Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
I’d have been worried and maybe even scared of how desperate I was to claim her if I hadn’t inherently known I wouldn’t be able to go on without her.
Robert’s jaw dropped as he realized what I said. “Stay with you?” he sputtered. “That’s crazy! You don’t even know her.”
It was crazy just how wrong he was. On a cellular level, I knew everything I needed to about her. And the most important fact was that I needed her with me. She was mine and I was hers. Both were facts.
“She’ll be more than safe with me,” I assured him.
“Of course she would,” he conceded. “I wasn’t saying she wouldn’t be, but… I mean come on, man. You don’t think it would be weird having a girl you don’t even know underfoot?”
I didn’t. I knew she wasn’t going to be underfoot. She was going to be at my side. She was going to be cared for. She was going to be worshipped. And she was going to be under me, taking my cock. Not wanting to show too much of my hand to Robert in case he decided to do something stupid like attempt to keep her away from me, I decided to try being calm. If it didn’t work, I’d be throwing down. One way or the other, she was leaving with me.
“If you want her to get the work experience for the senior project, it’s the only way I see to make it happen. That’s on you, though,” I bluffed. “If you’re cool with her failing…”
“The decision is mine. I want to go with Jordan,” Natalie interjected firmly.
As she spoke, she stepped in closer to me, close enough for our arms to touch. I stifled a groan and tried not to move. The closer she was, the more I wanted to hold on to her. It felt wrong not to be anchored to her in some way—holding her hand or wrapping my arm around her waist. In my entire life, I’d never had even one second where I felt like that way toward anyone until she exploded into my life.
Robert looked back and forth between us dubiously. “Nat, are you sure? You don’t know him.”
“I know you’ve said he’s a dream to work for, and he’s quickly become your favorite client,” she answered. “He’s someone you do business with, not a stranger.”
Robert was conflicted, which meant it was time for me to allay his fears. Somehow I needed to do it without straight up lying, too. I was not about to fucking tell him he had nothing to worry about as far as me touching her went. Even if he believed me, I knew I’d be busted pretty damn fast since I had no intention of keeping her a secret. I wanted everyone to know she was mine—and vice versa.
“Look, she’ll never be safer than she’s going to be with me. My house is massive, so it’s not like I don’t have the room for her. She’s going to live in the lap of luxury, right above the beach while being pampered to within an inch of her life. I promise Natalie won’t want for a thing. Anything she wants is hers.”
I meant that literally. If she’d asked me to build her a rocket made of Unicorn hair, I’d have found a way.
Lifting his arm, Robert rubbed the back of his neck and let out a long breath.
“I know she’ll be taken care of,” he said. “Without a doubt. Don’t think for a second I believe otherwise. It’s just weird that the two of you have never even spoken, and you’re asking her to move in with you for almost two months.”
I wasn’t asking.
“I’m trying to be helpful,” I assured him. “She can’t be here, man. You should’ve seen the looks she was getting out there. This is no place for someone like Natalie.”
“I swear I told her not to go out onto the floor,” he groaned.
“He did. Don’t be mad at him,” Natalie said pleadingly, biting her lip as she stared at me with a worried expression.
Looking down into her gorgeous face, I once again realized there was nothing I wouldn’t do to make her happy. I wanted to give her the fucking world. The idea of denying her anything was abhorrent.
Fortunately, in that moment, I had the ability to settle her mind easily.
“I’m not mad at him,” I said soothingly.
Her smile was like sunshine, so hot I could feel the heat coming from it. I’d do anything to make her smile at me just to bask in the glow.
“Thank you, Jordan,” she murmured.
I wanted to tell her she never had to thank me for doing what came to me as naturally as breathing, but our conversation was interrupted by my bookkeeper, Roslyn, stepping into the hall.
“Hey,” she called out cheerfully. “Are you guys coming in or do we now do hallway business?”