Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Hop’s fingers flexed on the armrest. “What choice?” His voice wavered. Part fear, part desire? Rafe would bet on it.
Rafe steepled his fingers. “Either you walk out the door or you lock it.”
* * *
Hop’s heart wanted to make a break for it. Like, seriously, rip right out of his chest and fuck off for God only knew where. It pounded. No, it was bigger—it pummeled his insides so hard his ribs felt crushed. Of course, that could also be the annihilating weight of his own desire sucking the breath from his lungs as surely as it drained any rational thought from his brain.
He shouldn’t want what was promised in Rafe’s hooded eyes. Shouldn’t crave it.
Leave or lock the door.
Such threatening words filled at once with devastating promise and absolute power.
There was no way he’d make it to the door when remaining upright in the chair took every ounce of strength he had left.
Except, he did.
Trembling legs and all, he rose from the lush embrace of leather cushions and crossed the office. All the while, Rafe’s intense gaze was on him like a laser, burning everywhere it touched. It didn’t matter that Hop couldn’t see it because he could feel it. A caress made of distance and heat and expectation.
Leave or lock the door. His choice.
He wasn’t sure what he was going to do until he reached up and turned the lock. The click resonated in the quiet room. Final. Eviscerating. Breath rushed out of him without his permission and he clutched the door so he didn’t collapse to the floor.
Rafe growled his approval and all was lost. Hop turned to find those piercing eyes capturing him as if he was a butterfly and Rafe was the net.
“Come here,” Rafe said, his voice rough, almost pained.
One step took all of Hop’s concentration. Heels and instability did not mix.
“Crawl.” There was challenge and calculation behind the order. Rafe’s dark eyes grew even deeper, swirling with mystery and authority.
Time stretched out between them and Hop had no idea how long he stood there fighting with himself. But there was no choice really, those eyes were too strong, too alluring.
It was actually a relief to lower to his knees. Now at least he didn’t have to worry about falling. No, now his mind was consumed with arousal and confusion and arousal because of the confusion.
But he crawled. And it was glorious.
The closer he got, the harsher Rafe’s breath sounded, and it was everything to know his small act of acceptance had affected Rafe so deeply. Strangely, it made him feel powerful, like he was the one in control even though he was on his knees.
When he reached Rafe’s feet he stayed kneeling and folded his hands on his lap, eyes cast to the floor. Rafe leaned forward and with fingers on his chin, forced Hop to lift his head.
“All you have to say is no and it will stop, no judgments, no repercussions. This has nothing to do with the club or your work here. I will never hold it against you.” He sounded so earnest. “I know I have a lot to prove and you don’t fully trust me yet, not like you should for this. But trust that at the very least, okay?”
The way Rafe held him prevented Hop from nodding and his throat was so dry it took a few swallows before he could say, “Okay.”
Rafe’s grip softened and he cupped Hop’s jaw. Rafe’s thumb traced his cheekbone, and then caressed Hop’s bottom lip before slipping inside to tease Hop’s tongue. He smelled like hickory and smoke, delicious and untouchable.
Then that thumb was gone, leaving Hop reeling. Rafe sat back in his chair, legs spread wide, erection clearly visible beneath his black slacks. He was the picture of a horny CEO on the outside but beneath it all was this tornado of strength and kindness and history. It made Hop dizzy.
“Undo my tie,” Rafe said, palms on the armrests.
Hop shuffled between Rafe’s knees and leaned over him to reach the silk knot. His fingers shook and it took everything in him not to close his eyes and sink into Rafe’s scent and heat and hardness. His erection twitched beneath Hop’s belly and Hop felt the answering clench in his ass. God, this was the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced and they weren’t even naked.
Yet.
Rafe was patient as Hop struggled to pull the long ends through the tight loops. When he finally managed it, he held the soft fabric to his nose and brought Rafe’s sweet and spicy scent into his lungs. Then he sat back on his heels, holding the silk to his chest.
“Now, we have some issues to work though.” Rafe’s eyes were hooded pools of approval as he undid the top two buttons of his shirt.
“We...we do?” Hop’s heart squeezed.