Sloane had been gone for a week, but it felt like a lifetime. What kind of sad fuck did that make me? I’d never been someone who relied on other people to feel complete. Yet there was no denying something was missing with her gone.
I hadn’t been alone since she’d left—she’d arranged for a colleague to take her place while she was in China. Direct and assertive, Jane knew how to get shit done, but she was a poor substitute for Sloane.
As it was New Year’s Eve, I’d sent Jane home hours ago. I sat in the sitting area of my bedroom, glass of bourbon hanging from my fingers as I stared at the bed that no longer smelled like Sloane. I wanted her back, but she had a job to do. She’d sent me daily updates—she’d been able to get things back on track, just like I knew she could. Only loose ends had to be tied up, and then she’d be home sometime next week.
Too long.
We’d managed to work in a couple calls and even an X-rated Skype session, but it wasn’t enough. This week without her confirmed what I’d begun to suspect: I was in love with her. Had been falling every day for the past six months, everything slotting into place when she’d finally surrendered to our attraction.
And I didn’t want to be without her—in my business or personal life. We could find a way to make it work. I just had to convince her.
I set my glass down and leaned my head against the back of the oversized leather chair, closing my eyes. My phone rested on my knee, waiting for Sloane’s call. It’d become a sort of unspoken agreement between us that she’d call before starting her day. Bonus that hers was the last voice I heard before going to bed.
“Drinking alone? That’s not a good sign.”
I snapped open my eyes, jerking my head up. She stood in the doorway in a tight skirt and camisole. Hair loose, lips quirked at the corners, looking hot as fuck—if tired.
If she didn’t have those circles under her eyes, I’d swear she was a mirage. She’d told me she wouldn’t be back for another week, and now she stood in my bedroom. I shook my head, finally finding my voice. “It’s New Year’s Eve, and the woman I want to ring in the new year with is halfway around the world. Or was supposed to be. You told me yesterday you still had things to do.”
She shrugged and prowled toward me, hips swaying almost obscenely, my mouth watering as if on command. “I may have exaggerated a few things.”
Once she reached me, I slid my hands up the back of her thighs, slipping beneath her skirt. Loving the feel of her silky skin against my fingertips. “How many things?”
Leaning forward, she ran her hands down my chest, her fingers slowly trailing all the way down to my waistband, almost greedy in their exploration. As if she’d been as miserable this week without me as I had been without her. “The steel went through customs without a hitch. I stayed just long enough to watch the ship set sail, and then I headed for the airport.”
“I see.” I cupped her ass, tugging her forward, my cock already hard as stone. “So the only thing you exaggerated was the fact that you weren’t coming home for a while, is that right?”
“That. And perhaps a few of the challenges over there. Once I fired Frank, everything ran smoothly.” She undid my pants, opening them wide to trace around my erection with a light touch. “By the way, I fired Frank.”
I hummed, the subtle pressure on my cock not nearly enough to satisfy. Not after a week without her. “So you went over there and started kicking ass and taking names, just like I knew you would.” Once I stripped her of her skirt and panties, I kissed her hip bones as she peeled off her camisole. And then finally, finally, she stood naked before me. “Never had a doubt you could pull this off.”
“Speaking of pulling off…” She tugged at my shirt, eyes hooded with want.
With a growl, I stood, gripping her by the ass and hauling her to the bed. My clothes flew off in a frenzy, and then I was on top of her, settling between her legs and sliding into the most perfect heaven I’d ever known.
“Jesus, I missed this. Missed you.” I hitched her knee over my hip, opening her wider for me. Allowing me to slide as deep as we both needed.
“Missed you so much.” She arched under me, her breasts pointing straight to my mouth. I sucked one tip between my lips, flicking it with my tongue, loving the taste of her. Loving even more how she gripped my hair and begged, “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
“Never,” I promised, thrusting harder and faster while pressing my thumb to her clit, desperate to get her to the edge with me.
After a week of nothing but self-loving, it didn’t take long for either of us to reach our peaks. At the first pulse of her pussy around my cock, my name on her lips, I finally let myself go, groaning into her mouth as I spilled inside her.
Spent and sated, I kissed a path down her neck while she traced soft circles along my back. Not realizing until that moment how much I’d missed not only the sex, but also the quiet moments between us. Moments like this. It was…perfection, and I wanted it. Every bit of it—the business talk and the amazing sex and the togetherness. I wanted it all with her.
I rolled to the side, pulling her to face me. Needing to find out if she was in this with me. “Did you think more about my proposition?”
She nodded. “I did—I had a lot of time alone to think about it.”
“Do I need to start the next round of negotiations while I fuck you again, or did you find my suggestions satisfactory?”
“I don’t need negotiations, just clarification.”
I reached out, brushing the hair away from her face. Running my thumb over her bottom lip. Already hardening again. So fucking hungry for her. “Let me make this clear: I want you to work for me, permanently. No more contracts. During the day, you kick ass being my right-hand woman. In the evening, you’re in my bed—our bed. Every night.”
She stared at me with something that looked an awful lot like hope. “You’re sure you’re ready for that? Me…us…twenty-four seven?”
“Well, you are a handful, but I think I’m man enough for the challenge.”
“Be serious.”
I gripped her ass, pulling her closer as I brushed a kiss against her lips. “Spitfire…I want you with me. As much as I can get. Don’t tell anyone, but I was miserable while you were gone.”
She bit her lip, a smile stretching her mouth. “Really?”
“A sad, miserable bastard. Before you showed up, I was moping about how my sheets didn’t smell like you any longer. That’s the kind of man you’ve reduced me to.”
“Mind your words—I’m quite fond of that man.”
“Are you now?”
“Yes.” With a hand against my chest, she pushed me to my back and straddled me, sliding her pussy along my cock. “Arrogant attitude, demanding nature, and overbearing jackassery aside…I’m in love with him.”
Relief flooded me as I cupped her neck and pulled her down, kissing the smile on her lips. “You fell in love with an asshole like that, huh?”
“Completely.”
I ran my thumb along her jaw, my eyes connected with hers. Making sure she knew this wasn’t a game. That these weren’t just words. “Good, because he loves you, too.”
Her smile lit up her whole face as she reached down to guide me between her legs. And as much as I wanted that, wanted to slide inside that tight, wet paradise, I needed an answer first. I gripped her hips, not letting her sink down on me.
“What is it?”
“Put me out of my misery and tell me you’ll move in with me. We can live anywhere you want. I’ll even buy us a horse farm if that’ll make you happy. So long as you’re in my bed every night.”
She rested her lips against mine. “You drive a hard bargain, Huntley, but I accept.” Pushing back, she slapped my hands out of the way and finally sank down, our moans mixing as I filled her again. “God, I’ve missed you.”
“Me too.” I raised my knees so she could rest back against them, opening her to my hungry gaze. Pink and swollen and glistening, clit peeking out, begging for my touch. “I’ve also missed your sweet pussy. A week is too long.”
“Way too long.” She tossed her head back, groaning as I fingered her clit, her pussy already fluttering around my cock.
I rocked up into her, keeping the pace slow and sweet until her orgasm took hold, sweeping her away, her body bowed back as she pulsed around me. All the while wondering how I got lucky enough to call this feisty, take-no-prisoners woman mine. Wondering if she’d ever know only a woman as strong as her could happily bring me to my knees.
Wondering how forever with her could possibly be long enough.