I shifted my chair so our knees were touching. “Jacob had no business flirting with you.”
“Is this some weird competitive shit you do? Like if he flirts with a girl, you have to prove you can sleep with her?”
“Is that what you think?”
“I don’t know what to think. We had a deal and—”
“I’m not trying to win some territorial pissing contest, I assure you. But seeing you talking to Jacob made me realize that I don’t want you to have a time-out with anyone else.” I trailed my thumb across her jaw. She didn’t move away. I wasn’t used to having to convince a woman to be with me. Hadn’t she said she thought I was sexy? I’d assumed the only reason we hadn’t given in to each other before now was because of what was at stake.
I could see her thinking, thinking, thinking. Analyzing, turning things over in her brain.
“I mean, I like this,” she said, glancing down at our linked hands. “And I like you. And that night at the wedding . . . I liked that.”
I chuckled, half relieved that the connection I felt between us wasn’t entirely one-sided, half completely charmed by the way her brain liked to work through ideas.
I sat forward and pulled her on to my knee. She held on to my arms as if she was trusting me not to drop her. “So maybe Norfolk is a good place to like each other. No one would ever find out. It’s totally private here—”
“Oh my God.” She pulled her hand away and covered her face. “I’m not getting naked with you in your parents’ house. There’s no way.”
Thank God the house didn’t have more bedrooms. “I’m in the office if you remember. Not the house.” I pulled her hands from her face and placed a kiss on her wrist. “I want to peel off your clothes,” I said, dropping a kiss on her collarbone as her hands slid up my chest. “And kiss every single inch of you.” It felt good to say it, to let it out.
She bit down on her plump, red, bottom lip. “Just a time-out,” she said. “Once we get back within the M25, our deal is back on?”
She looked at me, her eyes full of anticipation.
I just nodded. I’d agree to any of her terms right now, even if I wasn’t entirely sure I’d want to go backward after another night with Madison. “If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what we both want, right?” she asked, fingering the opening of my shirt. “I mean, our careers are on the line. This isn’t turning into anything. It’s just . . . physical. Like exercise.”
Christ, I’d thought I was the least romantic person on the planet. “I hope it’s going to be a little more enjoyable than a spin class.”
“It better be,” she replied.
“Now I have something to live up to.”
I held her at her waist as I stood and pulled her hand into mine, leading her down the garden toward the office.
Anticipation danced in my veins. My heart lifted in my chest and beat against my ribcage, getting louder with every step. The moment we reached the office, I grabbed her by the waist and pressed her back against the small-paned door.
“I’ve been waiting to do this for an awfully long time,” I said, pressing my hips against her and cupping her face as I swept my thumb across her cheekbone.
She looked nervous. But she needn’t be. Norfolk was a long way away from London and the responsibilities of our respective careers. Here we could pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist. I pressed my lips to hers and my entire body unlocked and relaxed as if I’d finally made it home after a long and grueling journey.
Her lips were soft and plump and perfect and just how I’d remembered them. Her hand circled my wrist as if holding me back from possessing her. I’d be patient, but all I wanted to do was rip off our clothes and see her beautiful, naked body as quickly as possible.
“Nathan,” she sighed, sweeping her hand over my chest. “Are you sure?”
“Do you have any doubt?” I asked. Surely, she couldn’t.
She shook her head. “It’s just . . . I don’t know how I’m going to keep it all in if we step into that room.”
“I don’t want you to hold back when you’re with me,” I said, pressing another kiss to her forehead.
“That’s not what I mean.” And before I got a chance to ask her to explain, she turned, opened the door, and pulled me inside.
“If you’re not sure . . .”
“I’m in no doubt that I want you, Nathan.” She sat on the sofa bed that had been made up and began to undo her navy sandals so matter-of-factly, we could have been discussing that day’s agenda.