His hard look in return says, One fucking minute, Grace.
Fine. I’ll give him that.
He carries my bag to my room and I realize his stuff is still in the car. “Aren’t you staying here?”
“No. I have another flight in three hours.” Now it’s his turn to telegraph, A bit presumptuous, aren’t we?
“I thought we were meeting with Senator Conover?”
“You are. I’m going to Florida. Checking out your competition.”
My mouth drops open in surprise. Conover made no secret of the fact that he’s vetting me and hasn’t decided whom to select yet, but to have it this plain, this immediate, shocks me.
“Come on, Grace. You’re a big girl. Get over it.” Jared places his attaché case on the hotel room desk and fishes inside it for his laptop.
“I’m a big girl?” I parrot, sarcasm and annoyance in equal measure in my voice. “Don’t fucking patronize me, Jared. I can handle this meeting without you.”
“Then don’t give me puppy-dog eyes when I tell you I’m leaving.”
I’m spitting mad but force myself to contain it. I turn my back to him and cross the room to the minibar for some chilled mineral water, draining half of it before I turn to face him. “Those weren’t puppy-dog eyes. That was my get-the-hell-out look.”
Jared’s laptop is open and he’s tapping away at it, not even looking at me, not paying enough attention to see I’m well and truly pissed.
I drop my voice an octave. “Jared. Get the hell out. My room, remember? Although there’s no reason to book it with my maiden name. I’m not going back to that.”
Jared tears his eyes from the laptop’s screen and finally focuses on me. His eyes sweep up my body, taking in each detail: my classic watch, my dark hair pinned up in a twist, my suit jacket open at the waist.
He stands and advances toward me with the grace and certainty of a predator. “Maybe I wanted to buy you a little privacy.”
The tone rumbles from his chest, suggesting all manner of evil a little privacy could buy us. I clench the bottle of mineral water, willing myself to remain standing, to not back down one inch.
He crowds my space. I stare him down.
He threads a hand through the opening in my jacket, wrapping it around my waist.
“If you think you’re going to get away with playing the asshole card with a few cute moves, you’re sorely mistaken.” I stiffen as his stubble strokes my cheek, his hot breath in my ear.
“Not mistaken. I know I’m right.”
“You don’t know shit.”
“I know you, Grace. I know what you want me to do to you right now.” His leg presses into mine, forcing my knees to part. His hand tightens around my rib cage until I can barely breathe. His stubble ignites little currents along my skin as his lips skate across my neck.
“Can’t you focus on what matters right now?” I move to push him away, but he’s faster than me, one hand pinning mine while the other slips my jacket off one shoulder, exposing my teal silk shell.
“I am focused. Very.” Jared’s lips trail from my neck to my bare shoulder, and he releases my hand long enough to push my jacket to the floor.
“But”—my mind is getting fuzzy, lost in the coil that’s tightening inside me—“I have a meeting.”
“In two hours.” Jared pulls the shell up my stomach and over my head. “And I have a flight in three. You’ve been studying like a good girl, so I’d say it’s time for a reward.”
Holy hell. The way he says reward, like he’s licking something delectable, instantly dampens my panties and makes me squirm. I turn my face toward his, almost brushing his lips, but he pulls back, his eyes dark with want.
“I’ll give you your reward, Grace, on two conditions.” His fingers are already working on my belt and zipper.
I shiver as I feel his breath across my breasts. “What?”
“One, it’s going to be hard. So intense you’re going to feel the echo of me until I see you again.”
My pants hit the floor. I bite my lip and close my eyes, already sold on this excellent idea. “And two?”
“For one fucking minute, Grace, just get out of your head.”
I balk. “I am.”
“Liar.” His voice rasps. He spins me toward the bed and his fingers dive for my center, already drenched in moisture.
“I am,” I insist. “What do you want me to say, Jared? Fuck me now? Fuck me so hard I forget my name and why we’re here? Forget that in two hours I’ve got to meet with Conover and convince him I’m the best choice for the ticket?”