Resist

  “Talk. Tell me everything. Don’t leave out a single detail,” she demands, slipping onto one of the three funky red stools I picked up on sale at Home Depot. “Did he fire you? Was he angry? Tell me, dammit!”

  “I will if you let me get a word in,” I say with a laugh. I reach up into the cupboard above my head and retrieve two wineglasses. “He’s an intense guy, I’ll tell you that much. He went out of his way to put me in a very compromising position before confronting me.” I shiver, thinking back to how turned on I was with him in control. He could’ve done anything to me and I’d have probably let him….

  “Char?” Jess waves her hand in front of my face. I blush and push her glass across the counter. “So, I have to know: Is he as rough and kinky as I imagine in my dreams?”

  “Probably more,” I giggle. “I can’t even describe how good the sex is….” I shake my head. “Anyway, back to the story. I thought he was going to fire me—or worse. But he didn’t. He offered me a deal. He’ll give me an exclusive if I help him bring Ryan down.”

  “An exclusive?” Jess repeats, impressed. “Holy shit, that’s better than you could’ve imagined. Why aren’t you thrilled?”

  “I am,” I say. I hesitate, wondering how much I should tell her. “If you think Jaxon is intimidating, you should meet Ryan. I’m supposed to get him to confess to something he did a long time ago, only I have no idea how to do that.”

  “Sex.” She says it so matter-of-factly that I laugh. Sex is the answer to everything for Jess. “You don’t have to sleep with him; just make him think it’s on the table,” she insists. “Trust me. All guys lose their ability to think when the prospect of pussy is presented to them.”

  I groan at her crudeness, but she may have a point. I don’t really have any other ideas, anyway. Jaxon seemed pretty sure seducing Ryan wouldn’t work, but what if it does?

  Jess stays for another few hours, hanging on my every word as I spill the beans on Jaxon Murphy. As good as it feels to talk to someone about him, it doesn’t help me understand our relationship any better. How I feel when I’m around him is still as confusing as ever.

  —

  I spend most of the next two days thinking about how much my career is worth. How far will I go to get this story? Failing isn’t an option. Jaxon has made that much clear. I’m lucky to have gotten off so lightly, considering the extent of my lies.

  I book myself a massage and pedicure to try to take my mind off things. Not that it works. But I’m relaxed and motivated enough afterward to do some research on Ryan, trying to find anything that might link him to Jaxon’s parents. I’m not surprised when I come up empty. I shoot Erren an email to see if he knows anything.

  By the time I’m due to go back to Jaxon, I at least feel capable of doing what he’s asking of me. Erren gets back to me with some interesting information, but nothing concrete. Ryan was investigated for fraud two years ago after some gambling debts got out of control. Nothing was proved, nor were any charges filed.

  Ryan is a bad guy who deserves whatever Jaxon does to him once he has the proof he needs. That’s what I’m telling myself, anyway. I’m ignoring the logical part of my brain that keeps asking, Is Jaxon really any better than Ryan?

  —

  It’s late Sunday night when I arrive back at the mansion. There’s no sign of Jaxon, and I’m disappointed. Marina, as usual, is around. Again I find myself wondering what her deal is. She seems to have her nose in everything.

  I decide to take advantage of Jaxon’s absence and have an early night. I curl up in my bed with a book and spend the next few hours reading. It’s after three when I finally put the book down and turn the lamp off. So much for an early night.

  Yawning, I roll over and cocoon myself in the covers. My mind shifts to Jaxon, a tingle racing through me as I think about him. The way he made me his the other night took my breath away. Voyeurism is not something I’ve ever experienced or thought I’d enjoy, but there was something about his taking me with all those men watching. I felt empowered. If that was supposed to be some kind of punishment for lying to him, I’ll have to betray him more often. I can’t help but wonder what’s next. Every day I experience something new with him, things I thought were beyond me.

  Everything about Jaxon is different from anything I’ve experienced before. He couldn’t be more the opposite of Nick if he tried. There was a time I thought I was in love with Nick, but now I wonder if I was in love with him or just loved the idea of him. What I’m finding myself feeling for Jaxon surpasses anything I’ve ever felt for anyone before.

  Sighing, I squirm as my hand travels down past my navel. I close my eyes and imagine he’s here, that it’s his hand creeping under the thin silk fabric of my nightdress instead of my own.

  I exhale, my finger running along my opening. Warmth rushes through me as I slide a finger inside myself. I’m so wet, thinking about him. What could he ask me to do that I’d refuse? Nothing, because so long as it involves him, I want it.

  My finger moves inside me faster as my legs begin to tense. I bite my lip, imagining that I’m sliding my mouth over his cock. God, the look in his eyes when he touched me made me feel so damn sexy, like no other woman in the world could compare to me. That’s how I want to make him feel. I want him to want only me. I want to believe that I alone can satisfy him.

  “God,” I whisper, my body convulsing. My back arches as I begin to climax. My body aches for him, every touch making me wish for him even more. Rolling over, I snuggle into my pillow, trying to catch my breath.

  As the will to sleep overcomes me, I struggle to keep my eyes open, eventually giving in. I drift off to sleep, thoughts of Jaxon with me, inside me, filling my head until I can no longer distinguish between what’s real and what I’m dreaming.

  Chapter 21

  Jaxon

  The knock on my office door drags me out of my own little world that I’ve been locked in all day. I work hard to ensure that Ryan has no reason to question my ability to run the company, because I know even the slightest bit of slacking off on my part would make his fucking day. And I want to be prepared for his unmasking; once Charlotte’s story hits the news, Ryan will be gone. Besides, I relish the fact that I do my job so fucking well that I can see in his face how much it annoys him.

  “Come in,” I call. The door swings open and Ryan waltzes in, hands in his pockets.

  Speaking of the son of a bitch.

  “Your ears must be burning,” I mutter.

  “Say what?”

  “Never mind.” I smile, rising from my seat. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “I was just in the neighborhood,” he says, shrugging, and falls into one of the seats opposite me.

  Neighborhood, my ass.

  “Well, it’s been great seeing you, but I have a lot on my plate right now, so…”

  He doesn’t take the hint and instead slumps further into the seat, crossing one leg over the other. He’s not going anywhere soon. Sighing, I undo the button on my jacket and sit back down.

  “Did you get rid of the journalist?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

  “I’m dealing with her,” I reply, keeping my voice even. “What business is it of yours what I decide to do with her?”

  “I’m just looking out for you,” Ryan replies. We both know that’s a joke. Ryan looks out for himself only. “So you spoke to her about it, then?”

  Then it hits me. He’s trying to find out if she knows that I know who she is.

  “Not yet. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do, and until then I’m keeping my cards close to my chest,” I say. One thing I know about Ryan is he likes to play. If he thinks he has something over Charlotte, he’s more likely to bite whatever it is she’s offering him.

  “A good plan,” he agrees, satisfied he’s gotten what he came for. “Well, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing.”

  He walks out without another word, leaving me to try to figure out what his angle is. I’m tempted to call Ch
arlotte and find out how she’s progressing, but I refuse to show my impatience. Besides, I’ve waited this long for what I want. A few more days or weeks aren’t going to make a difference.

  After I finish up in the office, I call Marina to arrange for Charlotte to meet me upstairs. I go to my room and take a long, hot shower before changing into a pair of chinos and a gray shirt. Glancing in the mirror, I run my hand through my hair, satisfied with how I look. I always like to look nice, but I’m a little disturbed that right now my main concern is looking nice for her.

  I’m pouring a freshly opened bottle of Dom Pérignon into two glasses when she knocks on my door.

  “It’s unlocked,” I call out. The door creaks open, and she slips inside, closing it quietly behind her. My heart thumps as I slowly run my gaze over her. She looks incredible in a white dress that cuts off just above the knee. Her long, dark hair cascades down her bare shoulders. I swallow hard as she runs her fingers through her soft curls, pulling them away from her face.

  “Here,” I say, forcing the word out as I hand her a glass. She accepts it with a faint smile, one that makes my heart race. God, those lips, those fucking lips…

  All I want to do is feel myself inside her, and when her lips delicately touch the rim of the glass, her eyes not leaving me, I can’t take any more. We can talk later. Right now, I need her.

  Her eyes widen as I roughly take the glass from her, placing it on the hall table behind us. The liquid spills over the sides, sending a sparkling mess dribbling onto the carpet below.

  I place my hands on the small of her back and pull her body against mine. She gasps, her eyes lighting up as my desire for her grows. Her hand grazes past my crotch and I groan. Tilting her head, I kiss her neck, my fingers tangling in that beautiful hair.

  I pull her closer, my hands now firmly on her ass, under her dress. Her bare skin is so soft and begging to be caressed. Hoisting her into my arms, I wrap her legs around my waist and carry her over to my bed.

  All I want to do is lose myself in her warmth. Lowering her onto the mattress, I position myself over her while my hand runs up the inside of her thigh. Her eyes on mine, she exhales heavily as I tease her. With the tips of my fingers, I tickle her entrance as her body stiffens against my touch. With every movement I can feel how much she wants me, and it drives me crazy.

  “God, yes,” she gasps as I slip a finger inside her. I’m usually much more about ensuring my own satisfaction, but at the moment her passion is a turn-on. Her fingers close around my wrist as she edges my hand closer to her pussy. I smirk, loving the control I have over her.

  Roughly, I push her hair aside and kiss her neck as my finger draws circles inside her. She groans, her back arching against my touch. She’s practically riding my hand as I pleasure her.

  She cries out again, this time more loudly. If she thinks I’m about to let her come this easily, she’s in for a shock. Just like that, I stop and ease myself off the bed. She looks up at me in surprise.

  I grin and drop to my knees, a move I don’t do often. My hands on her knees, I ease her legs apart, hiking up her skirt in the process. She lets out a laugh as I roughly pull her toward me, until her ass is at the end of the bed, within striking distance of my tongue. I don’t wait for an invitation; I just dive in, placing my mouth over her pussy.

  “Holy…God!” she cries out. Her legs tense, locking my head in place. I chuckle as her fingers find the back of my head. She holds me in her embrace, guiding my tongue deeper inside her. Not that I need any encouragement—she tastes fucking incredible. She’s close to climaxing, so I force myself deeper inside her. She resists, pushing me away, but her screams let me know she wants more. She begins to convulse, unable to take any more. Chuckling, I release my hold on her and rise to my feet.

  She’s still engrossed in her orgasm when I spin her over so she’s on top of me, lowering her onto my cock. Her climax heightens. She throws her head back and gasps as she rides me. I grip her wrists and force her lower, allowing me to thrust further into her.

  Oh, God. I let out a groan as the blood pumps through my body, coming to a head in my cock. I’m on the verge of exploding but doing all I can to hold off. She feels incredible, so tight and wet. My hands roam over the curve of her hips as I rock her against me.

  “You’re amazing,” she whispers, gazing down at me. Her hair’s a mess and sweat trickles down her neck, but she’s every bit as beautiful as she always is. I hate what she does to me almost as much as I love it. It’s a fucking mess.

  Growling, I grab her ass and drive myself deep inside her as I release. My cock aches as blood courses through it, leaving me light-headed and unable to think straight. I groan as she tenses, milking the last of me dry.

  Sighing, I collapse onto the bed. She falls into place beside me, snuggling up under my arm. We lie there, exhausted, for hours, in each other’s arms, drifting in and out of sleep.

  —

  Opening my eyes, I listen to the faint sound of her breathing next to me. I carefully roll over so I’m facing her. My heart races as I watch her. She looks even more stunning while she sleeps. There’s a vulnerability about her that she keeps hidden when awake.

  I can’t remember the last time I lay in bed with a woman like this. Actually, yes, I can. The last woman who got anything more than sex from me was Brynne. It scares me how exposed I feel right now, like this woman could look into my eyes and read my goddamned soul.

  Her eyes flutter open. She smiles when she sees me staring at her. I look away, embarrassed. I’m not ready to think about why I’m feeling this way. I know what it means, but I until I face it, I can pretend it’s not happening.

  “Take a picture, it lasts longer,” she teases, her voice sleepy. She rolls over, resting her ass against me. “What are you thinking about?” she asks.

  “Life,” I admit. It’s a rare piece of honesty from me. “How I can think I have it all figured out, and then something changes everything.” I don’t tell her she’s that something. Before she came into my life I had everything worked out. At least I thought I did. But now I’m beginning to wonder if that’s because I didn’t know what I was missing.

  “You’re thinking about your family?” she guesses, turning back to face me.

  “That and other things,” I say. I keep things vague because I’m not ready to bare my soul. At the same time, she makes me want to share. I’m not used to feeling like that. “I was really close to my sister and my parents. We were the kind of family who did everything together.” I pause, gathering my thoughts. God, this is so fucking hard to talk about. “The day I found out about my mom and Ryan I thought things couldn’t get any worse. Turns out I was wrong.”

  She moves closer to me, snuggling in my embrace. I can feel her sorrow, but for once I don’t shy away from it. I sigh, wrapping my arms around her warm body. I lean down and kiss her neck, my mouth lingering on her soft skin. She smiles and turns her head to face me, her lips pressing against my own.

  “I can’t even imagine what that must have felt like,” she whispers. Her lips touch mine. She rests her head against my chest. “I understand why you want answers.”

  “Do you?” I ask, my voice harsher than I’d intended.

  “You’re not the only one who’s lost someone close to them,” she says, her eyes growing sad. “I don’t begin to compare my situation to yours, Jaxon, but losing a parent hurts just as much, whatever the circumstances.”

  “I lost both,” I point out. I’m not even sure why I’m making this harder, but I can’t help but think that maybe I’m trying to justify what I’m doing to Ryan. “And my sister.”

  “Forget it. You’re right,” she responds, frustration flashing in her eyes. I feel bad for dismissing her loss so easily. Reaching out, I stroke her arm. She tenses but then relaxes, forcing a smile.

  “Who did you lose? Your mom or your dad?” I ask gently.

  “My dad.”

  “What happened?” I press.

  “Cancer.
” She shrugs, her eyes glassy. “When I was just a kid. He and I were close. Mom and I not so much.”

  “I’m sorry,” I murmur. I’m not sure what else I can say. I can barely handle my own pain; I’ve never had to deal with anyone else’s. “So, Ryan…Do you have a plan?” I ask, changing the subject. My jaw twitches as I wait for her answer. The thought of her with him makes me angrier than I’m comfortable admitting. The thought of her with anyone else makes me want to raise hell. And if Ryan suspects for even a second what I’m feeling for her, he’ll do everything he can to ruin it.

  “Depends what you mean by a plan.” She smiles. I frown at her as she props herself up on pillows so she’s facing me. “Relax, I’m kidding. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Just make sure you understand how ruthless he can be,” I advise her. “He’s not someone you want to mess with. Do not go after him without knowing exactly what you’re doing, okay?”

  “I’ll be fine, okay? Trust me.”

  Trust. I do trust her. It’s him I don’t trust.

  Chapter 22

  Charlotte

  I’m beginning to think maybe I’ve underestimated myself.

  I sit across from Ryan, my black silk skirt hitched up a little at the side as I sip my mojito. Getting him to agree to meet me was easy. Filling him full of alcohol while I nurse the same drink for an hour was even easier.

  Only half listening, I nod and giggle at his lame jokes as he openly eyes the cleavage peeking through my sleeveless cream-colored blouse. He’s sitting way too close to me, and every time his hand accidentally brushes my thigh my stomach lurches. I’ll do many things for a story, but sleeping with Ryan isn’t one of them. The guy just plain creeps me out. Not to mention what he’s done to Jaxon.

  God, Jaxon. My skin prickles at the memory of his lips caressing my body. I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s so completely different from any other guy, yet I’m drawn to him. I trust him, yet I have no reason to. Being that open and vulnerable is not a feeling I’m used to.