“Don’t what?” His voice deepened, a demand in itself not to be denied.
“Stop. Don’t stop.” She surprised him with a husky, yet demanding whisper.
All thought evaporated from her mind as he drew back to stare at her, searching and measuring her arousal. Even with him on his knees beside the tub, she felt dwarfed by this massive man— and intimidated. Hugely so. It was more than his size; it was the way he bore himself with calm self-possession. He oozed confidence and as always in his presence, she became aware of the underlying danger he exuded.
How the devil didn’t I realize he was a Dominant earlier.
It was all there. In every movement, every look and in the silent power that assailed her when she experienced his essence that cocooned her... every time.
Without me realizing it! What the hell? Is this man a magician?
“Au contraire, Mrs. Lee... I believe you are quite clean.” His wicked smile sent a fresh wave of heat rushing into her loins. His voice lowered as he leaned closer, holding her eyes captive. “When the time is right, my little dove, I won’t stop... even if you beg me to.”
Paxton was enthralled by the sudden roughness in his tone. His arousal was apparent in the flexing of his muscled frame. He might be denying her at this moment but it soothed her mind that he was just as filled with lust as she was.
She clamped her lips together to keep back the words threatening to tumble out. She’d be damned if she begged him to have sex with her. It was unsettling that he was the one who used common sense and slammed on the brakes on a potentially disastrous alliance.
“I... ahem... you’re right.” She sat upright and pushed him back in one move. She buried her face in the loofah. Her voice croaked from behind it, “I’d like to get out, now. Please wait for me downstairs. I won’t be long.”
“Of course.” He brushed a feathery kiss against her temple. His voice darkened. “I’ll go, but only because I need to get my lust under control.”
The loofah fell from her hands but he was already walking out of the door. A silly smile curved her lips. It was enlightening how powerful it made her feel to hear such a forceful man admit he was as intoxicated by her as she was him.
“Get a grip, Paxton. You’re looking for trouble with a man like Jared Bates.”
Sex with him would be explosive, yes, but there was no doubt in her mind that it would destroy her ability to keep her heart intact. He was more than gorgeous. He was beautiful, inside, and out— the kind of man who could easily fill the emptiness inside her heart.
She would always remember her love for Rex. He would be in her heart until the end of time, but over the years since his death it had become difficult to remember what those feelings felt like.
Besides... she was lonely.
She pressed her thighs together, suddenly desperate to keep her sexual excitement contained. Never had she felt such a charged chemical attraction and impetuous passion for any other man.
It was frightening, but it excited the hell out of her.
Chapter Four
“Your suggestion is ludicrous, Commander. I refuse to allow one man to chase me out of my home and left on the run.”
Paxton was exasperated. The carelessly tossed mugs on the counter to show her displeasure were negated as she measured out a precise amount of cocoa into the frothy milk. Her hot chocolate was legendary and a favorite amongst friends and family. Her team referred to it asthe holy trinity uniteswhen she made it at their offices in Oyster Point.
Jared was enamored by the sway of her ample breasts as she shaved dark chocolate against a grater. To say she was piqued was an understatement.
“Besides, we already have another job lined up. And let me just say I’d rather slit my wrists than renege on a commitment I made to my client.”
“You and your team will be on the Boneiro Mob’s radar, Paxton. Believe me, you need to lie low.” He hesitated as he shot her a piercing look. “Or is it more important to make money than keeping your friends safe?”
She turned on him with eyes flashing eyes and breasts heaving, causing a surge of hot blood to push into the bulbous head of his cock.
At the age of forty-eight, it was invigorating to feel the sudden spike of testosterone energize his loins. He felt like a priapic eighteen-year-old.
“Don't you dare insult me, Bates. Money doesn’t mean shit compared to their lives. I value my friends and would go to the stake to protect them. I’m insulted you think that little of me.”
Jared was surprised as much as he was delighted to notice the flash of disappointment in the depth of her eyes.
“That was not my intention. I apologize for the poor choice of words.” He pushed away from the counter to move closer. Paxton backed off and jutted her chin out to glare at him. Her willingness to close quarters with an opponent drew him to her like a moth to a flame.
The gentle brush of his fingers against her chin surprised and at once, unsettled her. Here she was, expecting him to browbeat her until he did the exact opposite.