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He crushed her to him, his hands sliding over her, molding her backside, caressing her curves. She plunged her fingers into his thick, soft hair, clutching him close, never wanting him to leave. She wanted this moment, this kiss to go on and on and never end.
But she was being foolish. All good things must come to an end, wasn’t that the saying? And this…this kiss was too good to be true.
Breaking the kiss again, he stared at her, his mouth swollen, his eyes dark. She disentangled her hand to touch his cheek, draw her fingers down the side of his face and he closed his eyes, swallowed hard.
Released his hold on her.
She stepped back into him, but he opened his eyes and gently pushed her away. “No.”
The absolute nerve of the man. Deep within, her emotions were a tumultuous mess. Swirling, confused, they were one part anger, one part arousal, another part absolute frustration. It didn’t help, seeing Paul earlier. Memories of her recent past assailed her as well, leaving her close to falling apart. “I’m not your pet that you can command around, you know.”
“I do know.” He rubbed his hand across his mouth, as if he wanted to wipe away her kiss and that hurt far more than she cared to admit. “But you are under my employ, Paige. I can’t forget that.”
“I know. You’re right. I don’t know what to do. Everything that’s happened between us, it scares me,” she said. He was trying to do the right thing, she knew this. So was she. But it still hurt tremendously.
Slowly, he shook his head. “I shouldn’t put our professional relationship in jeopardy.”
“I think we’ve already moved beyond that.” Her entire body ached for him. Her mouth still tingled from his possessive lips, her breasts were heavy and she was damp between her legs with wanting him. Needing him.
“I seem to recall that the last time something like this happened between us, you were the one who walked away first,” he said, his deep voice tinged with an edge of anger.
His words were like a bucket of ice cold water dumped over her head. Shocking her into reality, clearing her lust-clouded head. Her throat dry, she gaped at him, grasping for words but coming up empty.
“You pushed me away,” he continued. “I’m only trying to adhere to your previous wishes.”
Oh. The man…would drive her insane if she let him. How he spoke to her formally, as if he was indeed her boss.
Which he was, of course. He used that formality as a shield. It prevented her from seeing the real Matteo Renaldi. The adventurous, brave man who now moved through life like some sort of robot. Devoting himself to his work continuously, spending time with his son, he left little room in his life for anything else. Including her.
He definitely wanted her. She knew this without a doubt. And she wanted him. Yet he would continue to deny this chemistry, this passion that burned between them whenever they were in the same room.
If he was going to give up, then she would too.
Lifting her chin, she backed away from him, trying her best for haughty and uncaring. Hoping like crazy she didn’t crumple and start crying. She was walking away from the man of her dreams. “Fine. I apologize for throwing myself at you.”
His expression softened and his gaze turned pained. “Paige…”
“No.” She shook her head. “Don’t say anything else. What’s done is done. Let me at least walk away with my dignity.”
And with those last words, she turned on her heel and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her. Not very dignified after all.
Chapter Four
She dreamed of him. Again.
It started like all the others, his beautiful face descending toward her, his lips settling on hers so softly, she could almost believe it hadn’t happened. His hand would cup her cheek, stroking her skin with his fingertips.
This dream, though, was far worse than her previous ones. She was clad in a gorgeous wedding gown, her face hurt from all the smiling, her eyes burned from the happy tears. The look on her new husband’s handsome face stole her breath and when he leaned in to kiss her again with those perfectly sculpted lips, her body swayed toward his.
The moment cut to nighttime, and she was naked in a giant bed. Her new husband poised above her, his hard, muscular body brushing against hers. Making her gasp, making her moan when he finally entered her, joining them completely. The joy that suffused her threatened to burst and she cried out her love for him as he thoroughly brought her to climax.
But then it all changed. The utter disgust on his face when he realized who he shared his bed with in the early morning light. The thunderous expression on his face while he demanded her to leave left her devastated. Empty. Feeling so incredibly worthless she wanted to curl up in a ball and die…
