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“Stop,” Alden growls.

He grips my hips while my heart thunders in my chest. I freeze, pressed up against him, my lips hovering over his.

“Fuck,” he snarls, sending a shiver racing down my spine. “What the hell are you doing to me?”

Heat erupts throughout my body as embarrassment floods my system. I open my mouth to say I’m sorry when his hand slides up and roughly grips the back of my neck. The words die in my throat.

He suddenly looks extremely dangerous. Gone is the buttoned-up lawyer. The darkness staring back at me steals the breath from my lungs as my heart pounds wildly in my chest. Then our lips crash together, and everything inside of me goes haywire.

I moan, dragging my nails through his hair as his hand tightens almost painfully on my neck. Alden growls like an animal, and I shudder in his hold. This time, when I rub against his now hard cock it’s on purpose.

There is no stopping the gasp that escapes my mouth as he holds my hip still and pushes up like he’s thrusting into me. Alden practically attacks my mouth, bruising my lips with a desperation that I can feel through our touch, and God help me, I can’t get enough.

I’m lightheaded, and I can feel the wetness between my legs as my pussy aches to have him. Alden groans when I grind against him, needing to have him in a way that has completely taken over all logical thought or reasoning.

Alden suddenly bites my lower lip, and I yelp as his teeth press hard enough that I taste the metallic tang of blood. He doesn’t slow and instead licks it off and kisses me again, the little sting only adds to the moment and the rising heat between us.

I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want him, and yet the image of Camille in her stunning red dress flashes behind my eyes. They clearly have some sort of relationship if she was at his party. What am I doing? I can’t let one moment of lust ruin my plans and our new business arrangement. I won’t become another number to call for a one-night stand or arm candy for special occasions.

Not to mention Rob isn’t even in the ground. He died last night, and here I am dry humping his brother.

With a willpower I didn’t know existed, I break the kiss and practically leap off Alden’s lap.

“Oh my god…what am I doing?”

“Emily…”

Alden stands, and I know he’s going to argue or say it’s not my fault. But it is, and all I can see is the large lump in his dress pants.

I back up to my door.

“No, it’s not okay. Don’t say it’s okay. This is wrong for a million reasons, and only two of them are Rob and Camille.”

“Camille and I are not exclusive.”

“But I am. I’m not the type to jump from one bed to another, and especially not one brother to another. What does that make me? No better than my mother. I can’t, no matter how…how attracted I am to you or how much I want this.”

Alden stares at me for a long moment and then slowly nods as he walks toward me. He straightens his suit as if he’s donning armor. I grip my sweater and can feel my heart still pounding like a scared creature trying to escape.

I grab his coat off the hook and hold it out to him.

“If you pull the flower contract, I’ll completely understand.”

My heart sinks when he slips the coat on and pulls my proposal from the inside pocket.

“I’ve made a few changes to your initial quote. I still want to proceed. Our working together is not in question. My brother never had anything to do with our business dealings”

Taking the folded pages from his hand, I slowly open them to see that he’s doubled the amounts.

“Alden…” I grip the paper in shock and then lock eyes with him.

“I know the going rates, and you were undercharging for your service. That’s not a great business strategy. This is now fair.”

I can only blink and then swallow the lump in my throat.

“Thank you.”

Before I can make things even worse, I open the door. He stops as he reaches me, but I refuse to meet his gaze. I’ll lose all control again. I’ve already made so many mistakes, and no matter how much I want Alden…it can’t be like this.