“Julia,” he says, taking my bottom lip between his teeth, “you’ve always been the boss. You’ve always had the power.”

Now it’s my heart that’s dipping. Our lashes tangle as he tilts his head and kisses me more deeply. A hungry kiss. One I’m starting to know well.

“That’s not true.”

He pulls back. Searches my eyes.

“Think about it, sweetheart. When have I ever not been at your mercy?”

“Uh. The Rodgers’ Farms project, for starters.”

He shakes his head. “Maybe I won a battle here and there. But you won the war. Honestly, it was over before it even began. You had me under your spell from the beginning. I was enthralled by you from the start. You had the better ideas. The better vision. And you had the better of me.”

I swallow, hard. Running my fingers down his arm. The muscles there harden and bunch as I move.

“Then why were you always such a dick? Why’d you fight me at every turn?”

He sighs. A sigh he catches with a small grunt.

“I’m sorry.”

I look at him. “I know. And I appreciate the apology. But I think it’s fair to say you owe me a real explanation. I admit I’ve been fighting this sense of whiplash—how you went from the prick in the power suit to the softie charmer who makes dinner and also makes me come so hard I forget my own name.”

“I know, Julia. I’m trying. I’m trying.” He looks at me for a beat. He’s got this pleading look in his eyes.

He’s asking me for time. Patience.

He’s opening up to me. Slowly, yes. But he’s still moving forward. And maybe for someone as locked up and uptight as he is, that counts as real progress.

Also. It’s not like we don’t have time. Like Gracie said, I’ve got the rest of my life, literally, to get to know this man. This baby isn’t going anywhere, and neither are we.

“Keep trying.” I reach for him, wrapping my hand around his hard length. A flare of heat erupts in his gaze. “In the meantime, lemme make you feel as good as I do right now.”

Chapter Eighteen

Greyson

I just might be in love with this woman.

Granted, my rational mind probably isn’t working with Julia’s hand wrapped around my dick.

But she’s giving me time. Giving me the space I need to gather myself. Gather my courage and my thoughts.

I am not a patient man. Especially not with myself.

The fact that Julia is being patient with me makes me want to change that.

She’s making me want to change everything.

Which is a scary fucking prospect.

A groan erupts in my chest when Julia gives me a tight tug. I’m so hard right now I’m the size of a goddamn tree trunk. Making her come like that—seeing her surrender to me, to sensation—was the sexiest thing I have ever, ever seen.

The taste of her cunt is all over me.