“No,” she interrupted. “No. You were right. You are not my boy, and I don’t want you to be.”
His stomach twisted. Shit. All this, and he’d made an ass of himself for nothing. He could buy and sell a company, but he couldn’t buy or sell her.
“I don’t want a boy,” Corinne continued. “I want a man. Someone strong. Capable. Mature. Willing to be a partner. I have a life and responsibilities and children now. They’re my priority. And as much as I love fucking you, I have to put my kids first.”
“I understand.” He did reach for her hand this time, linking her fingers in his. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“So if you just want to fuck around—”
Reese shook his head. “No, Corinne.”
She cleared her throat. Then nodded once, carefully. Her fingers tightened around his. “We have to set some ground rules.”
He leaned to offer his mouth to hers, waiting for her to take it. “I love ground rules.”
“Mmmm.” She brushed his lips with hers, not pulling away but not letting the kiss deepen, either. When he tugged her hand, she moved onto his lap, her skirt too tight to allow her to straddle him, so she sat sideways. “I think the first rule should be, no fooling around at work.”
“That’s a terrible rule.”
When she took his lower lip between her teeth, nipping, Reese groaned, already getting hard again. His balls still ached from unreleased arousal.
She didn’t let go. The sting increased, though she stopped just before it would’ve become actual pain. She knew him. After all this time, she still knew him.
Her tongue flicked over the sore spot. “Are you going to argue with me about everything?”
“Not about everything. No.”
She laughed with a hitch in her voice and put her arms around him to tuck her face against the side of his neck. She spoke into his ear, soft feathering brushes of her lips on his skin making him shiver. “I’d like to do it right this time around.”
He hesitated, then pushed her back enough so he could look at her face. Reese brushed a strand of hair off her face. “What was so wrong about how we were, before?”
“Obviously something, since we broke up.” She shifted on his lap, easing the pressure on his growing erection.
He nuzzled her neck, loving the way it made her sigh and arch to give him better access. “You think we need something more formal? A…hell, a contract or something?”
She laughed again, this time pushing him away to get a good look at his face. “Oh, my. That sounds formal.”
“People do it. They lay it all out, get it notarized, the works.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Get out of here. That serious?”
“They do. It’s usually a master/slave sort of thing, laying out the exact details and responsibilities…” He broke off at the sight of her expression. “What? No?”
“I thought that was something in books. Not for real life.”
“One of the businesses I own is a travel company that caters to people in the lifestyle, planning vacations that incorporate kink.” Reese shrugged. “There are lots of things in books that really happen.”
“Pony stables?” Corinne whispered, looking both gleeful and horrified.
Reese snorted laughter, surprised she knew about stuff like that but realizing he shouldn’t be. “Oh, yeah. For sure.”
“Oh my God.”
“Do you want that?”
Shit. There were a lot of things he’d be willing to do for her, but being a pony was absolutely going to stretch his comfort zone. Relieved when she burst into laughter, he took the chance to kiss her again.
“As much as I’d like to take you for a ride, no. I don’t want you to be a pony. And I don’t think we need a notarized contract. I mean, what are we talking about?” Her laughter eased, and she gave him a serious look. “I told you, if you just want to fuck—”
“No. That’s not it. I’d like to see you.”
“You do see me,” she whispered and rocked a little against his cock.
Reese drew in a breath. “I want to see you, Corinne. Like dating. Like a relationship.”
“Monogamous?”
“Yes.” He paused. “Unless you want to see other people.”
“Like I said, Reese, my kids are my priority. I don’t really have time to go dating all over the place.” Corinne smoothed her hand over his cheek to cup his chin.
His eyes went instantly heavy lidded at the embrace. “I like kids.”
Her grip tightened until his eyes opened. “I haven’t brought anyone around to meet my kids.”
“I’ve met at least one already,” he pointed out.
“That was different. You were my boss. Not my boyfriend.”
Heat crept up inside him at the way she said boyfriend. They sat quietly for another few seconds as she let go of his chin to cup his cheek. She kissed him lightly. Tenderly.
“We can try it,” she said against his mouth. “This. Us.”
“No contract?”
“No contract,” she said. “But I think I’ll make you a list.”
Reese grinned. “That’s okay. I like lists.”
Chapter Twenty-Four