Page 151 of Wait for Him

"So your solution is... me?"

"My solution is optics. I want you on my board. I want the market to see a united front. Two powerful firms, two portfolios, two reputations becoming one."

"And the marriage?"

"The marriage makes the story believable. And sadly, a woman isn't much in a man's world without a man on her arm showing everyone how well she submits to his authority." She takes a sip of wine. "Call it patriarchy. Call it misogyny. It's still a game I have to play until I grow that dick I've been wishing for every Christmas."

I choke again.

There isn't even anything in my mouth this time.

Rian's lips twitch.

"That's..." I take a second because we're negotiating both corporate governance and spontaneous matrimony now. "...the least corporate proposal I've ever heard."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"I didn't intend it as one."

"No." She lifts her glass. "But I suspect you'll think about it anyway."

Unfortunately, she's right.

That's the part I don't particularly enjoy.

From a business perspective, I can already see why she's pitching it. Lane & Fields gets stability, she gets another ally on the board, my firm gets access to a portfolio I'd normally spend years working my way into. It's insane, obviously, but unfortunately insane and financially stupid are not the same thing.

A breeze moves across the balcony and presses her blouse against her body, and her nipples pebble against the silk. My eyes drop before good judgment catches up with them. She catches me looking, but she doesn't cover up or call it out. She drags her tongue across her bottom lip and looks directly at me.

My body responds by way of a thickening cock before the rest of me catches up. My nervous system would like to remind me that it remains fully operational. I’m a man in a drought staring at rain.

It's been ten months. Ten months and eighteen days, if we're being unnecessarily specific, which I am because I know exactly how long Rose has been gone. I haven't touched another woman in all that time. Haven't wanted to.

And now my body has decided Rian Fields is where we're ending the streak.

Fantastic.

The guilt arrives almost immediately, which is ridiculous. I haven't done anything. I looked at a beautiful woman's breasts and got hard. There are several billion men currently maintaining successful relationships with the same basic operating system.

Biology isn't betrayal. A physical response isn't a decision.

I tell myself that twice, which is once more than a man generally needs to repeat something he actually believes.

I take a step back and put a little more space between us.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Fields. I don't think we're on the same page."

"Rian, please."

She sets her glass on the railing and takes a small step toward me.

"I'm aware I'd benefit from this arrangement more than you would. I'm not kidding myself there. And I'm not opposed to begging, Mr. Jackson." She holds my eyes. "In fact, I'm a very good beggar."

Fuck.

My body really did not need that information. Arousal pools heavier in my stomach and I have to shift my weight against the railing.

That word choice wasn't an accident. Nothing Rian says feels accidental, and now my mind has conjured images of Rian on her knees in front of me, begging. Goddamnit.