Page 17 (1/2)

"It would help her understand," Chase said "You can’t hide fro Hell, it’s bad enough that you hide fro it wouldn’t help" He clenched his hands, fought to work through the surging fury "It’s like a drug now You know it as well as I do Seeing the pleasure, feeling it" He shook his head at the hopelessness of it

"So, you’re going to lose her to the likes of Khalid instead?" Chase drawled "Shly "He’ll stay away from her"

He are of the disbelief in Chase’s expression "Are we talking about the sa her with his eyes in the hallway, Carowled

Chase held his hands up placatingly "Fine I’m out of it Just consider the I-told-you-sos said when you find out he’s moved in for the kill"

"She’s too smart to fall for him" Cam shook his head He had to believe that

"She’s alone," Chase said then, his voice soft, warning "Re the same man for the second ti ti to stay alone"

No, and she had every right not to have to be alone

Ca hiamous, possessive, pure love She didn’t deserve the exact opposite of the ideal that she prized so highly

"You know, Cam, I’m not in love with her," Chase said then "I won’t love her, not like you do"

Ca a relief so intense it was almost weakness He could share her body with Chase, but the thought of sharing her emotions, her heart, the tender touches and the s her?"

He paced across the roo froht ht

Seven years He’d waited, fantasized He’d dreaht now, he was allowing them both the distance they needed, but it wouldn’t last er

"Evidently, you warned her to run when she saw either of us co," Chase said "Why do that? Why not show her the ive into you without understanding what makes you like that? Damn, bro, you expect a lot fro through the tall s as Courtney and Jaci s of the house "From her, I expect it all And I think that terrifies both of us"

9

Caarden an hour later, a frown on her face as she sketched on the electronic pad she used for drawing and notes She nibbled absently on her lip, and ither little teeth nip at hirowing hunger building inside hi toto take her every chance he had

He was burning for her That addiction thing again Hell if he kne to break this addiction, though He didn’t want to break it

"Got a minute?"

"Probably" She tapped a few commands on the pad, and he watched it darken and shut down, then she tucked it into the carrier bag she wore on her shoulder

"Come up to the office" He held his hand out to her in invitation "You can see the equipment we have there, and help me decide which room to try to convince Ian we need for a new office"

"You need a new office?" Jaci took his hand and let hier office, anyway" He smiled down at her The hell if he cared if he had another office He needed some time with her He needed to smell the scent of her, feel her warmth, and he needed to do it without distractions The office was his only chance, unless he wanted to slip into her hotel rooain

He wanted her until his back teeth ached with it But he was finding he wanted h with her He wanted to talk with her He wanted her in his life and in his hoe froh of it

"So Ian doesn’t want you to have a bigger office?" There was a hint of knowing heat in her voice, reives a da "I just want an excuse to spend solanced at her, and saw the almost-shy surprise in her expression as she looked up at hi to the point of pain

"You didn’t need an excuse" She cleared her throat as they entered the house, and headed through the back hall toward the offices "All you had to do was let , Jaci," he said softly

"You told me to run" Her voice was reflective now "What’s the point in running, Cam? I never could stay away from you"

He pulled her into his office, slaainst the wall His hands frah her ad him back and his lips slammed down on hers

He drew back at the last second, softened the possession in the kiss, and groaned at the heated welcoueit out of his jeans to allow her nails to rasp against thefor you, Jaci"

His hands were pulling at her skirt He wanted to touch her He wanted to feel the sar hi She eet and hot, and he could feel the need in her body, just as clearly as he heard it in her voice

"I a the feel of the you how hot you are" His lips slid to her neck and he didn’t even pause to wonder why the hell he was talking "Telling you how badly I want to spank you"