Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
My eyes flicked to those buttons and the sweet little gap where the fabric pulled tight over her full breasts. I couldn’t do this. I had to get myself under control and that meant keeping my hands and even my impure thoughts to myself.
Jasmine got to her feet and came around the desk.
“I’m glad you came to check on me. You may not think I know you well if I think you’d buy my tough act, but I know you, Eli. I’ve seen you pretend to like lamb chops at that place we went to for Ty’s birthday when he insisted everyone try them. I’ve seen you outdrink every man in the place on New Year’s and then come to work sober and cheerful five hours later. You’re loyal and adventurous and so incredibly smart. And I trust you with my life. I always have.”
Jasmine gave me a small smile like she was keeping secrets but she’d given it all away with one look.
“If you know me, then you can tell I’m just about dying to hug you and tell you it’s going to be okay. Because something in me detonated when I found out your ex hunted you down, and the only thing that’s going to soothe that is knowing deep down in my bones that you’re safe and I’ve got you.” It felt too much like a confession when I said it aloud, but there was nothing for it.
She had to know how I felt about her already, and if not, there it was. I’d told her I was going crazy if I couldn’t hold her and feel every contour of her body, feel the rise and fall of every breath to let it sink in that she was unharmed, that she was still here.
“Don’t tell me it spooked you that my loser ex tracked me down. A big tough man like you?” she teased, but I knew what she was saying. She was asking me to tell her it wasn’t that big of a deal, that it would blow over. That there was no reason to freak out. Even though it had made me frantic. I couldn’t give her false reassurance like that. Even if part of me wanted to tell her anything that might make her feel better.
“You know I’m going to be straight with you.” I said gently. “It seems off that he’d slip in the back door like that, turn up in Alexandria and apply for a job at this firm. He wants you know that he knows where you are and what you do and where you spend your time. He showed his cards all at once, and that was his second mistake.”
“What was the first mistake?”
“Overlooking the obvious. That you’re surrounded by a bunch of ex-military thugs who’d kill for you without a second thought. That any and all of us would put him in the ground. No one touches you, Jasmine. I swear to God, I’ll keep you safe.” My voice was thick as if I choked up on the last words. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she came mutely into my arms.
I held her against my chest, rested my chin on her dark hair and fitted her against me perfectly, molding every curve and dip, memorizing the shape of her. Jasmine began to tremble against me, and I smoothed my palm over her hair to soothe her. I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. The shivering grew worse. I felt it then, a realization in my gut.
Jasmine wasn’t shaking because she was scared of her ex. She was shaking under my hands because she wanted me. Once I made the connection, proof of her arousal was everywhere. Her shallow fast breathing, her fingers flexing to grip the front of my shirt. The slight cant of her hips toward me when my hand drifted down her spine and settled in the small of her back.
She nestled into my chest, her breath warm on my skin. My heart rate kicked up and I tried to master my body, to keep from pressing her fast against me, to keep still so she wouldn’t notice my hard length that pulsed and ached.
Jasmine was our closest friend. She was also our employee. There was no way I was going to take advantage of her when she was vulnerable. I’d been attracted to her for a long time and managed to keep myself in check. Something about the threat to her, the reappearance of the ex she fled Alabama to get away from, made me want to lay claim to her. To make her mine. She deserved to be treated with respect and kindness, not subject to a wave of lust that nearly overcame me.
With every ounce of willpower, I honed in the Armed Forces, I put her away from me gently. “Talk to me, Jas,” I said.