stop obsessing about her!”

“You’re staying in separate rooms, right?”

Distractedly glancing down at my phone, my driver’s number flashed across the screen. “Yes. I’ve said this a hundred bloody fucking times already, Rose!”

“All right. I’m sorry for being such a nutcase.”

“I have to go. My ride’s outside.”

“I know you don’t want to hear it, and I also know you might leave me for saying it, but I’m saying it, anyway. I love you.” She tiptoed and kissed me on the cheek.

I despondently exhaled, unsure what to do anymore. “I’ll be back before you know it. Do behave while I’m gone.” Showing a tightened smile, I threw her one last look before exiting the house.

There was no question where her loyalty lay, but I liked to remind her, anyway. One could never trust a woman to be forthcoming these days. I’d learned the hard way with Gisele. As for Rose…Well, she was growing clingy as we went on. Our arrangement specifically outlined what I expected out of it, and yet, she continued with her heart, past caring about its consequences. Habitually, I’d immediately dash out of her life. But things had changed. Somehow, the thought of replacing her while I was battling problems on all fronts seemed a tad reckless. All aspects of my life right this instant were unpredictable. Each day shifted, and the only time I got a reprieve from the strenuous life I led was with Rose. She remained unchanged. And in some way, becoming a fixture of stability when my life surely wasn’t was a good change. But could I truly fathom her feelings for me? Could I tolerate the complications accepting her love entailed? The questions spun in my head, adding to my ever-growing list of conundrums.

“Good morning, Mr. St. James,” the flight crew greeted me upon boarding the plane.

“Hello.”

“And Miss Weber? Is she here?” My throat bobbed at the question. It was rather peculiar, but I was a tad nervous. What the bloody hell had gotten into me? It wasn’t I who was at fault here. I wasn’t the one who had spewed promises and broken them, so my edginess surely caught me unaware.

“She arrived a little bit ago.”

Striding farther into the jet’s cream interior, I halted when I spotted Gisele’s blonde hair tousled all over the pillow, her body curling in on the plane’s cream sofa. She was facing away from the aisle, so I couldn’t see her face. Wearing a white midriff top and silk short shorts, it became glaringly obvious she didn’t bother getting ready. The woman practically rolled out of bed and hopped on board. The plush light blue blanket barely covered her thigh—a very toned thigh.

She lost weight. It was the first thought that came through my head. Has she been well? The next thought came laden with guilt.

After that fated night, even though Mike had been in communication on a daily basis, I hadn’t reached out to Thomas or Gisele at all. At that time, I craved to simply get Gisele out of my mind. Shutting her and Thomas out was the only solution I could muster. Alas, I couldn’t reject Mike since the compound’s security concerned Peter’s notes, designs, blueprints, prototypes, and plans in his subterranean workplace. But on the occasion he tried to broach the subject of Gisele, I immediately cut him off, stating that I trusted him completely.

Seeing her resting form now, I was wondering if I had made the right decision. Worry riddled my mind as I retreated two rows out, instantly requiring space away from her. However, the seat I’d chosen faced towards the back of the jet, giving me a clear view of her slumbering figure.

I knew she was fast asleep, but I couldn’t endure being so near her. Even with marginal distance, the air was already strained in the small space. I could only imagine what it would be like when she was awake. Would she demand answers from me? Or would she simply let bygones be bygones and carry on as though nothing happened?

My forethoughts were kept at bay when the pilot signaled we were cleared for takeoff. While doing so, my eyes stayed on course, staring at the sleeping beauty across from me.

It was some time later, when we’d leveled at a steady pace, that the stewardess strode towards Gisele, gently touching her shoulder, waking her. “Miss Weber?”

Gisele grumbled.

“I’m waking you as you requested. You can safely sleep in the bedroom now.”

Slowly lifting her upper body, she shifted as she sat, her long blond hair curtaining her sleepy face. “Thanks, Bailey,” Gisele murmured before the attendant retreated back to her station to begin preparing to serve refreshments.

My gaze took her in as she lazily stood up, slightly bending over as she gathered her blanket and pillow. The silk shorts did nothing to hide her shapely bottom, and the poor excuse of a thin cotton top bared the tightly toned abs.

My cock instantly twitched at the sight of her body. She’d lost weight, but in the right places. Her torso got smaller, emphasizing her ample breasts even more.

She was well, too well for my liking. It was apparent she’d been taking good care of herself. I was sure Wyatt Rinaldi had experienced her tightness on a continuous basis.

My ravenous eyes bore into her. After weeks of starving myself, believing I’d be immune to her as the days wore on, I knew it was pure fallacy. My body hummed. My senses became distinctly more sharpened. Wholly awakened at the mere vision of the woman I’d craved with utmost depravity.

I stared with unnerving pause. Bombarded with every underlying debauchery provoking my resolve.

And I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, Gisele was hyperaware of my presence, but she never once glanced in my direction. She unperturbedly retreated towards the back, stepping into the cabin’s bedroom and shutting herself away from my view.

Grinding my teeth together, I was assaulted with all kinds of frustrations. Was civility out of the question, too? We’d be spending a substantial amount of time together. Surely, she didn’t intend to ignore me for days on end, or was that how she aimed this trip would turn out, us barely acknowledging each other? I let out a low grumbling groan, vexed at her immaturity.

Damn you, Gisele.

Brooding, I submerged into my work, praying I could block the woman who harassed my thoughts.

An hour into our flight, my surly mood had taken another hit, this time an instantaneous nosedive. It plummeted down into the deep pits of Hell.

The email was from my lawyer. Apparently, Gisele’s solicitor just contacted him, ready to start the divorce proceedings.

I halted there, not bothering to finish the damning message before I slammed my laptop shut. Armed with sky-blistering rage, I dashed towards the end of the jet, set to wage war.