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There’s a rough edge to his voice, like the words cost him.
“That sounds suspiciously like blackmail,” I murmur.
His mouth curves humorlessly. “It is. But I can’t let the resort stall. Too many people’s jobs depend on it. Not to mention Hudson and Parker’s investments. And Bennett… he’s a kid. It’s not his fault his uncle’s a manipulative bastard.”
My chest tightens. This is the side of West people don’t see – the one who shoulders more than his share because he thinks no one else can.
“So what are you going to do?” I ask him.
“I told him I’d look at the casino proposal. And I agreed to Bennett staying to work with me.”
“But you won’t build the casino, right? You said it’s a family resort.”
His throat undulates as he swallows. “I don’t plan to, no. But it’s a mess and I suspect every time a payment is due he’ll ratched up the pressure more.”
“Can’t you tell him where to shove his money?”
A ghost of a smile passes over his lips, but there’s no humor in it. “Not if we want this project to continue.”
His thumbs stroke higher, a slow, absentminded movement that makes my pulse stutter. “I’m sorry. I’m not great company tonight,” he says softly. “I can sleep down here. That way I won’t disturb you when I finally come up.”
“I didn’t come down for company,” I tell him, my voice just as quiet. “I came down for you.”
His fingers tease their way to the top of my thighs and I let out a soft gasp. He goes to pull away. “I’m sorry…”
And I put his hand right back where it was. Cover it with mine.
“Don’t stop,” I whisper. Then I push it higher. Until he can feel how much I ache for him. He lets out a groan.
“Eden…”
I reach out to touch his shoulders. “I hate seeing you like this,” I murmur. “You know you’re not alone, right? We’re in this together.”
“Like you and Bennett were together?”
The edge to his voice isn’t sharp. It’s softer than that. More aching than annoyed.
“We weren’t together. Not like this.” I step forward until I’m straddling his legs. He reaches for me, his hands wrapping around my waist, pulling me onto his lap.
And dear lord, I can feel how hard he is.
“You’re my husband, not him,” I whisper, leaning forward to kiss his neck. He groans again, his head tipping back. “I don’t kiss him like this.” I slide my lips down his throat. “I don’t feel him like this.” I rock my hips against him, the pleasure of his hard cock against me making my eyes close. “He doesn’t make me come like you do.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” His voice is a rasp now.
But before I can continue, he tilts my chin up with one hand, his thumb brushing my jaw. Our eyes lock, and something deep in my chest twists.
He leans forward and presses his mouth against mine.
It’s not rushed. Not at first. His lips are warm as they move over mine with an aching thoroughness that steals my breath. Like he’s memorizing me, tasting every secret I’ve ever kept.
I curl my arms around his neck, arching into him until my hard nipples meet his chest. He groans deeper as I sink my fingers into his hair, holding him there, because if he pulls back I might actually shatter.
Our kiss deepens, becomes more frenzied, his tongue sliding against mine, coaxing, caressing, and there’s nothing in the world right now but the delicious movement of his mouth.
By the time he breaks away, his breath is ragged. There’s a dark look in his eyes that’s mesmerizing. I can still taste him, stillfeel the roughness of his beard against my face as I whisper, “Let me make you feel better.”
He blinks like he doesn’t understand. So I reach between us, unbutton the rest of his shirt, and push it open, my fingers dragging along the ridge of his abdomen and the hard swell of his chest.
