Chapter 8

Easton

I listen to her rant, my heart twisting when I hear the tears she's struggling to hold back. The sound worries me and I wonder what she thinks of our situation. Does she view me as some monster? I could keep her, make her see how I really feel. But as much as I need her to be mine, I need for her to be happy more.

This thing with Sloane isn't just an obsession. If so, it would have ended after I had her. But now, my feelings are stronger than ever before, consuming me. It's not just her body that has me infatuated. I'm impressed with her drive, her kindness, and the way I feel in her presence. There's only Sloane. And she's about to get out of my car and walk away from me.

Reaching out quickly, I grab her hand to stop her. "I have offices in Paris. You can have any job you want there. If anyone from the auction ever crosses your path and gives you trouble, I'll destroy them."

Her eyes widen. "Why would you do that for me? Just so I'll sleep with you again?"

How can she be so oblivious to my feelings? Does she really think I only care about her body? I pull her close and she melts against me. Tangling my fingers in her hair, I tug her head back so that I can claim her lush mouth.

Her lips open eagerly and her soft sigh mingles with my hungry breaths. She drives me wild as her hands run up my chest to grip my shoulders so hard I can feel her fingernails through my jacket. She can't fool herself when she's in my arms, so I'll just have to keep her here.

Sliding my hand from her hair down her arm raises a path of goosebumps and she shivers against me. I find the bottom of her shirt—my shirt—and pull at the tight knot, loosening it until I can slip my hand under her shirt and cup my palm around her breast. I tweak her nipple to a hard peak and smile against her mouth as she crawls onto my lap with a moan.

Now it's me who's making noises as she straddles me and grinds her pussy against my raging cock. Trailing kisses down her throat, I pause at the neckline of her shirt. Tear it off or take it off? She has the same idea, unbuttoning my shirt with trembling fingers.

A dark chuckle escapes my lips. "I don't have to give you a single thing to make you want me as much as I want you," I say.

Her fingers drop and she tries to pull away, but I keep a firm arm around her back.

"That's true," she says slowly, lifting her eyes to mine. "But…"

"No buts," I say, kissing her until she's weak against me. "And we're not doing this in the car, either."

Regretfully, I lift her off me and get out, pulling her through the lobby of the hotel she's staying at. It's not a grand hotel, but it's not a dump, and I'm glad she has a safe place to stay with her grandmother. It'll have to do for our purposes now. Tossing my black card at the clerk, I book a suite and, moments later, we're in the elevator. She crosses her arms over her chest and stares at the floor. Am I losing her?

In the room, I slam the door behind us and pull her close. She grips handfuls of my shirt and presses her forehead against my shoulder. Her body is tense as I run my palms down her back, but when I cup her taut ass cheeks, she wraps her arms around my waist and tips her head back for my kisses. I'm just as eager to give them as she is, but even as she clings to me, and sighs against my mouth, something's different. It's as if she's fighting with herself.

I know she wants me. There was no artifice in her eager scramble to get on my lap in the car. I drop my arms to my side and stand stock still. Sloane makes a small, confused squeak as she pulls on my shirt, then runs her fingers through my hair. There's pure desperation on her face, but not the kind I want to see.

"Why are you holding back?" I demand.

"I-I'm not," she stammers, her fingers digging into my arms.

"How many times have I had this body of yours, little girl?" I ask, continuing to hold myself as still as a stone. Only my cock throbs against my pants as she presses against me. "I know you're fighting. Why?"

She pushes away, her eyes flashing. "You'd better do what you brought me here to do, Easton."

God, I love her demanding tone, and I want more than anything to pick her up and carry her to the bed and show her ten new ways I can make her scream. But there's sadness in her eyes behind the fire, and it douses my lust, even as she continues to grab at me.

I step back, keeping my arms locked at my sides, my hands closed tight so my fingers don't betray me and trail along her silky skin.

"Go," I say. "Unless you can tell me what you really want. What I haven't already offered you."

Her own hands clench into fists and she stumbles back, looking as if I've slapped her. The sadness that was lurking has turned to pure anger and she bites her lip.

"Stop holding back," I command. "Tell me."

We stare at each other for an endless moment, each of us wanting more. I'm ready to give her anything, but she won't accept any of it. And I won't have her again unless she is truly mine, both body and soul.

With a shake of her head, she turns and storms out.

I shout after her before she can slam the door. "I'll be waiting right here when you're ready, Sloane."