The Man Who Has No Heart - Victoria Quinn Page 0,28

his palm across his jawline, across the scruff that had started to come in.

“Let it go.”

He slid his hands into his pockets.

“It doesn’t matter how you got here. You’re here now. And you’re a great son, a great father, and a great friend…” He did a lot of things for me, was extremely generous, caring, protective…and he didn’t even realize it. “You’re my favorite client for a reason.”

He smiled slightly. “Because I feed you sometimes…”

I loved that smile. Loved it so much, it made my heart ache. “That does help… I’m not going to lie.”

He chuckled, his eyes softening, turning carefree, which was a rare sight.

I wanted to stay there forever, wanted to feel this good all the time. Deacon and I didn’t even have a relationship, but it felt like the best relationship of my life. It made my marriage seem heartless, made my fling with Jake feel so wrong. This felt right, perfect. “Well, I should go.” I turned away.

His hand reached for my wrist.

My heart stopped beating.

His fingers gently tugged me toward him, brought me closer to his hard body. He looked into my face, still smiling.

I thought I might die.

Then his arms moved around my waist and he hugged me, his powerful arms almost covering my entire back. His face moved into my neck as he squeezed me, not having to drop his neck far because I was in my highest pair of heels.

My arms circled his muscular torso, my cheek against his chest, my ear over his heart.

Oh wow…

He held me that way for a long time, his fingers digging through my clothes and into my flesh. His breathing was deep and gentle, and his heart was steady, like a drum in the background of a ballad.

I closed my eyes and just enjoyed it.

It was just a hug, a simple gesture between friends and family members.

But for me, it was better than sex.

The butterflies soared, my heart raced, my palms turned sweaty, my thighs ached to squeeze his hips. I wanted to brush my lips across his, feel his warm breath sprinkle across my face. I wanted to tilt my head back and feel his hot kisses all over my neck, have his scruff scratching my skin, rub along my inner thighs as he pressed his mouth against the area that ached for him most.

Fuck, I had it bad.

He continued to hug me, continued to hold me like this was normal…when it wasn’t.

I’d never wanted a man more in my life.

I hadn’t thought I could ever trust anyone again, especially not so soon, but I was ready to give myself all over again, give everything, every little piece of me…and let him hold it.

He whispered to me. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me…”

My breath came out shaky, my heartbeat erratic. Could he feel how frantic my heartbeat was? Could he feel my uneven breaths? Could he feel how hot I was…everywhere?

His arms slowly slid from my body, pulling away from the warmest and strongest embrace I’d ever had.

No.

He dropped his affection and moved back slightly, his eyes returning to my face.

I could only imagine how my face looked, my cheeks red, my eyes a little wet, my lips parted because I was desperate for a kiss. I knew Deacon never extended affection to anyone except family, and I’d somehow made it into his inner circle. I could feel the way he felt about me, the way he felt this chemistry too. But he didn’t act on it, didn’t take my face in his palms and kiss me the way I desperately wanted.

Tucker told me to be patient. Told me to wait.

Now I knew I would wait forever for this man.

Derek wore a backpack with the universe printed on it, and his luggage was in the same superhero theme as last time. He was ready to go, and when he saw me, his eyes lit up the way they did for his father. “Cleo!”

“Hey, Derek.” I kneeled and watched him run into my arms.

He nearly knocked me over with his sprint, and I laughed as I held on to him. “I forgot how strong you are.”

“Mom makes me eat my spinach.” He stepped back, looking like his father, just a much more innocent version.

“I can tell.” I squeezed his tiny bicep. “You’re going to be strong like your dad someday.”

He flexed both arms. “And I’m going to be smart like him too.”

“I think you already are.” I smiled before I got to my