Page 23 of The Art of Deception
I take a breath and shift my eyes. “Places for display cabinets… a piercing room, we could even branch out and have a tanning salon…” I exhale. “The possibilities are endless.” I glance at him and slump. “But it’s all a pipe dream, unfortunately. With Alex Scott wanting us out, the idea of expanding is null and void. I doubt I’ll even be there at the end of the month.”
He places a bowl on the sink with a grimace. “This updated version of Hope & Faith Ink sounds incredible.”
I giggle through a snort as I step up, grab a dish towel, and start to dry the dishes like this is the most normal thing for us to be doing. “Doesn’t it just? I’ve wanted to expand the business once it was successful. But it’s nothing more than a fantasy now.”
As he turns back to the dishes, I slump.
Xander leans in against me with a warm smile. “The thing about fantasies is that they can become a reality.”
I let out a sharp laugh. “I don’t need to know which of your fantasies have become reality, sir.”
He grins mischievously as he continues to wash the dishes. “All I’m saying is you’d be great in aLara Croftcostume.”
I burst out laughing and flick him with the dish towel. “If you believe I would go forCroftoverWonder Woman, I’m gonna have to terminate our relationship.”
His eyes widen as he faces me. “Our relationship? We’re in a relationship now?”
I widen my eyes, throwing my hands in the air. “That’s not what I meant.”
He quickly reaches out, grabbing and pulling me in. His body presses against mine as he gazes into my eyes, my arms wrapping around his neck while we stare at each other. The atoms in the air change, altering the chemicals in my body.
He lights a fire inside of me.
I don’t know how.
I don’t know why.
But Xander makes me burn for him so hot I might burst into flames at any second.
He leans in, his lips crashing against mine. One hand smooths across my lower back, pulling my body into his as the other grips my hair tightly, just the way I like. Flinging the dish towel to a place I don’t even know, my hands rush around his neck as I hold him to me, just needing him. Our tongues dance in a harmonious rhythm as we kiss frantically.
My body tingles and throbs as he starts walking me backward. I don’t know where I’m going, but my ass hits the bench behind me as I moan into his mouth while his hands slide under my ass, and he hoists me up. I don’t hesitate, my legs wrapping around his waist, my pussy pressing right against the seam of his jeans, his rock-hard erection pushing into me as I gasp into his mouth.
This is hot, this is intense, and I want every second of it. I have since the moment Xander walked into my shop all that time ago.
He spins, carrying me as he walks. The thing is, he has no idea where to go. So, I giggle into his mouth, steering him. He takes the hall, and I lead him to the last room at the end.
My room.
With our lips frantically locked, he walks me inside, then kicks the door shut with his foot. Energy swarms inside of me, my emotions running havoc as I pull back, gazing into his eyes when he stops at the edge of my bed.
Alone at last.
Chapter Eight
ALEX
My heart hammers. The idea of taking this to the next level with Tomi before she knows who I am doesn’t sit well with me. But the way her eyes glisten in the dim moonlight shining in through the window renders her a goddess. I can’t help myself.
She’s irresistible in every damn way.
My hands run up her waist as her arms stay linked around my neck. I lean in, pressing my lips to hers, needing to taste her berry flavor once more. She’s fucking delicious as I kiss her with all the gusto that I can muster. My cock throbs in my jeans, wanting her, needing her. I’m not sure if we’re heading in that direction, but fuck my body is aching for her right now. I’ve wanted to be inside Tomi since the first moment I laid eyes on her.
I wanted to take her there and then.
It’s primal, it’s animalistic and carnal but true.
She’s the most gorgeous woman I have ever met inside and out, and when I got to know her, truly know her, it only made holding out even harder. I’ve needed her for two long years, and now, as I kiss her, my cock hardens against the seam of my jeans awkwardly, making me uncomfortable. But I won’t change my movements because kissing her like this is a fucking heaven I don’t want to fall from.
