Breathless

by Maya Banks

  Goddamn, I love when she sasses me. “The only one I want on my jungle gym keeps avoiding me.”

  She lets out a huff and shakes her head. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You know damn well what I mean,” I say, taking a step forward. She takes a step back, trying to keep her distance. “But we’re not in the office right now, baby. This is open territory. In fact,” I say, taking another step toward her as she takes another one back, “I’d say it’s pretty damn clear you’re in my world now.”

  Her back hits the wall, and I move in front of her, putting my arms on either side of her shoulders. I lean down a little so we’re eye to eye. I can see the pulse beating in her neck, and I want to lean forward and lick her there.

  “This is my bar. Not my fault you were down in the basement. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”

  “And?” I say, giving up the fight and leaning into her. I put my lips next to her ear and whisper, “Did you like what you saw?” I run my tongue along the edge of her ear and feel her shiver. “Because I damn well liked having your eyes on me.”

  “Royce,” she says, and there’s a catch in her voice.

  “Fuck. Keep saying my name like that and it will get you fucked in the middle of that ring.” I move my lips down her neck and feel her hands go to my chest. “Or is that what you want?”

  Her fingers trail down my hard abs and to the edge of my shorts.

  “I’ve gotta say I don’t really like the thought of everyone in here seeing you take my cock, but it makes me hard as a rock picturing you under me and getting off.”

  “Oh God.”

  I move my mouth up to her lips and look her in the eyes. “I know you want to be in charge, but trust me, baby, it’s better when you let me.”

  With that, I press my lips to hers, and it’s like gasoline on a match. Whatever it is we’ve been dancing around finally comes to a stop, and we attack each other.

  Her tongue pushes into my mouth, and I moan at the taste of her. In the next second I’ve got her picked up and pinned against the wall as I grind my cock against her.

  “Put those fucking legs around me,” I growl, and she does as I command.

  Her thighs tighten as my hand goes to her shirt and slides underneath. I’ve got one hand gripping her ass as the other finds the cup of her bra and yanks it down. Her hard nipple is between my fingers, and I pinch the little bud as she moans. Her lower half rocks against me, and I’ve never felt anything like her. She’s petite in my arms, but God, is she fierce. She’s giving it back just as good as I’m giving it to her, and I feel the need roll off of her.

  “I wonder if I can get a turn when she’s done with him,” I hear someone say from behind us.

  Pandora breaks the kiss and glares over my shoulder. “Move along. Sloppy seconds aren’t on the menu tonight.”

  I smile at her, and as if she’s realized she just made a claim to me, a wall falls down in front of her and lands right between us. The woman behind me must leave, but I don’t turn around to check. The only woman I’m interested in is in my arms, but even now I can see her pulling away.

  “I need to go,” she says, and drops her legs from around me, pushing my hand out from under her shirt. She takes a step away from me, but it might as well be a mile.

  “Hey,” I say, and she snaps her eyes back up to mine. I take her chin in my hand and lean down again so we are eye level. “Don’t do that. Don’t you push me away when you feel this, too.”

  “The only thing I feel is stupid for letting you embarrass me like this.” She jerks her chin out of my hold and looks around the room.

  “I’ve had enough of your bullshit, Pandora. Stop lying to me, and stop lying to yourself. You don’t give a shit about anyone in here, so don’t tell me I embarrassed you.” I pull her into my arms, and she gasps. “You liked it, and I fucking loved it. You were meant to be in my arms. And the sooner you let yourself be okay with that, the better.”

  I kiss her hard, and she bites my lip. For half a second I think she’s going to fight me, but instead she melts just like she did before. I could let this keep going, and we could end up just how we were a moment ago. But she needs to get her head together first.

  I break our kiss and let her go, taking a step back from her. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I can’t stand her pushing me away again.

  “I want you, plain and simple. And not just for a fast fuck in the ring. You feel this.” I point between the two of us. “When you finally decide to take a chance, I’ll be waiting.”

  Turning, I spot Donovan nearby, and he tosses me my shirt. I pull it on and give Pandora one last glance before I grab my bag from Ezra and make my way up the stairs.

  I’m pissed off and could use another fight to take the edge off. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to walk away from her. But chasing her isn’t the way to win her heart. She’s hardheaded, and if that’s the way it has to be, that’s fine, I’ll wait. She’s worth anything I’d have to do to get her.

  I can only hope that she picks up the gauntlet I just laid down.

  CHAPTER 7

  Pandora

  I lie with Penelope in our childhood bed at our parents’ house. Well, in Penny’s childhood bed. It might as well have been mine, too. We shared rooms when we were little, but when we hit our teens, Mom and Dad gave us each our own room. But every night I would still find myself slipping into her room and into her bed.

  I rest my hand on her belly. She was up here taking a nap with Ivan, but when I slipped in he smiled at me and left us alone. It was like any other Sunday with the family. Lots of laughter, lying by the pool, and more food than anyone could eat. But I didn’t even feel like I was here for most of it. My head was far from here. I’ve been in another place, and it’s filled with Royce.

  “Hey,” Penny says, her eyes fluttering open.

  “Hey.” Her hand comes to rest over mine on her belly, our fingers locking.

  “You ready to talk about it?” she asks.

  “There’s this guy.” That’s all I get out before she has a giant smile on her face. “He’s driving me crazy.” She raises her eyebrows at me, and I let out a sigh. “Okay, maybe I’m driving him crazy, too.”

  “He must be something if he’s got you all twisted. I’ve never seen you worked up over a man.” She smiles. “Unless he was hitting on me.”

  I can’t help but laugh. Penny and I used to give the boys hell in high school. They all followed her around like lost puppies.

  “He bugged me when I first met him. Or I guess my attraction to him bugged me.” I hated how much I liked the way he smelled. I hated how it made me feel when he got in my personal space. The way he kept asking questions about me.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I guess because I thought he was just another rich guy in a suit—someone Henry hired. I was taken aback by the attraction. He just went for it, but not in a way I was used to.” I’ve never felt this way about someone, and I don’t know if this is what I want.

  “How so?” She studies me.

  “He was aggressive, but not. Well, not at first. I knew he wanted me, but he didn’t ask me out or anything. I kept trying to give him the cold shoulder, but he would still try to talk to me.”

  Penelope is full-on smiling now.

  “What?”

  She gives a little shrug.

  “What? Tell me.”

  “He can tell you’re like a skittish cat. You’ve got claws like Mom does, and he’s slowly trying to move close to you. He’s trying not to spook you too much, but he keeps coming.”

  I shake my head while a lump forms in my throat. “He stopped coming,” I admit, and watch her eyes go soft. Then they harden and narrow. “What’s his name?”

  I can�
��t help but laugh at the sound she makes. “You really should have your husband teach you how to growl better.”

  “Hey, I can still kick some ass. Don’t let the belly fool you.”

  “There’s more,” I confess, and then proceed to tell her everything about the night at the bar.

  “That doesn’t mean he’s done chasing.” Penny glares at me. “He wants you.”

  “I guess, but still, it’s been days, and the only time he talks to me is when he has to. I mean, I’ve run into him, like, five times a day, and nothing. He stares at me with those eyes I can’t get out of my head.”

  “Does he work on your freaking floor or something?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Because that building is so big that no one is running into each other five times a day. Not unless they work in the lobby or on the same floor.”

  I think about what she’s saying, and I suspect she might be right. “He’s running into me on purpose,” I say, and the realization makes me smile.

  “Yep. He’s trying to get you to finally admit you want him. He’s giving you chance after chance to make your move.”

  I let her words sink in, and I bite my lip, thinking it over. Why does the idea of him softly stalking me make me happy?

  “Oh my God, you’re blushing.”

  “Shut up,” I scoff.

  “Why are you running, Pan? You’re not a runner. In fact, if I remember right, you’re a secret cuddlebug.”

  “I am not a cuddler,” I lie. I had every intention of coming in here to cuddle with her.

  “Who do you think you’re talking to? I slept with you for more than half your life.” She gives me a look like I’m crazy.

  “You’re different. You’re my twin.”

  She shakes her head at me. “I love you, so I’m giving it to you straight.” Her face goes serious, and reminds me of Dad. “You’re running because you’re scared of a challenge that you might fail. That you could get hurt.”

  “That’s not true,” I say, cutting in. “Look at where I’ve gotten in life. I worked hard for this.”

  “I never said you don’t work hard. You always have. The problem is, you know you’re going to win. It’s why when things might have been hard, you pushed because you knew you could do it. You knew you wouldn’t fail because it was all on you. Nobody pushes like you do, Pan. You’re a warrior, and we all know it. Anyone in a room with you for a few minutes knows that.”

  Her words start sinking in.

  “You love on us, your family, because you know we love you. There’s no failure in us loving you back. You let us have the soft side that no one else sees because we are safe.” She reaches out, cupping my face. “This guy isn’t safe, because you don’t know what he’ll do with your heart. When I thought Ivan didn’t want me, I was a mess. You remember?”

  I nod. I do remember seeing her in pieces. I also remember thinking I’d never let that happen to me.

  “Love is scary, Pan. It’s hard and unpredictable. But I can tell you it’s worth every second. Step up to the challenge. I know you, and I know you want it. Go and get it.”

  Her words rain down on me. “You’re right. Fuck.”

  Her hand drops from my face. “Pan, I meant like right now. Why are you still sitting here?”

  I laugh and pull her into a hug. “Okay.” I jump off the bed. “I love you,” I tell her, going for the door.

  “Love you, too.”

  I’m not shocked when I open the door and see Ivan standing there with a smile on his face. I smile back and head to the backyard to say my goodbyes. When I get to my car, I see Henry, in a suit, leaning against it. Only he would wear a suit to the family barbecue.

  “Not avoiding me anymore?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

  “Not now. It used to be Penelope we had to do this with.”

  I tilt my head, unsure about what he’s talking about.

  “Why is Royce Davenport asking me for your address?” His words make butterflies take flight in my stomach.

  “When did he ask for it?” I try to play dumb, but the look on Henry’s face tells me he isn’t buying it.

  “Called me about thirty minutes ago. He seemed pretty agitated. Then when I told him no he got pushy about it.” He straightens and puts his hands in his pockets.

  “What did you say?”

  “I told him to fuck off. Like I’m going to give him your address. I should’ve seen it coming. He asks about you every damn day.”

  My cheeks warm at his words.

  “Fuck me,” Henry says, shaking his head. “Not you, too. Pandora, you know what happens when you fall in love in this family.” He runs his hands through his hair just like his father does when he gets frustrated.

  “Give me his address,” I tell him, not caring. I want this.

  “Come on, Pan.” He gives me a look like I can’t be for real.

  “I’m not messing around. I want it.” I pull out my phone and wait.

  “Fucking hell.” He rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh. “I’ll text it to you. But only because I know you can take care of yourself.”

  He pulls out his phone and taps out a message. I see it pop up on mine, and I nod. He walks over to me and pulls me in for a hug.

  “I know we’ve been at each other’s throats the past few months with work, but I love you, and I just wanted to check in on this.”

  “I love you, too,” I tell him. “But if I catch you leaning on my car again, we’re going to have another problem.”

  He laughs, pulling away and walking into the house.

  I hop in my car and put the address in my GPS. My hands are shaky, and I feel anxiety creep up my spine, but I’ve never been more sure of anything. I know I’m headed in the right direction.

  CHAPTER 8

  Royce

  I shouldn’t have let her go.

  That’s the only thing running through my mind the past few days. I should have carried her out of that fucking basement and brought her home. I should have made her mine that second and not let any time pass between us.

  I pace back and forth through my living room, trying to rack my brain about what to do. I’ve already been sneaking down to her floor for made-up reasons. I don’t know how much more I can take. Days have gone by, and nothing. I see the look in her eyes. There’s so much need there, and I know exactly how to make it better.

  I clench my fists and grit my teeth. That damn stubborn woman is determined to drive me crazy. If she would just let herself feel what’s between us, I know she’d see it. I know without a doubt that she’d fall into my arms.

  Picking up my phone, I decide to call Henry again. Fuck everything. I don’t care if this screws up working together or if it ruins my name. I won’t let pride get in the way of what I want with Pandora. My finger hovers over the number just as I hear a knock on the door.

  Looking up, I wait for Ezra or Donovan to walk in, but nothing happens. Thinking it must be a delivery from the doorman downstairs, I walk over and pull it open.

  Standing in the doorway is my redheaded goddess. I’m stunned silent by her appearance, and I hold the door open with my jaw on the floor. Like an idiot.

  Her hair is down, and she’s looking up at me through her lashes. She’s got on a black tank top and cutoff jean shorts and flip-flops. It’s the most skin I’ve ever seen exposed on her, and my mouth begins to water. She looks casual, like she’s been lounging around all day while I’ve been pacing like a maniac. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.

  “Hey. Sorry to barge in on you, but I needed—”

  Her words shake me out of my block of stone, and I reach for her, pulling her into my arms and kicking the door shut.

  Before I know what’s happening, I’ve got her pinned against the wa
ll, and my lips are on hers. Fire ignites between us, stronger than our first kiss. I taste sweetness on her tongue and moan at the feel of her hands on my chest.

  I grip her ass tight and grind her against the length of my cock. Every thick inch pulses for her, and I’m aching to be inside her tight, wet heat.

  “Fuck,” I moan as her hands move lower and I feel her fingers touch my stomach. “More.” I hold her up against the wall with my lower half so my hands are free to pull my shirt off. “Touch me.”

  Her eyes are wide, and she licks her lips as her palms brush against my nipples.

  “Did you come here because you want this?” I ask, watching her reaction. She nods, but I shake my head. “Not good enough.” I run my hands up her thighs, feeling the warmth of her skin around my waist. “If you’re here for a quick fuck, I’ll put you on your feet and take your pretty ass home. But if you want what I want, then I need to hear you say it.”

  “Royce—”

  “I don’t want it to be like that, baby. But I won’t play games with you. I’ll wait, and it will fucking kill me, but I’ll do it for you.”

  She runs her hand up to my neck, and I lean into her touch. I close my eyes and take a breath, wanting so desperately to have her.

  “I’m here because I want it all. You, me, and whatever this could become.”

  I open my eyes and see the truth in hers.

  “I’ve never felt this before, and I’m scared.”

  The raw vulnerability she’s showing me right now makes my chest ache. It’s exactly what I’ve been wanting her to say since the day I laid eyes on her. But I want her to be as sure as I am. Once I’ve had her, there’s no going back.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Pandora.” I wrap my arms around her and look into her dark blue eyes. “I’ll never hurt you, and I’ll never leave you. So make sure when you tell me that you want this, that you damn well mean it. Because when you’re mine, that’s forever, baby.”

  “I’m trusting you with my heart,” she says, and I smile.

  “You’ve already got both hands wrapped around mine. Be careful with my precious cargo.” I pull her away from the wall, and she laughs as I walk us back to my bedroom.