Undeniably His(20)
Kalin turns to me and narrows his eyes with a cold gaze. “But I still don’t trust the motherfuckers. I want someone who I can confide in, Annabelle. A partner. Someone who I can turn my back to without the fear of getting a knife in it.” His expression softens. “Someone who I can be myself around.” He steps closer toward me. “Someone who I can be vulnerable around without the fear of having it exploited. And, yes, Annabelle, if something more should come from it,” he says, clasping my hand and sitting next to me, “don’t sue me.”
“Me sue you?” I snicker.
He kisses my hand, and a warm smile spreads across his face, melting the pain in his eyes and bringing him back to me from his sad memories.
“I would never do something like that to you, Kalin. That’s terrible. I’m sorry you went through that during such a painful time. But what makes you know you can trust me, much less that I could run this company?”
“I’m a good judge of character. I knew when we spoke that I could trust you.”
“How?”
I can’t explain it. It’s something…” He holds his thumb and forefinger together, pausing. “…inexplicable. I just know.”
“What about my lack of business experience?”
“I consider it an advantage.”
“What about the sex?”
A flash of humor crosses his face. “Well, I consider that an advantage, too.”
“I’m being serious, Kalin. I mean, we’ve already had sex, and I’m your employee.”
“I think it is an advantage. We are more open with each other.” His eyes search mine. “We share our secrets. We look out for each other.” He turns away and gazes out the side window overlooking the bay. “I’m not going to lie to you, Annabelle. When I saw you, you were stunning. In many ways you reminded me of Rebecca. That was her name. She had the same innocence and beauty. But I’m not attracted to you just because you remind me of her. You have your own unique beauty. I told you, I just feel it.” He plants his fingers in the center of his chest. “It’s just there.”
“I thought you were talking about trust?”
“I was talking about you.”
“Is that why you said I’m inspiring?”
“Yes. I find you inspiring. It seems in this business, the more you know, the more dangerous you become. People use that knowledge to destroy you. I understand why they do it. People want to survive. It’s a competitive business where the winners come away with almost everything. So people get scared. But fear suffocates creativity and stifles ambition. I don’t want that in my company.
“So you see, Annabelle, no matter how much you know or how much education you have, that one flaw is fatal to you as a person and to a company if you don’t control it. Because when you are motivated by fear or greed—they are one and the same, you know—then it is like a fuse that has been lit. Sooner or later it will destroy you, and even harm those around you. And I don’t see any of that in you, Annabelle. Am I wrong?”
“No. I mean, I don’t know. I would never do that to you. I have never been in this environment before. But I am loyal. I always have been. To family, to friends.”
“To Lia.”
“Yes.”
Chapter Six
His mouth moves across my fingers, and I feel his whiskers on my hand. It is surprisingly erotic. His warm lips melt into my skin between my knuckles, and I angle toward him.
“What will people say if we’re working together and…?”
“After all that’s happened, I really don’t care. I just want to be happy right now, and you make me happy.” His eyes slide up to mine. “I know that you feel it too.”
I watch his firm, sensual lips trail up my arm, and I press my lips together to contain a silly smile.
“What?” He parts his lips while his eyes sweep over my face. “Tell me.”
“When we met, I felt something I couldn’t describe. But when I’m alone with you, it feels like nothing else matters. When we were alone on the elevator, I didn’t want the doors to open. It sounds silly. But I just wanted it to be us.”
Kalin scoots closer to me. “We don’t have to be in an elevator for that to happen. We can shut the world out anytime.” His warm lips and tongue continue their sensual caress over my hand.
“It’s just that you’re always so busy. When I saw you in the office, it looked like there was no way to reach you.”
“And yet I found you.”
“Yes.”
“And yet here I am.”
“True.” I can no longer control my silly grin.