“Princess…”
“Say yes. Just this once. All my life, everyone has left me, especially when I needed them. You didn’t and…” She bites her plump lip the way she always does that drives me crazy. “Please.”
Her pleading dark eyes twist me up. Even as I lift my hands to cup her face, I’m making a conscious choice to fall for her, because there’s no way I spend tonight losing myself in her body and I don’t come out of this wrecked.
At the moment, I don’t care. I’ve never agonized over the future. Anticipated, plotted, and put countermeasures in place, sure. But my philosophy has always been that if I spent my time stressing, then when the shit hit the fan, I’d only have forced myself to live through the misery twice. But worry eats at me now. What if I make love to Corinne tonight and she walks away come morning?
I stare down into her eyes…and I see my fork in the road. I hesitate, and that’s not like me. When I see something, I go after it. When I decide something, I do it. When I want something, I take it.
Still, she’s different.
“I don’t have to pretend you matter. But I want you to be sure. If you give me your virginity, I can’t give it back.”
She shakes her head, her dark curls brushing her delicate shoulders. “That’s the thing. I’ve never felt compelled to be with anyone. In high school, waiting felt right because my boyfriends were passing crushes. In college, not getting involved made sense because I didn’t want to regret throwing away my V-card on a random hot dude at a party.”
“And Riley?” I choke out. Admittedly, I’ve fucked so many women that I’ve lost count, but I’ve never been in love. She gave her heart to that man. Despite the fact it shouldn’t, that goddamn eats at me.
“We had opportunities. We made plans. We met for weekends.” Corinne shrugs. “I just…didn’t.”
“But you want me?” More than the man she once hoped to marry?
Slowly, Corinne nods, her solemn stare never wavering.
My pulse surges. I tamp it down and try not to let excitement run away with my common sense. Tonight was heavy and emotional. She probably needs someone to hold her, and I shouldn’t delude myself into thinking I mean more to her.
But what if she’s feeling what I’m feeling? What if she’s asking me to make love to her because it actually means something to her?
I’ll spend all night inside her and do my best to make our pretend engagement into something real.
“Then take off your shoes,” I demand as I slip off my suit coat and drape it over the nearby chaise.
Slowly, she grips the railing and steps out of her wedges before kicking them aside.
I loosen my tie. “Your earrings next.”
With shaking hands, she withdraws the delicate silver chandeliers and places them in my upturned palm.
I dump my tie onto my coat, then settle her jewelry on the desk. “Now lose your dress.”
Yanking my shirt from my slacks and attacking the buttons, I watch her reach around to release the catch at her nape, then lower the zipper at the small of her back.
Holy shit, she’s really doing this.
My heart starts chugging. My skin starts tingling.
Suddenly, her dress falls away. Automatically, she covers herself by pressing the garment to her chest.
I shake my head. “Let it fall. Let me see you.”
Corinne swallows, still staring into my eyes. Is she looking for my reaction? For reassurance? Whatever she wants, she apparently finds it, because she lowers her arms. The dress slides down her torso, baring her rosy-tipped breasts, before she pushes it down her hips and lets it sink to the floor in a soft green puddle.
Fuck, she’s beautiful. If I was hard before, I’m pure steel now, engorged and aching.
Corinne isn’t the kind of girl photographed for a fashion magazine. Her breasts are too generous. Her hips are too wide. But she’s exactly the sort of woman coveted in old-fashioned pinups. Tiny waist. Fleshy legs. Somehow sweet and wholesome—but with a mouth made for sin.
Now the only thing left between me and her naked body is the tiny scrap of lace clinging to her hips. And once I get rid of that, I’ll take her in every way she’ll let me.
If I heap pleasure on her, is there any chance she’ll want me after our ruse is over?
No. I have to stop being ridiculous. Her life is in LA. She’ll make up with Parker someday because they’re family, then he’ll ensure I have no part in her life. And no matter how many orgasms I give her, she won’t fall in love with me. Hadley proved that.
But even if tonight will rip out my heart, I’m going to hold on to Corinne as long as I can.