She shrugged again. “But don’t worry. If you’re determined not to accept the bodyguards, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” He took a step toward her, filling her personal space. “You don’t want to…try a little harder to persuade me?”
The door opened and two men made to enter. Declan turned his head. “Don’t even think about it,” he said quietly, and the men backed away and the doors closed once more. “Where were we?”
“I was on my way out?”
He tossed her a glance and then pressed the elevator button. They started to rise.
“What the fuck?” she muttered.
“Just a little experiment. Come on, Jess, where’s your sense of adventure?”
His hand reached out, then slipped around the back of her neck. He tilted her head so she had no choice but to look into his face. Actually, she did have a choice; she had a gun, and she could shoot him. Instead, she held herself very still as he lowered his face to hers. Maybe this was what she needed to prove once and for all that she was over him. Or maybe she was a self-deluding idiot with no sense of self-preservation who just wanted a snog.
His lips were warm and firm and his tongue tasted of scotch, the flavor intoxicating, as he pushed inside, filling her. His kiss deepened, hot and wet and hard. One hand was still at her nape, the other wrapped around her, cupping her ass, pulling her against his hard length so she was aware of him against her breasts, her belly, her hips. Heat shot through her, thrills shivering along her nerves, pooling in her sex, taking her back to those long ago days, when she’d loved him and he’d taken everything she had to give and then dumped her when daddy told him to.
How dare he? How the hell fucking dare he kiss her? And not just kiss her, but kiss her like he fucking cared. Like she was the only woman in the goddamn world. He had always made her feel like that. No other man had come close.
And she hated it. She could feel herself spiraling out of control, the old feelings building inside her. All mixed in with an almost overwhelming need, to have him inside her just one more time. Have that hard body on her, in her.
They were almost glued together, and she shoved her hands between them, pushing hard. When he still didn’t budge, she bit down on his lower lip, then placed her fingers around his upper arm and squeezed the exact spot he’d taken a bullet.
“Ouch.” Raising his head, he loosened his grip and stepped back. His eyes were narrowed and a tic jumped in his cheek. He wasn’t as cool as he was pretending. “You always did like it rough,” he murmured.
“Fuck off, Declan.”
His gaze dropped to her body. She acted instinctively and peered down; her nipples were tight little peaks. He smirked. “You’re definitely getting…nicer. I might even be persuaded to put a good word in with your boss.”
“Thanks, but don’t put yourself out.” Jess gritted her teeth. Had he always been this annoying? “Actually, there is another reason I came back.”
“There is?”
“Hmm.” She copied his actions and allowed her gaze to drop down over his body, God he was gorgeous. Why did he have to be the most gorgeous man she had ever encountered? “You know I hate you, Declan. I’ve hated you for a long time. Too long.”
He swiped his tongue across his lower lip. “Baby girl, I love the way you hate.”
“Don’t call me that.” She’d always hated the way he called her baby girl. She was only a year younger than him. “And hating you is pointless, and I’ve wasted too much time on it. So yeah, I came today, thought I’d take a look, remind myself of what an arrogant prick you are, and then I’d wipe you from my mind and move on.” She stepped up closer and prodded him in the chest. He was like iron. “And guess what, Declan? You’re an arrogant prick.”
“So you want to move on?”
“Yeah. I’m going to find me a nice man.”
He laughed. He actually laughed at her, and her palm itched with the need to reach for her gun. “Baby girl, you wouldn’t know what to do with a nice man. And he sure as hell wouldn’t know what to do with you.”
“And you do, I suppose?” She knew the words were a mistake as soon as they escaped from her mouth.
“Oh yeah.”
Heat coiled in her belly, and she swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. They were no longer moving. The lift had come to a halt at Declan’s floor. But the doors remained closed.
“Come back with me, Jess.” He leaned in close and kissed the side of her neck and heat in her belly sank lower. He licked her pulse point with the tip of his tongue and she swayed. “Come on, Jess.” The words whispered across her skin. “You know you want to. One last time, just to remind you of how awful it was…boring and messy and then we can both move on.”
The desire was building. Maybe this is what she needed. One last time. She’d never trust him again, never allow herself to care for him, risk any of her feelings. But this wasn’t about feelings; this was about shagging. At the thought, her sex clenched tight.
God, she wanted him.
All of him. Then she wanted to walk away and never look back.
He must have seen something in her face because a slow smile curled his lips and his eyes glittered.
He pressed the button to open the door and then grabbed her hand, his fingers twining with hers as though he were still not sure she wouldn’t make a dash for it.
Neither was she.
She was working on autopilot; she’d shut down the parts of her brain that could actually think. Because deep down she was perfectly aware that this was a mistake of fucking awesome proportions.
He dragged her out of the elevator and across the office. His assistant was still behind the desk, but his mouth had fallen open.
“Go home,” Declan said. “You’re finished for the day.”
He didn’t wait for any response, just continued to tug her across the carpeted floor and then through the big double doors into his office. The doors clicked shut behind them, and Declan turned and flicked the lock, then moved to face her.
“Take off the gun.”
She shook her head. “What?”
“The gun, Jess. Take it off. You hate me, remember? I don’t want you tempted if I piss you off.”
Her brows drew together. “And are you planning on pissing me off?”
He grinned. “Well, it’s not on my immediate list, but from past experience I can’t rule it out.”