Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
I step back, shocked. “You want me to hire Caleb?” When she nods, I push out with a scoff, “What happened to not mixing business with pleasure?”
“One, I think it is a little too late for that, don’t you? And two, I’m reasonably sure working under you will never be classed as pleasurable. In case you missed the memo, brother, you’re quite the tyrant.”
I would deny her scorn if it weren’t true. Before Octavia entered my life, I wasn’t exactly commended on my warmness.
“He would be ideal for Son Ink.” When her eyes stray to the door like Caleb is standing in the doorway, I follow her gaze. “Then perhaps once he knows the real you, he won’t be so quick to judge.”
She had me convinced until her last sentence. “I’m not ready for that yet.” I wait for Marissa to return her eyes to me before adding, “But I’m sure there is something suitable for him under the Global Ten media chain until I am.”
Just the fact I’m considering exposing my true self to Octavia and Caleb instantly softens the agitation on Marissa’s face. “That sounds like a good plan…” She nudges her head to the door that’s barely concealing a healthy bout of laughter. “As does that.” Her eyes are once again on me. “Shall we rejoin them?”
With a dip of my chin, I gesture for her to lead the way.
The reason for the laughter is exposed when my eyes land on a blob of brown partway between the kitchen and the living room. The mousse cake didn’t hold out as Octavia warned, and although her casual t-shirt caught half of the sugary goodness I’m dying to sample off her body, there is no saving the rest of it.
“I’m so sorry,” she murmurs, her tone low with embarrassment. “With the dining table only having four seats and Jess finally joining us, I thought we could have dessert in the living room.”
“It’s fine,” Marissa assures her while ignoring me staring at Octavia like the perfect dessert has been displayed on an even more flawless platter. “I really should get going anyway. It’s late.” She gathers her coat and purse from the kitchen counter before spinning to face me. “Will you be okay if I take the town car home?”
“I can drive him home,” Caleb offers a second before I murmur, “Or I could stay the night?” I lock my eyes with Octavia. “If that’s okay?”
“Umm…” She dumps what her chest saved of the mousse cake onto the dining table, snags up a dishrag then joins Marissa and me in the entryway of her apartment. “Yeah, sure. If you want.” Her last two words quiver when I snatch the dishcloth out of her hand and throw it into the kitchen. I don’t want it clearing away the mess I plan to clean with my tongue.
“And that right there is our cue to leave,” Caleb mutters, obviously as adept to Octavia’s prompts as me. Her knees barely budge an inch, but not even an audience can weaken the hue of red creeping up her neck when she deciphers my hungry stare for exactly what it is. “How does a nightcap on your balcony sound?”
Jess’s cheeks inflame as brightly as Octavia’s neck when Caleb holds out his hand in offering to assist her off the couch. Once he’s plucked her from the springless couch, he guides her and Marissa to the door.
The tension that’s been crackling between Octavia and me the past several hours amplifies when we’re soon the only two people in her apartment. Although I’d give anything to ignore the small snippet of unease in the air, I can’t. “Whatever you think happened out there, didn’t.”
“Jac—”
“No, Tivy,” I cut her off like she did me earlier. “I need you to know that Marissa is as besotted by you as I—” I stop, confident it is too early in our relationship to discuss feelings, but since I’m feeding off the energy in the air, I speak freely instead. I shouldn’t be shocked. I purchased a boutique and a world-renowned restaurant within hours of each other simply to impress her. “As I am. I never expected you to arrive in my life, but that doesn’t mean I can’t acknowledge the joy it has given me.”
“Jack.” This interruption is more endearing than her earlier one. “I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless.”
“You don’t need to say anything.” Lust hisses in the air when I mutter, “But you can show me… if you want.”
The shy grin tugging on my lips annoys me until it changes the dynamic between Octavia and me. Her feet barely touch the ground when she bridges the gap between us, throws her arms around my neck, then seals her lips over mine.
We don’t make it past the kitchen before we’re tearing at each other’s clothes. Buttons ping in all directions when Octavia claws at my shirt. Once she has my abs and chest exposed, she drops her focus to my belt.