The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,45

have shot me, stabbed me, or even broken my neck while I lay stunned on the stairs when he ran past me.”

His pupils flared, swallowing most of the color in his eyes. “You didn’t mention that shit to me.”

“That’s because you were already in overdrive mode. You rushed toward me like an avenging angel or something. I was trying to keep you calm.”

“Fuck calm.” His voice had gone guttural. “This is you.” His head lowered. His mouth took hers. She thought he’d kiss her with a savage desire. The hungry passion that she’d come to crave.

But…

He didn’t.

His lips were careful on hers. Gentle. The kiss was sweet and drugging, and she leaned toward him even as his head lifted.

“What are you doing?” Ella asked. Why did you stop? Better question.

“Kissing you.”

She knew he’d been kissing her. Obviously. But… “It’s different.”

“Told you I was too rough before. This time, it will be different.”

This time? “Antony…”

“It’s you, Ella.”

She blinked up at him. “What’s me?”

“You’re the most valuable thing I have,” he told her simply. “You matter the most to me. The sonofabitch in the stairwell came far too close to taking what matters most.”

He could not be saying what she thought he meant.

“I’ll be gentle.” Gruffly, he added, “I need you. I need you so much more than you realize.”

She couldn’t look away from his gaze. “I told you that I liked the way you were before. I didn’t think you were too rough.” She’d thought he was quite perfect. Incomparable.

“You’re hurt. You’ve got bruises all over. There’s no way I’m falling on you like a starving man again.”

“Were you starving?” Husky. Quiet. “The night in Asheville, were you starving?” Her breath whispered out. “I’d just intended to have a good-bye kiss with you. But when I felt your lips against mine, it was like a door opened. It was like I’d never wanted anything or anyone more.”

“Something you need to understand right now.” His gaze held hers. “I will never want anyone more than I want you.”

She could feel each hard beat of her heart. Thud. Thud. Thud. Ella knew this moment was important. It would change everything between them. When she’d had sex with him before, she’d felt utterly shattered the next day. She’d run as fast as she could…

But he’d come after her. With his bullshit story about a break-in…

“One thing first,” she told him, voice husky.

“Any rule you want.”

She caught his lower lip with her teeth. Nibbled. Licked. “You don’t get to make up a story about a break-in so that you can work your way into my life. You don’t get to tell me any lies in the morning.”

His jaw had locked even as his stare burned into hers. He gritted, “Are you going to run from me in the morning? Already making your plans?”

No. “How can I run? You’ve got a two-week contract, remember? Until the perp is caught, I’m with you, twenty-four, seven.”

A jerky nod.

“But just so you know…” She wanted to nibble on that lower lip of his again. “What happens between us has nothing to do with you hiring me at Wilde. This isn’t about how much money you can toss at Eric. This isn’t about—”

“Baby, I know.”

Baby.

“It’s probably adrenaline,” she whispered. “The reason the need is so tight and hard right now. There’s always an adrenaline rush after dramatic events.”

Antony shook his head. “I don’t want to kiss every single inch of you because of adrenaline.”

“No?” Every inch?

“I always want to do that.”

She swallowed.

“I will show you how different I can be,” Antony assured her. Then he was lifting her into his arms. Using that strength that he tended to keep so well hidden from the rest of the world. He carried her up to his bedroom. Lowered her onto the bed. She perched on the edge, watching him.

He undressed her. Slowly. Carefully. He eased off her tennis shoes. Pulled away her socks. Lifted her shirt over her head and helped her to shimmy out of her jeans. Not that she needed help. She would have ripped all of that stuff away in an instant. But this…

This was different.

Every touch. Every look…there was so much need. So much emotion. The air was thick with tension, but as she spread out on the bed and he came down over her, his touch was as light as a feather. He slid down the straps of her bra. Unhooked the clasp. When the bra was gone, his fingers teased her nipples before his mouth settled