around each word sends a bolt of heat through me. I am considering throwing her onto the table right here and now when Victoria bustles through to clear our plates and bring out the entree—lamb shanks in a red wine reduction with herbed mashed potatoes.
I want to make this work, too, I realize. I want to trust her. Even though I am still wary, I believe that if I give her the opportunity, Alexis will continue proving herself.
“There is actually something I could use your help with,” I tell her.
“Go on.”
“You may remember that the Cartel forced me to defund a lot of Bellucci Inc.’s rehabilitation centers,” I say, stabbing a hunk of tender meat. “I want to get the program back on its legs, and I’d like to put more focus into the company’s charities in general. I need someone in charge to coordinate the facilities and funds, someone I can trust, and I don’t have the time to do it myself. You would have your own office in my building.”
Alexis grins. “That sounds right up my alley,” she says. “But what about the rest of what I said? Will you let me in?” She pauses, eyes softening. “Can you let me in?”
She looks so beautiful, with her dark hair in soft ringlets around her heart-shaped face, her bright blue eyes staring hopefully down the table. I grind my jaw and will myself to open up. I need to. I don’t think I can do this without her.
“I do need a partner, but I’m a criminal, Alexis,” I say. “I always have been, and I always will be. I have killed more people than I can count. I will never know if all of them deserved it. Can you accept that?”
When I first met Alexis, she made no bones about how it was her sole desire to bring good into the world. Being with me would tarnish that, even if she will control the charities.
Alexis’ mouth curves just a fraction at the edges, and she gives a short nod. “Yes.”
The word sits heavy on the table in front of us. Yes.
She is finally giving into me. Completely. Her submission tastes so sweet on my tongue that I suddenly lose all desire for dessert. Desire floods my senses, and I catch her gaze across the table.
“Why don’t we go to my office and make it official?” I offer.
Alexis’ eyes light up. “Yes. Let’s.”
We walk to the office calmly, as though we are simply going to discuss some business matters. We keep a respectful distance, though I can feel her heat as keenly as if she were pressed against me. The scent of her is in my nose—jasmine and honeysuckle. Soon the taste of her will be on my tongue.
When we get to the door, I unlock it and we enter. I slam the door closed and shove her against it, my mouth claiming hers in a rough kiss. Alexis groans and tangles her fingers in my hair. She kisses back feverishly. Greedily. I think about what she said, about matching my ferocity, and so I decide to push her a little further just to see if she can keep up.
I hike her legs over my hips and press her back to the door, nipping at the soft skin of her throat.
“How do you want me to fuck you, Tiger?” I ask.
“I don’t want you to fuck me at all,” she replies breathlessly. “Not until you’ve made me come with your mouth first.”
A ripple of need washes over me at her words, and I groan. My cock is stiff against my zipper, and I’m desperate to plunge inside of her. But first, my woman gets what she wants.
I turn and walk to the desk, laying her over it and shoving her dress up over her hips. Alexis watches me with hooded eyes, her cheeks flushed with desire. She looks so fucking delicious that it takes all my effort not to ram my cock into her right here, right now.
I hold her gaze as I tug her panties over her legs and drop to my knees between her legs. She smells like sex and heaven all at once, and when I lean forward to take my first lick, that’s exactly how she tastes.
I groan against her pussy, lapping between her silky folds. She moans and drops her head back, lost in pleasure. My fingers grip the soft flesh of her hips and hold her in place while I plunder her with my