Insatiable (7 page)

“Yes…yes…YES!…” She heard him growl, the sound of his voice far away as she was momentarily devoid of any sense of time or place. Still he hammered into her, his growls deepening as he, too, finally succumbed to his own release. He held on tight to her in those moments when the world seemed to fade away, and she sank against him, unable to move as he ground into her with one last, intense thrust. He was mindless.

Finally, spent, he reached up to untie the blindfold, pulling out of her as they fell to the bed in a collective heap. His breath was coming out in gasps, and she turned into his arms, feeling the need to soothe him with her kisses.

Their lips joined, and his arm wound around her in a strong, possessive swoop. His face had a warm, sweat-beaded flush, and now that she could look into his eyes, she drank in the strange expression that crossed his eyes. But before she could search further, he reached up and kissed her forehead, and told her to sleep. She closed her eyes obediently, tears blurring her vision and struggled to hold in the emotion she felt. She had crossed the line, and broken her own rule. She had fallen in love with Jonas Marks.

****

It had happened. She didn’t want to feel this way, certainly didn’t think it would ever happen. Not to her, and certainly not with Jonas.

Nothing on earth could have been worse than discovering that he’d stolen her heart. She hated herself for it, but she couldn’t stop it from happening. It had crept in on her and now she had only herself to blame. From one day to the next, she kept imagining and even wishing that the feeling would fade away, that he wouldn’t be able to move her as before, that being around him wouldn’t affect her so deeply.

But it did. With each hour she spent around him, she found herself falling harder and deeper in love.

There was only three days left till they’d have to return to the lives they’d temporarily left behind.

“Let’s spend the day together.” His gaze swept over her and he cracked a smile.

“Don’t you have meetings all day?” she asked in surprise.

“I’ll cancel them,” he replied with a shrug. “I want more time with you, Ava.” His eyes held hers piercingly. “As much as I can get.” He grinned suddenly, the flash of white making her breath catch at how gorgeous he looked.

“I do too.” She grinned. “But I really don’t want you to have to cancel everything just for me. I don’t mind being left alone.”

“Ahh, you need your space. I get it.”

Ava looked away from his smile. She didn’t mind his mocking tone; keeping things this way helped insulate her from what was inevitably happening. For him, this was just sex. Great sex, but that was all there was. The last thing she needed was for him to think that she wanted anything more. Besides, the less time they spent around each other, the easier it would be for her to keep pretending she was still in control of her heart.

“How about Carly?” she asked quickly, curious about his assistant whom she hadn’t been seeing as often.

“Actually, I gave her the day off,” he said wryly, and Ava suddenly realized that Jonas really had meant to spend the day with her. Her heart almost began to lift with hope, but then she squashed it down. Jonas was the ultimate charmer; it cost him nothing to be nice. Again and again she had to remind herself, it doesn’t mean anything.

And yet, she couldn’t help feeling a pang as she looked up and met his steady gaze. She wondered what he was thinking, and why he was staring at her like that.

“Ava…” he began, but his sentence was cut off by the sound of her name coming from the entrance.

Ava turned in amazement to find her brother stalking into the restaurant, and she watched, shocked as Jonas abruptly rose, his face expressionless.

“You son of a bitch!” Jeffrey snarled, reaching their table, his eyes fastened on Jonas. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing but you’ve done enough damage to my family. It stops now.”

Nearby diners glanced their way in curiosity, and Ava wanted to sink into the ground. “Jeff, what are you doing?” she hissed, her fists clenching.

Her brother barely looked at her but instead, held Jonas’s gaze angrily as he gritted out, “I want you away from this bastard. I don’t give a damn what he may have offered you, Ava. You’re worth far more.” This time, he turned to look at her, his expression pained. “I’m sorry for the way that I attacked you over Kirk. I never meant to push you into doing something like this.”

“This was never your fault,” she said quickly. “I…” But his earnest words cut her off.

“No, Ava, listen to me. I flew straight here as soon as I could to tell you this. I know why you are doing this and it doesn’t matter. The company, getting it back. It doesn’t matter. You’re coming back with me. I’m not leaving you behind.”

“Jeff, seriously…”

“No, he’s right.”

Ava stopped short, turning to Jonas when he spoke up for the first time. She looked at him to find his face was an expressionless, marble mask.

“Everything your brother says is true,” he went on calmly. “It was wrong, my offer…you being here.

“I’m an adult, Jonas. It was my decision to come here with you.”

“Ava, you were coerced into it. You’d never have agreed to be with me if I hadn’t promised you the company. And for that, I’m truly sorry. Your brother is right. You are worth far more than anything I could offer you.”

“What do you mean, you’re sorry?”

“I’ll get the papers signed and delivered to you by the end of the day,” he gritted out and Ava was momentarily startled. “The company is yours as it should be. And I release you from any obligation. As from right now, Ava, you owe me nothing.”

“Come, Ava,” Jeff growled, grabbing his dazed sister by the elbow and dragging her from the restaurant. Ava made no protest, her mind in a whirl as she looked back for one last glance at Jonas, but he was gone.

****

“So what are we going to do?”

Ava was standing in the middle of Jeffrey’s office. She had the just-delivered sheaf of documents on the desk in front of him. He stared at it, and then looked up at her. “Rip it to shreds.”

“What?” she gasped, staring at him in shock. It was less than a week since she’d returned home. In that time, she’d waited with baited breath to hear from Jonas. She’d always known he would keep his word, but she’d been looking forward to more than just the pile of papers that now lay before them.

Jeff rose, his face rigid with anger. “I meant what I said back there, Ava. Your dignity is more important. It’s bad enough that you thought you needed to sell yourself to him.”

“I don’t need you judging me,” she said with flashing eyes. “Especially when you don’t even understand the situation. I didn’t sell out my dignity. I wanted to be there. I wanted to be there, Jeff. I wanted him.” Her eyes held his defiantly.

“Oh my God,” her brother gasped. “You can’t be serious. You’ve fallen in love with him!”

Ava turned away, her face flushed. Her brother reached out and pulled her around to face him. “How could you let that happen? You know he’s never going to be with you, right? Jonas Marks is…”

“I know exactly what he is.” But what Jonas was had been much different from what she’d ever expected. She hadn’t wanted to enjoy being with him as much as she had—and she certainly hadn’t expected to miss him as much as she now did.

“Then you’ll know it’s best to forget him,” her brother said, his voice gentling as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “You made a mistake, but let’s put it behind us if we can.”

“How can I put it behind me if you refuse to consider taking hold of the company?” she asked, glaring up at him. “I know you said it didn’t matter, but…”

“We’re not going to talk about this, okay? I’ve made up my mind. I’m sorry if it feels like you went through it all for nothing.”

You have no idea
, Ava thought as she looked away, tears stinging her eyes. With Jonas, she’d felt real, fiery passion. And beneath the cold, hard facts of their agreement, there had been times when she’d seen a spark in his eye when he looked at her. And the way he’d made love to her… She could never, ever believe it had all just been part of the game. But it didn’t matter now. It was over. The only thing left to do—and this was the hardest part of all—was to try and forget he ever existed.

****

Carly wasn’t sure which was worse: brooding Jonas, or quick-tempered Jonas. He hadn’t been the same ever since they returned from the business trip. Now, they’d just had a grueling meeting with his board, and he’d more or less bitten the heads off most of the top-ranking members, over little or nothing. He was getting really tough to work with, and she was concerned for him. Not just as a boss or someone running a business, but as a friend.

“How long are we going to go on like this?” she asked, and saw him look up from his desk, cocking a quizzical brow at her.

“What are you talking about, Carly?”

She waved her hands expressively. “You’re just no fun to work with anymore. You have everyone walking on eggshells with your short fuse, and then when you’re not angry, you are unapproachable and difficult to talk to. I’m thinking maybe it’s time you called her.”

“Who?” he growled, then sighed at the look on her face. “Why would I do that?”

“Come on, Jonas,” she replied, seriously. “You want her, go get her.”

He chuckled, swiveling his chair to the side and staring out of the picture window. “She’s not going to want me, Carly. Not the way I want her.”

Carly had to smile. “You’re Jonas Marks. Who wouldn’t want you?” Her tone was teasing and he chuckled again.

Jonas pushed up on his feet, shoved his hands into his pockets and began pacing the expansive office. “You think I should go over there, tell her I’m crazy about her? I’m not sure I like the idea of being laughed at, Carly. Although, I must say, you’re doing a mighty fine job of that.”

“And who says she’s going to laugh?” Carly queried, throwing her hands in the air again. “Why do you think she wouldn’t want to be with you, Jonas?”

“Carly, the documents were returned, in shreds. Does that sound like she wants anything to do with me? She wouldn’t even accept the return of her father’s company from me!”

Carly paused thoughtfully. “Yes.” She saw him glance back at her with narrowed eyes, and she went on relentlessly, “I saw how she looked at you, Jonas. That woman’s in love.”

Jonas’s face seemed to brighten, but then he grimaced. “I just can’t.”

“Oh, really?” Carly replied relentlessly. “Jonas Marks is saying that he can’t do something? Somehow I have a hard time believing that to be true.”

****

It was a day that Ava had been looking forward to for quite some time; a private meeting with financial consultancy firm, The Bretton Group. They had agreed to take over their stock portfolio, willing to guide them toward financial recovery, and it was all because of Ava’s hard work and determination.

Ava was excited, but nervous. After all these months, trying to make contact with a financial consultancy ready to handle their stock portfolio, she’d finally made contact.

“The Bretton Group…these guys are the best there is,” Jeff told her approvingly. “I can’t believe you got us in. Good work, Ava. This is all you, so you should handle the proposal. Think you’re up to it?”

She inhaled deeply, taking in a bracing breath. It was true that she was the one who’d secured the deal, but it was still more than generous of her brother to let her handle the pitch, especially when it meant so much to their family.

“I think so,” she said, shrugging. “I mean, I’ve done the research, worked out the best strategy. I’m pretty confident that I can give a solid presentation.”

Jeff nodded. “You’re going to do great,” he said, with a playful smile. “So, what time do you need to be there?”

“They’re sending me a car now,” she said, glancing at her watch. “I better get going.”

“Well, good luck,” Jeff replied, heading out the door of her office, glancing back with a smile. “Knock ’em dead, sis.”

****

Ava glanced out of the car window, turning to the driver in confusion. “Excuse me. I don’t think this is the way to the Bretton offices…”

“Oh, I forgot to mention it, ma’am, but I’m supposed to take you to the Marquis. There’ll be a lunch meeting instead.”

“I see.” She recognized the name of the high-end restaurant, slightly annoyed that they had changed the location without confirming it with her.

It doesn’t make any difference whatsoever
, she thought. If she would have to give her presentation over lunch, then so be it.

It didn’t take long before they were pulling into the restaurant’s parking area. With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car, and was met at the entrance by the headwaiter, who quickly led her to her table. She had a confident smile on her face, her hand gripping tighter on her case as she prepared herself for what lay ahead. As she reached the table, a devastatingly familiar figure rose and it took her breath away.

“Jonas,” she gasped, standing stock still as her eyes locked onto his. “What’s going on?” And then realization dawned, making her jaw clench. “Don’t tell me…you’re the Bretton Group.”

“I bought it,” he replied. “Please, sit down. I want you to at least hear me out.”

“I don’t think there’s any sense in that, do you?” she asked with dripping sarcasm. “Because the last time that I listened to you…”

“Ava, please.” He held her gaze with compelling warmth. “I promise, this time, no games. I just want to talk.”

Reluctantly, she sank into a chair and watched him signal for the waiter.

“Jonas, I really don’t think there’s anything that you could say…”

“I’ll make it quick,” he replied, holding up his hands. “I just want to help you, Ava. You sent back the agreement in shreds. I felt like I still had a promise to fulfill—”

“Well, you don’t,” she gritted out. “Damn you, Jonas. Jeffrey was right; dignity is far more important. If you think I need your pity or charity…”

“Not pity, Ava, and certainly not charity,” he said his tone suddenly dropping. “You came here to make a presentation; Bretton was already interested in taking up your portfolio. So you’ll be doing the same thing—getting the financial help you need, working to get back on track—the only difference is, you’ll be doing it with me.”