Page 45 of Enticing Her Love

“Trust me, you’d be bored. I stayed long enough to clear my head and get my bearings. Then I got the hell out of there and stayed with a Vanuatu bush tribe for a couple of years, which was something I had always wanted to do. Once the hype about me died down, I continued traveling under my fake identity. I went to the places I had been wanting to go, and eventually, I started using my real identity again.”

“Don’t let this go to your head, but I’m kind of in awe of you right now. I would never be brave enough to do what you did.”

“I’ve seen you step up to the plate enough to know that if you felt like you were losing yourself, you could do whatever it took to save your sanity.”

“You have more faith in me than I do.”

“You’ve proven yourself over and over. Not just here, but on every assignment.”

“Was that a pat on the back, Mr. Braden?”

“I’d give you a slap on the ass if I didn’t think it might send you inching away. Now, let’s get back to you for a minute. You never answered my question. Has it really been six months since you’ve been with a guy?”

“Did I screw you senseless? It’s only been about half an hour.”

“All right, smart-ass. I just told you my secrets. You can tell me one of yours.”

Her fingers trailed over his chest. “It’s been longer than six months.”

“Why?”

“Because like for you, sex isn’t a priority, and I don’t want to settle. I want what my parents and my brothers and sisters have.”

“Which is?”

“This will sound funny since you didn’t want to be the world’s it guy, but my parents and my siblings and their significant others treat each other like they’re it for them. Like the sun and the moon and the stars all pale in comparison, and nobody else in the world could fill their shoes. When you’re around them, you can feel their love for each other. That’s what I want. To be somebody’s it girl.”

“What’s stopping you from getting out there and meeting someone?”

“A couple of things. I hate dating apps, and meeting smart, interesting single guys is impossible unless you hang out where they do. I don’t know where they spend their time, but I don’t hang out in bars, or anywhere, really. I’ve been a little busy trying to prove myself to my infuriatingly pushy boss.”

“Sounds like an asshole.”

“He can be. But it turns out he has a nicer side, too, and he’s pretty good with certain body parts.”

“So you’re into him for his dick?”

She gasped, feigning shock. “I’m not that kind of girl. I was going to say his brains.”

He shifted onto his side, bringing them nose to nose. “That’s an organ, not a body part.”

“I meant his hands. He knows how to wield a machete, and—” His hand slid between her legs, and her thoughts fragmented.

“And?” he urged.

“And get wood.”

“Wood, huh?”

“He’s really good with wood, and I like his mouth, too.”

“This mouth?” He brushed his lips over hers and bit her lower lip, tugging as he increased the friction between her legs, sending pinpricks of pleasure all the way down to her toes.

“Yes—”

He pressed his hard length against her leg. “But not his cock?”

“I can take it or leave it.” Desperate for more, she reached between them and palmed his length.